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You know when your car’s paintwork needs a little loving care and attention. Perhaps there are some marks you want to remove. Or maybe you just want to make it look like new again (or better!). If so, you need to spend a few hours prepping and polishing the paintwork. It’s labor-intensive, even with a polishing machine, but it’s so worth it when you’ve finished.
A buffing pad attaches to a polisher, also called a buffing machine. It helps to work in the polishing compound or wax. It distributes it evenly, all while maximizing the effect of the product.
It’s worth clarifying that buffing pads can come in a few different styles. Some are designed to help cut through any tarnishing or faded paint. Others are to distribute the wax/sealant/cutting compound. And others are for the final finish – cleaning off and polishing the final process of detailing.
How Do They Work?
Typically, they work in the same way whether you’re using them to cut or polish paint, but as cutting paint is more intensive, I’ve used that as an example.
A buffing pad has been designed to be coated in a paste; usually polishing or cutting. It holds at the surface of the pad, effectively giving the surface of the pad some form of abrasion. Think of it like a super-fine abrasive paper. It then rotates to clean, cut, and polish the paintwork.
The majority of pads are made from foam. They’re flexible enough to follow contours, dips, hollows, and high spots. They apply even pressure on all, rather than more pressure on the high spot (which could lead to thinning the paintwork more in that one area).
The other by-product of using foam (in particular) is that it’s an excellent way of managing the thermal effect. It absorbs heat while remaining relatively cool, which helps to keep any product from drying out, or hardening.
What Are The Different Types?
Typically, there are three different types of buffing pads; wool, microfiber, and foam. All of them can be used on a machine like a DA (Dual Action.) Just ensure that you have the correct backing pad to suit your application.
Of course, once you’ve understood the materials, you then have to work out that there are a number of other considerations such as how aggressive or coarse they are. Heavy-duty paint correction needs something more aggressive while smoothing over needs something much less aggressive.
If you’re planning to go through the whole process for the perfect finish, you’d work from the most aggressive to the finest. This will give you all the cutting power you need, followed up with the smoothness for the final finish.
Foam Pads
A range of foam pads usually works through the whole process. You have compounding (cutting the paintwork), polishing (polishing the corrections) before the final step of finishing. The final finishing is applied to make the paintwork as smooth as possible.
As a rule of thumb, the stiffer the foam, the more abrasive it will be. However, it’s possible to create a compromise if you really need to. You can do so by using a different product (let’s say polishing) on a mismatched pad (finishing) will give a step between the two pads.
Flat-VS-Textured
Textured pads, also known as CCS, Waffle and Hex Logic tend to last a little longer than regular pads thanks to their thermal efficiency. However, they typically need a little more controlling when used in a polishing machine. The textured pattern tends to bite in a little more, which can lead them to ‘walking’ across the surface.
Microfiber Pads
Defining the differences between microfiber pads isn’t eas. It would seem that no one brand or company has created a ‘standard’ version. This leads to some confusion when ordering differing pads between brands.
In general, microfiber pads typically come in two varieties – cutting & compounding or polishing & finishing. And if you stick with one brand, you should soon learn how their system works.
Wool Pads
At first thought, you might think that a big, soft, smooth wool pad would be the ultimate in finishing. The final step to creating the ultimate in smooth paintwork. However, the reality is that these are more of an all-rounder that works well. It would still require you to use a separate finishing pad for that glass-like smoothness.
The Best Buffing Pads
TCP Global Buffing Kit with 6 Pads and Backing Plate
- Rating: 4.9 / 5
- Brand: TCP Global
This really is the ultimate starting out kit. It offers five different waffle foam pads, one woolen buffing pad and the backing/drive plate to use them with your buffing machine. Everything you need to get started, all in one kit.
They’re also color-coded. On the reverse of the pads, it tells you what color is for what job. It’s got black for final finishing, red for heavy cutting, orange for medium cutting, blue for light cuts and green for a soft polish. You really can’t go too far wrong with these buffing pads.
Each pad is supplied with a hook & loop fastening system. They attach to the (included) 5/8″ threaded backing plate and the fasteners hold the pads firm. There’ll be none of the slipping off that you may find with other kits.
Because of the variety, you’ll find that there really is very little that you can’t polish. You can pretty much polish any hard surface from heavily oxidized paintwork to hard clear coats and any light swirling.
The foam pads themselves are open cell, and waffled. This helps to maintain a thermal efficiency by improving airflow to the contact area. The design also helps to reduce ‘sling’ of the product.
I also like the fact that at 8″, these pads are pretty sizeable. It makes the task of polishing a complete car, pretty easy and fast. However, some may find them a little too large when it comes down to smaller nooks and crannies. It’s a trade-off.
#1 starting kit, for pretty much all your polishing, cutting and waxing needs.
Chemical Guys Hex-Logic Buffing Sampler Kit
- Rating: 4.6 / 5
- Brand: Chemical Guys
The title says it all really. It’s a sampler kit of the Chemical Guys best-selling buffing pads and a 16 oz. bottle of CGs polishing pad cleaning compound to keep them in tippy-top condition.
The pads themselves measure up at 5.5″, the usual suspects all make pads that are 6″ though. This must be the ‘Guys’ trying to differentiate themselves, or making you invest in their equipment. Even being slightly smaller, you can still get away with a 6″ backing plate, if you’re a little more careful.
These hex-logic pads have been designed and engineered to satisfy the needs of professional detailers. The open-cell foam allows for maximum airflow to the surface, meaning great thermal control and partly less sling.
Three different grades come in the kit. Orange is for medium to heavy cutting. White is light to medium polishing. And the black pad is for finishing on all surfaces with all compounds.
If you already have the backing pad, then this is a useful kit for tackling a number of jobs or prepping a car start to finish. It goes through the cutting to final finishing. It’s a great kit, at a good price. The pad cleaning and rejuvenating fluid is an added bonus that will help you get more life from the pads.
These 3M pads are 8″ diameter foam compounding pads that can be used on any standard rotary polisher. They’re used for light defects and surface scratches. They offer fast cutting ability. However, I think this is one of those products that might benefit from a little mix & matching with various compounds for best results.
The shaped and convoluted foam face easily conforms to the various shut lines, panel curves and body lines that you’ll find on pretty much any vehicle. The open-cell foam helps to keep the pad cooler when in use. It accepts just the right amount of polishing or cutting compound without any sling off.
The pads also have a hook & loop backing, but you need a backing plate to attach them to. This is purely for two compounding pads. They aren’t cheap, but the 3M equipment is legendary in the automotive world.
Griot’s Garage Foam Waxing Pad
- Rating: 4.3 / 5
- Brand: Griot’s Garage
This is rather a specific product, but Griot’s do a range of these pads. This just happens to be a waxing pad that I’ve chosen for the review. If you need something else, it’s definitely worth checking out the other pads in this range.
The reticulated foam reduces the build-up of heat, but does seem to absorb more product than other pads here. Even with that absorption rate, the sling isn’t too much of an issue with the Griot’s pad. It has a completely flat face. When used correctly, it produces a shine that’s hard to match. This really does look to the #1 pad for shine production.
The Griot’s pad uses a high-quality open-cell foam that seems to be more tear-resistant than other foam pads. It’s been thermoset bonded to the backing. This means there will be no issues of it coming loose from the backing (which is actually quite common). This pad is completely machine washable and reusable that offers great value for the money.
As with most of the other products here, you’ll need a separate backing pad. But, if you didn’t already own something like this, it’s doubtful you’d be looking at individual pads in the first place!
PORTER-CABLE Lambs Wool Polishing Pad
- Rating: 4.1 / 5
- Brand: PORTER-CABLE
A very thick, yet pliable covering of lamb’s wool which adapts to contours and body lines with no issues whatsoever. Porter-Cable says that it delivers an unrivaled shine to any paintwork or gloss surface.
It will fit on any 6″ hook & loop backing pad and will work with any random orbital or dual action polisher. It’s machine washable which also means reusable, but you do need to be careful when washing it. It’s best to hand wash it and line dry it.
It’s virtually impossible to cause any damage with this woolen pad if it’s used correctly. However, there some people that say that lambswool pads don’t deliver the 100% glossiest finish of all. I think you’d need to be a professional detailer to know the difference.
For this type of money, and with Porter-Cable’s reputation, you really won’t find a wool polishing pad that can equal the performance or value for money. That’s why it’s in the list of the best buffing pads.
Viking Car Care Microfiber Applicator Pads
- Rating: 4.0 / 5
- Brand: Viking Car Care
Little blue pillows of soft goodness. Strictly speaking, these aren’t ‘buffing pads’, but they offer such good value, and can do so much. They’re definitely worth considering as an alternative to a traditional buffing pad.
There’s no method of attachment to a backing pad for them to be used in a machine. These are hand use only. However, these pads are great inside, outside, on the wheels, in the garage, and in the home.
If you have the need to wipe, apply, or polish anything, reach for one of these blue pads. They’ll make a huge difference to the job. For the money, you could buy a few packs of these and just keep them scattered around the home.
So, it’s a 5″ diameter pad, there’s 6 in each pack and of course, you could class them as double-sided. That’s a huge amount of surface area for cleaning or applying creams and products. It’s a very soft microfiber. They feel quite plush to the touch. They also soak up products quite well, which means an even distribution.
It’s completely machine washable and reusable, but as with all thing’s microfiber, you need to avoid softeners and the like, because that can ruin microfiber.
Griot’s Garage Glass Polishing Pad
- Rating: 3.9 / 5
- Brand: Griot’s Garage
This is another product that’s not quite a buffing pad or at least not as we’d expect it. However, it deserves a place here because the glass bits of a car often get overlooked. They just get wiped over with a towel once they’ve been rinsed.
The purpose of the glass polishing pad is similar to that of the other buffing pads. It’s not there to remove deep scratches and damage but to buff out minor imperfections like swirl marks and everyday wear & tear. When used in conjunction with the Griot’s Fine Glass Polish, this pad works remarkably well.
It’s a reasonably stiff, woven synthetic material, with a flat face for perfect polishing, and it’s pretty aggressive (do NOT mix this up for a bodywork pad). Griot’s say that it’s great for ‘bug jerky’ removal (which I’ve not heard that saying before, I likey very much.) They say the water will bead off the glass ‘like a beaver’. They’ve got some great marketing guys at Griot’s.
The pads are reusable and washable and are best cleaned with the GG’s microfiber and foam pad cleaning kit. This should help them last for many a time. The hook & loop backing works with most backing plates. For anyone with a car that’s seen a few seasons and is into detailing, these are a must-have.
