How to prime pads
Written by: Vinnie van Rooij
Priming pads can help you to achieve good polishing results the first time, and will make the polishing slightly easier. To prime a pad isn’t mandatory, but like anything else in the world of detailing, it is good practice to start the job properly.
Contents
Why the need to prime pads
When you start out polishing, the pad itself contains no polish. It is clean. When you start using the pad it will slowly get saturated with polish. If a pad isn’t primed, it might be a bit grabby, give you less result and in some cases it can even create marring when there is not enough lubrication between the pad and the surface. Heat buildup can also play a role in this.
How to prime a pad
Priming a pad isn;t very difficult, the whole idea is to saturate the surface of the pad with polish in order to prevent the symptoms mentioned above. This can be done in several different ways, here is one example of how to do this:
- Put a few dots on the polishing pad (like you normally do)
- Put one line across the polishing pad
- Put the machine on the surface, and set the speed at the lowest setting
- Slowly increase the speed while moving gently over the surface with hardly any pressure
- Set the speed so that it rotates, but with the lowest speed possible
- After a few passes (you’ll see the polish disappearing) turn off the machine
- Apply another few drops and another line across the pad
- repeat step 3, 4 and 5 until the polish is almost gone
- Your pad is now primed and ready to go nuts
Another way of priming your pads would be to rub the polish in with your finger. Put a cross on the polish pads with polish, and go from edge to edge. Then rub the polish in with your finger. Just be sure to check the pad after your first pass, to make sure that the surface of the pad is evenly covered in polish. When the pad is primed and slightly saturated, you’ll need less polish on your next pass.
Other methods
If you prime your pad, and how to do it differs from person to person. Some people don’t prime their pads, but just take it easy on the first few goes. OThers always prime, even if they do a spot repair. It all comes down to personal preference. You also might encounter that priming isn’t necessary on very hard paintwork, but is mandatory on softer paintwork.
If you are starting up a business, it is important to market your business, otherwise people will not know you exist. But how do you do this? How do you make them aware of your presence and service, and then make them come to you? It is something that is difficult for any business. This is why there is big money in marketing. However, there are some reasonably simple steps you can take to get things started....-
Edging is the practice of polishing around the edges before polishing the rest of the panel. This means that you take the time to polish these relative sensitive areas first before working on the complete panel.This minimizes the risk of a strike through or burn through on the edge of the paintwork....
-
An engine bay cleaner is a specific product that is designed to clean engine. This very heavy degreaser is designed to remove caked on carbon deposits, stubborn grime and dirt and caked on dust and sand....
-
It is often asked on detailing fora and social media: "what is the best TFR, Fallout Remover or Engine Bay Cleaner". Off course there is a difference between certain products and brands, but it is important to know what you are asking. In this guide I will try to explain what the problem is with this question unless it is asked more in-depth....
-
The two-bucket method is possibly to most known and most used technique used by detailers and professionals, to wash a vehicle. It is one of 3 different types of washing a vehicle that are widely considered to be safe and correct ways of cleaning a surface....
-
Auto Finesse is an UK based brand of detailing products, although their aim lies mainly with automotive detailing, they also sells several items that can be used for marine detailing, motorbike detailing and/or aircraft detailing....
Links to this article
There are no external links to this article. Yet.