Comparative test of cleaning brushes for pads

• Products: Pad cleaning brush, Foam Pad Conditioning Brush, Mini Pad and Buffer Brush, Claw Pad Tool.
• Manufacturer: MANIAC AUTO, CHEMICAL GUYS, ALCHIMY7, RUPES
• Packaging: Sold individually.
  
  

Cleaning pads is a very important step in keeping them in good condition as long as possible and above all maintaining their optimal correction/finishing capacity. Also, there is nothing more annoying than producing a large amount of dust while polishing, all because you are not taking care to properly clean your pad.

That is why we chose to write an article on brushes designed for this purpose. You will find various brushes, more or less stiff, with different shapes, at different price points. You will then be perfectly able to make your choice.


General presentation:

Let's start by taking a closer look at the first brush: the CHEMICAL GUYS Foam Pad Conditioning Brush.
The first notable thing is its 45° angled handle. Well thought out for ergonomics, it allows an excellent grip and thus avoids jerky movements when cleaning the pad on the high-speed polisher.



Next, looking at the nylon fibers, we notice that they are fairly close together, thick, and above all not very flexible. In short, this is a fairly stiff brush. The fibers are numerous, which also allows a fairly wide area to be cleaned in one pass.





The simplest way to always clean your pads is to run your polisher in the air and then brush the surface. You gain in efficiency and above all you will tire less!







The cleaning is truly effective. The brush is stiff just right. The pad comes out impeccable without pressing too hard on the foam and risking damaging it.

An excellent brush overall, which has only one drawback: its price. Priced at €22.95, it is expensive and above all almost more expensive than the other three brushes in this test combined.
Price aside, this accessory is practically indestructible. It will accompany you through all your detailing jobs and will above all be very useful for keeping your pads in top condition as long as possible during work. This purchase should be seen as a must-have.



Next, let's take a look at a more modest model: the standard pad cleaning brush that we offer.

Of a much more basic design, it is nonetheless functional. With softer nylon bristles, it will be better suited to softer finishing foams in particular.



Its shape (toothbrush-type) ensures a good grip, though the very thin handle may be criticized for its lack of grip.

The job is done, it provides good surface-level dusting. You will need to press harder to reach the dust embedded in the foam cells. The fibers remain flexible, perhaps too flexible for the firmest foams.

In summary, an "entry-level" brush (€2.95) that can get the job done in all circumstances, without risk to the material (foam deterioration in particular) and that will suit beginners.



Another brush to present: the MBTP from ALCHIMY7. MBTP stands for Mini Brosse Tampons et Pads (Mini Pad and Buffer Brush).
ALCHIMY7 always offers its accessories with a series of acronyms.



The fibers of this brush are fewer in number than on the CHEMICAL GUYS model previously presented, but are above all even stiffer. They are in fact extremely stiff. This can even be intimidating at first. In the photo below, strong pressure is needed to bend the fibers.



The shape is elongated with a very (too) thin and angled handle. A more refined ergonomics than the previously seen model, but still less advanced than the CHEMICAL GUYS Foam Conditioning Brush. The grip of the latter is truly excellent.






In use, the MBTP brush cleans very effectively. The pad used in the test was a Medium from the brand (green) and cleaning it caused some minor surface foam loss. The foam of the pad being quite soft, the brush is too stiff for risk-free cleaning, even without pressing hard.



On the other hand, on very firm pads, and even better, on microfiber pads, it will be perfect. On this type of pad (microfiber), cleaning is also essential after each pass. The polish tends to stick the fibers together, and cleaning them helps "reactivate" the cutting power of the pad. So, the advantage of using a stiff-bristle brush is to gain in speed and efficiency.



In the end, the MBTP brush from ALCHIMY7 proves to be too aggressive for soft or standard foams, while it will be perfectly suited to firm foams. The advantage is that its reasonable price (€4.70) allows you to also purchase a standard Maniac Auto brush (€2.95) for softer pads without breaking the bank.


Finally, we will conclude with the RUPES model: the Claw Pad Tool.
It is by far the most interesting of the bunch, and for several reasons we will outline below.

As is customary with RUPES, quality is evident. The packaging on one hand, and above all the build quality of the brush. Elastomer overmolding, RUPES silk-screen printing, and above all a dual structure for pad cleaning.





Let's first analyze this unique structure. On one hand, there are nylon fibers that are not too stiff compared to the MBTP and the CHEMICAL GUYS brush. On the other hand, there are two elastomer (semi-rigid silicone) waves that also contribute to cleaning and, above all, prevent damage to the pad if you press too hard on the brush while cleaning the pad at speed. Indeed, these waves are gentler on the foam than semi-rigid bristles. As a result, there is little risk of damaging the pad while still having good cleaning power. Clever!







The shape of the brush itself was thoughtfully designed. For example, the rear part is shaped like a blade. There are in fact two uses for this flat-ended shape. The first is to allow the detailer to detach the pad from the backing plate without pulling on it and risking damage.

The other function of the Claw Pad Tool is to allow you to spread your polish more evenly on the pad (to avoid splashing in particular) thanks to its blade shape.
Illustrated below.





You know how to spread jam on a slice of bread? Well, you will now know how to spread polish on a pad with the Claw Pad Tool :-)

Joking aside, this brush is remarkably effective, very long-lasting, very useful, and above all versatile. Its price is not off-putting either (€17.95) and sits in the mid-to-high range.
A must-have especially for a pro who polishes frequently and needs to clean their pads very often.

One final point. You can of course use all your brushes when washing your pads under water. Use a little microfiber and pad detergent for example (CHEMICAL GUYS Pad Cleaner or Microfiber Wash) and then brush each pad with the brush of your choice.

General conclusion:

This test has highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of each brush. Those equipped with too-soft bristles will not allow deep cleaning, especially on firm pads, unless you press excessively.
Those with too-stiff fibers are damaging to the structure of your foams.
Some brushes are ergonomic, others less so, and the price difference is significant (from €2.95 to €22.95!).
In short, not easy to find your way around. In our opinion, in use the Claw Pad Tool from RUPES seems to be the best compromise. Design, versatility, effectiveness. Everything works in its favor.
Then for tighter budgets, the simple Maniac Auto pad cleaning brush is ultimately interesting and will get the job done.

What is certain, however, is that a pad cleaning brush is essential for any polishing work in order to perform the job in the best possible conditions.