Selecting the right pad is very important to achieve the best results in paint correction. We stock different types of pads from Lake Country and this guide gives you the details of different types of Lake Country pads and helps you to select the right pad for your car polishing or paint buffing.

Lake Country Flat Foam Pads

Lake Country Flat Foam Pads were the original DA Polishing pads before the introduction of CCS technology. These flat pads provide full surface contact with the paint, and the same advanced foam compositions like in all Lake Country pads.

The Lake Country Mfg design team came up with a way of improving upon the 6.5” foam pad by adding more Velcro. The material goes almost the way to the edges of the pad to ensure the most contact between the backing plate and the pad. This provides you the best holding power on the pad when you polish. Plus, the increased Velcro brand hook & loop material means you can use the 6.5” pads with 5” or 6” backing plate. You can even use these pads on your rotary polisher because they accommodate a 6” rotary plate. Lake Country dual action pads are now suitable for both rotary and dual action buffers.

An advanced bonding system permanently attaches the hook & loop material to the pad to prevent slipping and detachment. Advanced foam compositions and user-friendly design will make your polishing experience safer for your vehicle and easier for you.

Lake Country Flat Foam Pads are made of imported German foam, and these 6.5” pads have been improved to feature a flat surface. Lake Country pads reduce heat build-up and spontaneous heat transfer between the machine and the pad. More pad-to-paint contact allows you to work more efficiently than you could with variable contact pads. The old pads required the user to apply more pressure in order to flatten the pad against the paint. These new flat pads allow the machine to do all the work for you.

The Lake Country Dual Action Pads are available in these types of foam:

Yellow Cutting Flat Foam Pad – Use this pad to apply compounds or polishes to remove severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches. It is the most aggressive and should only be used on oxidized and heavily swirled finishes. Always follow this pad with a white or gray pad and a fine polish to refine the paint until it is smooth.

Orange Light Cutting Foam – Firm, high density foam for scratch and defect removal. Use this pad with polishes and swirl removers. It’s an all-around pad that will work on most light to moderate imperfections.

Pink Cutting/Polishing Flat Foam Pad – This foam is of medium density with the ability to level very fine scratches and very light oxidation. Use light swirl removers with this pad.

White Flat Polishing Foam – High absorption foam formula for the application of waxes, micro-fine polishes and sealants. This pad has very light cutting power so it’s perfect for pre-wax cleaners.

Grey Finishing Foam – Composition is firm enough to withstand added pressure during final finishing to remove buffer swirls. It has no cut and will apply thin, even coats of waxes, sealants, and glazes.

Blue Finessing Foam – Flat pad has soft composition for applying glaze, finishing polish, sealants, and liquid waxes. Flat pad provides full contact with paint surface to minimize the pressure applied by the user. Use the blue pad to remove products or for final buffing.

Red Ultrasoft Wax/Sealant Flat Foam Pad – This soft, imported foam is ideal for applying the final coat of wax or sealant. The foam works especially well when applying liquid waxes or sealants because it is firm enough to keep the majority of the product on the paint, rather than soaking it up. The red foam has no cut or cleaning ability.

 

Lake Country Hydro-Tech Foam Pads

Lake Country’ s Hydro-Tech Foam Pads are a type of specialized flat foam pad. These pads are designed specifically for the application of water-based polishes and compounds. European pre-polymer foam prolongs the working time so you have more time to create a flawless finish. Hydro-Tech Inch Foam Pads are ideal for professional, body shop-safe polishes.

The Lake Country Hydro-Tech Foam Pads accomplish defect removal and finishing in just one step. This special foam composition leaves no marring so, even after compounding with the blue cutting pad, the finish is nearly wax-ready. Think of these pads as all-in-one polishing and finishing pads.

Cyan Advanced Cutting Foam – The Blue foam is designed for compounding and swirl removal. This closed cell pre-polymer foam restores oxidized and heavily swirled paint. Looks can be deceiving; the blue pad looks coarse but actually finishes with no marring. You’ll achieve an almost wax-ready finish in one step. That’s another way the Lake Country Hydro-Tech Foam Pads save you time.

The blue cutting foam works well with Menzerna FG 400 and Meguiars Ultra-Cut Compound. Both polishes have great cutting power and a clean, glossy finish. Use either polish/pad combo on neglected finishes and watch the paint come to life!

Tangerine Ultra Polishing Foam – The Tangerine foam is made for light to moderate defect removal and polishing. It has the cutting power just below that of the Lake Country orange light cutting pad, and the tangerine pad leaves a finish like you’d achieve with a gray finishing pad.

Use a finishing polish or fine swirl remover to create a deep gloss. Menzerna SF 4000 is an xcellent choice for this pad.

Crimson Finishing Foam – The Crimson foam is designed to apply waxes, glazes, and sealants in flawless, even coats without causing swirls. The soft foam has very light polishing ability, making it a great choice for cleaner waxes, too. Since the crimson pad is made of Hydro-Tech foam, it does not soak up liquid waxes and paint sealants like some finishing pads can. You’ll be able to cover more paint with less product. The crimson pad is a great choice to apply Collinite 845 Insulator Wax

 

Lake Country Waffle Pads

Lake Country Waffle-shaped foam pads deliver professional grade performance!

Lake Country Waffle Pro Foam Pads are designed to maximize performance and minimize heat and pad skipping. The wavy waffle texture allows air flow underneath the pad to release heat generated during the heavy compounding. Pad control is improved by this convoluted texture.

Heat is the main challenge during heavy compounding, it can even burn the paint. Lake Country Waffle Pro Foam Pads allow heat to escape by letting air pass through the waves of the foam. This increased air flow lets the pad glide over the paint with less friction. That puts an end to skipping and uneven polishing. The detailer will have complete control over the movement of the pad on the paint surface.

Lake Country Waffle Pro Foam Pads are available in a variety of foam compositions to suit multiple applications. The color-coded system is intuitive for professional detailers and those accustomed to using professional grade polishing products.

The Lake Country Waffle Pro pads are available in the following colors:

White Compounding – The white pad is dense and firm. Use this pad with an aggressive compound to remove serious paint defects such as sanding scratches, deep scratches, oxidation, and weathered paint.

Orange Heavy Polishing – The orange pad offers excellent versatility. Use this pad with a polishing compound or medium grade polish depending on the level of polishing action you want to achieve. It will remove severe compounding haze, deep swirl marks, and weathered paint.

Black Finishing – Use the black pad with medium grade polish to remove light swirl marks and light compounding haze. Use this pad with a finishing polish to create a high-gloss, swirl-free shine.

Blue Finessing – The blue pad is exceptionally soft. Use it with a finishing polish to create intense gloss.

Lake Country HD DA Pads

These are unique foam pads designed for long-stroke dual action polishers from Lake Country.

Lake Country HD Orbital Foam Pads are specially designed foam pads that were developed for long-stroke dual action polishers. With the increasing popularity of long-stroke (also referred to as large throw) dual action polishers, the market demanded a line of foam pads designed specifically for these types of machines. After months of strenuous research and development, Lake Country is proud to introduce the HD Orbital Foam Pads.

Lake Country HD Orbital Foam Pads feature a dual-density design. This unique design eliminates the concaving effect that other pads experience, allowing the pads to maintain optimum surface contact and extended usage on long-stroke machines, like the Rupes LHR 15 ES and LHR 21ES “Big Foot” Random Orbital Polishers. Lake Country HD Orbital Foam Pads will outlast and outperform any other foam pads on a long-stroke dual action polisher.

Blue Cutting HD Orbital Foam PadFirm, medium density foam for scratch and defect removal. Use this pad with polishes and swirl removers. It’s an all around pad that will work on most light to moderate imperfections.
Orange Polishing HD Orbital Foam PadLess dense foam formula for the application of cleaner waxes and light polishes. This pad has very light cutting power so it’s perfect for the removal of light defects and micro marring.
Red Finishing HD Orbital Foam PadComposition is firm enough to withstand added pressure during final finishing to remove buffer swirls. It has very little cut and will apply thin, even coats of waxes, sealants, and glazes, and ultra fine polishes.

Lake Country CCS Pads

Why CCS Technology™?

CCS (Collapsed Cell Structure) pads were developed after more than two years of development with automakers and polishing companies. The result of this development was the patanted Collapsed Cell Structure technology. The basis of this technology is a pattern of strategically placed pockets on the surface of the pad. In these areas the cells of the pad have been closed. As a result polish does not soak into the pad like conventional pads, meaning the polish is able to work for longer.

The CCS Smart Pads™ Dual Action 5.5 inch Professional Foam Pads are smaller versions of our 6.5 inch DA foam pads. The low profile 5.5 inch buffing pads pack the same CCS technology and performance into a compact, highly effective size that works best with dual action polishers and air sanders.

CCS stands for Collapsed Cell Structure. CCS Technology is Lake Country’s innovative pad design that saves product by controlling product release onto the work surface. Dozens of dimples in the foam collect excess polish and reserve it until it is needed on the pad’s face (the area that is in contact with the paint). This design prolongs your working time and reduces product waste.

CCS Smart Pads™ work on every type of paint, from conventional clear coats to the harder, scratch-resistant clear coats used by Mercedes Benz and the Ford Motor Company. Lake Country’s range of foam compositions, combined with the right chemicals provides you with a prescription to correct almost any paint imperfection on any paint finish.

What are the benefits of CCS Technology?

Slows rate of polish absorption – As discussed above, the pads are slow to absorb products and therefore the paint benefits from a longer working time. The same is true of liquid waxes and sealants.

Improves operator control – CCS pockets gradually release polish as needed by the operator. Since these areas are not absorbing polish, they serve as little reservoirs until the excess polish is needed.

Prevents pad skipping – CCS pockets reduce surface tension allowing the operator to run pad flat on a working surface. Basically, the CCS pockets break up the smooth surface of the foam to eliminate the sticking and skipping that occurs when two perfectly flat surfaces meet.

Creates less heat – CCS pockets provide several points where the foam is not completely touching the paint. This reduces friction and therefore heat generated between the pad and the paint.

OEM approved – OEM tests confirm CCS pads out-perform convoluted pad designs.

CCS foam pads provide ample surface contact to effectively work the paint. The CCS pockets are small so they don’t affect the amount of foam continuously touching the paint during operation.

These CCS Smart Pads 5.5 inch Professional Foam Pads give you maximum maneuverability on your dual action polisher. Large foam pads tend to bog down DA polishers. That’s why 6.5 inch pads are the recommended size, but we’ve streamlined the dual action buffing pad even more with the CCS Smart Pads™ Dual Action 5.5 inch Professional Foam Pads. These compact pads give the dual orbiting head even greater freedom of motion to help you work efficiently and effectively.

The CCS 5.5 inch Foam Pads are also a perfect fit on orbital air sanders with a 5 inch backing plate.

Each CCS pad features VELCRO brand hook and loop fasteners covering the entire back of each pad to secure to a hook and loop backing plate.

 

Yellow Low Profile Cutting Foam Pad – Use this pad to apply compounds or polishes to remove severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches. It is the most aggressive and should only be used on oxidized and older finishes. Always follow this pad with an orange or white pad and a fine polish to refine the paint until it is smooth.
Orange Low Profile Light Cutting Foam Pad – Firm, high density foam for scratch and defect removal. Use this pad with polishes and swirl removers. It’s an all around pad that will work on most light to moderate imperfections.

Pink Low Profile Cutting/Polishing Foam Pad – This foam is of medium density with the ability to level very fine scratches and very light oxidation. Use light swirl removers with this pad.

White Low Profile Polishing Foam Pad – Less dense foam formula for the application of waxes, micro-fine polishes and sealants. This pad has very light cutting power so its perfect for pre-wax cleaners.
Green Low Profile Polishing/Finishing Foam Pad – Use this foam to apply one-step cleaner waxes. It is a balance of polishing and finishing that is perfect for all-in-one product application.
Gray Low Profile Finishing Foam Pad – Composition is firm enough to withstand added pressure during final finishing to remove buffer swirls. It has no cut and will apply thin, even coats of waxes, sealants, and glazes.
Blue Low Profile Finessing Foam Pad – Flat pad has soft composition for applying glaze, finishing polish, sealants, and liquid waxes. Flat pad provides full contact with paint surface to minimize the pressure applied by the user.
Red Low Profile Ultrasoft Wax/Sealant Foam Pad – This soft, imported foam is ideal for applying the final coat of wax or sealant. The foam works especially well when applying liquid waxes or sealants because it is firm enough to keep the majority of the product on the paint, rather than soaking it up. The red foam has no cut or cleaning ability.
Gold Low Profile Super Soft Jeweling Foam Pad -Use the gold pad to apply a very fine polish or glaze as the final step of the polishing process. Jeweling is the term coined for this step because it intensifies gloss and reflectivity, like a jewel. The gold foam pad also works well for wax and sealant application.

CCS Technology is the future of foam buffing pads. These pads are easy to use, they improve operator control, they prevent product waste, they reduce heat…CCS pads simply do more to improve detailing results.

 

To clean all foam pads:

1.Dissolve three scoopfuls of BLACKFIRE Citrus Pad Cleaner in 3 gallons of water. A scoop is included in the jar.
2.Put your used foam, wool and, microfiber pads in the bucket and allow them to soak for up to 15 minutes. Use a Foam Conditioning Brush to agitate the pads while they soak.
3.Rinse the pads thoroughly and lay them out to air dry

Rinse the pads and lay them flat to dry. Lay the pads foam side down. If foam pads are left to dry with the hook & loop facing down, water will settle where the hook & loop is glued to the foam and it may affect the glue. For the best results, lay pads foam side down so water drains down and out of the foam.


Compounding,
Swirl Removal
Purple Wool Pad
Use this pad to apply compounds or polishes to remove severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches. It is the most aggressive and should only be used on oxidized and older finishes. Always follow this pad with an orange or white pad and a fine polish to refine the paint until it is smooth.
Apply compounds and swirl removers, such as Optimum Compound, Meguiars Diamond Cut Compound #85, and Menzerna FG 400
Yellow CSS Cutting Foam Pad
Use this pad to apply compounds or polishes to remove severe oxidation, swirls, and scratches. It is the most aggressive and should only be used on oxidized and older finishes. Always follow this pad with an orange or white pad and a fine polish to refine the paint until it is smooth.
Apply compounds and heavy cut swirl removers, such as Optimum Hyper Compound, Gtechniq P1, and Menzerna FG 400.
Orange CSS Light Cutting Foam Pad
Firm, high density foam for scratch and defect removal. Use this pad with polishes and swirl removers. It’s an all around pad that will work on most light to moderate imperfections.
Apply moderate swirl removers and light compounds. Examples are Gtechniq P1, and Menzerna FG 400.
PolishingWhite CSS Polishing Foam Pad
Less dense foam formula for the application of waxes, micro-fine polishes and sealants. This pad has very light cutting power so its perfect for pre-wax cleaners.
Apply polishes, prewax cleaners, polishes, and light swirl removers like Klasse AIO, PB Black Hole.
FinishingGrey CSS Finishing Foam Pad
Composition is firm enough to withstand added pressure during final finishing to remove buffer swirls. It has no cut and will apply thin, even coats of paste and liquid waxes, sealants, and glazes.
Finish the paint with finishing compounds like Menzerna SF 4000 or Gtechniq P2.

 

Apply waxes, prewax cleaners, sealants, and glazes like C845, PB C845

Blue CSS Finessing Foam Pad
The blue pad has soft composition for applying glazes, sealants, and liquid waxes. The finessing pad provides full contact with paint surface to minimize the pressure applied by the user.
Apply waxes, sealants, and glazes. Examples are Pinnacle Liquid Souveran and Meguiars Hand Glaze, PB Black Hole.
Red CSS Ultrasoft Wax/Sealant Foam Pad
This soft, imported foam is ideal for applying the final coat of wax or sealant. The foam works especially well when applying liquid waxes or sealants because it is firm enough to keep the majority of the product on the paint, rather than soaking it up. The red foam has no cut or cleaning ability.
Use glazes, sealants, and liquid waxes. Examples include Menzerna Finishing Glaze and Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant.