Pads - Pads - Pads

[Monster 2.0]

Before I was turned on to all the other high end car care products, I had used Griots.

When I purchased their polisher, I also purchased their pads that were recommended for the particular polishes. Now that I see there are some others out there with specific use pads, I wonder if there is a brand that folks recommend that is better, or am I ok using the Griot?

[Wheelzntoys]

You'll be fine with GG pads, if you are ready for new one the 5.5" are easier to use with a DA.

My favorite foam pads are Dodo Fin Cuts for polish and Meg's MF for compound.

Dodo

[glen e]

Good pad info

Compounds such as Meguiar's M105 are mostly used with heavy cut pads for removing severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches

Polishes such as Meguiar's M205 perform well with light cutting and finishing pads for removing light swirls and very fine scratches.

Sealants and Waxes are easily applied using a blue or red foam pad


A bit of information on pad usage....

Yellow Cutting Foam - Use this pad to apply compounds or polishes to remove severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches. It is the most aggressive and should only be used on oxidized and older finishes. Always follow this pad with an orange or white pad and a fine polish to refine the paint until it is smooth.


Coarse Green Cutting/Polishing - This foam is of medium density with the ability to level very fine scratches and very light oxidation. Use light swirl removers with this pad.

Orange Light Cutting Foam - Firm, high density foam for scratch and defect removal. Use this pad with polishes and swirl removers. It’s an all around pad that will work on most light to moderate imperfections.


White Polishing Foam - Less dense foam formula for the application of waxes, micro-fine polishes and sealants. This pad has very light cutting power so it’s perfect for pre-wax cleaners.


Green Polishing/Finishing Foam - Use this foam to apply one-step cleaner waxes. It is a balance of polishing and finishing that is perfect for all-in-one product application.


Gray Finishing Foam Pad - Composition is firm enough to withstand added pressure during final finishing to remove buffer swirls. It has no cut and will apply thin, even coats of waxes, sealants, and glazes.


Blue Finessing Foam – Pad has soft composition for applying glaze, finishing polish, sealants, and liquid waxes. Flat pad provides full contact with paint surface to minimize the pressure applied by the user.


Red Ultra-soft Wax/Sealant Foam - This soft, imported foam is ideal for applying the final coat of wax or sealant. The foam works especially well when applying liquid waxes or sealants because it is firm enough to keep the majority of the product on the paint, rather than soaking it up. The red foam has no cut or cleaning ability.

Super Soft Gold Jewelling Foam - The CCS Super Soft Gold Jewelling Pad is made of Lake Country's softest foam. Use the gold pad to apply a very fine polish or glaze as the final step of the polishing process. Jewelling is the term coined for this step because it intensifies gloss and reflectivity, like a jewel. The gold foam pad also works well for wax and sealant application.

[redhat]

glen thank you for that

[RTexasF]

........and I recall when there was only one......Wool on a heavy ass rotary.

[RTexasF]

Originally Posted by Wheelzntoys

You'll be fine with GG pads, if you are ready for new one the 5.5" are easier to use with a DA.

My favorite foam pads are Dodo Fin Cuts for polish and Meg's MF for compound.

Dodo

Remember that you will need to buy a smaller backing plate if you drop down in pad size. Griot's pads are fine, I imagine they are made by Lake Country like many others.

[Monster 2.0]

Originally Posted by Wheelzntoys

You'll be fine with GG pads, if you are ready for new one the 5.5" are easier to use with a DA.

My favorite foam pads are Dodo Fin Cuts for polish and Meg's MF for compound.

Dodo

That's kind of what threw me, was the look of some of these pads compared to the Griot, which just looks like a plain foam pad.

[Wheelzntoys]

Originally Posted by Monster 2.0

That's kind of what threw me, was the look of some of these pads compared to the Griot, which just looks like a plain foam pad.

Comes down to preference, the flat pads like low profile LC flat pads are very popular.

I think the big improvement will be the size 5.5", definitively you'll need the smaller backing plate.

[DetailersDomain]

which compounds and polishes are you using?

if you have the stock backing plate you will need to pick up 6 inch pads

take a look at these

6.5 inch Uber Foam Buffing Pads

[Monster 2.0]

I'm using the stock Griot pads, the red for Best in Show Wax, and the Orange for their polishes, I can't remember the names off the top of my head.

[DetailersDomain]

what color cars are you working on maybe its time to set you up with a few other things.

[Monster 2.0]

LOL, wish I had a stable, just my 2013 Accord Coupe. I'll certainly check you guys out when I run out of the Griot products.

[DetailersDomain]

sure thing.

[WSport13]

Originally Posted by glen e

Good pad info

Compounds such as Meguiar's M105 are mostly used with heavy cut pads for removing severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches

Polishes such as Meguiar's M205 perform well with light cutting and finishing pads for removing light swirls and very fine scratches.

Sealants and Waxes are easily applied using a blue or red foam pad


A bit of information on pad usage....

Yellow Cutting Foam - Use this pad to apply compounds or polishes to remove severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches. It is the most aggressive and should only be used on oxidized and older finishes. Always follow this pad with an orange or white pad and a fine polish to refine the paint until it is smooth.


Coarse Green Cutting/Polishing - This foam is of medium density with the ability to level very fine scratches and very light oxidation. Use light swirl removers with this pad.

Orange Light Cutting Foam - Firm, high density foam for scratch and defect removal. Use this pad with polishes and swirl removers. It’s an all around pad that will work on most light to moderate imperfections.


White Polishing Foam - Less dense foam formula for the application of waxes, micro-fine polishes and sealants. This pad has very light cutting power so it’s perfect for pre-wax cleaners.


Green Polishing/Finishing Foam - Use this foam to apply one-step cleaner waxes. It is a balance of polishing and finishing that is perfect for all-in-one product application.


Gray Finishing Foam Pad - Composition is firm enough to withstand added pressure during final finishing to remove buffer swirls. It has no cut and will apply thin, even coats of waxes, sealants, and glazes.


Blue Finessing Foam – Pad has soft composition for applying glaze, finishing polish, sealants, and liquid waxes. Flat pad provides full contact with paint surface to minimize the pressure applied by the user.


Red Ultra-soft Wax/Sealant Foam - This soft, imported foam is ideal for applying the final coat of wax or sealant. The foam works especially well when applying liquid waxes or sealants because it is firm enough to keep the majority of the product on the paint, rather than soaking it up. The red foam has no cut or cleaning ability.

Super Soft Gold Jewelling Foam - The CCS Super Soft Gold Jewelling Pad is made of Lake Country's softest foam. Use the gold pad to apply a very fine polish or glaze as the final step of the polishing process. Jewelling is the term coined for this step because it intensifies gloss and reflectivity, like a jewel. The gold foam pad also works well for wax and sealant application.

I'm about to pick up a 6" griot polisher for $75 from craiglist (should be brand-new, in-the-box, never-used ... but we'll see).

We have, beside the 2013 Sport, a black Lexus IS250. Mostly dealer wash, or drive-through car wash. It's not really that bad as far as swirl marks, but I'd like to make it look better.

I have Blackfire TPnS, Wet Diamond, and CS.

I believe CS do not need pad.

Any specific suggestion on what pad to use with TPnS and WD is really appreciated.

BTW, the color code for these pads applied to all brand of pad?

[glen e]

these are Lake Country CCS pads but hold true for most all pads I've ever seen

TPNS = use green pad
WD = blue pad