Yes — hybrid/transitional pads (copper bond, ceramic bond) are the bridge between metal bond grinding and resin bond polishing. They remove the coarse metal scratches and prepare the surface so resin pads can polish to gloss. Skipping them leaves visible scratches that resin pads cannot fully erase.
Metal bond pads cut aggressively and leave deep scratches. Resin bond pads polish but cannot cut deep enough to remove metal scratches. The transitional step sits in between: it uses a softer bond (copper or ceramic) with intermediate grits (50–400#) that remove metal scratches while refining the surface for resin.
Our Copper Bond Hybrid Resin Pads work as the aggressive transitional step, and Ceramic Bond Transitional Pads refine before resin.
| Phase | Bond | Grits | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grind | Metal | 30, 50, 100, 200 | Level, remove coating/laitance |
| Transition | Copper / Ceramic | 50, 100, 200, 400 | Remove metal scratches |
| Polish | Resin | 800, 1500, 3000 | Develop gloss |
Technically yes, but the resin pads will struggle with deep metal scratches and the finish will be hazy. Transitional pads save time overall.
Start around 50–100# copper bond to remove metal scratches, then 200–400# ceramic bond to refine. Match the sequence to your metal bond finish grit.
They add one product to the sequence, but they reduce resin pad wear and rework, so the per-m² cost is usually lower overall.
Hybrid and transitional pads are the glue of the polishing sequence — they remove metal scratches and set up the surface for resin gloss. Include them between metal and resin bonds for a clean, mirror finish. JOY TECH supplies copper and ceramic bond transitional pads for every machine type.
