What pads for paste waxes??

Hey guys

What's everyone using to apply their paste waxes?

I just cant seem to find pads im 100% comfortable using

I have heaps of meguairs and the no-name yellow foam pads which fit in my wax tubs fine, but i always feel theres only a small part of the pad touching the paint where im pushing down with my fingertips. And if the paste isnt super smooth, they grip the paint

I tried using my Micropak microfibre pads for pastes, but they tend to clog up and dont wash out properly. So ive had to throw out a few mf pads with cured waxes stuck within the fibres. I use my MF pads for leather cleaners and conditioners

I tried using a swissvax pad with Concorso, and it just didnt seem to hold the wax properly, and again the wax hardened in the pad far too quickly and i couldnt wash it all out

Ive also got the Polishing Pal and 4" pads but i can only use these for waxes i butter up with my fingers and spread on, as theyre too thick to squeeze into a tub

The only pad ive been happy with is the small round foam pad that comes with P21S, can you buy these anywhere, or something similar?

 

Wax Applicators

a) Lake County (LC) Concours Gold Foam- this wax/sealant 4-inch x –1 inch applicator is reticulated (exploded) foam with a 99% open cell structure. It literally glides over the surface applying a thin, uniform coating of glaze, wax or sealant without swirls or hazy patches. These hand application pads incorporate the same Closed Cell Structure (CCS) Technology used at the OEM level by the world's automakers.
This technology uses strategically placed dimples pressed into the foam to slow the rate of wax or sealant absorption, gradually releasing product as needed. These dimples keep the wax or sealant on the surface of the pad. This maximizes coverage allowing you to use less wax or sealant to cover a given area - PAC

b) This 4" x 6" Concours applicator pad applicator is made from 100% cotton micro fibre and unique in that you can remove the foam pad so you can easily wash the applicator in a washing machine. Remove the pad and you also have a handy detailing finger glove for those hard to reach places. The fabric will absorb just the right amount of moisture to help you in applying wax and polish DFTowel or Pakshak

 

+1 on the gold pad. I've wanted one for quite some time. Ken sells them, but on his site they are called the Blackfire Ultimate applicator pad or something like that. Can't miss it.

 

Before I saw the other posts I was also going to say I wanted to test out the Gold pad.

 

I use my bare hands

 

I like Uber red notched applicators.

Easy to grasp and apply with less issues with wax on your hands or falling on the ground.

 

uber red notched ones are nice, so are the griots garrage wax pad with the finger holder.

 

I also really like the foam finger apps from Ben @ rubbish boy's. I've used them with other waxes with good results.

 

this is the best foam applicator I've tried up to date. Why? It's very soft, yet durable, and best of all, it's not iron glued/stitched in any way... - car wax polish dressing applicators

 

My favorite so far is the DD Uber red applicator.

 

I can only imagine how much margin are in those! Really, in any applicator...

 

I really like the red Uber applicators but I just saw the AG ones at Walmart and they look very promising. The easier it makes applying waxes by hand, the more likely I'll be doing it by hand.

 

I like those as well. To some extent, you HAVE to apply by hand. There's certain areas that are impossible to get with a machine.

 

Is there a benefit from applying by a hand pad compared to using a porter cable?

 

Yep, I do the tight areas by hand which is not too much of a hassle even with applicators I dislike.

Well, IMO, it really just comes down to preference. It's possible to be a little faster with the PCXP, especially with larger vehicles or even trailers or airplanes. Other than that, I don't think there's much of a difference.

 

try this applicator, I'm sure you will like it!

 

guys, i have a 6" Lake Country Gold Kompressor pad i use for applying liquid sealants, so i wouldnt mind trying the 4" gold pads

where can i buy them from? Do any of the sponsors stock them? Im assuming id use this with my Polishing Pal?

the Uber Red pads look identical to the CG pads that came with my E-Zyme

what about CCS style pads?

 

i use to use 4" cyclo pads (w/ the PC) for pastes.. but now that megs has some 4" pads coming out fairly soon (this is one of the the new products i've really been waiting for), i'll be getting quite a few of the three different ones they are going to offer. if they offered (or will offer at some time) their pads in the 5.5" size, they would just about have the whole pad size spectrum covered...

 

Thanks for all the feedback guys

im going to give the CG MF pads a try first, these are the same ones Pakshak stock - and i actually had a few samples of these being the Micropak Aus distributor, but gave them away to my detailer clients without using them myself. I do remember they felt sturdy and comfortable in my hand
2-LARGE PREMIUM 100% MICROFIBER APPLICATORS BLUE 2"x4"x6"(2-Pieces)


im also going to try CG's Durafoam round pads while im there - the texture, shape and size looks similar to the original P21S pads
AutoDetailing Wax/Sealant/Dressing Foam Applicator

might as well try their WheelGuard too :thumb:

 

oh, while doing a quick google image for CG Wheel Guard, i came across these pads.... i do have a few round MF finger pocket pads, but they are at least twice as big as these

anyone know who sells these? i prefer using thin pads for wheels and hard to reach areas as per pics below