One of the most common questions I get from beginners when they ask me about polishing their car for the first time is what type of buffing pad they should be using. 

Before I even started learning about car polishing, I had no clue that there were so many different types of buffing pads available each one with their own individual job and purpose. 

I remember my first time going into my local detailing supplier and seeing about six different coloured pads and I had absolutely no idea which one I should be buying. Who would have thought it could be so confusing?

Recommended Reading – Beginners Guide To Removing Swirl Marks

If you would like to see what types of machine polishers I recommend you can see them HERE

The type of buffing pads I learned with, which are still my favourites to use when polishing my car these days are chemical guys hex logic pads. As far as I am aware of these are some of the most popular polishing pads on the market and are somewhat of a benchmark product for car detailers around the world, amateurs and professionals alike.

Although these hex logic buffing pads are superb products,  I think it can still be confusing knowing which pad or pads you should be using when polishing your car.  As far as I’m aware there are about 7 different pad types and pad colours available to buy.

So, which ones should you be using? It depends.

In this post, I will look at each Color Hex logic Pad and try to give a simple explanation of its purpose and when and why you should use it. The last thing you want to do is buy you one of these pads and waste hours using it on your car, only not to get the results that you originally intended – because you were using the WRONG one. So let’s take a look.

 

Chemical Guys Hex-Logic Pad Guide

What is Hex-Logic?

I have always wondered why these pads were called ‘Hex-Logic’, and how their construction and pattern actually made any difference when polishing your car. According to Chemical Guys themselves.

“The Hexagon is not new to science it’s just new to detailing.  Rather than try to reinvent some catchy gimmick, Chemical Guys invest in technology that through the years has simply been unbeatable and improves on it. Hex-Logic pads are designed to hold product and distribute it evenly over the surface of the pad delivering a superior even finish that is hard to achieve with any other pad. 

Nature selected the Hexagon for storage and designed it to be one of the most efficient holding cells. For example a mass of hexagonal wax cells built by honey bees in their nests to store honey and pollen. The bees build the comb with 6 sides for even distribution of product fast and effectively.

Hex-logic pads and Hex-laser cut perfect every time to guarantee that every pad use and results are extremely efficient”

I have to admit, I have used flat pads before and to be honest, I do find that the structure of these chemical guys pads actually do make a difference and I find them pretty superior.

What Types Of Hex-Logic Pads Are available?

As far as I am aware, the full list of Chemical Guys Pads are

• Yellow-Heavy Cutting Pad 
• Orange-Medium-Heavy Cutting Pad 
• Green-Heavy Polishing Pad 
• White – Medium -Light Polishing Pad 
• Blue – Glaze & Cleaner Foam Pad 
• Black- Finishing Foam 
• Red – Perfection Pad Ultra Fine Finishing Pad 

As you can tell, it could very easily confuse a beginner which pad they should be using to Polish their car. Even just by the above list which a brief description it is still not 100% Clear which one you should buy. And in Some Cases, you will need more than 1 type if you are doing a proper paint correction on a car. Let’s take a look at each one individually starting with the most common and go into a bit more detail.

What Is the Orange Hex-Logic Pad For?

This firm, high-density foam is ideal for scratch and defect removal in the paintwork of the car. The orange hex logic foam offers the correction of a typical compounding pad while at the same time allowing the polishing ability of light cut foam pad. When used with heavier compounds( Such as Menzerna Heavy Cut ) it will remove moderate swirls and scratches with little or no haze. It is an all-around pad that will work on most light to moderate imperfections

This is my go-to pad when I am working on most cars unless I need something with a heavy cut ( really badly damaged paintwork ). If you are totally unsure of which pad your car needs, this pad is probably the best place to start.

More info and where to buy HERE

What Is the Yellow Hex-Logic Pad For?

The main purpose of this pad is to remove severe oxidation, swirls and scratches in conjunction with a polishing compound. It is the most aggressive pad you can buy from the chemical guy’s range and should only really be used on oxidized and older finishes. Don’t forget that when you polish your car that you are essentially taking a very small layer off the clear coat of the car’s paint. If you only have light scratches on your car, you only want to remove the amount of paint that is necessary, so you should not use such a heavy pad.

Always follow this pad with an orange  hex logic pad and a fine polish ( Such as Menzerna SF3500 Super Finish )  to achieve the best finish possible

More info and where to buy HERE

 

What Is the Green Hex-Logic Pad For?

The green pad is designed to be used with a random orbital polisher (like the Porter Cable) It produces less spot heating and has a unique compression/load/deflection ratio which means it conforms quickly to contours. This pad is tough enough to remove swirls and scuffs while at the same time producing a high gloss swirl-free finish.

This foam is also ideal for applying one-step cleaner waxes. It is a balance of polishing and finishing that is perfect for all-in-one product application

If you remember one of my previous posts, Most Beginners should use a DA ( dual action ) polisher when learning how to polish their car. Unless you are pretty experienced or already own a random orbital polisher, you probably don’t need to worry too much about buying a green pad.

More info and where to buy HERE

What Is the White Hex-Logic Pad For?

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. It is the most well-used pad as it is ideal for application of pre-wax cleansers as well as many finishing polishes

This pad is used on paint finishes after aggressive compounding ( Like I mentioned with the yellow hex logic pad above ). It is always good to have one of these pads on hand as it can serve multiple purposes. However, you should not use this pad if you are trying to remove any swirls or paint defects in the first step, as it simply is not aggressive enough to cut through the paint, it is used as a secondary tool to finish the job.

More info and where to buy HERE

What Is the Blue Hex-Logic Pad For?

Chemical Guys Blue Hex-Logic Quantum Light Finishing Pads are light duty finishing pads. These pads have no cut and only spread the perfect coat of glaze for added gloss and wet shine. The Blue Quantum pads are perfect for applying the perfect coat of glaze with minimal product waste. Use Blue Quantum pads to spread the perfect coat of glaze like Black Light

Spreading products like glaze, sealant, and wax by machine uses the smallest amount of product for maximum results with minimal product use.

More info and where to buy HERE

What Is the Black Hex-Logic Pad For?

Like the blue pad above, The Composition of the black hex logic pad 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. Both serve pretty much the same purpose so are interchangeable. As you have probably already guessed at this stage, this pad is not used to cut the paint and should only be used after a correction is done with a heavier cut pad.

More info and where to buy HERE

 

What Is the Red Hex-Logic Pad For?

The Red Hex-Logic is considered another finishing pad and is the softest finishing pad in the range. This pad has an ultra-soft composition for applying refined paste waxes and sealants as well as crème waxes. The Black, Blue and Red Pads can basically be used interchangeably.

More info and where to buy HERE

Which Hex-Logic Pad should you use?

It all comes down to your specific needs. Below is a summary of when you should use each type of buffing pad, so it will depend on your specific application. As I said above, for general polishing you can’t go too wrong with the orange pad as a starter and is usually the one I recommend to most people when they ask me about it.

Summary of the Hex-Logic Pads (In Order Of Cutting Ability)

Yellow – Heavy cutting pad for severe oxidation and deep scratches

Orange – Medium cutting pad for heavy swirls, scratches and oxidation

Green – Heavy polishing pad for moderate swirl removal and finishing capabilities

White – Light polishing pad for light defect removal and fine finishing

Blue – Soft finishing pad for spreading wax quickly and easily

Black – Extra soft finishing pad for spreading sealant or wax fast and easy

Red – Ultrasoft finishing pad for spreading premium sealant and wax coatings

Further Reading – Tips for Polishing Pad Cleaning & Care

If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment below.

Happy Detailing!

About the Author – Darren O Hara

Darren is the founder of the DriveDetailed blog and is a keen detailing enthusiast living in the rainy south of Ireland. When he is not cleaning his car he is always researching ways he can improve his techniques and enjoys testing out out new products.

Darren currently drives an Audi TTRS and is a big fan of performance cars.

You can follow Darren on Instagram @darrenoharacork

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