Marine detailing..pad / bonnet recommendations

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Cjmac

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Looking for recommendations on foam pad or any pad kind type for applying wax with a 6in dual action polisher . I use collinite 885 fleatwax paste and my arm and shoulder can't take anymore lol was wondering if there is a certain type foam pad that would be good to spread this with? as iv tried one from chemical guys local shop . A red finishing pad . I was able to swipe it in the can some what and just use the hand applicator to put some on the surface I was working . But it seems like it's going on EXTREMELY THIN . So much that you have to really look hard to see a haze . I have great eyesight lol the pad is obviously got wax on it cause I went over a piece of the cleat and it left a very thin layer over it . Is it possible that the gelcoat is just soaking in the very thin layer ? Its in very good shape but is 10 years old , no oxidation. Should I try a terry cotton bonnot over the foam pad ? Maby a different type of foam pad ?
 
Cjmac said:
Looking for recommendations on foam pad or any pad kind type for applying wax with a 6in dual action polisher . I use collinite 885 fleatwax paste and my arm and shoulder can't take anymore lol was wondering if there is a certain type foam pad that would be good to spread this with? as iv tried one from chemical guys local shop . A red finishing pad .

I was able to swipe it in the can some what and just use the hand applicator to put some on the surface I was working . But it seems like it's going on EXTREMELY THIN . So much that you have to really look hard to see a haze .

I have great eyesight lol the pad is obviously got wax on it cause I went over a piece of the cleat and it left a very thin layer over it . Is it possible that the gelcoat is just soaking in the very thin layer ? Its in very good shape but is 10 years old , no oxidation.

Should I try a terry cotton bonnot over the foam pad ? Maby a different type of foam pad ?
Click to expand...

Great questions.

Here's how you best apply a paste wax by machine onto gel-coat and that's by using a foam polishing pad. And yes, some of the wax is going to go into the foam that's the nature of foam - it absorbs.

If you use a cotton or microfiber bonnet OVER a foam pad to apply a paste wax, or even a liquid wax, you're going to run into the same issue only the issue will be compounded because now you'll have wax seeping into the bonnet and past the bonnet and then into the foam.

One way around this would be to use a piece of plastic, like from a plastic shopping bag from a mini-mart, placed between the foam pad and the bonnet. Then the bonnet will still saturate with wax but it shouldn't seep into the foam due to the plastic bag interface.

Another option would be to use a THIN foam pad, whichever the thinnest foam pad is you can find now days, and then accept that it's going to saturate with wax. Then after you're done waxing your boat - set it aside some place that it will remain clean, out of the open air where airborne dirt and dust could land on the surface, and save it for the next time. That is, don't try to wash the wax out, just leave it in there. This isn't a GREAT solution, just A solution.

Part of the issue you are experiencing is the oscillating action of an orbital polisher is a VIOLENT action in context over time. Plus the fact that after you place wax on the face of the pad or bonnet and the place the face of the pad/bonnet against the surface of boat, then turn the polisher on - the pressure and the violent action of the pad against the surface of the boat means the wax is going to go INTO the bonnet and/or foam. It's a natural cause and effect.


I don't know if any of the above helps, but the above is what I can sort out in my head then share with my keyboard. :)


-Mike Phillips
 
Ahh. Yeah that answers a lot of questions. We have some good heavy duty industrial plastic here at work . Could use some scotch tape to hold ot to the foam pad then put the bonnet on . I wish thay made a backing bas that was solid sponge like those cheap 'waxer' has on them . Other wise I feel it would take TONS of was to get the 6in pad 'loaded'
 
What about a closed cell foam pad . I just found after days of searching lol looks like lake country makes something like that

Lake Country Hydro-Tech pads

:)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Cjmac said:
What about a closed cell foam pad . I just found after days of searching lol looks like lake country makes something like that
Click to expand...

Closed cell foam pads are touted as blocking the liquids from migrating into the pad and on paper this sounds good but in reality - it doesn't work. Just use one of these types of pads ONE time and see what happens.

It has to do with physics - you put product on the face of the pad then press the pad against the gel coat, (or paint if you're working on a car), and the liquid GOES INTO the foam, closed cell or open cell.

Then there's the VIOLENT action I mentioned previously. You turn a Porter Cable 7424 polisher on the 5-6 speed setting and this is a violent action at the surface level of the pad and this with pressure over time will force liquids into any type of foam.

Here's the worst part of closed-cell foam - while it's fairly easy to get liquids INTO the foam, wait until you try to wash these same liquid OUT of the foam.


Tough nut to crack. I have articles that really old that talk about machine applying paste waxes and pad saturation has been and always will be an issue unless someone comes out with a pad that has a VERY THIN outer surface and some kind of impermeable interface behind the outer foam surface.


Mike
 
Sounds like plastic over a foam finish pad with cotton bonnet over it is going to be the best option?.. the cheaper little polisher you can find at Walmart and such have a solid plastic layer of yellow something glued to a similar soft foam of some sort . It definitely doesn't absorb anything. ..im almost willing to try to glue a plyable piece of thick plastic on a cheap foam pad to see what happens 🤔??
 
Cjmac said:
This is interesting. Vinyl backing ?
Click to expand...

That bonnet is what I was describing. Looks like WEN figured out the same thing we figured out and sells the solution. I say go for it and let us know what you think. Washing them out will still be and issue because by their very nature - waxes are NOT water soluble.

I can't count how many times someone has asked me, or complained about how difficult it is to wash waxes and sealant out of their applicator pads, both hand applicator pad and machine buffing pads. What they don't understand is very simple.

If the wax or sealant washed OUT of your applicator pad EASILY - this means it would WASH OFF your car or boat easily. Duh.



Looking forward to hearing what you think about these bonnets.


Mike Philips
 
I think I'll give it a try ! Yeah iv heard people complain about that also lol. Something so easy is sometimes the hardest to understand.. I normally only have to wax the boat about 2 or 3 times a year . Long as I just use little regular boat soap . Most times lots of fresh water and a rag will do the work to get saltwater and fish guts off .. for as cheap as thay are ill just use them and toss them . Would only be a few times a year . I'd rather save my neck and shoulders a lot of pain than save a few dollars lol
 
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