Hands or a cheap polisher?
- Thread starter benlumley
- Start date
IMO the cost of the equipment is irrelevant. It's the same as polishes. You can spend £200 on a pot but if you don't apply it correctly then the man up the road with a pot of Turtle Wax can get a better finish.
The Halfords polisher does the job very well if used properly.
The Halfords polisher does the job very well if used properly.
Get a DA and a panel from your local breakers yard. Have a good practice before unleashing it on your P & J! 8)
Half Colin
Senior member
ZermattV said:
I felt the same but I finally asked the wife for a Meguiars DA polisher for my birthday and used it for the first time over the weekend. To be honest it's very easy to use and the results are amazing. I know, photos! But I couldn't be bothered to take 'before' and it was dark when I finished. They have loads of videos on using the thing http://www.meguiars.com/video and if you follow their guidance you really can't muck it up. If you have any scratches or swirl marks a DA is really the only way to go. It would take you an age by hand. As it was I spent 8 hours on the car: washed, clayed, 2 passes with Cleaner/Polish (Meguiars 83), Speed Glaze (Meguairs 80) followed by Meguairs Carnauba Wax. ... and then it rained on Sunday :headbang: so still no photos.
Don't be scared - go for it.
Don't buy a cheap polisher, it will only bugger up your paint. If you look on Ebay a cheap Porter Cable or Megs polisher will turn up.
If you take your time and use the correct products the rewards are outstanding.
Some of my previous cars using a Porter Cable and various polishes finished with FK1000P my favourite wax.
Mondeo STTDCI
Golf R32
Mondeo ST200
You definatly get a far better finish if you use a DA.
If you take your time and use the correct products the rewards are outstanding.
Some of my previous cars using a Porter Cable and various polishes finished with FK1000P my favourite wax.
Mondeo STTDCI
Golf R32
Mondeo ST200
You definatly get a far better finish if you use a DA.
don't wish to thread hi-jack to much but I've been impressed by the Dodo Juice team in the past..... I've never polished before .... would this and lime prime be a good way to start ????
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/dodo-juice/buff-daddy-das-6-orbital-machine-polisher.aspx
oh and the bonnet of SWMBO Imprezza rather than the Zed of course...........
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/dodo-juice/buff-daddy-das-6-orbital-machine-polisher.aspx
oh and the bonnet of SWMBO Imprezza rather than the Zed of course...........
For the OP - To get the best from the paint at minimum you will need a dual action polisher like the buff daddy, das6 or g220. Its all down to pad and polish combinations plus user quality as to how far and how good a job you do. As already said, its all in the prep. Take it steady and enjoy the process, dont rush. Expect to be a good day minimum to get moderate results, to get the best results you will easily be looking at 10-14 hours as DA's are far slower and less abrupt than that of a rotary polisher. As for the halfords polisher - Forget it. You will get just as good results by hand. If you do use it, dont use wool as this marrs paint and will need refining back.
ZermattV - The buff daddy is a very capable machine. Used in conjuncyion with lime prime on a 3M yellow pad will give excellent results.
ZermattV - The buff daddy is a very capable machine. Used in conjuncyion with lime prime on a 3M yellow pad will give excellent results.
I was an avid reading of detailingworld but have intentionally dragged myself away from it other than looking at some of the results. Expensive hobby. Anyway, I read the mamouth alternative random orbit polisher thread (http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=83874). I ended up getting one of the silverline polishers on first page of the thread.
It works very well although like mentioned already, to do a proper job of paint correction would take me ages. Its a two day job having not been done before on the car and without a garage I am stumped. Even when the garage arrives I dont know if I would have the patience. I still get some cracking results cleaning, claying, polishing and washing, all done by hand.
It works very well although like mentioned already, to do a proper job of paint correction would take me ages. Its a two day job having not been done before on the car and without a garage I am stumped. Even when the garage arrives I dont know if I would have the patience. I still get some cracking results cleaning, claying, polishing and washing, all done by hand.
