Technical After color sanding, buff with foam or Wool pad ?

Yup have orange peel..See both being used after color sanding the top finish coat.( now ready to buff) Which is the better to use the wool fabric or foam pad ? Gene

 

According to my son, who was a detailer: the wool pad will cut faster than the foam pad, so that should help guide your decision. If you're comfortable with buffing and familiar with the techniques, then you could use the wool pad. If you're fairly new to buffing, or unsure of your abilities, then go with the foam pad - it'll be more forgiving. Be sure to pay attention with the foam pad, as it can build up heat if working the same spot too long.

 

depends on what grit paper and buffing products
single stage or base/clear?
what type of paint?
I like foam and hate the old school heavy compounds

 

Be careful with foam pads ,they have cutting and buffing pads. If you are a rookie at buffing fresh paint tape the edges . Burn through can be a total buzz kill.

 

I like the foam pads,
But I usually block sand the clear with 600 wet , sand it flat then shoot another flow coat of clear. Then it lays really slick, 2000 the nibs out and foam pad.

 

They have sand paper as fine as 5000
3m color matches the foam pad to match the compound/polish
They also have some nice videos on YouTube

 

Has the paint been on for a while or is it fresh, your comfort level with buffing, the type or rpm of your buffer these are all considerations in the pad you chose, also old paint and many of the high solid paints get hard so a more aggressive pad and compound may work best.

 

I like foam pads...they can be very forgiving but you need to know when to change them. Each color pad has it's own level of abrasion. I find them to give you more accuracy than the wool pads.

 

i really like the foam pads and the matching compounds.........i use the wool pads to wash cars and on my floor jack to keep from scratching chassis paint.

 

here is a good video on the 3m stuff
this does not cover the sanding steps for removing the orange peel
this would cover the steps for after wetsanding the orange peel

 

Wool pads make my nose itch! lol But seriously I have used foam pads for over 25 years and The results are always award wining. This paint job is now 13 years old in this picture. Larry

 

I use wool because it cuts a little faster then foam

 

I start with wool ( step 1 ) and finish with foam ( steps 2 & 3 ) using 3M products.

 

I usually use wool then foam for polishing, like the others. Mostly because I like to wait a month before sanding and buffing, so the paint is really hard. Foam will do it, though, if you're not experienced with a buffer. wool cuts FAST!

 

I have been completely happy using foam pads on both acrylic lacquer and catalyzed enamel. I believe that the compound determines the cutting speed. Keep your foam pad or wool pad immaculately clean and store is plastic bags. A chunk of grit on the pad will ruin your day.