In his guide to all things buff, Matthew Gibb of Detailology looks the pros and cons of different buffing pads.
The old faithful wool buff pad, once the only pad that a detailer had at their disposal, is now just one choice in an ever expanding range of pads that a detailer can use today.
With so many new pad materials now available and each having certain attributes, I thought it was time to list what they are, what they are best used for as well as how to use and care for them.
Microfibre cutting and finishing discs
These have been a game-changer since their release a few years ago. The cutting and finishing discs are made by Meguiars, Optimum, Lake Country, CarPro, Nanoskin and Flexipads UK.
These offer mid to high cutting power (cutting discs) and moderate to medium power and superb finish (finishing discs).
Advantages
- Can eliminate or reduce the need for four grades of foam cutting pads
- Works wonders with a dual action or random orbital polisher or Dynabrade power head
- Able to remove a fine amount of orange peel on soft to medium hardness paints and leave less marring than a wool pad, possibly none on some paints
- Hotter cutting action on a forced rotation machine creates a superior finish clarity than that of wool.
Disadvantages
- Delamination between the microfibre and foam base or even Velcro has been a problem with Meguiars and Optimum pads.
Surbuf
These are from the woodworking industry and have been widely used in the detailing industry for several years now.
Featuring thousands of soft, independent, non-tufted vertical fibres, these will correct even better than a wool pad and will keep the polishing film on the surface of the paint, not be absorbed into the pad like a foam pad can.
Sometimes the marring these leave behind can be more than what a wool pad would leave when used with a rotary but it can quickly be removed with a microfibre cutting or finishing disc.
It all depends on the hardness of the paint – also known as the abrasive resistance of the paint.
Advantages
- Cuts quicker than wool
- Cheaper than an eight inch wool pad by a long way
- Can correct sanding marks with just a random orbital polisher for more ergonomic, less tiring work
- Reduction in process times
- Never loses its cutting power
- Better finish clarity than wool with no chance of leaving rotary buff marks like holograms etc
- No risk of burning the paint.
Disadvantages
- Cannot be used with a rotary polisher
- When used the first few times, the pad’s fibres can shed during polishing and leave fibres all over the work area
- Need to wash them more carefully than wool, with some cases of delamination between foam base and top layer
- Leaves behind more marring than a microfibre pad most times.
Denim and velvet
These pads are basically the equivalent of a 2000-grit and 3000-grit wet or dry sanding disc/paper.
With a rotary polisher and a quality backing plate, these pads can remove between five and 95 per cent of orange peel from OEM factory and aftermarket paint finishes.
Working at speeds from 900 rpm to 1200 rpm with a water-based single polish system, I have been able to not only see the orange peel level diminishing but actually finish with no marring whatsoever on all bar soft paints.
They can also remove severe defects quite quickly.
The advantage is being able to see the peel level going down and finish without the risk of sanding marks, so in essence, you are sanding and polishing at the same time.
Currently these are available from Osren in Malaysia and Carpro brand distributors but another manufacturer is weeks away from completing their own version of these pads.
Advantages
- Allows the user to remove orange peel without any sanding marks
- Much more powerful than wool
- Cheap to buy.
Disadvantages
- Low durability – loses its cutting power quicker
- Cannot use on every car, need to check thickness reading of it first
- Delamination problems if you get the pad hot enough