Before the universal use of
foam polishing pads wool or mops as they were then called were the work-horse
of detailers. The reason for the poor acceptance of using a wool pad my recent
converts to detailing is the fear that they cut too quickly and it's very easy
to strikethrough on panel seams and edges. Wool pads run cooler than foam so
its more difficult to ‘burn’ paint and tests proved that on average it took 80%
longer to polish through an edge using a wool pad compared to a foam pad and an
ordinary cutting compound.
Always choose
the least intrusive product, it is preferable to polish 2-3 times to restore
the paint film surface than to use an unnecessarily abrasive machine polish /
foam pad combination. Before commencing polishing do a test panel on the car,
once you have achieved the desired results with the chosen polish / pad
combination proceed
Wool vs. Foam
Pro -faster
cutting generates less friction induced heat and therefore leaves the surface cooler,
removes heavy oxidation much more efficiently than a form pad. Use foam pad for
slower and finer cutting. Wool pads are
easier to control compared to foam. They glide as the wool nap ‘lies down’ and
will conform to vehicle body shape easily. Make certain to spur the wool fibres
when it loads up with product.
Con -wool can leave micro
marring (buffer trails) finish with a foam pad to remove. Don’t overwork the
polish as wool will break diminishing abrasives faster than foam, the surface
lubricants will dry up faster and you could end up dry buffing unless you’re careful.
There are too many variables with
different wool and foam types, along with too many compounds to give a definite
choice.
General notes
1.
Cut
with wool pads; (foam produces the most surface friction heat) and finish with
foam pads, the fibres of the wool pad leave a very fine micro marring on the
paint surface.
2.
Speed,
the general rule is; limit speed on
wool pads to 1500 RPM The bigger the pad the faster the cut, the coarser the
compound, the faster the cut, the more aggressive the pad, the faster the cut
Wool cuts faster than lamb’s wool, foamed wool is next and then foam. You pay
the price for polishing too fast with swirl marks caused by the compound and
pad combination.
3.
Compared
to foam; wool pads have a larger available cutting surface area per square
inch, which is due to the structure of the individual wool fibres compared to
that of foam, allowing faster cutting action with less friction heat, utilizing
less downward pressure
4.
Wool
pads have a soft, long nap, which will not allow changes of direction easily
due to the resistance of the nap. They are more suited to the centrifugal
action of a circular polisher as opposed to a random orbital action
5.
The
application of water - is not needed to supplement surface lubrication, but it
helps to free the abrasive from sticking to the wool fibres. It also helps the
pad to conform to surface contours more easily, effectively increasing the
surface-area. Note- it may increase the abrasive abilities of the pad.
Notes:
1.
Use
only quality natural wool pads, wash and rinse thoroughly before use (or use
pre-washed)
2.
It is
preferable to polish 2-3 times to restore the paint film surface than to use an
unnecessarily abrasive polish / foam combination
3.
Wool pads are not
recommended for random orbital machines (Porter Cable 7424, etc) most don’t
have the torque available to overcome the surface resistance of a wool pad and
their fibres works more efficiently with a centrifugal motion.
If the nap
(fibres) of the wool pad is longer than the eccentric offset (stroke) of the
random orbital polisher (5/16 –inch) the effective transfer of energy will be
lost it’s a question of physics, not just mechanics. Foam cutting pads tend to
be much’ stiffer’ than wool fibres and thus will transfer the movement of the
machine to the paint surface more efficiently than a comparable wool pad on an
orbital polisher.
4.
A random orbital
polisher with forced rotation (Flex 3401) is the exception to above, along with short nap wool pads (actually one
is a hybrid wool / foam) Lake Country Purple Foamed Wool, and Surbuf® pad with
MicroFingers®as the forced rotation supplies a necessary centrifugal motion and
the torque required to overcome surface resistance
5.
Natural
wool is most aggressive - 50/50 wool/acrylic blends intermediate - lamb’s wool
the least aggressive
6.
Always
use the least aggressive product first, evaluate the surface, then only if
necessary `step-up' to a more abrasive product and / or pad.
7.
Always
use the least aggressive product first, evaluate the surface, then only if
necessary `step-up' to a more abrasive product and / or pad.
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.
·
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
Wool Polishing / Compounding Pads
Are used to cut or level a
paint film surface with an abrasive machine polish (or compound) or to apply a
polish to large surface areas. Aggressively removes 1500 - 2000 grit scratches,
but will leave hazing, use a foam pad and a finishing polish to eliminate. Wool
pads are made from various mixtures of wool and other materials (natural wool,
foam and wool, blended wool and synthetic wool) Like foam a wool pads abrasive
ability is closely tied to its composition i.e. generally the ‘softer’ the wool
the less aggressive the cut
Backing plates
A rotary polisher has 5/8-inch (14mm) diameter shaft, an orbital
polisher has a 5/16-inch (8mm) female thread.
The backing plate directly transfers
the kinetic friction (energy) of the machine to the paint surface via the pad.
The larger the backing plate (in relation to the pad) the greater the surface
contact area so less energy is wasted. The foam pad will absorb the
amount of orbital movement produced by the machine polisher unless sufficient pressure
is applied to compress the pad (to approx 50%). Using a properly sized backing
plate allows for the equal distribution of pressure across the entire face area
of the pad; making it more efficient; as a backing plate only compresses the area of the pad that is directly underneath
it.
If the backing plate is too small for
the pad, you reduce the effective contact surface area of the pad that is able to
polish effectively, t here is also a
possibility that the backing plate will ‘cut’ the foam causing it to fail?
Allow a maximum of ¼-inch as
a safety margin (i.e. 6.5 -inch pad- 6-inch backing plate, 5.5-inch pad
-4.75-inch backing plate) this will
allow the maximum pad surface contact area, and equal pad compression over the
pad contact surface ensuring efficient polishing
Always use the recommended sized backing plate for the pad you
are using. Do not use a backing plate that is larger than the foam or wool pad.
Flexible backing plates - 6 .25-inch (160mm) used
with the Lake County (LC) CCS 6.5 inch pads. High strength moulded urethane
grip-easy edge for fast, easy pad changes, durable moulded polyurethane
construction, flexible centre hub ideal for surface contours, plated steel
threaded insert (5/8 -inch 11pi female thread or a metric size 14mm) and steel reinforced inner construction
When
trying to remove deep sanding marks, especially if they are close to an edge or
a seam a stiffer backing plate is advantageous
3M
125 mm Perfect-it III Rotary Backing Plates are made from an impact resistant
synthetic nylon plate bonded to a 25 mm thick layer of dense cellular foam, and
are ideal for use with threaded rotary machine polishers such as the Makita
9227CB The highly flexible design allows for very easy transitioning from flat
to contoured surfaces, and the hook and loop backing material enables quick and
easy pad changes (M14 metric an 5/16th – inch US)
3M
125 mm Perfect-it III Rotary Backing Plates are made from an impact resistant
synthetic nylon plate bonded to a 25 mm thick layer of dense cellular foam, and
are ideal for use with threaded rotary machine polishers such as the Makita
9227CB The highly flexible design allows for very easy transitioning from flat
to contoured surfaces, and the hook and loop backing material enables quick and
easy pad changes (M14 metric and 5/16th – inch US)
Trailing and Leading Edge
Looking at a pad that is on
the paint surface; the trailing edge is the left side (between 7 and 5 o'clock)
and the leading edge is the right side (between 11 and 1 o'clock)
A light sensitive approach
is essential, using only the weight of the machine, on vertical panels just
enough pressure to maintain contact with the surface (without applied pressure)
use a lower speed 1000 – 1200 RPM and keep the pad moving. Tilt the contact
edge of the pad a few degrees so that only the leading edge of the pad is in
contact with the paint surface. Make sure the leading edge (right hand side) of
the pad on a rotary polisher is rolling off the panel so that would mean the
right side of the pad is rotating off the panel.
If you have the trailing
edge (left side) of the buffer on the edge it will tend to strongly force the
machine out of your hands and burn the edge almost instantly.
Paint Removed by Polishing
Using a medium abrasive
polish and a rotary polisher will remove approximately 0. 1 Mil (2.5 ยต (Microns)) from
the paint surface (typically 4 passes at 1500-1800 RPM) but there are many variables such as
polish/compound and speed / pressure used that may affect the paint removed)
There comes a point when you must judge wither removing a scratch will
compromise the clear coat and if so you’ll have to ‘live’ with the
imperfection.
If you have reservations
about the amount of paint surface removed or the amount of paint coating remaining
the use of a paint thickness gauge (PTG) is arbitrary
These numbers are offered as a guide only, as there are too many
variables to provide any more than an approximation.
Wool
pad composition
The make-up of the type of
wool is a significant factor. As you get away from 100% wool to synthetic and
from four ply to single ply and increased height, the pad becomes softer and
better for producing a finer finish. (See Note 4)
The twisted yarn is known as
‘ply’; a 4 ply pad, it means that the
yarn is twisted 4 times, There are pads that are 2 ply, single ply (no twists) and
combinations, where sometimes every other strand of yarn is twisted. The more
twists or higher the “ply”, the more aggressive the pad will be
A wool pad is graded is by
what’s called “pile height”. Generally the thicker (higher) the pile height,
the more aggressive the pad will be. Wool pads vary from a 2- inch pile height
while some pads have pile heights at about 7/8’s of an inch. Manufacturers
control a pad's aggressiveness by increasing or decreasing the nap height. As
you shorten the length the pad becomes much more aggressive because the
individual wool strands are able to stand on end more readily. This creates a
scrubbing action whereas the longer strands lay down almost immediately when
used.
Notes -
1.
Wool
pads are not recommended for random orbital machines (Porter Cable 7424, etc)
as wool pads nap / fibres works more efficiently with a
centrifugal(circular) motion as opposed
to centripetal (orbital) force, they also have more frictional
resistance than a 7424 can overcome due to the limited torque available
2.
If
the nap (fibres) of the wool pad is longer than the eccentric offset (stroke)
of the random orbital polisher the effective transfer of energy will be lost
3.
Foam
cutting pads tend to be much’ stiffer’ than wool fibres and thus will transfer the
movement of the machine to the paint surface more efficiently than a comparable
wool pad on an orbital polisher
4.
The Flex
XC3401VRG Dual-Action Polisher due to its forced circular rotation is an
exception to (1) above The two wool
pads (actually one is a hybrid wool / foam) Lake Country Purple Foamed Wool and
the other is a Micro-Surface® TufBuf Black natural lamb’s wool polishing pad
5.
Natural
wool is most the aggressive - 50/50 wool/acrylic blends are intermediate - lamb’s wool is the least aggressive
6.
Always
use the least aggressive product first, evaluate the surface, then only if
necessary `step-up' to a more abrasive product and / or pad.
Pad
application guide - http://www.lakecountrymfg.com/padappguide.html
Wool Pads
3M™ - Finesse-it™
buffing pad made from wool fibres 5.25 – inch diameter x 15/16 trim length,
with a Hookit™ attachment system.
Superbuff™ III Wool
Pad (PN 05703) and Perfect-It™ III Wool Compounding Pad (PN 05719)
Finesse-it™
buffing pad made from wool fibres 5.25 – inch diameter x 15/16 trim length. Has
a Hookit™ attachment system.
Micro Mesh TufBuf
These black lamb’s wool
polishing pads are made from natural lamb’s wool, it leaves clear-coat finishes
with less haze and micro swirls than conventional foam or wool polishing pads.
The dense pile material; 60,000 fibres per square inch versus 13,000 per square
inch for synthetic pads, this pile surface distributes and applies material
evenly and consistently. A very soft 100% lamb’s wool pad can be used for final
(finesse) polishing.
Edge wool pads
Edge 2000 6
-inch Wool Buffing Pads are made of twisted wool. Twisted wool is denser and
more abrasive than non-twisted wool. Also, the variety of wool and percentage
of wool affects each pad’s “cut”.
In order of aggressiveness - White,
Blue, Green, Yellow and then Black
1.
Black
Heavy Cut - 100% Domestic Wool Pad - suited for deep swirls, severe
scratches, pitting, and defects. It removes wet sand marks and severe oxidation
with the help of a compound or heavy cut swirl remover.
2.
Yellow
Medium Cut- 50% Wool, 50% Wool Acrylic Pad - moderately aggressive, it
removes swirls and moderate scratches, and reduces significant pits and deeper
scratches. Use a swirl remover with the yellow pad when aggressive cutting is
not needed.
3.
Green
Light Cut - 40% Wool, 20% Acrylic, and 40% Rayon Pad - produces beautiful
results with one step cleaner polishes. It has enough cut for cleaning the
removing very light imperfections on paints that are in overall good condition.
4.
Blue
Finishing - 70% Acrylic, 30% Wool Pad- for general polishing and
gloss-enhancement, the blue pad can be used with any finishing polish to bring
out a fine lustre on any finish.
5.
White
Ultra fine Finishing - Australian Lamb’s wool Pad - this 100% lamb’s wool pad adds a
mirror-like glow to the paint. Use the baby-soft lamb’s wool pad with a glaze
or ultra fine finishing polish. This should be the last pad that touches your
paint before wax application.
Natural
wool
Leaves clear coat finishes
with less haze and swirls than conventional polishing pads, fibres can be
compressed and still recover their natural shape, less shedding, as they are
manufactured with more fibres per square inch than synthetic wool pads. A
denser pile surface distributes and applies material evenly and consistently,
natural fibres are tapered with no splattering of applied materials and less
scratch marks.
Micro Mesh TufBuf®
These black lamb’s wool
polishing pads are made from natural lamb’s wool, it leaves clear-coat finishes
with less haze and micro swirls than conventional foam or wool polishing pads.
The dense 0.75 - inch pile material with 60,000 fibres per square inch versus
13,000 per square inch for synthetic wool pads, this pile surface distributes
and applies material evenly and consistently. A very soft 100% lamb’s wool pad
can be used for final (finesse) polishing as it’s even softer the LC
CCS Gold Ultra soft foam
Foam and wool
These pads are a compromise
with the safety of foam and the polishing ability of natural wool; a patented
process encapsulates the base of the lamb’s wool fibres with microscopic
polyurethane foam particles. Cuts like natural sheepskin but finishes like a foam
pad, the foamed fibres resist matting and compression. The foaming process also
creates minute air pockets at the base of the fibres, which improves cushioning
and retention of compounds and polishes.
Wash in the patented System 2000TM Pad Washer or
hand wash with warm water and mild soap, then air dry
Purple Foamed Wool Pad (PFW)
Lake Country Mfg. (LC) developed
these pads for high production, OEM/Industrial users. Aggressively removes 1500
grit scratches, leaving a lustrous finish with no hazing by reducing
compounding swirls while retaining a high gloss. Patented process encapsulates
the base of the lamb’s wool fibres with microscopic polythene foam particles.
Cuts like natural sheepskin but finishes like a foam pad. Foamed fibres resist
caking and matting, foaming process also creates minute air pockets at the base
of the fibres, which improves cushioning and retention of compounds and
polishes.
A rotary at 1500 RPM coupled
with a primed PFW, on a 24 x 24 – inch working area for approximately 1 minute;
aggressively removes 1500 grit scratches, leaving a lustrous finish with no
hazing by reducing compounding swirls while retaining a high gloss.
Wool pads are not
recommended for random orbital machines (Porter Cable 7424, etc) as wool pads
nap / fibres works more efficiently with a centrifugal motion. Foam cutting pads tend to be much’ stiffer’
than wool fibres and thus will transfer the movement of the machine to the
paint surface more efficiently than a comparable wool pad on an orbital
polisher
MicroFingers® Surbuf
R Series applicator and
buffing pads (0/10 Cut) feature patented micro fingers technology and are designed
specifically for use on random orbit polishers with hook-and-loop fastening. Once
the pad is primed, use three small dots for additional sections and clean the
pad by brushing or compressed air after each section.
The independent, non-tufted
vertical fibres work like the fingers on your hand. They flex or stiffen when
necessary to reach the peaks and valleys found on any painted surface, metal,
plastic, glass, wood, Fibreglass, Gel coat or wood. Use with any polish,
compound, wax, sealant or liquid cleaner other solid surfaces. This constant
flexing and stiffening action produces uniform results over the entire surface,
adding depth and brilliance of shine not found in other products.
The tiny orbital movement of
a Dual-Action polisher constantly exposes all of the 'sides (360 degrees)' of
the MicroFinger so the amount of polishing actually working against the paint
is far greater than the amount of polish a foam pad can engage.
Available in 6.5" Velcro™-back
buffing/polishing pads, the velvety soft, fine nap micro fibre pad is a perfect
fit for a rotary orbital or HS rotary polisher. It easily replaces wool pads
and doesn't leave holograms; finally eliminate the worry of using wool on clear
coat. Do not allow products to dry
in the pads.
Using moderate pressure
(otherwise the fibres will flatten rendering them ineffective) this pad
exhibits very little surface resistance, due to the MicroFingers extremely
short nap, thereby allowing an orbital polisher to rotate at almost at its
maximum speed (#4).
Due to its unique design the pad allows plenty of air to
circulate, thereby reducing surface heat transfer, even during heavy cutting.
It absorbs very little
product and unlike wool it is ideal for use with an orbital polisher. The
Surbuf pad produces a very similar surface finish to a LC Purple Foamed Wool
pad. Apply 4 dime sized ‘dots’ of polish and use very little downward pressure.
Surbuf pad also generates less heat than most cutting foam pad. Always clean
pads immediately after use.
Blended wool
A mix of wool and synthetic
materials, this could be wool and yarn for cutting, wool and polyester for
polishing, the more synthetic material content the more abrasive the pad.
Synthetic
wool
This material produces heat
very rapidly, so be very careful with these pads as they can quickly cause
damage to a paint surface and can cause major surface marring a four-ply
twisted synthetic wool pad can destroy a clear coat in a very short time.
4 Ply 100% Twisted Wool
Each strand of high grade
wool fibre is tightly twisted, allowing our pad to stay at a consistent level
of aggression for longer periods of operation. Choose 3 inch, 4inch, and 5inch
diameters with a 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch pile height.
Choose shorter pile for your
most aggressive compounding and longer pile for aggressive compounding with
greater durability.
50/50 Wool Acrylic
A unique fibre combination
for light compounding comprised of 50% 4 ply twisted wool and 50% single strand
wool/acrylic blend. Allows the operator to accomplish a range of light
compounding to heavier polishing tasks depending on the compound or polish
used.
Electrified White Sheepskin
The electrification process
removes the microscopic barbs from the hairs in the wool resulting in a soft
and effective compounding material that does not scratch the painted surface.
Choose 3 inch, 4
inch, and 5inch diameters with a 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch pile
height.
TufBuf Black Natural Lamb’s
wool Polishing Pad - Engineered to repair clear coat finishes, these premium pads
are made from the finest natural shearling lamb hides available. The natural
fibres of these pads are tapered with scales that cover each fibre.
Leaves clear coat finishes
with less swirl or scratches than conventional wool or synthetic pads, fibres
can be compressed and still recover their natural shape, the dense pile (60,000
fibres per square inch) of the pad applies and distributes compounds more
evenly, with loop backing for easy on and off attachment to your back-up pad,
available in a variety of sizes. A natural lambskin product, dyed black in
colour with wool length in ¾ and 1-inch nap length
Urethane Backing Plates
Used by BMW, Mercedes and
other European automakers in their assembly plants.
Advantages
of Flexible, Urethane Backing Plates
·
The Velcro® brand fastening material is moulded into the plate eliminating
delaminating.
·
The flexible edge reduces spontaneous heat build-up when
transitioning from flat to contoured surfaces. These plates are recommended for
compounding, polishing and finishing "soft" German clear coats.
·
Vastly reduced heat transfer keeps motor heat from being
transferred to the paint surface.
·
Plated steel threaded insert will not cross-thread.
·
Reinforced inner construction uses steel struts moulded into the
centre hub for superior strength.
·
Bevelled outer edge allows easy pad removal and replacement.
·
5/8 – inch x 11 female thread is for US/CA rotary fitting.
·
UK/EU is M14
Lake County (LC) - 43-125WH Grip Easy™ Moulded
Urethane (5/8" x 11) 4 7/8" (125mm)
3M Perfect-it III Rotary Backing Plate - 125mm two different female thread sizes; M14 EU (09552) for use with threaded rotary
polishers - Makita 9227CB and Metabo PE12-175)
and a 5/8 – inch for US / CA (09553)
made from an impact resistant synthetic nylon plate bonded to a 25mm
thick layer of dense cellular foam. The highly flexible design allows for very
easy transitioning from flat to contoured surfaces and the hook and loop
backing material enables quick and easy pad changes.
Always use the recommended size backing plate for the sized pad
you are using. Never use a backing plate that is larger than the foam pad or
disc.
Always be willing to learn;
because the more you learn, the more you’ll realize what you don’t know.
It is said that knowledge is power, with the caveat that it includes access
to a reliable information sources.
I would like to think that these
articles become an asset to anyone who is new to detailing and to professional’s
alike, as well as industry experts who seek to advance their knowledge.
I hope the article are
informative. By having some understanding of the ‘What’ and ‘Why’ as well as
the ‘How’ along with a little science to help you understand how the chemicals
we use react, you can achieve the results you desire.
I would appreciate it if you would share these articles
as it helps other detailers further their knowledge.
Questions and/ or constructive comments are always
appreciated.
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