granules in polishing pad

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by g15389
Mike,

Here is the best picture I can take of the granules that I am talking about. They appear dark gray (mostly around the edge of the pad). I believe this is just product buildup and is removed with a toothbrush.



G-

That is a buildup of product.......I always try to brush that off before working on the next panel.

[Mike Phillips]

Yep... it's just product build-up, it happens with both rotary buffers and dual action polishers, simply agitate it with a nylon brush to remove before using.

[bluemoon]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
Just to chime in...

In all my years and experience using Meguiar's products with Meguiar's foam pads, I have never experienced what's being described in this thread. I see any excess product left on the pad dry when left alone and before using a foam pad remove this dried residue using a nylon brush while the foam pad is brought up to speed on a rotary buffer.

Could be the granules you're seeing is simply excess product left behind from the previous detailing session?

The granules that I am having trouble with are not on top of the foam (those I do brush off with a tooth brush) but actually burried in the foam. Contrary to Meguiars advice I always wash my pads out in Dawn and warm water until they are clean as new. But the last time I used this pad, after washing, the granules never came out when I washed it. The surface looks clean and feels like new, but when you squeeze the pad you can feel hard granules in the foam, and when you bend the pad you can see the grayish granules in the foam.
When I am polishing our car I always take a tooth brush and brush off the pad after every panel to get any excess product off the pad paying close attention to the edges where you get alot of those hard granules appearing. For some reason the granules I am having troubles with are in the middle of the pad, not the edges.
Luckily I have not had this problam before or since this one time. I am not sure what I did wrong, but I hope I don't do it again. It could get expesnsive if I do.

[reasoned]

Re: granules in polishing pad

I have the same problem - granules buried in the foam of the yellow pad. However, mine are on the outside rim of the pad. I have tried machine washing and hand washing - they are extremely difficult to remove. I will probably toss the pad, I don't trust it at all with those hard granules buried in it.

Anyone have a good way of getting these granules out of the pad?

[rusty bumper]

Re: granules in polishing pad

I have the same problem - granules buried in the foam of the yellow pad. However, mine are on the outside rim of the pad. I have tried machine washing and hand washing - they are extremely difficult to remove. I will probably toss the pad, I don't trust it at all with those hard granules buried in it.

Anyone have a good way of getting these granules out of the pad?

If it looks like the image above, then I would suggest brushing the particles with a stiff nylon brush until they disappear.

For what it's worth, I recommend brushing a pad after each buffing session so this type of contamination doesn't get a foothold on the pad. And I always brush the pad before storage, and before first use the next time around.

As for particles being buried in the pad, I've never seen anything remotely similar to it. It's a new one on me to say the least.

[reasoned]

Re: granules in polishing pad

Its almost as if the dried product gummed together and then hardened and the polishing action caused the particles to dig deeper into the polishing material. I cleaned the pad on-the-fly every panel which usually does the job but not this time for some reason....

[rusty bumper]

Re: granules in polishing pad

Its almost as if the dried product gummed together and then hardened and the polishing action caused the particles to dig deeper into the polishing material. I cleaned the pad on-the-fly every panel which usually does the job but not this time for some reason....

Maybe you could try to reuse the pad on a non-important surface like a freezer, an old paint job, or something and see if that might break down the clumps.

Welcome to forum by the way!