Difference Between Waffle & Plain Buffing Pads

Appearance

• Flat buffing pads have a flat bottom surface. When you make contact between the pad and your working surface, the pad should sit flush with the surface. Waffle pads are flat but have little dimples pressed into the bottom surface. When contact is made between this pad and the surface, the pad itself will sit flush but the dimpled areas will never make contact with the surface. Although both flat and waffle pads are round, the diameters vary in size. Purchase one that fits your specific machine.

Friction

• Waffle pads are designed to reduce friction and generate less heat than flat pads. This is due to the fact that less surface area will touch the surface you are working with. Flat pads can generate some heat, especially when held in one area too long. This will make for an uneven finish or even a possible burn mark in that area.

Surface Contact

• When you place two flat surfaces together, such as a flat pad and a flat work surface, you may end up with a pad that skips or sticks to some areas as you work. This is especially true when you are working on a surface that has curves or uneven surface areas. Waffle pads reduce the amount of skipping by breaking up the smooth surface and allowing the pad to conform and work with the surface better.

Aggressiveness

• As a general rule for pads, a closed surface configuration is more aggressive on the surface than an open configuration. Therefore, a flat pad may be considered more aggressive while you buff and polish a surface compared to the gentler and more open waffle configuration. So if you need some aggressive action to work on some hard to remove gunk, you may want to grab the flat pad. If you have a delicate surface, grab a waffle pad. This is just a general rule, however, as there are different weaves, pore configurations and strengths for both kinds of pads. Read the product information for further guidance on each pad.