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Microfibre cutting pad with orange inner foam

Chemical Guys 5.5" Cutting Pad Orange Inner Foam 3/4″ Thickness (1PCS)

SKU BUFX_302_5 Ask a question

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£14.99

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Size 5.5in

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Chemical Guys 5.5" Cutting Pad Orange Inner Foam 3/4″ Thickness (1PCS) £14.99
Click & Collect: Ilkeston · FreeMost eligible orders are ready within 5 minutes during opening times. Please wait for your collection-ready confirmation before travelling. Click & Collect: Ilkeston Not available for this option. Options that can be collected show it here. How it works
  • Microfibre cutting pad for fast correction
  • Removes heavy swirls, scratches and oxidation
  • Works on single stage and clear coat
  • Cutting half of a simple two pad system
  • Centre vent cools pad and machine
  • Bevelled edge fits into tight areas
  • Recommended for dual action polishers
  • Orange inner foam, 3/4in thick
Read the full description

Full Description

Why Buy This Product?

  • Removes heavy swirl marks, scratches, and oxidation like heavy wool pads
  • Refines depth, reflection, and clarity like fine foam pads
  • Simple 2 Pad System virtually eliminates human error
  • Center pad vent cools pad and machine during extended polishing jobs
  • Works on any color paintwork
  • Works on all gloss paint types: single stage, clear coat, ceramic clear coat, etc.
  • Functions best with dual-action polishers
  • Works best with compounds and fine cutting polishes
  • Hook and loop backing for fast and easy changes
  • Also available in 4.5″ and 6.5″ sizes for all detailing applications

More in Heavy Cut Foam Pads.

Tracked UK delivery, or collect eligible orders from our Ilkeston store.

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Key features

  • Microfibre Cutting Pad
  • 5.5in Pad
  • 3/4in Inner Foam
  • Two Pad System
  • DA Polisher Pad

The Drivers HQ

Expert Notes

The Chemical Guys Black Optics Orange Microfibre Cutting Pad is a 5.5in microfibre cutting pad with orange inner foam 3/4in thick. It is the cutting half of the Black Optics two pad system, made to remove heavy swirls, scratches and oxidation from single stage, clear coat and ceramic clear coat finishes. It is recommended for dual action polishers with a compound or fine cutting polish, and the hook-and-loop backing allows quick changes. A centre vent cools the pad and machine, and the bevelled edge fits tighter areas. Follow it with a microfibre finishing pad, and keep a pad brush and pad cleaner to hand. One pad is included.

Perfect For / Suitable Surfaces

  • Single stage paint
  • Clear coat finishes
  • Ceramic clear coat paint
  • Heavily swirled paintwork
  • Oxidised paintwork
  • Tight panel areas
  • Painted car and van panels

Caution: This pad is designed to cut fast, so it removes paint. Measure paint depth, test a small section first, and never hold it still on one spot.

Technical Specifications

Product Type
Microfibre Cutting Pad
Brand
Chemical Guys
Range
Black Optics
Size
5.5in
Inner Foam
Orange, 3/4in Thick
Cut Level
Cutting
Paint Types
Single Stage, Clear Coat, Ceramic Clear Coat
Compatibility
Dual Action Polishers (Recommended)
Backing
Hook-And-Loop
Features
Centre Vent Hole, Bevelled Edge
Pairs With
Compounds And Fine Cutting Polishes
Pack Contents
1 Pad

How To Use

Using it

  1. Fit the pad centrally on a hook-and-loop backing plate on a dual action polisher.
  2. Prime the pad with a few small dots of compound or fine cutting polish.
  3. Test a small section to confirm the cut before tackling whole panels.
  4. Work one section at a time with slow, overlapping passes and steady pressure.
  5. Wipe the residue away with a clean microfibre towel and inspect the result.
  6. Follow with a microfibre finishing pad to refine gloss and remove compounding marks.

Cleaning and storage

  1. Brush spent compound out of the pad between sections.
  2. Wash the pad in warm water with a dedicated pad cleaner after use.
  3. Rinse until the water runs clear, then press out excess water gently.
  4. Air dry it face down, away from direct heat.
  5. Store it dry in a sealed bag to keep dust and grit out of the fibres.

Top Tip: Brush out the pad after every section so spent compound does not build up and reduce the cut.

Performance Benefits

  • Removes heavy swirls and scratches
  • Cuts through oxidation on paint
  • Refines depth, reflection and clarity
  • Keeps pad and machine cooler
  • Bevelled edge reaches tight areas
  • Quick pad changes with hook-and-loop

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this pad?

It is the Chemical Guys Black Optics Orange Microfibre Cutting Pad in 5.5in, with orange inner foam 3/4in thick. Chemical Guys lists it under code BUFX_302_5.

What paint can I use it on?

It works on all gloss paint types, including single stage, clear coat and ceramic clear coat, in any colour.

Which polisher does it suit?

A dual action polisher is the recommended machine for this pad. It attaches to a hook-and-loop backing plate for quick changes.

What is the two pad system?

Chemical Guys designed Black Optics as one pad for cutting and one for finishing. Use this orange cutting pad first, then the black microfibre finishing pad to refine gloss and depth.

What should I use with it?

Use it with a compound or a fine cutting polish. Chemical Guys also lists a pad conditioner and a pad conditioning brush as useful extras.

How many pads are included?

One. This listing is for a single 5.5in Black Optics orange cutting pad.

Do you deliver across the UK?

Yes, The Drivers HQ offers UK-wide delivery, and our walk-in store is in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

HQ Suggests Tips & Insights

  1. Run it on a dual action polisher, the recommended machine.
  2. Pair it with a compound or fine cutting polish.
  3. Measure paint depth before cutting older or resprayed panels.
  4. Clean the microfibre face after every section.
  5. Follow with a finishing pad to remove compounding marks.
  6. Keep the pad flat and moving at all times.
  7. Wash and fully dry the pad before storing.
  8. Order online with UK-wide delivery from The Drivers HQ.

The Brand

Chemical Guys

Chemical Guys is a car care brand with its mailing address in Torrance, California, and it describes itself as more than a brand: "a lifestyle with a worldwide following". Its story says the company began by wiping the slate clean and starting fresh, and over the years grew into a huge library of detailing knowledge as well as a product range. That range runs from waxes to hybrid coatings, nano-polishes and ceramic sealants, alongside buffing pads, wash and interior care, air fresheners and odour eliminators.

The Drivers HQ stocks a Chemical Guys range led by machine polishing pads. There are Hex-Logic and Hex-Logic Quantum pads in medium cut, heavy cut and finishing grades, in 4 inch, 5.5 inch and 6.5 inch sizes, from the orange Hex-Logic Quantum Cutting Pad to the black Quantum Finishing Pad. Alongside the pads we carry odour and smoke eliminators such as the Stay Fresh Baby Powder Scented Air Freshener, hanging air fresheners, car shampoos, car waxes, wash mitts and pads, and After Wash.

Chemical Guys suits anyone moving from hand polishing to machine polishing, as well as detailers who already use a machine and want pads matched to each stage. The brand designs its Quantum pads for dual action and high-speed rotary polishers, attached by hook and loop. A typical correction runs from a cutting pad with a compound, through a polishing pad with a finer polish, to a finishing pad for a glaze, wax or sealant. Shampoos and wash mitts then cover the regular maintenance wash, with waxes to top up protection between corrections.

Buy Chemical Guys from The Drivers HQ with UK-wide delivery by tracked Royal Mail, or call in at our walk-in store in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, where Click & Collect is free. Whether you are replacing a worn polishing pad, building a set of pads for a full correction or adding a new scent to your car, you can combine Chemical Guys products with the rest of your detailing and car care essentials in a single order.

Shop all Chemical Guys
CHEMICAL GUYS - STAY FRESH BABY POWDER SCENTED AIR FRESHENER & ODOR ELIMINAT - The Drivers HQ

Driven by a Passion for Shine

Chemical Guys puts a passion for shine at the heart of its story. The brand says it is "Driven by adventure, a passion for shine, and a love for the road ahead", and it welcomes anyone who shares that passion to become part of its family. Its story describes the team as passion-filled car enthusiasts who work every day to make the things they love shine their brightest.

Teaching is a large part of that approach. Chemical Guys says it believes "everyone should be able to achieve a show car shine", and alongside professional level products it provides a vast library of detailing how to guides and courses. The brand calls itself a culture of thinkers and makers, and says detailing is a lifestyle it lives day in, day out, not just something it does.

In its own words, Chemical Guys never stops testing and improving, because it believes good is never good enough. It also says detailing should be fun, and that not a day goes by without its team smiling, laughing and enjoying the work. Whether you are washing your car or shopping for a new sealant, the brand wants you to have a smile on your face while you do it.

CHEMICAL GUYS 4″ HEX-LOGIC PAD LIGHT POLISHING PAD WHITE PAD- (4″INCH) - The Drivers HQ

Hex-Logic Pads and Odour Control

Chemical Guys says its Hex-Logic pads use "laser-cut hexagons to evenly spread product across flat or angled surfaces", with honeycomb-like grooves that hold product in the pad for smoother application and reduce friction during use. On the Quantum pads, a Precision Port vent hole in the centre disperses more heat, which the brand says means less wear and tear on both pad and machine. The Drivers HQ stocks both Hex-Logic and Hex-Logic Quantum pads across cutting, polishing and finishing grades.

Each colour is matched to a job. The brand describes the orange Quantum pad as a medium cutting pad that removes light to moderate defects such as swirls, scratches, oxidation and water spots, and the black Quantum Finishing Pad as a no-cut pad for spreading final sealants and wax coatings evenly on freshly polished paint. Our range includes 4 inch, 5.5 inch and 6.5 inch pads to suit different machines and backing plates.

For the interior, Chemical Guys says the formula in its odour eliminating sprays uses active enzymes that neutralise the germs and bacteria causing odours, then leaves behind only the fresh scent of the product. We stock the Stay Fresh Baby Powder Scented Air Freshener among a wider selection of odour and smoke eliminators, plus hanging air fresheners, so you can tackle stubborn smells such as smoke and keep the cabin smelling fresh.

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