Polishing Pad getting "dirty"

[VertimgoC502]

I would like input on what should be done if the pad you are using on the PC appears to get "dirty". This is after properly washing, drying, claying and starting with the yellow pad. What SHOULD be done. Continue the process of SHR, FMP, and MSW; wiping down between each step or only continue the SHR, wipe down, clean the yellow pad and start over?

[Kingsford]

Well after I used my White Pad for the first time it never looked the same. My Yellow Pad has an orange tint to it from the SHR. I was my pads really well with APC.

 

As you use them the pads will get a little dirty. I have seen pictures of people with the Yellow Pad looking like its gray. Mine seem to get a little dirty but not extremely dirty.

 

I wouldn't wash them while you are doing a detail, they retain a lot of water. If you turn it on you will just be slinging water every where.

 

I assume after some time you will have to buy new ones if they are getting worn out.

[Chris@Adams]

How much product are you using?

[VertimgoC502]

I use three pea sized drops of product for roughly a two foot by two foot area. I am stating while polishing the pads get dirty. I am not referring to discoloration of used pads. It appears that the dirt is being "pulled" out/off of the paint. My question is do I continue or stop and start again once the pad is cleaned until I am not getting the "dirty" look.

[Chris@Adams]

Are you working on a hot car,inside or outside?

You said you clayed, did you do the baggie test to see if paint was clean?

How old and what condition is your paint?

Sorry for all the questions, without seeing and being there its hard to give you a correct answer.

[VertimgoC502]

It was a car that was not detailed for over a year and prior just hand waxing with off the shelf products. It was outside in the shade 80's. I clayed until clay easily glided on paint. The car is a daily driver.

[Team Adam's]

My guess would be that your pulling up coats of old wax still on the surface. In this case a strip wash would have probably helps matters. Its not going to hurt anything, but you may find by the end that your pads are too caked up to finish.

 

Either plan on using more than one of each pad to complete the car or stopping part of the way thru to clean your pads and resuming later.

[VertimgoC502]

So just one good washing with dawn will strip all old wax or something additional?

[Kingsford]

So just one good washing with dawn will strip all old wax or something additional?

 

When I did mine I washed with dawn, dried completely and the rewashed with Adam's really well.

[Captain Slow]

My guess would be that your pulling up coats of old wax still on the surface. In this case a strip wash would have probably helps matters. Its not going to hurt anything, but you may find by the end that your pads are too caked up to finish.

 

Either plan on using more than one of each pad to complete the car or stopping part of the way thru to clean your pads and resuming later.

Interesting. I washed the neighbor's black Highlander with original Dawn, rinsed and washed again. I then clayed vigorously. After doing my test spot on the hood I darn near crapped myself because the pad was dark. At first I thought I was dealing with single stage paint, it was THAT dark and dirty. I was using a white CCS pad and M105, speed 5 on a GG DA. I ended up going through three pads and getting half the vehicle done yesterday, the other half today. I used Adam's Detail Spray and three pea sized drops of product. I was too lazy to run to CVS or Walgreens to get some Isopropyl alcohol......I can be such a slacker sometimes. I ended up using M105 x2 passes on a white CCS pad followed by one pass M205 on white CCS pad. The M205 pad hardly showed any color change. So, thinking out loud here, you think I might have been removing a paint sealant of some sort?

 

 

BTW: BSG is sitting on it overnight. She'll then get Americana x2.

 

 

Sorry for the thread-jack.

[Stryker]

Another thing to possibly look into it maybe your hitting some of the weather stripping and the black is rubbing on the pad. It only takes a second and you'll have a pretty nice ring around the pad. I know from experience sadly.

[irontree]

I have the same problem when the pad goes over the masking tape. If the pad goes over the masking tape it seems to make the pads dirty.