Product Build Up

[EdT]

I was just thinking when I experience product build up on my polishing or cutting pad that it could be old wax being removed from the paint, reason I asked was I notice that the pad is dirty especially during the first passes which I don't experience on regularly detailed cars. Anyone think otherwise ?, I know I'am not using too much product.

[Don]

It could be a combination of that and the embedded dirt coming out of the paint. I also find that the first passes on a car that had been *neglected (as defined by an enthusiast) pull up a lot of gunk from the paint which seems to contribute to pad loading. Once the primary cleaning is done, less product is needed and the pad loading isn't as much of an issue.

The Cadillac finished yesterday is a prime example. 3 years-old, but never detailed 'correctly.' The first pass over the car with DACP was disgusting. It took more product than I thought necessary and the pad loaded up literally with embedded dirt and junk. I made a second DACP pass, and I could buff the product until it powdered, then smacking the pad with my hand a few times would clear out most of the residue on the surface of the pad. Then it was ready for anther panel.

I think the stuff pulled up on the initial buffing acts like a one-way sponge on the pad, absorbing the product, but not letting it out to work on the surface of the car.