Buffing pads are circular tools to polish paint and other hard materials, such as metal. They're most commonly made of foam, wool, or microfiber. Some pads are meant for manual use while others attach to power tools. They can also be useful in applying wax or sealant. Our review team found that the optimal RPM range for compounding is between 1750 to 2500 RPM. However, the optimal RPM range for finishing is between 1200 to 1750 RPM. We recommend making sure you use a drill, polisher, power buffer, or angle grinder that can support the following speed ranges for the most effective buffing job. Buffing Pad Care Quality : This buffing pad kit has some of the highest quality pads that we tested, second only to Chemical Guys buffing pads. We don’t think you’ll have any complaints about the quality and effectiveness of these buffing pads. Quality : The quality of the polishing pads included in this kit were unmatched. Comparable to the other polishing pad kit in this review, this kit is lightyears ahead of the competition. Other polishing pads leave residue or bits of fiber behind, whereas these polishing pads didn’t leave behind a trace. Versatility : As this is a polishing pad-specific kit, it won’t be very versatile. Polishing takes place at the very end of the buffing process, meaning these pads are only useful for a small portion of said process.

Durability : By design, polishing pads will be less durable than buffing pads. Buffing pads are meant to be rough and abrasive, to an extent, while polishing pads are all about softness and light touches. We experienced some loss of wool fibers throughout our testing process. What Customers Are Saying A team member used each buffing pad with a cordless drill and an orbital polisher, specifically the TORQX Random Orbital Polisher . During the testing process, our review team took note of each buffing pad’s performance against the following criteria:Uses less product: Unlike a towel or other applicator, a buffing pad uses less polish, which can save you money.

Quality : All of the pads included in this kit were extremely high-quality. Even after we finished buffing and polishing our testing vehicle, these pads seemed to be in superior condition to any other that we used. Buffing pads aren’t designed to be used once and then thrown away. Even if they were, it would be relatively expensive to do so. If your buffing pad comes with a dedicated pad cleaner, like Chemical Guys’ buffing pads do, then you simply need to follow the company’s instructions. If not, you may need to machine or hand wash your buffing pads. Material: Buffing pads are made from various materials. Consider how the pad will be used and against what surface to decide the best material. Removes scratches: Buffing pads are most effective in removing defects from surfaces and they are more efficient than applicators such as a towel. Versatility : One of the most important characteristics of a buffing pad is how much of the buffing process it can effectively work for. Kits with numerous different applicator pads for buffing, cutting, and polishing scored highest in this category.

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Versatility : This buffing kit is certainly versatile, and the pads included will undoubtedly allow you to fully and effectively complete the buffing process. The only reason this kit doesn’t have a perfect score for this testing category is because there are a few more comprehensive options available. Meguiar's DA polishing power pads are accessories for the Meguiar's DA Power System Tool G3500 that are designed to help to remove light swirls from your car. This can restore the glossy finish of the car paint. This set includes two 4-inch diameter foam pads that allow you to reach nearly any surface of your vehicle. You can wash and re-use these pads and use them to polish or apply wax. Quality : Arguably the most important characteristic of a buffing pad is its quality. The material makeup of the pad, whether the pad left scratches, and the effectiveness of the pad during the buffing process were all taken into consideration. Surface paint: Consider the paint on the surface you're going to be using the buffing pad against. There are different buffing pads that manufacturers recommend using for clear coats, dark paint, etc. The Chemical Guys hex-logic medium-heavy cutting pad is 6 inches in diameter to help cover more surface area and is more efficient than smaller pads.