 |  |
[ Home > RV Polishers,
Buffers & Pads > Dual-Action & Orbital Polishers,
Pads & Accessories > New, 4 inch, CCS Technology, Spot Repair Pads ]
 New, 4 inch, CCS Technology, Spot Repair Pads
Size does matter!
One of the secrets to
successful machine polishing is knowing both what type of foam pad to use
and what size pad to use. I find the optimum size for whole panel (i.e.
hood, trunk, fender, etc.) polishing is 6.5 to 7.5 inches. If I'm working on a
specific blemish or paint defect, I prefer working with a 4 inch pad. This pad
size allows me to focus on just the problem area and not affect the surrounding
paint.
With a little experience,
you'll soon be able to visually determine what type of pad to use for a specific
problem. Deeper scratches (ones you can feel with your fingernail) and most
acid-rain spots require aggressive compounding. This means a wool disc (for
maximum cutting power) and follow-up polishing with a finishing polish using a
foam polishing pad. Our Spot Repair Kit is perfect for correcting these deeper,
paint defects.
For minor defects, such as
swirls, fine scratches, washing lines and insect stains, compounding with a wool
disc is over-kill. Wool discs can produce compounding haze (surface dullness)
which necessitates the second polishing step to restore surface gloss. A better
solution would be our 4 inch, CCS Power Pad Jr.
What is CCS Technology?
In September of 2006, at Automekanica,
Frankfurt, Germany, this
orange, German, Power Pad foam was introduced with Closed Cell Structure (CCS) Technology. The newer, harder,
scratch-resistant clear coats require longer polishing times to remove swirls,
spots and defects. The longer you polish with conventional foam pads, the less
effective they become because polish migrates below the working surface of the
pad. The pad "dries out."
| CCS Technology solves this problem using
strategic patterns of partially closed foam cells. These cells slow the rate of
polish absorption, gradually releasing polish as needed by the operator. CCS
Pockets reduce surface tension, prevent pad skipping and allow the operator to
run the pad flat on the working surface. |
|
|
These 4 inch, CCS Pads also feature the latest, Constant Pressure™ technology.
Constant pressure may not be good for people but it's great for polishing pads
where you want a uniform and constant pressure on the surface being polished.
Professionals have learned through experience to keep their machines parallel to
the surface being polished. Tilting the machine in any direction can
result in an uneven and excessive pressure being transferred to the painted
surface. |
|
|
Blue "Constant
Pressure" foam backing
absorbs unwanted polishing motions. |
|
This new, patented, Constant Pressure technology uses a layer of
engineered, instant rebound foam between the pad and the backing plate to absorb
off-axis movements while keeping the pressure of the pad on the surface
constant. It allows even beginners to achieve professional-like results.
Six different pads are
available.
Orange - most aggressive cut. For removing
swirls, scratches and paint
defects. This pad works very well with
Menzerna Intensive
Polish.
White - mild polishing pad. For finish
polishing or restoring surface gloss.
This pad works well with BLACKFIRE Gloss Enhancing Polish
and
Menzerna Final Polish
II.
Green - mild polishing power for removing light
swirls yet finishes to
a
high gloss. Excellent on German paints and for applying
one-step, polish/sealants.
Black - finessing pad for removing holograms
and micro marring
defects
Red - final polishing/finishing pad. Use
this pad to apply your favorite
glaze, sealant or wax.
Gold - concours finishing pad. The softest pad
available for any
final process.
|
|
This orange, CCS, Power Pad Jr. is made from the same German foam used by European and domestic
automakers to spot repair paint defects at the factory.
This unique foam
formula offers the cutting power of a compounding foam and the gloss
enhancing characteristics of a polishing foam.
|
|
|
4 inch diameter CCS Power Pad Jr.
|
This 4 inch, CCS, Power Pad Jr. will remove 2000 grit sanding
traces, swirls and paint defects with minimal or no surface dullness.
I've had excellent results
using this CCS, Power Pad Jr. with Menzerna Final Polish II and
Menzerna Intensive Polish. I've been able
to remove minor swirls, scratches and paint defects in one step, without
any surface dullness.
|
|
On deeper scratches I couldn't quite entirely remove, I used a two-step
process.
First, I went over the scratch using
Menzerna's Intensive Polish with
the Power Pad Jr. After wiping off any residues, I followed with
Menzerna's Final Polish II using this 4 inch White, CCS Polishing Pad. This
has done the trick every time and it's quick!
|
|
|
4 inch diameter
White, CCS Polishing Pad
|
I've gotten away with
using Menzerna Intensive Polish and the Power Pad Jr. on light color
paints without any follow-up, finish polishing. On black and red paints, I
would recommend giving the surface a quick once-over with Menzerna Final
Polish using the White Polishing Pad.
|
| Green foam offers a
mild polishing power yet leaves the surface with a high gloss finish. It is
excellent on German finishes including the new scratch-resistant clear
coats. Use this pad with any
final/finishing polish or one-step, polish/sealant. |
 |
|
4 inch diameter
Green, CCS Polishing Pad |
This black,
glazing/finessing pad has a very gentle cleaning action. It should be used
to apply a glaze or a finessing polish.
Use this glazing pad to apply Menzerna Finishing Touch Glaze,
3M Imperial Hand Glaze, and Meguiar's No. 7 Show Car Glaze.
You can also use this pad to apply
Meguiar's No. 3 Machine Polish and 3M Finesse-It II Machine Polish. |
 |
|
4 inch diameter
Black, CCS Finessing Pad |
| This
red, glazing/finessing/finishing pad has almost no cutting polishing power
but is softer than the black pad. It should be used to apply a glaze or a
finessing polish.
Some detailers and body shops use
both a machine polish and a glaze. Having two colors of glazing pads
allows them to dedicate a specific color pad for a specific product to
avoid cross contamination.
|
|
|
4 inch diameter Red,
CCS Polishing Pad
|
| Our super-soft, gold,
Concours finishing pad is designed for applying the final wax or sealant to
create the absolute best shine. This gold foam is forty percent softer than
the red glazing/finessing foam listed above (100 pores per inch compared to
60 pores per inch for the red foam). The extra cell count means these gold
pads disperse wax and sealants more evenly. |
 |
|
inch diameter
Gold, CCS Finishing Pad |
|
|
|
|
This door scratch
appeared after
a trip to a local shopping mall.
|
Spot compound first
using Menzerna
Intensive Polish with the Power Pad Jr.
|
|
|
|
|
Spot polish next
using Menzerna
Final Polish with the White Polishing Pad
|
Buff residues and
finish with a wax coat.
Total elapsed time - about 17 minutes.
|
If using the Porter Cable
7424 dual-action polisher, start with a speed setting between 3-1/2 and
4. If using a circular polisher, set the speed limit control between
1000 and 1100 rpm.
|
|
|
|
|
Set the speed dial
between 3-1/2 and 4
if using the Porter Cable 7424.
|
Start with a speed
of 1000 rpm
if using a circular polisher.
|
Required Back-up Plate:
The 4 inch Power Pad Jr. and 4 inch White Polishing Pad require a
3-1/2 inch Hook and Loop Backing Plate. Select our model FBP-3.5DA if using
the Porter Cable 7424 polisher and our model FBP-4C if using a
high-speed, circular polisher.
Follow-up
Note: I've had the Power Pad Jr. and the 4 inch White
Polishing Pad in my detailing arsenal for two months now and they've
become my most often used pads. I maintain three vehicles (my car, my
wife's car and the company van). I use the larger foam pads at least
twice a year to detail these vehicles but I'm constantly using these 4
inch pads to remove stains, spots, swirls and scratches. Whether you're
a novice or a seasoned professional at machine polishing, these pads are
a worthy addition to your foam pad collection.
WARNING: Never
clean foam pads or soak foam pads in dishwashing soap (Dawn) or laundry
detergents. These detergents will attack the glue that holds the Hook and
Loop backing material. Soak pads in a car wash shampoo or use Snappy Clean Pad
Cleaning Powder.
|
|
|