Pad Conditioner???

[RaskyR1]

So I've been noticing on those "other forums" that a lot of people are using a foam pad conditioner before they start buffing.

What gives? I have been buffing with foam pads for 18 years now and have never used or seen any need for such a product. Sounds like a gimik to me..."over priced water"

Anyone have any inside info or experience with this stuff?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Pad Conditioner???

We recommend a pad conditioner too for some applications, in our video,

How to Remove Serious Paint Defects

We recommend misting some M34 onto a foam cutting pad before using it, (when it's still dry and hard), to help dampen it a little thus making it a little softer.

It just a safety practice because the foam used for our foam cutting pad is pretty aggressive to just bring down on a paint finish spinning at 1500 RPM when it's dry.

It is an option. As a practice we don't do this when we buff out cars we apply a strip of product, pick it up, buff it in and then quit and add more product as the first product will have went into your pad and accomplished basically the same thing as misting your pad with M34

You could also use Quik Detailer instead of M34 if that's what you have handy, in fact you could use just about any mist & wipe to dampen the surface of the pad, as you're only using a little bit and you're suing it for the wetness offered by a liquid, not specifically the specific ingredients that make a quick detailer a mist and wipe product, thus even a little spray of water could accomplish the same goal.

[rebelde33]

Re: Pad Conditioner???

Wouldn't misting the pad take away from the effectiveness of the product like M80 for example?

[RaskyR1]

Re: Pad Conditioner???

Thanks Mike.

I guess I always pick up the bead and spread it around at a lower RPM before I lay into. I will usually choose a wool cutting/polishing pad for serious defects over a foam cutting pad too since I find it easier to use. The Foam cutting pads are just too stiff for my taste.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Pad Conditioner???

Wouldn't misting the pad take away from the effectiveness of the product like M80 for example?

Keyword = misting, not saturating...