What got all over my pad?

[William_F]

I was working on the wife's truck the other day. It was a bit of a mess as we have had a lot of nasty weather and the truck had fresh paint on one side after an accident, so I hadn't done much more than wash it once or twice in the past 3 months.

After I washed, I went ahead and used clay. I was surprised at how clean the clay was coming up. Apparently, there was very little bonded contamination. After the clay was done, I moved on to polishing with 205 on a yellow polishing pad at about 3 speed (110v2). In my mind, the paint was clean because the clay was coming back clean.

When I would stop to clean the pad, started to notice some greyish discoloration on the pad. The truck is white, so I know it wasn't paint transfer. I'm just curious as to what this might be.

[FastEddysDetailing]

Re: What got all over my pad?

Most likey Oxidation or staining in the paint from not being washed.

[LelandGray]

Re: What got all over my pad?

I noticed this on my car, too. I have an '07 Mazda CX-9, and I went over it yesterday with a white LC pad and some SwirlX, and when I was done the pad was grayish in color. This was after washing and claying. I'm guessing there was enough "stuff" left on the paint after claying that it dirtied the pad.

[William_F]

Re: What got all over my pad?

I'm guessing there was enough "stuff" left on the paint after claying that it dirtied the pad.

That's what I thought too. The finish was smooth after claying so that along with the clean clay lead me to believe the paint was clean.

[Still Learnin]

Re: What got all over my pad?

its embedded dirt... ive done a few cars that will get clayed and feel smooth but after you to some polish on there and start buffing youll pull off more dirt and truely reveal white paint (in my case)

atleast that what i learned from my experience. nothing to worry about...

[Clutch34]

Re: What got all over my pad?

Does that mean a more aggressive clay should be used?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What got all over my pad?

When we talk about surface prep prior to waxing, we are talking about a two fold process. Evaluating your paint generally consists of feeling it with your clean, bare hands (after washing and drying the car, of course!) in order to determine the existence of bonded surface contaminants and also by visually inspecting the surface for the presence of any below surface defects - your typical swirls, stains, etchings, scratches, etc. What can be very difficult, if not impossible to see, is embedded dirt. Your paint surface has pores not unlike your skin, and dirt will embed in those pores.

Claying only addresses the above surface bonded contaminants, so it's not going to correct swirls, scratches or etching. That also means it's not going to correct or remove embedded dirt. A liquid paint cleaner is needed for all of those issues below the surface, and as you are seeing, it works quite well! We've seen cases of very old light colored vehicles that spend most of their life outside and, even though they are routinely washed and waxed, they have never been treated with a proper paint cleaner. If you were to tape off a section of a car like this and buff it out, you would see a noticeable change in color between the treated and untreated sides, simply due to the embedded dirt being removed. While this may not be readily visible on a newer car, the discoloration of the pad is.

[sleepy]

Re: What got all over my pad?

When we talk about surface prep prior to waxing, we are talking about a two fold process. Evaluating your paint generally consists of feeling it with your clean, bare hands (after washing and drying the car, of course!) in order to determine the existence of bonded surface contaminants and also by visually inspecting the surface for the presence of any below surface defects - your typical swirls, stains, etchings, scratches, etc. What can be very difficult, if not impossible to see, is embedded dirt. Your paint surface has pores not unlike your skin, and dirt will embed in those pores.

Claying only addresses the above surface bonded contaminants, so it's not going to correct swirls, scratches or etching. That also means it's not going to correct or remove embedded dirt. A liquid paint cleaner is needed for all of those issues below the surface, and as you are seeing, it works quite well! We've seen cases of very old light colored vehicles that spend most of their life outside and, even though they are routinely washed and waxed, they have never been treated with a proper paint cleaner. If you were to tape off a section of a car like this and buff it out, you would see a noticeable change in color between the treated and untreated sides, simply due to the embedded dirt being removed. While this may not be readily visible on a newer car, the discoloration of the pad is.

Mike would, could this be true also to older cars like my '64 bel air? When I first started a year ago, my pads were comming out "clean" but now even when I apply any wax, my pads are black.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What got all over my pad?

Sleepy, your pads shouldn't be coming up black just by applying a wax, especially a non cleaner wax. Now, if you run a yellow pad over some black rubber or vinyl trim (and not even all that vigorously) it will start to come up black. That's not really a problem but it is best to try and avoid that trim if you can.

[sleepy]

Re: What got all over my pad?

Sleepy, your pads shouldn't be coming up black just by applying a wax, especially a non cleaner wax. Now, if you run a yellow pad over some black rubber or vinyl trim (and not even all that vigorously) it will start to come up black. That's not really a problem but it is best to try and avoid that trim if you can.

No I have been mostly using it on the hood or the trunk. There is no rubber or vinyl trim on it. It is all metal or crome.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What got all over my pad?

Just a follow up for anyone else who reads this thread:

Apparently this discussion got Sleepy thinking about why his pads might be turning black when applying wax to his car in an area completely free of vinyl or rubber trim, and with very well maintained paint - so he called our Customer Care Center and I happened to be right there as he spoke with our CCC rep, John. As it turns out Sleepy's very pretty '64 Bel Air shown in his avatar has an old single stage metallic paint job, and this type of paint is getting to very rare indeed. That means there's no clear coat between his pads and the metallic particles in the paint, so he's effectively polishing the flake. We all know what happens to an applicator pad when you polish bare metal. Yep. It turns black.

[William_F]

Re: What got all over my pad?

A liquid paint cleaner is needed for all of those issues below the surface, and as you are seeing, it works quite well!

If I understand you correctly, the paint is not truly clean if the pads are coming up discolored? It happens on both of my cars and both are CC finishes.

Should I keep polishing each section with the 205 until the pads come up clean or would cleaner wax be the better way to go?

I want to make sure the surfaces are as perfect as possible before waxing and don't mind spending the extra time to do it.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What got all over my pad?

Well, within limits. There's going to be some discoloration of the pad from the product itself, and if you so much as tap a bit of black trim that will discolor the pad as well.

If you've buffed enough to remove all the swirl marks, the paint is about as "clean" as it will ever get.

[William_F]

Re: What got all over my pad?

I thought I had the swirls out, but it was cloudy last weekend. Imagine my disgust this week when it was very sunny and I spotted swirls on the hood...

When I feel better I'm going to get back on the detailing horse and hit it again to clean it up.

As usual, your feedback is appreciated

[Wowzer]

Re: What got all over my pad?

Mike,

I have no interest in this threas, BUT I'm impressed with your detective work.

Wowzer!