Heavy Cut Foam Pads

Heavy cut foam pads are the firmest foam pads, used with a compound for the first stage on swirls, scratches and dull, oxidised paint. The range covers Lake Country, Chemical Guys HEX-Logic, ShineMate Black Diamond, Autobead Downforce and AutoBrite foam pads, plus Lake Country microfibre and AutoBrite hybrid wool cutting pads.

How to choose

• Foam or fibre: foam leaves less haze than microfibre or wool, so it suits moderate defects and softer clear coats. For deeper scratches or very hard paint, the microfibre and wool pads here cut faster.
• Grade: several brands make two strengths, such as Lake Country Force grey and orange or ShineMate Black Diamond green and yellow. Start with the milder one on a test section and step up only if the defects remain.
• Size: the 3.5 and 4 inch pads suit a mini polisher, and ShineMate's 1.6 inch 10 packs are for a nano polisher.

Good to know

• Heavy cutting leaves some haze, so plan a second stage on Medium Cut Foam Pads or Finishing Foam Pads.
• Clean the pad face after every section: packed-in compound cuts unevenly and builds heat. See Pad Cleaning.

What is a cutting pad used for?

The first and most aggressive machine stage: on a polisher, with a compound, it takes out swirls, scratches and dull, oxidised paint. It leaves some haze behind, so a medium or finishing pad follows it.

Related: Polishing Pads, Heavy Cut Compounds, Wool Pads, Mini & Nano Polishers. Popular brands here: Lake Country, Chemical Guys, ShineMate.