Polishing Pad

Match your compound to the perfect pad with RIOAUTOHUB extensive selection of car polishing pads. We stock a huge variety of foam, microfiber, and wool buffing pads from the world's leading manufacturers. Available in all standard sizes (1", 3", 5", 6"), our collection covers every stage of paint correction—from aggressive cutting wool pads for deep scratches to ultra soft finishing foam pads for a hologram free mirror shine.

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The Ultimate Guide to Polishing & Buffing Pads

Understanding Polishing Pad Types

The pad is just as important as the liquid you use. It controls the heat, the cut, and the finish. RIOAUTOHUB offers three main material types, each serving a specific purpose in the paint correction process.

  • Wool Pads (Heavy Cut): Made from natural or synthetic fibers. These generate high friction and cut extremely fast. They are the best choice for removing deep scratches, sanding marks, and heavy oxidation on hard paint. They usually leave a slight haze that needs to be refined.
  • Microfiber Pads (Medium to Heavy Cut): These utilize short fibers to increase the surface area of the abrasive. They offer a unique balance—cutting almost as fast as wool but finishing nearly as well as foam. Ideal for modern Dual Action (DA) polishers.
  • Foam Pads (Range of Cuts): The most versatile option. They are color coded by density. "Hard" foams are for cutting, "Medium" foams are for polishing, and "Soft" squishy foams are for jeweling and applying wax.

How to Choose the Right Pad Size

Size matters for control and safety.

  • 5-inch / 6-inch Pads: The standard size for correcting large flat panels like the hood, roof, and doors.
  • 3-inch Pads: Essential for tighter areas like bumpers, pillars, and trunk curves where a large pad would stall or hit the trim.
  • 1-inch / 2-inch Pads: Used with mini polishers (like the iBrid) to correct intricate areas such as door handles, grilles, and interior piano black trim.

Step-by-Step Pad Care & Cleaning

A dirty pad stops cutting and starts scratching. You must maintain them.

  1. Blow Out: After every single polishing pass (section), use compressed air to blow the dead clear coat dust and spent polish out of the fibers.
  2. Brush: If you don't have air, use a pad conditioning brush to fluff up the wool or microfiber fibers to keep them cutting.
  3. Wash: At the end of the day, soak the pads in a dedicated pad cleaner or APC solution. Massage the polish out with your thumbs.
  4. Dry: Spin them dry on the machine or lay them face down on a drying rack. Never put them in a tumble dryer as the heat will delaminate the velcro backing.

Common Polishing Pad Mistakes to Avoid

  • Overheating the Pad: If you push too hard or polish for too long without stopping, the heat can melt the glue holding the velcro to the foam. If the center of your pad sinks in, it is heat damaged.
  • Using Too Much Product: Saturated pads become heavy and stop rotating on DA machines. They also "gum up" preventing the abrasives from working. Use less product and clean often.
  • Mixing Compounds: Never use a finishing polish on a pad that was previously used for heavy compounding. The old coarse grit trapped in the foam will mar your finish. Keep pads dedicated to one type of liquid.

Frequently Asked Questions about Polishing Pads

Q: What do the different colors of foam pads mean?

A: While there is no universal standard, generally: White/Yellow/Green are often heavy cutting pads. Orange/Blue are often medium polishing pads. Black/Red are usually soft finishing pads. Always check the specific brand's color chart on the RIOAUTOHUB product page.

Q: How many pads do I need to polish one car?

A: You should never try to polish a whole car with just one pad. As the pad gets wet and hot, it softens and loses cutting power. We recommend having at least 4 to 6 cutting pads and 2 to 3 finishing pads to complete a full car properly.

Q: Can I use rotary pads on a DA machine?

A: Technically yes, but it is not optimal. Rotary pads are often thicker and designed to absorb the direct drive torque. DA pads are usually thinner and lighter to allow the machine to orbit freely. Using a heavy rotary wool pad on a DA will often cause the machine to stall.