American Buffing Frequently Asked Questions

Much like a mechanic wouldn't use a monkey wrench to loosen a lug nut simply because it was designed to loosen things, nor should a buffing professional be indiscriminate about which type of foam pad he uses for the job.

The American Buffing foam part number system is set up so that you can always order the same type of foam regardless of pad design. The final digit in the part number will tell you the foam formula.

xx-xx0 White -- This pad has an aggressive cutting action that will remove deeper scratches, severe swirl marks, and heavy oxidation when used in conjunction with heavy polishing compounds.

xx-xx1 Orange -- This European prepolymer foam will remove scratches and swirl marks while leaving a level and smooth surface when used in conjunction with micro-fine compounds. The orange formula is widely used with one-step chemicals to save time and money.

xx-xx2 Yellow -- This foam has moderate cutting action that will remove wet sand scratches, overspray, and surface imperfections when used in conjunction with polishing compounds.

xx-xx3 Green -- Mint Green foam has a light cutting action that will remove marring, moderate imperfections, and fine scratches when used in conjunction with light polishing compounds. This foam formula is often found in use at auto auctions where speedy results are needed to maintain shine.

xx-xx4 Blue -- This formula has a mild cleaning action for removal of swirl marks, car wash scratches, and hazing, leaving a high gloss finish when used in conjunction with finishing polishes.

xx-xx5 Charcoal -- This has a very light cleaning action for removal of ultrafine scratches, cobwebs, and swirl marks leaving a swirl-free finish when used in conjunction with finishing polishes.

xx-xx6 Soft White -- This pad has little cleaning action and is designed for ultra smooth paint leveling and final polishing when used in conjunction with a final finish polish or wax.

Of course, this part number system only applies to our line of stock pads. We have many other formulas available for your individual and private labeling needs.

The answer to this question depends almost entirely on what you're trying to accomplish.

Are you using a Dual Action (or Random Orbital) polisher? If so, stay away from pads larger than 6.5" in diameter. Most tools simply can't handle that much surface area and will bog the machine down to a point of frustration for the user. Meanwhile, if you're using a high speed rotary tool, you can use whatever size of pad you feel comfortable with and best suits your particular job.

Also, consider what type of buffing you plan on doing. Are you someone who just needs to do spot buffing on small blemishes? You don't need 9" pads. You'll get by with something in the 4" - 6" range just fine. However, if you spend most of your time buffing the side of RV's, you may want to focus on our 8" and 9" pads exclusively.

As a general rule of thumb, you want to use the smallest pad possible for most the control over the buffing process.

This is like asking which flavor of ice cream is the best. There is no correct answer because everyone has their favorite.

Most long-time professionals prefer flat pads. They're like that trusty _________ you've had all your life and you know how to use it to get the job done. Nothing fancy, it just does what it's supposed to do. A foam pad doesn't need to be sliced and diced into all sorts of different configurations to serve its purpose. Anyone who tells you that is not being truthful.

However, sometimes a little slicing will make things a bit easier.

Our Cross Cut pads are designed with perpendicular V-grooves cut into the face of the pad. The purpose of these are twofold: First, they reduce overall surface area without effecting the actual buffing coverage. This lets the pad run smoother and cooler without a loss in performance. The second reason for the grooves is to reduce pad sling and for even polish coverage. Excess polish gets caught in the grooves of the pad rather than splattering all over your shop.  Additionally, because extra polish is held away from the surface, you can apply pressure to the pad itself, making contact with the bottom of the grooves and reapply more product to your working surface.