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CCS Smart Pads™ Dual Action Polisher Guide

<font color=red>CCS Smart Pads™</font> Dual Action Polisher Guide

Learn how to correct paint flaws, polish and wax your vehicle using the Porter Cable 7424XP and CCS Smart Pads™ by Lake Country. Our Lake Country Dual Action Polishing Guide details the process of swirl removal, polishing, and finishing using the most popular pads by Lake Country.

The techniques described here will also work for the FLEX XC3401 VRG Orbital Polisher. This polisher comes with its own specific backing plate, which can be used with any of the pads you see here.

What accessories do I need?

For the Porter Cable 7424XP, you will need a backing plate in order to attach the foam pads onto your polisher. The backing plate has a Velcro brand hook & loop fasteners on the bottom of it to hold foam pads in place as you polish. You will see it described simply as "hook & loop" on pads and backing plates with this feature.

Backing plates for the Porter Cable 7424XP are available in three sizes:

Dual Action 5 inch Flexible Hook & Loop Backing Plate: Use this plate with 5.5 inch and 6.5 inch pads.

Dual Action 6 inch Hook & Loop Flexible Backing Plate: Use this plate with 6.5 inch and 7.5 inch pads.

Dual Action 3.5 inch Hook & Loop Flexible Backing Plate: Use this plate with 4 inch pads.

Note: We recommend using a 5 inch backing plate with 6.5 inch pads to leave a larger margin of foam between the plate and the edge of the pad. This bigger margin of error protects the vehicle from unintentional impact with the backing plate.

CCS Smart Pads™ Features:

Easy on and off. The hook and loop backing allows you to pull off a used pad and replace it with a fresh pad in seconds. The hooks and loops provide a secure connection combined with the ability to change the pad almost instantly.

Flat, full contact surface. Lake Country's 6.5 inch pads are perfectly flat to provide maximum pad to paint contact. They have enough give to go over a vehicle's curves but they do encourage the operator to use the pads flat on the surface, as they are intended.

CCS Technology. CCS stands for closed cell structures, which are the small pockets that dot the front of the pads. These pockets enable the pads to absorb less product and keep it on the work surface. They act like little reservoirs where excess product is stored until it is needed on the work surface. This improves operator control and lessens product waste. The pockets also reduce surface tension so flat pads move more easily across flat panels.

Smart Foam Pad Varieties:

	Yellow Cutting Foams 6.5 inch- Use this pad to apply compounds or polishes to remove severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches. It is the most aggressive and should only be used on oxidized and older finishes. Always follow this pad with an orange or white pad and a fine polish to refine the paint until it is smooth.
	Orange Light Cutting Foam 6.5 inch- Firm, high density foam for scratch and defect removal. Use this pad with polishes and swirl removers. It’s an all around pad that will work on most light to moderate imperfections.
	Coarse Green Cutting/Polishing Foam 6.5 inch- This foam is of medium density with the ability to level very fine scratches and very light oxidation. Use light swirl removers with this pad.
	White Polishing Foam 6.5 inch- Less dense foam formula for the application of waxes, micro-fine polishes and sealants. This pad has very light cutting power so it is perfect for pre-wax cleaners.
	Green Polishing/Finishing Foam 6.5 inch - Use this foam to apply one-step cleaner waxes. It is a balance of polishing and finishing that is perfect for all-in-one product application.
	Gray Finishing Foam 6.5 inch - Composition is firm enough to withstand added pressure during final finishing to remove buffer swirls. It has no cut and will apply thin, even coats of waxes, sealants, and glazes.
	Blue Finessing Foam 6.5 inch – This blue foam pad has soft composition for applying glaze, finishing polish, sealants, and liquid waxes. This soft pad has no cut, making it perfect for applying nonabrasive products evenly.
	Red Ultrasoft Wax/Sealant Foam 6.5 inch – This soft, imported foam is ideal for applying the final coat of wax or sealant. It works especially well when applying liquid waxes or sealants because it is firm enough to keep the majority of the product on the paint, rather than soaking it up. The red foam has no cut or cleaning ability.
	Super Soft Gold Jewelling Foam 6.5 inch – The CCS Super Soft Gold Jewelling Pad is made of Lake Country's softest foam. Use the gold pad to apply a very fine polish or glaze as the final step of the polishing process. Jewelling is the term coined for this step because it intensifies gloss and reflectivity, like a jewel. The gold foam pad also works well for wax and sealant application.

So many choices! We'll narrow it down for you. Most vehicles with moderate swirls will require these items: an orange light cutting pad, a white polishing pad, a gray finishing pad, the 5 inch Flexible Dual Action Backing Plate and of course, the polisher.

How do I polish out swirls and scratches?

The following is a general guide to polishing. It will take you from compounding to polishing to finishing. If your paint problems do not require compounding, skip to polishing. If you’re not sure, start with polishing. Always take the least aggressive approach first! If you don’t get the desired results from polishing, then use a swirl remover and light cutting pad.

The pads pictured at the beginning of each section indicate what pads can be used to perform the job described.

Please note: Deep scratches and swirls, and severe oxidation will require compounding with a circular polisher. If you are inexperienced with this type of polisher, consult a professional. If your fingernail catches the scratch or swirl, it will require painting and must be repaired by a professional.

I. Swirl Removal

Swirl removers can range from light to heavy. Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0 is designed to work on a broad range of imperfections to eliminate the need for multiple products.

Before and after results using Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0.

1. In the picture to the right, this is a serious case of swirls. Choose an orange light cutting pad and Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0.

2. Apply a circle of swirl remover around the edge of the pad. Some will say apply a quarter size amount. You can even apply it directly to the paint. Ultimately you're going to spread it around so how the swirl remover gets on the paint is up to you. Spread the swirl remover over a small section (about 2 x 2 sq. ft.) with the polisher turned off to prevent sling.

3. Set the maximum speed on the polisher at 5. Turn the polisher on and work the swirl remover in a side to side, overlapping motion. Move slowly to give the abrasives time to work.

NOTE: The Porter Cable tells you if you're applying too much pressure. The pad will stop rotating. Lighten up on the machine and let it do the work for you.

4. When the swirl remover turns to a transparent film, the abrasives have broken down. Turn off the machine and lift it off the paint. Buff away the residue with a soft, Cobra Microfiber Towel and inspect your results. If you are not satisfied, repeat the process. If you still see no results, upgrade to the yellow cutting pad.

* A light haze or dullness is normal. The next step will restore the gloss.

II. Polishing

Polishing improves the smoothness and gloss of the paint. Use Wolfgang Finishing Glaze 3.0 if you’ve just compounded or if the paint just needs a boost in gloss.

If your vehicle is in great shape and you do not need a finishing polish, use Wolfgang Paintwork Polish Enhancer to enhance the gloss without abrasives.

1. Use the white or green polishing pad on your Porter Cable 7424XP . Apply the polish of your choice to the pad or to the paint and spread it around with the machine turned off.

2. Set the maximum speed to about 4.5. You're not trying to cut. You're just trying to burnish the paint to a high gloss. Work in a side to side, overlapping motion until the polish turns clear.

3. Buff with a Cobra Microfiber Towel and check your results. If you can still see some haze, repeat the process. This time, be sure that the abrasives are fully broken down before you buff.

III. Finishing

You're nearing the finish line. Just one more step will make your vehicle glow.

To lock in the shine, follow up with Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0.

1. Attach a gray or blue pad to your polisher. Apply the product to the paint or to the pad. Spread it around the paint in a 2 x 2 sq. ft. section with the polisher turned off.

2. Set the maximum speed to 3 or 4. You do not need speed to apply nonabrasive products. Spread the product over the paint until it is sufficiently covered. There are no abrasives to break down. You are just trying to get even coverage. Apply Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0 to the entire vehicle.

3. Allow Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0 to set for 30-45 minutes. Buff off the product with a Cobra Microfiber Towel or slip a Microfiber Bonnet over an unused pad. The bonnet is like having a microfiber towel on your polisher. Just be sure to put the bonnet over a clean pad so no products will seep through the bonnet.

4. Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0 will need to cure for 12 hours before being exposed to moisture.

Detailing Tips:

The polisher will do the work for you. There's no need to apply pressure.
Pad and product selection is not an exact science. The severity of the imperfections, the cut of the pad, and the aggressiveness of the product all factor into the final results. Don't be afraid to experiment.
Start with the least aggressive method first. Go to a more aggressive pad or polish only if necessary.

Foam & Wool Pad Cleaning

The easiest way to clean your foam and wool pads is to drop them in pad cleaner while they are still wet with polish or wax. Dried products are more difficult to remove from the pads. To do this, mix up a bucket of water and Wolfgang Polishing Pad Rejuvenator at the start of your detailing session. As you finish using each pad, drop it in the cleaning solution to soak. When you are finished with your detail, use the Foam Pad Conditioning Brush to agitate the pads. Then rinse the pads and lay out to dry.

Note: Dry pads with the hook and loop backing facing up so water drains away from it. Standing water on the backing material could eventually cause separation.

When your clean pads are dry, put them in a sealable plastic bag or container to keep them free of dust until their next use.

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