the lifetime of D/A foam pads

[Alexandre]

How many time does a foam pad last?

If you get a couple of yellow pads (w82007), how many cars would you be apple to polish btw washes and dries? How frequently do you generally have to replace pads?

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: the lifetime of D/A foam pads

In my experience, they start to wear out from the center first, probably because that's where the pad is spinning fastest. The softer the pad, the more likely it is to start showing wear. Most of my finishing pads have tiny chunks of foam missing from dead center, but they're still good to use.

You can prolong the life of your pads by watching the speed on your DA. If you don't have to spin out to 5 on the dial, don't. I can usually accomplish most light to moderate paint corrections by setting the speed to 4. When I use a finishing pad, I try to keep it at speed 3 or 4. Polishing pads between 4-5. The polishing pads are denser and can take more "spin punishment" that the softer finishing pads.

Smaller pads like the new Meguiars 4" spin faster (or at least appear to spin faster) than their 7" brothers, and I try to keep the speed at 4 or lower when I use these. In fact, if you want to see the centrifugal force at work on a pad, watch what happens to a 4" pad when you kick up the speed dial from 4 to 5. The pad simply flattens.

[sobhark]

Re: the lifetime of D/A foam pads

In fact, the pad spins faster on the outer edge.
Definitely not in the center.
It's like when your new rims is smaller than the OEM rims, which cause the mileage errors.
(The milage go faster than your car actually does)

I believe wearing at the center of the pad is caused by sheer stress.
Since the outer spins faster, hence the center couldn't follow up causing
the pad to deform from the center, like a spiral.

I'm new to using a DA since I just got it for 3 days >__<"
and still mastering it.

I think the pad can last up to a year, about 30+ polishes I guess. O_o
If it start to deform in the center, I think it is still good to use since the center
doesn't provide that much cut at all due to low rotation rate.

IMO if the pad becomes softer, then it's is definitely time to change!

Correct me if I'm wrong

[Michael Stoops]

Re: the lifetime of D/A foam pads

How long a pad will last is going to depend on how aggressively you use it. But you should be able to get literally dozens of uses out of a single pad, as long as you aren't abusing it, you don't accidentally cut in on a piece of trim (tape things off!!!) and you wash and dry them properly.

[cameraman]

Re: the lifetime of D/A foam pads

With the new pads, the 2.0, is it still recommended not to use the red pad?

Or is the red pad now a little bit more welcomed?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: the lifetime of D/A foam pads

With the new pads, the 2.0, is it still recommended not to use the red pad?

Or is the red pad now a little bit more welcomed?

The maroon cutting pad, W7207, is still not recommended for use with the D/A

[Superior Shine]

Re: the lifetime of D/A foam pads

I am a pro detailer and I have Meguiars pads that are over 3 years old. We use the pads every day.