New soft buff pads.. any alternative to final inspection?

[andy86i]

Halfords doesn't carry the final inspection spray.. won't water work as well?

[Detailing by M]

Re: New soft buff pads.. any alternative to final inspection?

Hu?
Soft Buff pads and finial inspection are two different products.
You want to use water for what?

[andy86i]

Re: New soft buff pads.. any alternative to final inspection?

It's recommended I "lightly mist" the pads with "final inspection" spray. Halfords dissent have that product and I do t really want to have to order it off eBay.. So are they any alternatives? Like water ?

[Detailing by M]

Re: New soft buff pads.. any alternative to final inspection?

don't worrie about that. it's not that important. you can use any detail spray or nothing. But don't use water.

[davey g-force]

Re: New soft buff pads.. any alternative to final inspection?

Yeah, I never spray (prime) mine with anything and it's fine.

Some people like to prime their pads with a QD such as FI or LT if they're using a product which is prone to drying/dusting such as M105.

What compound / polish are you working with? You could just prime the pad with the product itself...

[andy86i]

Re: New soft buff pads.. any alternative to final inspection?

ultimate Polish

[andy86i]

Re: New soft buff pads.. any alternative to final inspection?

then Gold class liquid wax on a black pad

[hemi]

Re: New soft buff pads.. any alternative to final inspection?

Prime your pad first with Ultimate Polish before using and it should not need any spray

[Detailing by M]

Re: New soft buff pads.. any alternative to final inspection?

then Gold class liquid wax on a black pad

Yes that is fine

[Michael Stoops]

Re: New soft buff pads.. any alternative to final inspection?

OK, let's back up a bit here. The recommendation on the packaging of the pads states to lightly mist the pad with M34 Final Inspection to prime it before use. Kudos to Andy for reading the directions on the pad, by the way!! But in actual use, this is more important when using a rotary buffer than when using a DA buffer, but even then it is not mandatory. We make the recommendation because it's never a good idea to hit the paint with a dry pad when spinning a rotary at fairly high speed and a bit of lubrication beforehand can help minimize any micro marring that might occur with that process. Water alone is not a great lubricant, however, so a quick detailer type product is preferred. M34 is specifically stated because, until fairly recently, foam buffing pads were really the tools of a body shop, not the average consumer, and in a body shop you absolutely must use a "body shop safe" or "paintable" quick detailer due to certain considerations in that environment. M34 is the only body shop safe mist and wipe product we make, hence it's mention on the packaging.

When DA buffing this sort of priming is almost never done since the process isn't anywhere near as invasive to the paint. You can either skip it entirely, or better yet, prime the pad with a bit of the product you're going to use. This can work great for both compounds and polishes, just don't over do it.

[andy86i]

Re: New soft buff pads.. any alternative to final inspection?

Thanks for the info. Hopefully ill be able to wash the car tomorrow, snow keeps looming