7.5 inch, Hi-Gloss, Cool Foam Pads

Special, 7.5 inch, Hi-Gloss, Cool Foam, Pads for painted fiberglass!

These are the first pads designed specifically for use on painted fiberglass and composite surfaces. Because fiberglass can not dissipate heat like painted metal, these pads are designed to minimize paint burn, checkering and scorching by internally dissipating heat to keep the working surface cooler. This is accomplished by a Cool Foam, air circulation band that constantly circulates air movement through the pad. This air circulation keeps heat from the polisher's motor from reaching the pad's surface and draws excess heat out of the pad, away from the surface being polished. This gives you the ability to compound or spot polish for longer periods without fear of harming the finish.

We recommend these pads for detailing Corvettes, early Ferrari and Lotus models with fiberglass bodies, the BMW M1, kit cars, cars with aftermarket fiberglass or carbon fiber panels & body kits, painted fiberglass boats and painted fiberglass RV's. They are excellent for use on vehicles with carbon fiber panels such as the Saleen S7, 2006 Porsche Carrerra, BMW M3 CSL, Jaguar XK8, Maseratti MC12 and the 2006 BMW M6 Coupe.

NOTE: While there is no advantage to using these pads on production, painted metal vehicles, these pads will provide an extra margin of safety when polishing expensive, custom paintwork on show cars and hot rods.

Like all of our Hi-Gloss Pads, these Cool Foam pads are made from the finest, engineered, European foams. They also feature the latest, patented, "Constant Pressure™" technology which uses a layer of instant rebound (Blue) foam between the Cool Foam layer (Black) and the backing plate to keep the pressure of the pad on the surface constant.

These pads have three separate and uniquely distinct layers.

The top foam layer is the European, engineered foam designed for each specific detailing task (i.e. polishing, compounding, glazing, finishing). The middle, black, band is the "Cool Foam" layer. This is a rigid, open cell foam designed for maximum air flow. The bottom, blue, foam band is the "Constant Pressure", instant rebound foam that keeps the pad's pressure on the surface uniform.	Black "Cool Foam" band circulates air throughout the pad.

	Blue "Constant Pressure" foam layer absorbs unwanted polishing motions.
This new, patented, technology allows even beginners to achieve professional-like results. Designed for the enthusiast owner or professional detailer. These pads can be used with a dual-action polisher like the Porter Cable 7424 or with professional circular polishers. They feature a graduated, concave, "polish pocket" in the center of the pad to minimize product splatter and eliminate paint squiggles from polish buildup.

These pads feature a patented, contoured edge with a recessed area for the backing plate. This recess lessens the possibility of the backing plate accidentally coming into contact with the surface being polished. This hook and loop pocket is the same diameter as our 6 inch Flexible Backing Plates which perfectly self-centers the pad to eliminate wobble. In addition, the hook and loop backing is attached differently. It is not glued to the back of the pad but thermally bonded to the foam. This greatly reduces the likelihood of delaminating (the backing coming off).
	Backing plates fit into a 5-3/4 inch recessed pocket.
Advanced, Variable Contour Design Preferred by Professionals. These 7-1/2 inch pads can be used flat for full panel polishing or lift the back of the machine for spot polishing with the outer 1/3 of the pad. This allows the operator to quickly shift from a flat, panel polishing mode to a much more aggressive cutting mode without changing pads. Tilting the machine is like downshifting on your car. It gives you more power for a specific task (like removing a paint defect).

Hook and Loop Back-Up Plates - All of our pads have a VELCRO® brand fastening system that require your machine be fitted with a 6 inch, "hooked" Backing Plate. This plate may or may not have come with your polisher. If you require a backing plate, we have 6 Inch Flexible Backing Plates for both dual-action and circular polishers.

Different machines require different backing plates. Dual-action polishers like the Porter Cable 7424 and 7336 require a plate with a 5/16-24 threaded shaft. This is our part number FBP-6DA.

Note: Different machines require
different backing plates.

Professional circular polishers require a plate with a 5/8-11 receptacle. This is our part number FBP-6C.

These are both professional quality plates that provide maximum grip and perfect centering with any of our Advanced, 7-1/2 inch Hi-Gloss Pads.

Note: These 7.5 inch, Hi-Gloss, Constant Pressure, Cool Foam Pads have an inside mounting diameter of 5-3/4 inches which will work with our FBP-6DA, 6 inch backing plate for D-A polishers and FBP-6C, 6 inch backing plate for circular polishers. The 6-1/4 inch backing plate that comes on the Porter Cable 7428 will not work with these pads nor will the 6-1/2 inch backing plate that comes on the Makita 9227 or Hitachi SP18VA. Both of these plates are too large and will not fit these 7.5 inch pads. If your machine has a Hook and Loop Backing Plate with a diameter between 5 and 5-3/4 inches, it will work with these pads.

The pads below are listed in order of aggressiveness:

Yellow - Heavy Cut - best for removing deeper scratches or heavy oxidation.
This pad will usually dull, or haze the surface.

Orange - Medium to Heavy Cut - 90% of the cutting power of the yellow pad
                                                         but finishes like a polishing pad with
                                                         minimum haze. Always try this pad first
                                                         before using the yellow pad to remove
                                                         deeper swirls & scratches.

Green - Mild to Medium Cut - 20% more aggressive than the white pad.
                                                   Excellent on German paints and for applying
                                                   one-step, cleaner/sealants like Menzerna
                                                   Acrylic Jacket, Klasse All-in-One and
                                                   Autoglym Super Resin Polish.

White - Mild Cut - The most often used pad. Use for polishing to restore
gloss, remove light oxidation and fine swirls.

Black - No Cut - A glazing/finessing pad. Use after polishing to apply a
glaze like Menzerna Finishing Touch Glaze.

Red - No Cut - A super fine, finishing pad for applying the final liquid wax or
paint sealant. This is also the pad to use for layering one wax
on top of another or for building up multiple layers of shine.

Here's a guide to help you select the correct pad for your needs:

7.5 inch, Yellow, Cool Foam, Compounding Pad -Our most aggressive cutting pad. Use this pad as a last resort with compounds like Menzerna Intensive Polish to remove deep scratches and severe oxidation that does not come out with the white pad or Orange Power Pad. Use this pad with caution. Compounding can dull the surface (called compounding haze) which will require additional finish polishing to remove.
After compounding, go over the surface with Menzerna Final Polish II using the white polishing pad. This will restore surface gloss and prepare the paint for glazing or waxing. This is the most aggressive pad we offer that is still safe for clear coat finishes (when used with a dual-action polisher). Note: Compounding and polishing pads can "cake-up" with residues reducing their effectiveness. If you don't want to stop in the middle of polishing to clean pads, plan on using 2 or 3 pads to polish the average car.
7.5 inch, Orange, Cool Foam, Power Pad - This German foam has 90% of the cutting power of the Yellow Compounding Pad but finishes like the White Polishing Pad. Use this pad with Menzerna Intensive Polish to remove 2000 grit swirls and defects with minimal or no surface dullness or with Menzerna Final Polish II to remove finer swirls.
7.5 inch, Green, Cool Foam, Polishing Pad - This is the best pad for applying one-step, polish/sealants like Menzerna Acrylic Jacket, Klasse All-In-One and Autoglym Super Resin Polish when using a D-A polisher. (You should not use a circular polisher to apply most one-step cleaner/sealants.)
7.5 inch, White, Cool Foam, Polishing Pad - The most often used pad. This pad has a mild cutting (cleaning) action and should be used to apply light compounds, swirl removing polishes and finishing polishes. Use this Hi-Gloss White Polishing Pad with Menzerna Intensive Polish to remove deeper swirls and with Menzerna Final Polish II or BLACKFIRE Gloss Enhancing Polish to maximize surface gloss.
Note: Compounding and polishing pads can "cake-up" with residues reducing their effectiveness. If you don't want to stop in the middle of polishing to clean pads, plan on using 2 or 3 pads to polish the average car.

7.5 inch Black, Cool Foam, Glazing/Finessing Pad - This pad has no cutting or cleaning action. It should be used to apply a glaze or a finessing polish.

Use this Hi-Gloss Black Glazing Pad to apply Menzerna Finishing Touch Glaze, 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, and Meguiar's No. 7 Show Car Glaze. You can also use this pad to apply Meguiar's No. 3 Machine Polish and 3M Finesse-It II Machine Polish.

7.5 inch, Hi-Gloss, Cool Foam Pads

7.5 inch, Red, Cool Foam, Concours Finishing Pad - Like the grey pad, this red pad has no cutting or cleaning action. This new, incredibly fine, European foam was introduced in 2004 for applying the final liquid wax or paint sealant using a D-A polisher. While made for the OEM market and demanding enthusiast, this easy-to-use, Hi-Gloss Red Finishing Pad glides over the surface creating a mirror-like shine. This is also the pad to use for layering one wax or sealant on top of another or for building up multiple layers of shine. We recommend this pad with Blackfire Wet Diamond and Menzerna FMJ sealants.
	Note: This Red Pad is best used with dual-action polishers like the 7424. Most waxes and sealants should not be applied with a circular polisher.
4 inch, Orange, , Cool Foam, Power Pad Jr. Spot Repair Pad Like it's big brother, the 7.5 inch Orange Power Pad, our 4 inch version has the same variable contact polish pocket for maximum control and minimal splatter. Use this pad with Menzerna Intensive Polish to remove deeper swirls, scratches and paint defects with minimum surface haze.
	Use this 4 inch, Cool Foam, Power Pad Jr. to remove 2000 grit sanding traces, swirls and paint defects.
4 inch, White, Cool Foam, Polishing, Spot Repair Pad After compounding, use this pad with Menzerna Final Polish II or BLACKFIRE Gloss Enhancing Polish to remove compounding haze and restore gloss.
	Use this pad for spot-polishing with a finishing polish.

Polishing Tip: Season foam pads before "flat" polishing. Seasoning refers to breaking in a pad. If you were to apply polish to a body panel, place an Advanced, Cool Foam Pad on the surface and turn the machine on, it would be very squirrelly or difficult to control. This is due to most of the pad being "dry". To season a pad, lightly mist it with Pad Lubricant or 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. At this point, you can safely transition from a tilted up to a flat polishing position. Every time you put a fresh, Advanced, Hi-Gloss Pad on your machine you should season it for a minute or two before "flat" polishing.

Proper Cleaning - Wash foam pads in a bucket of soapy water (or use Snappy Clean Pad Cleaner), rinse thoroughly, hand squeeze out excess water and allow to air dry.