the sisal helps cut down the metal with the use of the black compound . you will get a some what shine going or a nice shine .. the sprial .. i load it with brown and do my final cut /then the first of the color ... then the white i do all color on a spiral ... the sisal had rope it in and that helps the cutting ... the spiral is a tight cotton ,,, and i don't use the loose cotton any more ,,,,, when i started i just used sprial ,,, but with the greaseless you want to use a spiral ... and to load .. turn the machine on .. take the compound and turn the machine off and let the wheel stop woth the compound on it ,,, i load it with it running it tears up the coumpound ,, but the friction from the wheel pulles the compound in to the pad ... after about a half hour i rake the wheel to get the little metal stuff .. but use 1 pad for 1 compound ...and the better you had sand the better the part looks ...but after using greaseless . i hand sand up to 60 with wet and dry to even it all out ... if you need more info email me and i will try to help you as much as i can .......