Foam Pads

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Foam Pad Selection Criteria

The features that distinguish quality foam pads; the use of various, engineered foams imported from Europe that are specifically designed for machine compounding, polishing and buffing. Engineered refers to various levels of abrasive ability or grit number rating. The vast majority of domestically produced foam is designed for air filtration, not machine polishing. Foams from low cost countries cannot match the quality, performance and consistency of quality European specialty foams that are manufactured to ISO 9000 quality standards. The pads used at the OEM level worldwide (Audi, BMW, Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, GM, Porsche, VW, etc.) including those produced by 3M are all made from European foams. In most cases, these foams are substantially more expensive than domestic foams due to currency fluctuations, ocean shipping, and customs duty and import tariffs. If you're looking at a modestly priced pad at your local auto parts or department store, it’s highly unlikely that they are made with quality European foam.


The abrasion or cutting ability of a foam pad relative to its composition, the work is approximately distributed, 60% product, 30% foam composition density, pores per inch (PPI) and 10% pressure applied and/or speed of rotation or oscillation.


Types of foam, compression, tensile strength, and density - are some of the factors that affect a foams abrasive (cutting) ability. These factors all affect the flexibility of the foam under pressure and torque;


Types of foam

Reticulated foam is less dense than polymerized foam; due to this density the polish provides the abrasive ability as opposed to the foams composition.

  • Compression / Rebound - compression load deflection is the measurement of how long the foam takes to regain shape after under certain pressure, foam pads should be compressed to no more than approx 50% of its thickness
  • Tensile strength – the strength of a material refers to the material's ability to resist an applied force
  • Density - provides a protective cushion allowing foam compression to maintain constant surface pressure and it also lessens machine vibration. It also affects the amount of polish the pad will hold; foams that hold a high volume of product allows the polish to do the cutting, as opposed to the abrasiveness of the foam.
  • 1.25 inch pad thickness was set as an industry standard because it prevented residues and provided insulation from friction heat from reaching the backing plate, either of which could compromise the Velcro® delaminating backing material. There is a safety margin between the edge of the baking material and the foam with this ‘standard’ foam pad. This foam density provides a protective cushion allowing foam compression to maintain constant surface pressure and it also lessens machine vibration.
  • Like all things related to tools, pad thickness comes down to personal preference. I should also state that a 7/8th- inch thickness foam has it backing material flush with the edge of the pad, while the 1.25-inch has a safety margin between the edge of the baking material and the foam, there is also has a cost saving on the 7/8 foam


  • The greater number of pores per inch (PPI) generally equates to foam that is softer; and has less abrasive ability, less density, more porosity and easier compression


  • Abrasive Cutting Foam (40 pores per inch)
  • Medium Cutting Foam (50 pores per inch)
  • Light Cutting Foam (60 pores per inch)
  • Finishing Foam (70 pores per inch)
  • Fine Application (80 pores per inch)
  • Ultra-Fine Finishing (100 pores per inch)


  • Going through the grits - What does this mean?” No it’s not a reference to eating breakfast in Georgia! It’s a very similar idea to ‘Least aggressive first’ it refers to the process of using different grit finishing papers of progressively finer grit or foam / wool pads with progressively denser pads to get a smooth finish. By going through the grits each progressive piece of grit finishing paper or pad removes the scratches from that previously used. Always start with the least abrasive combination , i.e. a machine polish and the least aggressive foam / wool pad. If that combination doesn't remove the imperfections, using the same machine polish and change to a more aggressive pad, if the surface imperfections remain, then step-up the abrasive polish and use the least next level (abrasive)


  • What is meant by a 'grit' number? When talking about finishing paper "grit" is a reference to the number of abrasive particles per square inch of finishing paper. The lower the grit number the more abrasive the finishing paper and conversely, the higher the grit number the smoother the finishing paper. This make sense if you imagine how small the particles on an 1000-grit finishing paper would need to be to fit into a 1 - inch square.


  • Scratches are identified by the equivelant marks that would be made by finishing paper grit (i.e. 2500 grit finishing paper would require a 2500 grit rated polish and pad to remove them)


  • Foam Pads are also rated on a grit number, that is to say the scratches they will remove after using grit finishing paper along with a similarly rated polish(i.e. 2500 grit rated pad and polish will remove the marks left after using 2500 grit finishing paper)


800 -1000 grit Heavy - (Compound) levels and removes heavy defects - CAS = 8/10


1200 grit Heavy - levels moderate to heavy defects - CAS = 7/10


1500 grit Medium - levels light to moderate defects - CAS = 6/10


2000 grit Moderate - levels light defects and removes hazing - CAS = 5/10


2500 grit Light - levels swirlmarks, light defects and removes hazing - CAS = 4/10


3000 grit Fine - very minor corrective ability, burnishes paint to high gloss CAS = 3/10



The general rules for foam pads

  • Pad size; with smaller pads you gain increased control and maneuverability. Smaller pads generate more friction (heat) with a PC, which breaks down polishes by generating energy over a concentrated area. The random orbiting motion of the PC generates the most power in the centre of the pad (i.e. area of a 6.5 – inch pad is 33 – square inches compared to the area of a 4 – inch pad, which is 12.5 – square inches) This additional cutting power will facilitate the removal of deeper imperfections


  • The opposite is true with rotary buffers. The speed of the outer edge of a smaller (radius) pad is slower than that of a larger (radius) pad. This helps reduce the amount of friction generated, which makes polishing tighter areas much safer.


  • The coarser the abrasive, the faster the cut


  • The more aggressive the pad, the faster the cut


  • Wool cuts faster than lamb’s wool, foamed wools are next, then foam.


  • Foam pads generate more friction induced heat than wool pads


Closed Cell Structure (CCS) Foam Pads:

  • Lake Country Mfg., Inc.- Products - CCS Foam Pads - [1]
  • Pad Application Guide - [2]


Velcro® - is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B.V. Foam pads are attached to a backing plate with a hook and loop attachment. Velcro® is a brand name of fabric hook-and-loop fasteners. It consists of two layers: a "hook" side, which is a piece of fabric covered with tiny hooks, and a "loop" side, which is covered with even smaller loops. When the two sides are pressed together, the hooks catch in the loops and hold the pieces together

George de Mestral named his invention "Velcro" [: a portmanteau of the two French words velours, meaning 'velvet', and crochet, or 'hook'] the term Velcro® is a registered trademark in most countries. Generic terminology for these fasteners includes "hook and loop", "burr" and "touch" fasteners

Flat Foam Pads

Lake Country Flat Foam Pads were the original pads before the introduction of CCS technology. These flat pads tend to ‘splatter’ product and provide full surface contact with the paint, they share the same advanced foam compositions


CCS Foam Pads - patent pending, Closed Cell Structure (CCS) Technology™, from Raisins Schaumstoffe, Gmbh., Germany developed for and used by Mercedes-Benz These pads are manufactured from thermally reticulated, urethane foam with an open cell structure, with 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.


The newer, harder, scratch-resistant clear coats require longer polishing times to remove swirls, spots and defects improves polish performance by slowing and controlling the rate of polish absorption. Quality foam pads used for detailing are manufactured from specially engineered European foam, a blend of thermal reticulated polyurethane with a 90% open cell structure, created specifically for compounding, polishing and finishing vehicle surface paints. This type of foam allows air to circulate through the pad to reduce spot heat build-up.


Collapsed Cell Structures Foam Pad-CCS In September of 2006 this foam was introduced with Closed Cell Structure (CCS) Technology at Automekanica in Frankfurt, Germany. It produces less spot heating and has a unique compression/load/deflection ratio which means it conforms quickly to contours

These advanced, closed cell structure, Hi-Gloss, constant pressure foam pads were specifically developed to polish the new, harder, scratch-resistant clear coats. This includes DuPont's SupraShield™, PPG's Optech™ and CeramiClear™ clear coats and the new, Nanotechnology ceramic clear coats being used by Mercedes Benz since 2004. While these pads were specifically designed for use on these new clear coats, these pads can also be used on conventional clear coats and single stage paints. The Green and Orange CCS 6.5-inch foam pads were specifically developed to polish the new, harder, scratch-resistant clear coats these include DuPont's SupraShield™, PPG's Optech™ and CeramiClear™ clear coats and the new Nanotechnology ceramic clear coats being used by Mercedes Benz. While these pads were specifically designed for use on these new clear coats, these pads can also be used on conventional clear coats and single stage paints.


CCS Green Foam Pad This green pad is designed for applying a final or finishing polish to remove light swirls, paint defects and for gloss restoration. The 99% open cell structure keeps the pad wetter, longer.


CCS Orange Foam Pad Reisgies Schaumstoffe, Gmbh, Germany, has developed a foam formula with the cutting power of compounding and the gloss enhancing characteristics of polishing foam. When used with Menzerna polishing compounds, this orange power pad removes 2000 grit sanding traces, swirls and paint defects with minimal or no surface dullness or haze. Haze is typically removed using increasingly less abrasive polishes until the paint's gloss is restored. This pad creates so little haze that you can often go from compounding right to finishing without the intermediate polishing steps.


These urethane foam pads are unique in the industry and different from any of the other foams; it produces less spot heating and has a unique compression/load/deflection ratio which means it conforms quickly to contours. It is high strength foam with 60 pores per sq. inch yet is softer and more forgiving than regular CCS foams which have 80 pores per sq. inch. This means it can remove minor swirls yet leaves a smooth, haze-free finish.


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, causing the pad to dry-out. This results in dry-polishing a surface, which results in surface marring These foam pads are easy to use, they improve operator control, prevent product waste, reduce surface ‘spot’ heat and help to positively improve polishing end results. The secret to successful machine polishing is using the correct type and size of foam pad, and the correct machine operating speed (RPM) Foam pads are available in various sizes from 3.5 to 8.0- inches diameter, but I have found that for the application of a compound or polish the optimum size of a foam pad for the whole of a vehicle panel (i.e. trunk, hood, fender, etc) is 6.5 x 1.25– inch, that has an effective contact area of 5.5 to 6.0- inches. For ‘spot repair’ on a specific surface blemish or paint defect my preference is a 4- inch pad as this allows me to focus on the problem area without affecting the surrounding area.


These foam pads provide ample surface contact to effectively work the paint. The pockets are small so they don't affect the amount of foam continuously touching the paint during operation. Standard foam pads are flat-cut, CCS foam pads have the top edge rounded over because it prevents pads from snagging while working in tight spaces. Note: you should always be able to clearly see the (open/unclogged) pores of the CCS; pads or you’re using too much product


Do not use the same pad to apply differing products as cross contamination will reduce the effectiveness or completely negate their purpose altogether. A new or freshly cleaned pad must be used with each type of car care product. 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. Closed Cell Structure 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.


Note: you should always be able to clearly see the (open/unclogged) pores of the CCS; pads or you’re using too much product


  • Priming / Seasoning a foam pad -

If you were to apply polish to a body panel, and then place a pad on the surface and turn the machine on, it would be very difficult to control. This is due to most of the pad being "dry". To prime (or season) a pad, lightly mist it with distilled water, slightly raise the back of the machine so you are working with the top 1/3 of the pad. After polishing for a minute or two the pad will become more evenly saturated with product and actually become softer from heat build-up (seasoned). At this point, you can safely transition from a tilted up to a flat polishing position. Every time you put a fresh CCS pad on your machine you should prime and then season it for a minute or two before "flat" polishing.


Polishes and compounds appear to work better when the foam pad is ‘primed’ a very slightly distilled water dampened foam, not too wet otherwise it can effect the cutting ability or dilute the product; do not use a quick detailer (QD) as most are formulated with either a wax or a polymer; however they are not easily adaptable to a spray formula. To be efficient they need to be emulsified to work as a spray, to facilitate this they need to use an emulsion of silicone oils and water. The wax will reduce the friction heat, negatively impacting the diminishing abrasives; silicon-based products can also have a negative effect on the surface / polish lubrication oils used causing surface smearing. Apply the compound or polish to the surface and spread the polish using the foam pad with the machine off. This coats the pad and the surface being polished with product to prevent scratching or hazing the finish, then place the foam pad flat on the surface and turn the machine on. Do no, under any circumstances, turn the polisher on with any portion of the foam pad dry as this will produce hazing.


The appropriate combination of polishing steps (Compounding - Polishing - Finishing) depends on the color, quality of the paint surface and the desired finish quality of the paint surface.


  • Lake County (LC) colors and abrasive ratings- Key (C) Compounding, (H) Heavy, (M) Medium, (L) Light, (F) Finishing (Fi) Finessing


  • Yellow (C) CCS Foam Compound Cutting
  • Orange (M) CCS Foam Compound Polishing
  • Green (L) CCS Foam Heavy Cutting / Polishing
  • White (L) CCS Foam Polishing
  • Black (F) CCS Foam Finishing
  • Blue (Fi) CCS Foam Finishing
  • Gold (Fi) Concours Foam Finishing


  • Yellow & Orange Cutting: These CCS pads have the highest level of cutting ability and are used with heavy levelers and light compounds. (Yellow has slightly more texture than the orange)


  • White & Green Polishing: These CCS pads are used more than any other. They have a mid-range cutting ability and are used with polishes, glazes and light to medium levelers. (White has slightly more texture than the green)


  • Black & Blue Finishing: These CCS pads have no cutting ability and are used for applying finish products. Use with liquid waxes and sealants. (Black has slightly more texture than the blue)


  • Gold Concours Finishing: These CCS pads have no cutting ability, because the foam used is actually softer than the "instant rebound" foam used in our polishing pads, these pads automatically absorb any off-axis motion. If you're finishing a show car with custom paintwork or just want the best shine on your daily driver


1. Yellow Cutting Foam Pad - Use this pad to apply compounds or polishes to remove severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches. An 80% open cell foam it is the most aggressive foam and should not be used on new or like-new paint finishes. Always follow this pad with an orange pad and a fine polish and then a white pad to refine the paint until it is smooth.


2. Orange Light Compound Polishing - mid range, less than 50% open cell high density foam (60 PPI) for scratch and defect removal. Use this pad with polishes and swirl removers. It’s an all around pad that will work on most light to moderate imperfections.


3. Green Heavy Cutting / Polishing Foam Pad - it’s a high strength foam with (60 PPI) and yet is softer and more forgiving than regular foams which have 80 pores per sq. inch. This means it can remove minor swirls yet leaves a smooth, haze-free finish. Use this pad to apply compounds or polishes to remove severe scratches and surface marring, whilst at the same time producing a high gloss swirl free finish, a balance of polishing and finishing and can be followed with a white pad to further refine the finish if reqired


The Green and Orange CCS 6.5-inch foam pads were specifically developed to polish the new, harder, scratch-resistant clear coats these include DuPont's SupraShield™, PPG's Optech™ and CeramiClear™ clear coats and the new Nanotechnology ceramic clear coats being used by Mercedes Benz. While these pads were specifically designed for use on these new clear coats, these pads can also be used on conventional clear coats and single stage paints.


This urethane foam is unique in the industry and different from any of the other foams. In September of 2006 this foam was introduced with Closed Cell Structure (CCS) Technology at Automekanica in Frankfurt, Germany. It produces less spot heating and has a unique compression/load/deflection ratio which means it conforms quickly to contours

Construction

These pads have three separate and uniquely distinct layers. 1. The top foam layer is the European, engineered foam designed for each specific detailing task (i.e. polishing, compounding, glazing, finishing). 2.The middle, black, band is the cool foam layer, rigid, open cell foam designed for maximum air flow. 3.The bottom, blue, foam band is the constant pressure, instant rebound foam that keeps the pad's pressure on the surface uniform.


These advanced pads also feature a curved convex design, this curvature allows easy transitions over seams and ridges.


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, causing the pad to dry-out


4. White Polishing Foam Pad- softer less dense foam (70 PPI) with a light abrasive cutting action for the application of waxes, micro-fine polishes and sealants, this pad has very light cutting power so it’s perfect for pre-wax cleaners.


5. Black Finishing Foam Pad - ultra-smooth foam with no abrasive cutting ability (80 PPI) its composition is firm enough to withstand added pressure during final finishing for removing buffer swirls. It will apply thin, even coats of waxes, sealants, and glazes.


6. Blue Finessing Foam Pad – flat pad has soft composition (100 PPI) for applying glaze, finishing polish, sealants, and liquid waxes. A 99% open cell fat pad provides full contact with paint surface to minimize the pressure applied by the user. Use the blue pad to remove products or for final buffing.


7. Red Ultra soft Wax/Sealant Foam - very soft, imported foam is ideal for applying the final coat of wax or sealant. The foam works especially well when applying liquid waxes or sealants because it is firm enough to keep the majority of the product on the paint, rather than soaking it up. The red foam has no cut or cleaning ability.


8. Gold Concours Finishing foam pad - ultra soft foam. CCS foam pads use 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. This is not required with the gold pads because the foam is actually softer than the "instant rebound" foam used in our other CCS polishing pads, these pads automatically absorb any off-axis motion. If you're finishing a show car with custom paintwork or just want the best shine on your daily driver, use CCS Gold finishing foam pads.


9. Urethane Backing Plates Used by BMW, Mercedes and other German automakers in their assembly plants. Advantages of Flexible, Urethane Backing Plates -[3]

The VELCRO® this fastening material is molded into the plate eliminating delamination.

The flexible edge reduces spontaneous heat build-up when transitioning from flat to contoured surfaces. These plates are recommended for compounding, polishing and finishing "soft" German clear coats.

Vastly reduced heat transfer keeps motor heat from being transferred to the paint surface.

Plated steel threaded insert will not cross-thread.

Reinforced inner construction uses steel struts moulded into the centre hub for superior strength.

Beveled outer edge allows easy pad removal and replacement.

Always use the recommended size backing plate for the sized pad you are using. Never use a backing plate that is larger than the foam pad or disc.


  • Lake County (LC) Foam Pad Starter kit-

CCS Orange 5.5 -inch Light Cutting Foam Pad

CCS White 5.5 -inch Polishing Foam Pad

CCS Black 5.5 -inch Finishing Foam Pad

CCS Blue 5.5 - inch Finessing Foam Pad


* The above foam pads are from Lake County Manufacturing Inc. There is no standardization for the colors used to identify the abrasiveness of foam pads, as a consequence manufacturers adopt their own system of colors, which can lead to confusion


  • Autogeeks (AG) Green foam is very different from Lake County (LC) Green foam although its made and re-labeled by LC


  • Cleaning foam pads ( by hand) - Mix a scoop of 'DP Polishing Pad Rejuvinator' in 3-4 gallons of water before you begin polishing. When you've finished with each pad, place it in the mixture and allow to soak,mild agitation wil release the ingrained polish residue. To obtain thebest results, rinse the pads and allow them to dry by placing them foam side down, thus allowing the water to drain out of the foam.


  • Cleaning foam pads ( by machine) -The Lake County (LC) System 2000 works with a combination of agitation and detergent. The agitator wheels do all the work. You just hold the polisher. You’ll not only have clean pads, you’ll have clean hands. Once you’ve washed the pad, simply tilt the machine so the pad is out of the water. Continue running the polisher to remove the excess water. All the sling-off is contained within the bucket so there’s no mess. The System 2000 Pad Washer comprises;


1. Main Agitator Housing – this sits inside the bucket and houses the 9 agitator wheels. You can adjust the height of the housing to suit your polisher by removing the three adjustable screws from the legs and replacing them at the desired height. The agitator housing is factory-set at 3 inches below the lid opening.

2. Lid with Closable Covers – Swing the covers open to insert the pad (while attached to the buffer). Close the covers to keep sling-off from the pad inside the bucket. At the bottom of the lid’s opening is a cradle for the polisher. Rest the polisher on this cradle when drying the pad. The lid itself is held on the bucket with two housing clamps. To remove the lid, push the clamps out and lift the lid off (avoid lifting the lid by the clamps.)

3. A five 5 Gallon Bucket – the entire cleaning process is contained within the bucket to keep your garage, and your freshly detailed vehicle, clean.


Directions:

• Pour approximately 1 ounce of pad cleaning powder into the bucket and fill it with 3-4 gallons of water. The amount of water may vary according to the height of the pad cleaning plate. The water level should be about 3-4 inches below the top of the pad cleaning plate. The grey pump wheel shown in the picture brings water up to the pad. Reattach the lid.

• Place the used pad (while attached to the polisher) in the opening in the lid. Close the lid covers.

• Operate the polisher at a low speed while holding the pad flat against the pad cleaning plate. Set your rotary polisher to a maximum speed of 1500 to 2000 RPM. Slowly rotate the polisher as it runs.

• To dry the pad, lift the pad so that it’s not resting on the agitator wheels.

• Rest the polisher’s belly on the cradle on the lid. Tilt the pad slightly so it’s not touching the pad cleaning plate

• Continue running the buffer for 15 seconds.

• Stop the buffer before opening the covers. The pad should only be slightly damp. A few minutes in the sun will completely dry the pad


  • Edge 2000 Foam Pads - since they’re double-sided, you get twice the usable surface area out of every pad, and their own Durofoam holds up to frequent use


Yellow Cutting Pad - this pad is aggressive and will cut through deep surface marks and swirls. The yellow pads work well on heavy oxidation and pitted finishes, and will remove wet sand scratches without causing burning.


Green Medium Cutting Pad - useful for light oxidation and moderate to severe swirls and imperfections. This pad will yield amazing results on older vehicles, and should be used on vehicles with moderate swirls and imperfections. Add a compound or pre-wax cleaner for a flawless finish.


Orange Light Cutting Pad – highly versatile, as it can be used on cars with light to moderate swirls and imperfections. Recommend you begin with this pad if you are unsure how deep swirls are, moving up to a Green Medium Cut Pad if necessary.


Blue Polishing Pad - great for regular use, it will leave surface areas scratch-free and smooth while still removing light swirls and imperfections. Use with wax and polish to apply a fine gloss.


White Ultrafine Finishing Pad - ultra smooth and ultra soft, the white pad leaves a bold, crystalline gloss on new and just-detailed vehicles. Apply waxes, sealants, and glazes with the white pad.


As with all Edge pads the Edge Wave Pads do not require a backing plate. They attach to your polisher using the Edge 2000 Drive DA Adapter (E-210), which screws into your Porter Cable 7424 or other dual action polisher.


Information resource

1. Automotive Detailing Inside & Out, A Knowledge Base for the Perfectionist"– by Jon Miller

2. Lake County Manufacturing (LC) website

3. Proper Auto Care website

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