Which polisher to buy?
- Thread starter Wippers
- Start date
Best tool you will ever buy is a porter cable polisher. It's a random orbital polisher (looks a bit like an angle grinder but vibrates randomly instead of rotates) and turns a rank amateur like me into a detailer 
Start here to read up them search for a suitable UK supplier or equiv. product:
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-pc7424.html
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-pc7424.html
What about the Kestrel DAS6 (?), which doesn't need a power supply converter?
I would suggest you have a good look on Detailing World website There are some good guides to washing, polishing, waxing cars.
There are all sorts of pads and compounds and all can be used in different combos so the choices can become bewildering! Some of the detailing suppliers sell starter kits which will include a machine, three pads, (cutting, polishing, and finishing) and three products usually a light cut, glaze and finishing compound. With a DA polisher you won't really be able to damage your paint by over-use unless you completely ignore the user advice you find on the detailing sites.
There are all sorts of pads and compounds and all can be used in different combos so the choices can become bewildering! Some of the detailing suppliers sell starter kits which will include a machine, three pads, (cutting, polishing, and finishing) and three products usually a light cut, glaze and finishing compound. With a DA polisher you won't really be able to damage your paint by over-use unless you completely ignore the user advice you find on the detailing sites.
cj10jeeper said:Best tool you will ever buy is a porter cable polisher. It's a random orbital polisher (looks a bit like an angle grinder but vibrates randomly instead of rotates) and turns a rank amateur like me into a detailer
It rotates too mate....... The rotarys just rotate though but the higher speeds means burn throughs on the edges is easily done, although a Dual Action like the porter calbe and kestral can damage your pait with the wrong polishes and techniques.
Ive got the Megs G220 but looking to step up to a rotary soon. The Kestral is an ideal tool.
Cheers
PaulN
I just bought a Griots orbital.
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+care/car+polishing/orbitals+and+car+polishing+tools/griot%27s+garage+random+orbital.do
There are so many sharp edges on the Z4, I still had to do a lot by hand. Great for hood, trunk and about half of the front fenders. I even found the doors were kind of a pain because of the concave shape. The bottom of the door juts out causing another sharp edge which could easily be polished down to bare metal.
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+care/car+polishing/orbitals+and+car+polishing+tools/griot%27s+garage+random+orbital.do
There are so many sharp edges on the Z4, I still had to do a lot by hand. Great for hood, trunk and about half of the front fenders. I even found the doors were kind of a pain because of the concave shape. The bottom of the door juts out causing another sharp edge which could easily be polished down to bare metal.
PC gives best results for the price. Very reliable to boot!
PaulN said:cj10jeeper said:Best tool you will ever buy is a porter cable polisher. It's a random orbital polisher (looks a bit like an angle grinder but vibrates randomly instead of rotates) and turns a rank amateur like me into a detailer
It rotates too mate....... The rotarys just rotate though but the higher speeds means burn throughs on the edges is easily done, although a Dual Action like the porter calbe and kestral can damage your pait with the wrong polishes and techniques.
Ive got the Megs G220 but looking to step up to a rotary soon. The Kestral is an ideal tool.
Cheers
PaulN
I guess that's down to definition. To be clear it's a random orbital polisher, it is not rotary driven but as a function of it's off balance head oscillating does rotate. I meant it to differentiate from a simple rotary polisher that just spins a mop on a shaft, often at speed and is what people oft use and damage paint with.
