please school me on foam pads....

[beedees]

What pad to use after buffing w/ 3M perfect it 2, using Mothers 83432 polish? Been living under a rock for the last 20 yrs. and am totally confused here....black, orange, yellow, flat-waffle-wavy....huh? I am using a 6" R/O buffer, and I want to practice, so to speak on oxidized B/C -C/C on  a extra car to get the hang of it. Thanks

[Beav]

I can't answer your question.

Check out "AutoGeek.com" 

Some very talented people on those forums....

[Dino]

Look at the ppi (pores per inch) of the pads.  The lowest number is a firm cutting pad, the highest number is the finest to do the finish.  You start with the firmest and progressively move to the finest, utilizing cutting and polishing pastes where appropriate. 

I suggest looking for some videos on how to properly polish paint, it will save you a lot of headache.  Also keep the pad turning slow and keep the polisher moving to prevent burning the paint.  And don't push the polisher down onto the paint, let the polish do the work.

Good luck!   

[polywideblock]

 a quick search found this     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFnmfn9mwYc

[Lord Warlock]

there are plenty of guides online explaining the different colors.  the waffle  shaped tend to work better in final stages of buffing, like light polishing and waxing,  they also tend to be black or grey.  You'll notice the stiffer feeling ones work better for compounding.  BEWARE when using a wool bonnet, I don't recommend using them unless you want swirl marks, and are way too easy to cut through the clear and through color coat in a single 3 to 5 second of holding it too long in one area.  Keep the pad moving at all times.  Red or orange foam don't cut through often.  I have several of each color, but usually use the foam pads with the griots 6 inch buffer (random orbital), I only use wool on the Makita grinder/buffer (non orbital), sometimes you have to remove material, and the wool pad is the best to get the surface smoothed out, but I've had to retouch areas here and there from being distracted.