I really don't maintenence mine.  I just figure to get 4-5, maybe 6 uses per pad.  And I also note how much it has been used so that I can take that into consideration.  A used 2000 pad has a good use too as a finishing pad....

When they're done, I usually flip them over and use them to polish. 

Good knowledge GT2, thats what i was assuming. This was just first time i had heard of someone brushing out the pads. I normally use the siaair pads and get about 10 uses before i chuck em and get a new one.

I think charlest has mentioned cleaning his abralon pads.  He probably knows how much that may prolong the pads life or affects the surface of it...

I do agree the siaair pads do last a bit longer.

Ill ask charlest, maybe im wrong, but just feeling the pads afterwards, they are just so much smoother than they were originally.

I sometimes use an old toothbrush to lightly brush away residual resin while spraying it
with a direct stream of water. I do this into a waste bucket as I don't want to put resin slurry into my septic system.

I've thought about how the bristles of the toothbrush (softer than a shoe brush? not sure) would affect the abrasive. I think it's minimal as long as you don't brush too hard.

Brushing may be overkill. I think just spraying it with water before it's dry may be good enough. I just don't want to abrade the left over/dried resin onto the next ball.

Just my 2 cents.

Use your own common sense. If anyone has any other thoughts of a better or safer procedure, I'm all ears. We want to be safe (dry resin dust is not good), efficient, but we don't to get anal about this or overthink it.

Thanks Charlest for your experiences.

I clean mine under running water and brushing "lightly" with a soft tooth brush.

I brush mine with a small scrub brush, larger than a toothbrush and stiffer bristles.  Some call them a fingernail brush.  --  JohnP

Quote from: Rightycomplex on October 03, 2012, 08:28:26 PM

I like the idea of soaking them. I think that would maintain the texture of the pad better. Thanks for all the responses.

I don't think that just soaking them will clean them. You have to remove the resin slurry (hopefully not dried) from the pad with either a mechanical means (brush) or running water.

I agree charlest. And in the shop this week, all ive been doing is after surfacing a ball, i hit the pad with extra water and the resin seems to run out. Its an alternative to applying a brush to it. I just a little frightened to do that.... ok i lied, very frightened to do that. Running water sounds great.