2020_ADN_V5_No3_web

Fiber Logic
Everything you need to know about
fiber-based buffing pads
By Clint Hintz
chintz@buffandshine.com
Clint Hintz, IDA CD-SV-RT - Certified
Trainer, is the North American Sales
Manager of Buff and Shine Mfg. of Rancho
Dominguez, California.
Buff and Shine acknowledges that
our industry is everchanging with tools
and polishing systems, which obviously
keeps a need for constant evolution with
buffing pads. In last year’s summer edition
of Auto Detailing News, foam pad
technology was showcased, so this article
will be covering the makeup and differences
in fiber-based buffing pads. One
objective is to educate our audience on
the actual makeup and differences in
these pads. Another objective is for the
audience to be better versed in which
types of fibers will work best with their
current or future processes. We believe
that this information will be helpful for
people in not only knowing the differences,
but how these different options may
help increase productivity and improve
performance.
4-PLY TWIST
A 4-ply twist 100% wool pad is an aggressive
pad-type that has gone through
prior manufacturing processes to reduce
the short fibers in the wool that throw
out lint, as these pads traditionally are
known to lint. This wool type can offer
an aggressive option with working on
painted surfaces, can be cleaned with
a spur to remove contamination much
easier than knitted or lamb’s wool type
pads. The lower the pile height will increase
the amount of cut that these pads
offer, which will typically work best on a
rotary type polisher vs. random orbital
machines. 4-ply wools have been around
for a long while, are older technology but
still very commonly used in the industry.
Some cons to these pads are they are
known to lint as well as using this padtype
will typically take training, as improper
usage can result in swirling and
even burnt paint. Most common is 100%
wool but you will find some pads that are
wool blends, the easiest way to identify
them is beige/white are wool and typically
colored ones are the blends.
Quick Take
✔ More aggressive
✔ Lower pile height
✔ Work best with rotary type polisher
✔ Easier to clean
✔ Lint easily
✔ Training needed
SINGLE-PLY
KNITTED WOOL
Single ply wool is a stitched wool
pad that has a similar construction to
a 4-ply and predominately made to be
used with a rotary buffer. This pad has
the same grade of wool as the 4-ply but
will be less aggressive than the 4-ply
twist and not as widely used. These
pads tend to throw a lot of lint, as it’s a
single ply wool and not twisted. It is like
a giant piece of yarn untwisted which
can make manufacturing more intricate
and equate to be a more expensive
pad in the market. Most common
is 100% wool but you will find some
pads that are wool blends, the easiest
way to identify them is beige/white are
wool and colored ones are typically the
blends. These wool types can be constructed
with 100% wool as well as with
a combination of wool and synthetic
blends.
Quick Take
✔ Made to use with a rotary buffer
✔ Less aggressive
✔ Throws a lot of lint
✔ More expensive
The knitted wool pads look like
sheepskin, but the wool is shaved from
the animal, processed through a machine
and knitted into the pad with
an actual machine. One benefit versus
twisted wools is a noticeable less amount
of linting from these pads. There may
be a small amount of lint from the manufacturing
process, but after this is blown
out the linting will be minimal. Another
attribute of knitted wool is it can be very
versatile in using with virtually any machine
types (rotary or DA).
One downside to this wool-type is
that once it gets wet, or if you use too
much product it can get matted up.
They do not clean as easily with a buffing
spur as a twisted wool, nor will have
the longevity but can be kept cleanest
by brushing regularly during use.
Quick Take
✔ Less linting
✔ Very versatile
✔ Easily mats up when wet
20 | AUTO DETAILING NEWS | VOL. 5, NO. 3 • FALL 2020