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Lake Country

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Which Lake Country pad do you need?

Lake Country HDO-CCS black and orange, SDO-CCS blue and microfibre 5.5 inch polishing pads on a black display plinth in a photo studio

Lake Country sorts its pads by the machine they suit and by how hard they cut.

HDO (Heavy Duty Orbital). Made for long-throw orbital polishers, ideally 15mm or 21mm. A high-density foam layer in the middle transfers more of the machine's movement to the pad face and keeps heat down, and the tapered edge stops the pad rolling on curved panels. Choose Blue heavy polishing, Orange polishing or Black finishing.

SDO (Standard Duty Orbital). The same foams as HDO without the dual layer, for any random orbital DA polisher with a centre-vented backing plate. The centre hole lets heat escape so the paint runs cooler. Choose Blue heavy polishing, Orange polishing or Black finishing.

CCS foam. CCS pads have a pattern of pockets that hold polish and feed it back to the surface instead of letting the foam soak it up, and the pockets cut down friction heat. Both the HDO and SDO pads above are CCS pads.

Microfibre. Lake Country also makes the Microfibre Cutting Pad and Microfibre Polishing Pads. The One Step (OSP) microfibre pads and the HDO One Step pad are for dual action polishers and remove moderate defects, swirl marks, light oxidation and holograms while leaving a high-gloss finish.

Wool. Lake Country's knitted Low Lint Lambswool pad cuts quickly and sheds far less lint than traditional tufted wool, and the purple Foamed Wool pad and thin Foamed Wool pad sit close to a one-step pad, with similar cut and finish. There is also an 8-inch double-sided wool cutting pad.

Pad colours are not universal across brands, so an orange Lake Country pad will not cut the same as an orange pad from another maker. Match the pad to the job, then the polish to the pad.

Shop Lake Country by type: heavy cut foam pads, medium cut foam pads, finishing foam pads, microfibre pads, wool pads and pad cleaning.

Not sure which one you need?

Tell us about the vehicle, surface, equipment or result you are working with. Advice is available before you buy, not only after something has gone wrong.

Get product advice Visit the Ilkeston store

The Brand

About Lake Country

Lake Country Manufacturing is a privately owned American maker of buffing and polishing pads, based in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Its roots go back to Milwaukee Tanning, which made sheepskin buffing pads, and in 1977 Jim Schneider bought that business and renamed it Lake Country. It went on to develop the first foam pads offered in the US market, and today it works from an 82,000-square-foot building and holds around 170 US and international patents, including its CCS foam technology and its pad washers.

Every Lake Country pad design goes through more than 200 hours of lab and field testing before it reaches detailers. In 2015 Lake Country expanded its international presence, particularly in the United Kingdom, and opened a global training centre to teach buffing and polishing.

We stock the Lake Country pads our customers use most, led by the SDO-CCS Orange polishing pad, the HDO-CCS Orange polishing pad, the HDO One Step microfibre pad and the Low Lint Lambswool pad.

Lake Country HDO-CCS orange polishing pad held above a gloss black Audi A5 bonnet, with the black HDO-CCS, blue SDO-CCS and microfibre pads on a towel

Looking after your polishing pads

A dirty pad on clean paint can put in more marks than it takes out, so pad care is part of the job. Lake Country's care advice:

  • Clean pads as you work. The System 4000 Pad Washer lets you clean a pad and carry on without leaving the job.
  • Never clean foam pads with a pressure washer or high-pressure air, as it damages the foam.
  • Machine wash no more than 10 pads at a time with Snappy Clean Boost powder, in cold or warm water only, because hot water can shrink the hook-and-loop backing. Take the pads out as soon as the cycle ends and let them air dry.
  • Microfibre pads can be cleaned with compressed air, but wear a dust mask and eye protection.
  • Wool pads can be brushed clean. If you wash them, use cold or warm water, as hot water shrinks wool.

How many pads? For a family saloon, Lake Country suggests more than five cutting pads and at least two finishing pads, so you always have a fresh, cool pad ready.

Not sure which pad suits your machine and paint? Ask us in our Ilkeston shop or on WhatsApp. We deliver Lake Country pads across the UK by Royal Mail Tracked 24, free on orders from £100, or you can order online and collect from the shop.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes Lake Country polishing pads?

Lake Country Manufacturing, a privately owned American company based in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. It has made buffing and polishing products since 1977 and developed the first foam pads offered in the US market.

What is the difference between Lake Country HDO and SDO pads?

HDO (Heavy Duty Orbital) pads have a dual-layer construction with a high-density middle layer and are made for long-throw orbital polishers. SDO (Standard Duty Orbital) pads use the same foams without the dual layer and suit any random orbital DA polisher with a centre-vented backing plate.

What do the Lake Country pad colours mean?

In the HDO and SDO ranges, blue is heavy polishing, orange is polishing and black is finishing. Lake Country's colours are its own, so they do not match the colour codes of other pad makers.

What are Lake Country CCS pads?

CCS pads have a pattern of pockets in the foam that hold polish and feed it back to the surface instead of letting the pad absorb it. The pockets also reduce friction heat.

Which polisher suits Lake Country HDO pads?

HDO pads are designed for long-throw orbital polishers and work best on machines with a 15mm or 21mm orbit.

How many polishing pads do I need to correct a car?

For a family saloon, Lake Country suggests more than five cutting pads and at least two finishing pads, or a pad washer such as the System 4000 so you can clean pads as you work.

How do I clean Lake Country foam pads?

Clean them as you work, for example with the System 4000 Pad Washer. Machine wash no more than 10 at a time in cold or warm water with Snappy Clean Boost, then air dry. Never use a pressure washer or high-pressure air on foam pads.

Where can I buy Lake Country pads in the UK?

At The Drivers HQ, online and in our shop in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. We deliver across the UK by Royal Mail Tracked 24, free on orders from £100, and you can choose Click & Collect from the shop.

From the Advice Centre

Lake Country Guides & Advice

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Lake Country HDO vs SDO pads: orange Lake Country CCS polishing pads on The Drivers HQ display plinth in front of a blue BMW 4 Series covered in snow foam Lake Country HDO vs SDO Pads: Which Should You Use?Our guide to Lake Country HDO and SDO construction, machine compatibility and foam grades. Learn which range suits your polisher, how to...

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