Polishing pads do three jobs: cutting pads remove deeper defects, polishing pads refine light swirls, and finishing pads add gloss or spread wax with little or no cut. Pick the job first, then the size for your backing plate, and do not go by colour alone, because each brand uses its own colour code. AutoBead Downforce pads come in Heavy Cut, Medium Cut and Fine Cut.
Do polishing pad colours mean the same on every brand?
No, and this catches a lot of people out. Lake Country's CCS pads use blue for heavy polishing, orange for polishing and black for finishing. Chemical Guys' own Hex-Logic colour chart uses blue for its lightest glaze and cleaner pad, and our Hex-Logic listings describe the white pad as a light polishing pad and the black pad as a finishing pad with no cut. AutoBead avoids the problem altogether by naming its Downforce pads Heavy Cut, Medium Cut and Fine Cut. Always read the grade on the pad or its listing, not just the colour.
Which pad do you need for each job?
Match the pad to the defect: a cutting pad for deep swirls and sanding marks, a polishing pad for light swirls and haze, and a finishing pad for gloss, glazes and wax.
- Cutting: for deep scratches, heavy swirls and sanding marks, with a cutting compound.
- Polishing: for light to moderate swirls and refining after cutting, and for one-step correction with the right polish.
- Finishing: for the final gloss, or for spreading glaze, wax or sealant evenly with no cut.
For the difference between the liquids, see compound vs polish.
Our picks by job
Every pad below is in stock with us, and the details come from each maker's own website or the product listing.
AutoBead Downforce: our first pick
AutoBead Downforce Foam Pads Heavy Cut
Heat-resistant foam that AutoBead says stays firmer for longer, with a dual foam design for more downward pressure and better rotation, for DA and rotary machines in 3 and 5 inch sizes. Our listing pairs it with the Heavy Cut Compound.
AutoBead Downforce Foam Pads Medium Cut
The medium cut pad in the same dual foam design, paired with the Medium Cut Compound.
AutoBead Downforce Foam Pads Fine Cut
The fine cut pad, paired with the Finishing Compound, with a rubber-like backing that stops polish migrating into the velcro.
Lake Country CCS: HDO and SDO
Lake Country HDO-CCS Orange Polishing Pad
CCS foam that Lake Country says slows polish absorption, in its dual layer HDO construction for long-throw machines, recommended for random orbital DA and mini polishers.
Lake Country SDO-CCS Black Finishing Pad
The finishing pad from the SDO line, which keeps the tapered CCS design without the dual layer. The HDO and SDO lines both come in Blue Heavy Polishing, Orange Polishing and Black Finishing.
Chemical Guys Hex-Logic
Its listing says it removes light to moderate scratches, swirls and oxidation, then finishes like a lighter polishing pad.
A lower-density foam with a fine polishing action and very slight cut, for light polishes, waxes and sealants. Parkers' 2025 polishing pad test named the 6.5-inch Chemical Guys Hex Logic White its "best polishing pad for tackling swirls"; we stock the same white pad in the 4in size, which Parkers did not test. Read the Parkers test.
A finishing pad with no cut, made to spread glaze, sealant or wax thinly and evenly.
Polishing pads compared
| Pad | Job | Machines | Sizes we stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| AutoBead Downforce Heavy Cut | Heavy cut | DA and rotary | 3 and 5 inch |
| AutoBead Downforce Medium Cut | Medium cut | DA and rotary | 3 and 5 inch |
| AutoBead Downforce Fine Cut | Fine cut | DA and rotary | 3 and 5 inch |
| Lake Country HDO-CCS Orange | Polishing | DA, long throw | 3.5, 5.5 and 6.5 inch |
| Lake Country SDO-CCS Black | Finishing | DA, mini polisher | 5.5 inch |
| Chemical Guys Hex-Logic Green | Light to moderate defects | - | 4 inch |
| Chemical Guys Hex-Logic White | Light polishing, wax, sealant | - | 4 inch |
| Chemical Guys Hex-Logic Black | Finishing, no cut | - | 4 inch |
How do you choose a polishing pad?
Start with the job, then the size, and always begin with the least aggressive pad that works on a test section.
- Look at the paint: work out whether you are removing deep defects, light swirls or just adding gloss.
- Match the backing plate: a pad should be a little larger than the backing plate; small 3 inch pads are for tight areas and smaller machines.
- Start gentle: try a polishing pad and a polish on a test section first, and step up to a cutting pad and compound only if the defects stay.
- Finish down: after cutting, refine with a polishing or finishing pad to bring the gloss back.
- Use a clean pad per product: this stops cutting compound ending up in your finishing stage.
Common questions
How do you look after polishing pads?
AutoBead's tip is to blow or brush pads out regularly while you work and to give them rest periods, because pads can be costly if they are not cared for. Clean them properly after the job, let them dry face down, and keep a spare of each grade so you can swap a clogged pad instead of pushing on with it. A pad that has started to tear or delaminate should be retired.
Foam or wool, DA or rotary?
Foam pads on a dual action polisher are the safest combination for most people. Wool and rotary machines cut faster but need more skill. Our guide to the best DA polisher covers the machines, and the best car polish guide covers the liquids that go on the pad.
What size polishing pad do you need?
One a little larger than your backing plate. Small 3 inch pads suit tight areas and smaller machines, and the AutoBead and Lake Country pads above also come in larger sizes for the main panels.
Need help?
Tell the TDHQ team what machine you have and what the paint looks like, and we will put together the right pads and polishes. You can also browse every cutting pad, finishing pad and the full AutoBead range.
Last updated 15 October 2026.
