Priming / Seasoning Pads

Priming Pads
If you were to apply polish to a body panel, and then place a pad on the surface and turn the machine on, it would be very difficult to control and will produce hazing. This is due to most of the pad being "dry". Polishes and compounds appear to work better when the foam pad is ‘primed’ some things to note about pad priming: the cutting ability is increased, a better finish is obtained, it reduces any product ‘flashing’ problems, it produces a more even finish and the polishing machine is less likely to hop. Use a very slightly distilled water dampened pad, not too wet (otherwise the polish will clump); then spread the polish / compound over the pad evenly

Do not use a quick detailer (QD) as a pad primer medium as most are formulated with either a wax or a polymer; however they are not easily adaptable to a spray formula. To be efficient they need to be emulsified to work as a spray, to facilitate this they need to use an emulsion of silicone oils and water. The wax will reduce the friction heat, negatively impacting the diminishing abrasives; silicon-based products can also have a negative effect on the surface / polish lubrication oils used causing surface smearing.

Pad Seasoning
To season a primed pad, slightly raise the back of the machine so you are working with the top 1/3 of the pad. After polishing for a minute or two the pad will become more evenly saturated with product and actually become softer from heat build-up (seasoned). At this point, you can safely transition from a tilted up to a flat polishing position. Every time you put a fresh pad on your machine you should prime and then season it for a minute or two before "flat" polishing.


As always- constructive criticism, comments and / or feedback welcome

 

does this apply to DA as well? Specifically the seasoning part, not the priming.

 

I've always used a spritz of CG's polishing pad conditioner to prime the pad. Should I switch to distilled water?

How many actually prime the pad with product? Should I be doing this? Normally I just add a little more product the first few passes to compensate for absorption of product into the pad.

 

My process is identical to yours.. I'm eager to hear the response :hmph:

 

togwt...i wanna give you props, you have some great information to share

 

Thank you -experience unshared is knowledge wasted. And as always; constructive criticism, comments and / or feedback welcome

 

Thank You, This is a very helpfull thread. My thoughts are it will get me going on the right foot at the start of a detail...:thumb:

I would rate this thread a 5 for sure...:thumb:

 

Kevin Brown Method - My understanding - Autopia.org

 

I've been using the Danase Pad Conditioner and it has worked very well for me.

 

I like to work a little polish into the pad by hand so the pad isnt dry when beginning work. makes the machine a bit more controllable.

 

A PC, primed 4-inch pad? (as they are using a non-diminising abrasive, which requires pressure as opposed to friction) full circle fom HSR to PC - from diminishing abrasives to non-diminishing abrasives and an very abrasive polish (on a 1-10 scale its a 12!)
Interesting post, I'm looking forward to reading the final "KBM Paper"

 

There are some interesting posts on there about priming pads. #56 is a great post, exactly why NOT to prime with QD's.

 

X2 on this. i like to do the same thing, especially with a brand new pad.

i would like to pick up some of the CG Pad conditioner though. i hear good things.

 

Good point - as a polish or a compound uses either oil, wax or a polymer as a lubricant the water content of a quick detailer (80 – 90%) is not miscible and therefore comes between the pad and the polish negatively affecting there abrasive abilities.

 

Farecla say just use water.(no special sprays)

 

Roger, I think I do the same thing you describe. For my first bead of polish with a clean pad, I tend to smear it around the surface of the pad as much as I can. I'm with you - somehow, it just feels "better" this way.

 

I like pinnacle XMT pad primer.

 

I 'season' all pads with polish / compound before I use them

 

I not sure what 'pad conditioning' products contain as I don't know what they are formulated with (I suspect a polymer of some sort) which IMO would interfer with the abrasives used.

I read the description from one mfg who states that "provides a lubricant an it cuts down friction" not a good thing with diminishing abrasives and friction helps the solvents to 'flash' with non-abrasive polishes, and polishes / compounds are all formulated with some sot of lubricant, otherwise you'd be 'dry polishing' and that would induce surface marring or worse. Seems to me just another product to sell

Use the polish / compound to season the pad and you should be fine.

 

I think it depends on the conditions as well, some time I have to mist the pads as it is too hot to work the polish long enough. I try to use only polish however sometime it is necessary to increase to work time of a polich especially when you are mobile.