Question on using pads with different compounds.

Hello!

I am not a professional detailer, just a car owner that likes to keep his & friends cars clean. I am starting to read a bit more on detailing and adding supplies as I go.

I have lent my PC & pads to friends and family once or twice. They return the pads clean, but I am not sure what compunds they have used in them.

I am reading that a pad should only be used with one type of polish regardless if it has been cleaned or not. I am sure that is for a best case senario, but is it mandatory? Obviously, I know not to use the same pad with different compounds without at least cleaning/drying it.

Are these pads ruined since they have been used with other polishes/ compounds, even though they have been cleaned?

The more I read on here, the less sure I am that I want to lend out my pads to anyone. I think my gracious days of pad lending are over.

 

As long as the pads have been cleaned thoroughly then you can use what you like with them mate. I quite often use different polishes on the same pad in a detail too but only if I'm working up the aggression levels - i.e I'll keep the same pad if I go from 85RE to 3.02 etc. If I were to come down the aggression levels then I would swap to a clean pad

 

Thank you Clark.

I am expanding my supplies & equipment as I learn more about detailing.

 

Pad cross contamination

Clean and / or replace pads as often as is necessary; a clean, primed and seasoned pad will enhance the abrasive abilities of the compound / polish and make the process not only more efficient but less time consuming.

Do not use the same pad to apply differing products as cross contamination will reduce the effectiveness or completely negate their purpose altogether. Never mix polishes on a foam pad and never use a pad you´ve used for compounding for polishing. A new or freshly cleaned pad should be used with each type of car care product.

It really comes down to how thoroughly the pads are cleaned, but I prefer to err on the 'safe' side

 

No worries. You'll find varying opinions (like above) but I've never had a single problem and know loads of others that do the same

 

Ya, that's bullshit about only using one pad per product. I hate loaning out supplies and don't do it. Make your own choices there but it's usually not much to gain and a lot to lose. Some products, some pads, some cars require you to clean your pad every panel or two. You'll absolutely find that as you do more and more cars, there are NO steadfast rules in this game. Be flexible with your thinking.

 

just clean them good and you can use any pad polish combo.

 

:agree:

 

As people have said before if the pad is thoroughly cleaned it is fine. I personally dont like lending pad out because you dont know what they did with them. When you get the pad back from loaning them out i would clean them again just to be safe

 

I'm not sure I would describe an opposing opinion as 'bullshit' there is no such thing as 'only one correct way' to use products or tools.

I do not mix different products on the same pad, polish and foam mfg suggest the same thing-each to their own

 

Point taken, Jon. If you re-read the post, I was trying, maybe unsuccessfully, to say that one pad can be used for a variety of products over its lifetime. I don't think the original post meant using different products at the same time on a pad. And absolutely, there is no "one correct way" which is exactly what I said when I said "there are no steadfast rules" and to be flexible in his thinking. But you're right, I shouldn't have dismissed the point of view as bullshit, I apologize.

 

As a compromise I’ll rephrase my answer thus -

If you thoroughly clean pads right after use you shouldn’t have any problems with contamination from different grades of polishes or compounds. However do not use the same pads for different sealants, or use a pad that has applied a sealant as a polishing pad or vice a versa.

Some polishes or sealants may be difficult to completely remove product residue. It is good practice to use a new or freshly cleaned pad with each type of car care product.