Recommendation for Electric Car Polisher/buffer?

[The Moo]

I have suggested to her indoors that I would like an electric car polisher for use on both of our cars as a Christmas present. Any recommendations for a good make budget circa £60?

Any pitfalls to look out for?

 

[Adamski]

Been watching this thread hoping for an answer - I too am looking for one around this price.....!

 

[Bing]

Me too - I'd always considered it lazy to use one of these, but middle-age and common sense now say that you probably get a better finish faster... So let's have some recommendations ! :driving:

 

[tom bell]

I have a BLACK Z... shows every spot and watermark so I bought a Halfords 240 Volt Car Polisher for £26... Works a treat, especially with Turtle Color Wax (Black)

 

[R26Andy]

Whatever you do, stay away from rotary polishers. They tend to be cheaper than the DA (Dual Action) but are for experienced people only.

A Dual Action such as the DAS-6 is ideal - they are the tool of choice for the amature detailer.

 

[powerontap]

I will let the others recommend a brand/model, since I'm out in Canada. However, as for possible pitfalls, I can simply suggest that you go with a random orbital polisher, not the rotary type. The latter demands a lot of experience to properly calibrate the polishing action, risks of burning the paint are therefore real.

 

[bounax]

I went for the DAS-6 pro, its a little above your budget in terms of cost, but it does the job nicely..... The only bugger is that to get good results, you then need to buy the right compounds/pads!

(there are some good guides on here and t'internet for how to get the best results)

 

[Mafoo]

Another for the DAS-6. Cracking bit of kit.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

[Adamski]

Are the pads/compounds easy to get hold of offline? Or is it best to her them online?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[srhutch]

Porta cable is the other favourite, which is what I have

pc7424 from memory

 

[WLH]

However, as for possible pitfalls, I can simply suggest that you go with a random orbital polisher, not the rotary type. The latter demands a lot of experience to properly calibrate the polishing action, risks of burning the paint are therefore real.

Excellent advise as I burned the paint on my 911 Porsche with a rotary type many years ago...
The Porter Cable 7424 is my favorite but I understand it's only provide in a 120 volt model.

 

[srhutch]

However, as for possible pitfalls, I can simply suggest that you go with a random orbital polisher, not the rotary type. The latter demands a lot of experience to properly calibrate the polishing action, risks of burning the paint are therefore real.

Excellent advise as I burned the paint on my 911 Porsche with a rotary type many years ago...
The Porter Cable 7424 is my favorite but I understand it's only provide in a 120 volt model.

yes PC is 120 volt, but a transformer from the likes of Screwfix soon sorts that. :wink:

 

[Greeno]

I have a suspicion that the OP isnt so interested in PC type polishers for paint correction more the cheaper buffer type ones you find in halfords for just buffing up polish / wax.

As for recommendations, sorry cant help you but it is something i have considered too.

 

[The Moo]

I have a suspicion that the OP isnt so interested in PC type polishers for paint correction more the cheaper buffer type ones you find in halfords for just buffing up polish / wax.

As for recommendations, sorry cant help you but it is something i have considered too.

A good point. Whilst I like the look of the DAS - 6 and the videos on You Tube look quite impressive, I am wondering if it is a bit OTT for what I need. I would like my paint corrected (orange peel) at some point but unlikely it is something I would do myself as I gather it involves using fine grade wet and dry paper

I think if I had a polisher I would be minded to polish the Zed more often than I currently do and perhaps a "budget" one ala Halfrauds as suggested by Tom might be the way to go for now!

The other issue looming is that we are likely to replace our Mondeo fairly soon. This was supplied with Diamondbrite Jewellultra system which does not require polishing. Not a great fan of it so am determined the next car will not have it, but don't fancy polishing Mondeo sized car by hand!

 

[cj_eds]

I have a BLACK Z... shows every spot and watermark so I bought a Halfords 240 Volt Car Polisher for £26... Works a treat, especially with Turtle Color Wax (Black)

Likewise I got bought one of these a while back as a Christmas present. I've been quite happy with it, it saves a lot of elbow grease.

The other issue looming is that we are likely to replace our Mondeo fairly soon. This was supplied with Diamondbrite Jewellultra system which does not require polishing. Not a great fan of it so am determined the next car will not have it, but don't fancy polishing Mondeo sized car by hand!

I was giving two bottles of that diamond brite (bottles 1 & 2) by a dealer when I complained about some marks they didn't clean up on our Focus when we bought it. I've yet to put it on, instead just TurtleWax'ing it. Is the Diamond Brite as good as it claims? Is it worth the effort to put on?

 

[The Moo]

I have a BLACK Z... shows every spot and watermark so I bought a Halfords 240 Volt Car Polisher for £26... Works a treat, especially with Turtle Color Wax (Black)

Likewise I got bought one of these a while back as a Christmas present. I've been quite happy with it, it saves a lot of elbow grease.

The other issue looming is that we are likely to replace our Mondeo fairly soon. This was supplied with Diamondbrite Jewellultra system which does not require polishing. Not a great fan of it so am determined the next car will not have it, but don't fancy polishing Mondeo sized car by hand!

I was giving two bottles of that diamond brite (bottles 1 & 2) by a dealer when I complained about some marks they didn't clean up on our Focus when we bought it. I've yet to put it on, instead just TurtleWax'ing it. Is the Diamond Brite as good as it claims? Is it worth the effort to put on?

Basically the car is prepped by the dealer. Not sure what is involved. You then wash the car with the supplied shampoo rinse it and then wash it again with the conditioner which to be honest is very much like Turtle Wax or Super Mer and rinse and dry off. To my mind the car never feels as smooth as a car that has been properly polished, though the water does bead up nicely on it. The going rate for having the car prepped by the dealer would more than cover the cost of conventional polish and shampoo purchased over the lifetime of the car. One advantage though is that it is quick, but then perhaps a 240 volt polisher such as we have been discussing would save time and is the way to go!