I use the foam pads on my buffer and just wash them and use them over and over. On the orbiter I wash the terry cloth bonnets.

 

Scottwood,

Thanks for the compliments!! The clay is just one step... But it does work. My favorite is the swirl removal. It's where you really see the difference between the new and old paint...

IMO, there is a HUGE difference between the polishers. I have one of those $40 pep boys polishers, and I haven't used it in years. I don't intend to either. Once you play with the porter cable, everything except a rotary becomes a toy. The rotary is an extremely powerful buffer than can ruin the paint if used incorrectly. Have you ever seen what look like holograms on a car? That's improper use of a rotary. It's a shame, because most people that attempt to use them don't know how, and the car ends up in worse shape than before. Not to mention it has the ability to remove large quantities of the clear coat, and can even burn through the paint.

The porter cable can fix 75% of the problems that a rotary can, but with none of the dangers of using the rotary. I have a rotary buffer that i've been trained on, and have actually put that on the shelf in favor of the PC as well, just because of how careful you have to be with the rotary. The PC is safer, and because of that, more fun to use. It's easily the best money you can spend in maintaining your car.

The pads are reusable. I soak mine in a dawn dishwashing solution, wring them out, and then let them air dry. I've washed em in the washing machine before, but soaking in dawn seems to work better.

But there are 3 different pads, made for 3 different purposes, so as long as you're using the same product, they don't need to be 100% free of the product to use, just free of the contamination and buildup...

- Jared

 

Thanks

Maybe I will have to have a little talk with Santa.