Pad Selection 101 – Cut, Finish, and Everything In Between

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Your pad is just as important as your polish. This guide breaks down cutting, polishing, and finishing pads—so you get the results you want, every time.

Pad Selection 101 – Cut, Finish, and Everything In Between

Pad Selection 101 – Cut, Finish, and Everything In Between

Your pad is just as important as your polish. Here’s how to choose the right one for swirl removal, finishing, or one-step correction.

If you’ve ever polished your car and didn’t get the results you expected, chances are your pad choice had something to do with it. Whether you’re cutting, finishing, or doing a one-step, the pad you use makes a huge difference in performance and results.

Why Pad Selection Matters

Different pads affect how aggressively the polish cuts, how it finishes, and how it interacts with the paint. Even the best polish won’t perform well with the wrong pad—or worse, it could haze soft paint or leave behind trails.

Types of Polishing Pads

Cutting Pads

These are the most aggressive. They’re designed to remove deep defects, swirls, and scratches. Usually made of firm foam, microfiber, or wool.

  • Best for: Heavy correction and compounding
  • Use with: Dedicated compounds or pad-dependent one-steps

Polishing Pads

Medium density pads designed for light defect removal and gloss enhancement. These are great for one-step polishes or follow-up refinement.

Finishing Pads

Soft, non-cutting pads used strictly for final polishing, jeweling, or applying sealants and waxes. These won’t remove defects but will maximize gloss.

  • Best for: Ultra-soft paint, final polish pass, ceramic coating prep
  • Use with: finishing polishes or as a final step with a one-step like Picture Perfect Polish

Pad + Polish = Performance

With a pad-dependent polish like Picture Perfect Polish, the pad you choose determines how much cut you get—and how the finish turns out. Use a cutting pad to remove more defects, or switch to a polishing pad for a refined finish in one pass.

Watch: The Real Difference Pad Selection Makes

Pro Tips for Choosing the Right Pad

  • Start with the least aggressive pad that gets the job done
  • Switch pad types instead of switching products if you want more/less correction
  • Use dedicated pads for each product and purpose—don’t mix
  • Clean your pads after every panel or two for consistent results

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Tags: cut vs finish pad foam vs microfiber pad picture perfect polish polishing pad guide