It’s no secret that polishing is essential to protecting your plane and keeping you safe while in flight. But, do you know how it’s done? Polishing can either be done by hand using a soft cotton cloth, or with the help of a buffing tool. The majority of aircraft owners prefer the latter because it speeds up the process and usually delivers better results.
But, these buffing tools require the use of a polishing pad, also known as buffing pads, which are usually made out of wool or foam. Which kind of buffing pad should you use on your plane? Here’s what you need to know about each type:
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Wool pads are often thought of as “cutting” pads because they are more abrasive than foam pads and cut deeper into paint layers than foam pads can. Unlike foam pads, wool pads can remove deep scratches, thick layers of dirt, and other debris that may have accumulated on the plane’s exterior surface.
The three types of wool pads are four-ply, blended and finishing pads, and each of these pads have varying levels of abrasiveness. For example, four-ply is considered to be the most aggressive of the three, while finishing pads are made from soft, natural fibers, and are ideally used for finishing the polishing job. Finishing wool pads are often made of lambs’ wool, which contains a natural oil called lanolin. This type of wool pad is a bit more expensive than the others, but many aircraft owners think they’re worth every penny because of the natural lubrication lanolin provides.
It’s recommended that you use a wool pad in the beginning of the polishing job to remove any wax or sealants that have been applied to the surface. Using a wool pad to cut into the finish and get down to the metal is much more efficient than using a foam pad, which would take a lot longer to do the same job.
Foam pads are much more gentle than wool pads, so they should be used when you are in the final stages of polishing your plane. Although these pads won’t be able to remove deep scratches or dirt, they will be able to get rid of small scratches that are right on the surface. Foam pads can also remove any streaks or marks that are left on the surface of your plane from the earlier stages of polishing.
There are only two types of foam pads: open-cell and closed-cell. Open-cell pads have small holes throughout the surface, so they appear to be very similar to a sponge. If you are using a foam pad during the final part of your polish job, it’s best to choose a closed-cell pad since it is an even surface that allows you to get a streak-free shine.
There are a few other things you need to keep in mind when choosing and using pads. First, you will have to decide what size pad you want to use as you polish. Keep in mind larger sizes may leave swirl marks behind on the surface of your plane because it’s harder for the buffing tool to control the outer edges of a large pad. However, small pads do not have the same “cutting” power as large pads, so if you are trying to remove a lot of dirt or cloudiness, a small pad may not work well. Because of this, it may be wise to choose a larger wool pad for the beginning stages of polishing, and then finish the job with a smaller, foam pad to remove the streaks caused by the wool pad.
Another thing you will have to keep in mind as you polish your plane is the cleanliness of the pad. Remember, these pads are removing dirt and grime from your plane, so they will need to be cleaned multiple times as you polish. Keep a soft-bristled brush handy as you polish your plane and use this tool to clean off foam pads as they become dirty. Some aircraft detailers will advise you to use a wire brush, but doing so could lead to a costly mistake. If the wires accidentally snap off of the brush and get lodged into the foam pad without your knowledge, the wire will scrape against the surface of your plane at high speeds when you begin to use the buffing tool again. If you keep these pads in good condition while you are polishing your plane, you should be able to reuse them over and over again. It’s time to throw away your foam pad when you notice chunks of the foam material beginning to loosen or fall out.
To clean wool pads, use a tool known as a spur. Wool pads tend to get dirtier than foam pads because they are used for aggressively cutting through layers of finish and paint. After you are done for the day, leave the wool pad face up to dry overnight and the next morning, you should be able to remove any remaining buildup with the use of the spur.
Polishing pads come in all different colors, and many aircraft owners believe each of the colors represent a different level of abrasiveness, but that’s not the case. Manufacturers do not have to color code pads based on what material they are or how aggressively they will cut through the finish and paint on your plane. When you shop for a buffing pad, it’s up to you to read the description of the item before you make the purchase to ensure you are getting the one you need instead of judging a pad based solely on its color.
Before you begin to polish your plane, make sure you thoroughly understand the difference between each of these types of polishing pads to ensure you are using the correct one. Using the wrong type of pad could prevent you from properly protecting and polishing your plane.
The term "polishing pad" typically refers to machine polishing pads, with foam pads being the most commonly used for paint correction and refinement. However, the term can also include foam and microfibre pads and applicators used for hand polishing, glazing, and spot defect removal. Some pads, such as the Auto Finesse Spot Pads, can be used for both hand and machine polishing.
Polishing pads can be divided into categories based on their size and materials used. In the detailing world, there are three types of pads available: foam, microfibre, and wool. The latter two are more aggressive and used for heavy cutting and spot defect removal, while foam pads are available in different types to handle everything from cutting to refining and finishing.
Most modern pads use a hook and loop design to stick to the backing plate on the machine. These pads typically come in 5-inch, 3-inch, and 1-inch sizes to fit the most common machine polisher sizes, although other sizes are available. Some foam pads can screw directly to a machine polisher, but these are primarily used by refinishers in body shops to make freshly sprayed panels flat and relatively free of orange peel, and are not typically used for paint refinement in the detailing world.
Polishing pads are similar to abrasives, such as sandpaper, but much finer. When used in combination with abrasive products like polish or compound, they work to break down and fully work through surfaces, correcting or refining them in the process. However, the performance of the pads themselves is just as critical as the product used on them. This combination of product and pad determines the effect on the surface. By using a different pad with the same polishing product, one can slightly vary the results to account for different types of paint and varying levels of defect.
Microfibre and Wool Pads are not technically abrasive, but they can be extremely aggressive when used with the right compound or polish, providing the abrasive product with more bite. This is because the natural or synthetic fibres have a larger surface area than foam, leading to increased physical contact with the surface and more friction. In essence, this increased heat helps to cut through more of the clearcoat/paint in a shorter amount of time.
Wool pads are generally the most aggressive and are primarily designed for use with rotary polishers. They can easily cut through heavy defects but leave behind abrasions and holograms that require additional refinement.
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Microfibre pads are slightly less aggressive and can cut through heavier defects, leaving behind micro-scratches and a cloudy surface that will need further refinement for a flawless finish. However, microfibre pads can be used with dual-action polishers, making them a slightly safer option.
While wool and microfibre spot pads are commonly used by detailers, they are generally only used when foam pads are not sufficient for cutting through particularly heavy defects in an extensive multi-stage correction. Foam pads are more commonly used for cutting medium to light defects, unless the paint shows significant damage or the vehicle has fresh paint that needs to be effectively flattened and polished. Softer foam pads are always used for finishing, glazing, and polishing on single-stage enhancements.
Foam pads are the go-to choice for detailers due to their versatility, as they come in a wide range of cuts that cater to every essential stage of paint refinement.
A foam pad's level of abrasiveness is dependent on its design, which is specifically tailored to its intended use in the correction process. From extreme cutting and flattening in a body shop to a detailer's preferred stages of cutting, polishing, and refining paint to perfection, the foam's density and structure dictate how it contacts the surface and its ability to generate and retain heat.
Denser, harder foam is ideal for cutting because it provides more abrasion, greater surface contact, and increased heat generation. Less dense foam pads, on the other hand, are more appropriate for paint refinement and finishing. It's important to note that even these processes still involve cutting, albeit at a finer and proportionally less aggressive level as you move from stage to stage.
Think of multi-stage polishing as a method of correcting heavier defects first and then refining the slighter defects left behind by the previous stage. The more aggressive the pad, the more severe the defect it can eliminate, but the greater the defects it will leave behind for the next stage to address, until the imperfections are refined to a degree that renders them invisible to the naked eye.
Aggressive denim faced pads are designed to gently eliminate heavy orange peel in the top layer of your paint without sanding. Geared towards low-quality aftermarket re-paints where orange peel is common, the bumpy texture reduces the paint’s ability to shine which makes the paint reflection appear dull, lifeless and blurry. Equivalent to 2000 grit sandpaper, Denim Pads remove the bumpy texture of severe orange peel, paint runs, and dust nibs quickly without leaving sanding marks. Apart from the levelling ability of sandpaper, this pad combines the polishing ability of a compound, meaning that while removing orange peel and deep defects, the pad polishes the paint at the same time.
Glass Polishing Pad
Glass surfaces require specialized glass polishing pads that are designed to polish without scratching or damaging the surface. Unlike paint, glass is harder but more fragile, and therefore requires the right tools and techniques for correction. Glass heats up very quickly and can easily break if too much pressure is applied during polishing. Using specialized glass polish and glass polishing pads, such as the CARPRO glass rayon polishing pads, can provide excellent results with minimal heat build-up and without compromising the safety of the glass surface. To ensure optimal results, it's essential to thoroughly clean the glass surface before polishing.
Density is a critical factor in determining the foam pad's aggressiveness on painted surfaces. Stiffer foam is typically more aggressive, making denser pads ideal for cutting, while softer pads are better suited for refinement and finishing. However, what's not commonly known is that the density of foam changes during use, especially as it heats up and becomes saturated with polishing products. This leads to a reduction in cutting performance, which is why new, dry pads are typically more effective than used ones. To maintain cutting effectiveness, it's essential to clean pads between polishing sets.
When determining how many pads to use for a vehicle, it's essential to consider the density changes that occur during use. While it may not always be practical, using one pad for each area or panel results in the most efficient cut. Simply put, the more pads used during a detail, the faster the job will be completed.
Cleaning of foam pads is crucial to maintain their performance and prevent them from getting clogged or saturated with spent product during use. To do this, simply hold a Pad Cleaning Brush against the pad and run the machine to remove any contaminants.
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