If you run a 12 by 18 inch oscillating floor machine, the red rectangular pad is the one you go through fastest - because it does two jobs. It buffs and light-scrubs finished floors on its own, and it works as the spacer that sits between the pad driver and a thinner stripping or scrubbing pad. This is a single 1-inch thick red rectangular pad, part 40441218, sized for the Mercury DS-18 dry scrub machine and other 12 by 18 inch oscillating floor machines.
The spacer role is the one that saves floors. The underside of an oscillating pad driver is covered in gripper pins. Mount a thin pad directly on it and those pins can telegraph through and mark the finish. A 1-inch red pad underneath absorbs that, keeps pressure even across the whole 12 by 18 inch footprint, and will not harm a commercially finished floor. Crews who strip regularly run two red pads at once for exactly this reason - it reduces the chance of the machine contacting the floor unevenly in spots as the pads compress.
Built for
- Mercury DS-18 dry scrub floor machines
- Any 12 by 18 inch rectangular oscillating or orbital floor machine
- Custodial teams buffing VCT, terrazzo and sealed concrete
- Strip-and-recoat crews needing a spacer under black or maroon pads
- Schools, correctional facilities, retail and warehouse floor care programs
Use cases
- Light cleaning and buffing of finished floors - the red pad is the least aggressive of the working pads, so it cleans and brings up gloss without cutting the finish.
- Spacer under a thin stripping pad - place a red pad between the driver and a 12 by 18 inch black stripping pad so the driver pins never reach the floor.
- Doubling up for even contact - running two red pads together keeps pressure uniform as the pads wear and compress.
- Spray buffing and burnish prep - clean up scuffs and traffic lanes between full restorations.
- Dry scrub work where a chemical-free pass is needed before recoating.
Specifications
- Size: 12 inches x 18 inches x 1 inch thick
- Color and grade: red, light cleaning and buffing
- Part number: 40441218
- Quantity: sold individually
- Machine type: rectangular oscillating and orbital floor machines
- Designed for: Mercury DS-18 dry scrub floor machine
- Floor safe: will not harm a commercially finished floor
Frequently asked questions
How many pads should I run at once?
Two red pads at the same time is the recommended setup. Pads compress as they wear, and a single pad can let the machine contact the floor unevenly in spots. Two pads keep pressure consistent across the full 12 by 18 inch head.
Why do I need a spacer pad at all?
The underside of an oscillating pad driver has many gripper pins. If a thin pad goes directly onto the driver, those pins can press through and damage the floor finish. A 1-inch red pad underneath absorbs the pins and spreads the load.
Is this pad aggressive enough to strip old finish?
No, and that is the point. Red is a light cleaning and buffing grade. For stripping, use a black or maroon 12 by 18 inch pad and put a red pad underneath as the spacer.
Will it fit machines other than the Mercury DS-18?
Yes. It is a standard 12 by 18 inch rectangular pad and fits other oscillating and orbital floor machines of the same head size.
Is this one pad or a case?
This part number is a single pad, sold individually, so you can order the exact quantity your rotation needs.
Discount Cleaning Products is an authorized dealer for this line, with US-based support staff who work with these machines every day. If you are not certain this is the right part or size for your equipment, contact us before you order and we will confirm compatibility against your model number.
