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Floor Pads Shine Under Pressure
They can take the heat -- and they're aggressive.
By Darin Hargraves
Developed to replace polish brushes used on low-speed equipment, floor pads give increased
flexibility to a floor maintenance program.
If one pad doesn't produce the results needed, simply try a different color pad.
Light-colored
pads are least aggressive and are usually used for polishing. The most aggressive pad is
black and is
used in stripping procedures.
A pad's aggressiveness is related to the number of resin "rocks" on the pad's
surface and the type of synthetic or natural fiber used in the pad's construction.
Manufacturers dip pads in (or brush pads with) a resin solution to hold the fibers
together. When the resin dries, it leaves small resin "rocks" on the fibers.
Pig's hair is a natural fiber used in pad manufacture that is popular with many floor care
professionals. Rubberized pads are also available for high-speed burnishing.
Three variables affect the way a buffer performs: downward pad pressure, pad contact area
and pad speed. These variables are best described by heat-generating potential. For
example, propane buffers generally produce the greatest heat at 3,000 rpm, with full pad
contact at high pad pressures.
Too Fast and Hot
Altering the aggressiveness of the pad can offset deficiencies in pad pressure and pad
contact area. Overly aggressive pads may produce the desired heat but may leave circles in
the floor finish. Powdering of floor finish is also a characteristic of using an
excessively aggressive pad.
Many manufacturers design pads for specific types of equipment, such as propane and
battery buffers. Ask your distributor or manufacturer for a recommendation when purchasing
floor pads, and be sure to tell them what type of buffing equipment and floor finish your
crew uses.
<Picture>When choosing a pad for a cleaning operation such as automatic scrubbing,
the least aggressive floor pad that does a satisfactory job should be used to help prevent
damage to the floor shine. Many cleaning chemicals, especially non-neutral cleaners, can
temporarily soften floor polish.
Pre-burnish pads for use with propane equipment have become popular where there is light
floor soiling. Using these pads can be more time efficient than automatic scrubbing, and
they can be used in rotation with automatic scrubbing in some floor maintenance programs.
There are two ways to construct a floor pad. Some manufacturers use a layered design in
which pad fibers lie roughly parallel to the floor. Pads that have fibers running
vertically can deteriorate 50 percent faster. This is a result of pad wear on the looped
ends of the fibers, eroding the pad structurally.
Shake and Brush to Clean
Polishing pads should be cleaned often to eliminate build-up that can scratch the floor
polish. Clean pads by removing them from the machine and shaking them in a plastic bag to
remove dust and imbedded debris. Pads can also be brushed with a stiff plastic bristle
brush.
Cleaning and stripping pads can be cleaned by soaking them in a light stripper solution
for five minutes, then brushing them with a stiff brush while rinsing with clear water. Be
sure your crew always wears protective clothing when working with stripper solution.
Some manufacturers and distributors provide pad cleaning services which pick up your pads
and return them ready-to-use. They may also clean employee uniforms and entrance mats.Even
though a used pad can be cleaned, it doesn't mean that it will always produce the same
results as a new pad. Pads begin to lose their resin rocks as the pad is used. Be careful
to avoid overusing them.
Floor pads do have their limitations. Uneven floors are best cleaned and stripped with a
floor
brush on a low-speed machine or automatic scrubber. Ordinarily, uneven floors are
maintained with
a low-speed program, eliminating the need for high-speed equipment.
Brushes have yet to successfully bridge the gap to high-speed applications. Although some
floor care equipment manufacturers are beginning to market high-speed brush machines, most
floor
care professionals still use pads when using high-speed equipment.
Have your crew test pads to find the best one for the floor care procedures they perform.
Finding the best pad for your equipment and floor polish can determine the success
your staff has in
maintaining good-looking, clean floors.
Darin Hargraves is owner of Hargraves Supply, a janitorial supply company in Ketchikan,
AK.
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