Orbital Waxers
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
c230 Coupe
Orbital Waxers
any body in this forum ever try using an orbital waxer to polish your car? i am less intimidated by those than the wheels, which i know can burn your paint in a second if you dont know what your doing..... comments?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,211
Likes: 2
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
You can damage your paint no matter what method you use if you are that incompetent. Don't be intimidate by a high speed buffer. Use a small mild foam pad (I like 6") and use a mild cutting polishing compound and set the speed to the slowest setting (about 1,500 rpm). The down side to doing it by hand and one of those orbital waxers is time. You should be able to completely buff a car in 30-45 minutes (not counting washing and waxing). By hand you'll be there all day (to do it right) and using and orbital will take you half a day. The trick to not burning the paint to keep the pad moving and keep it flush with the car (don't let the edge dig in). Practice on an older car till you get your technique down. The only damage I've seen done by a high speed buffer is when a friend of mine dropped it on his hood. I've shown 16 years olds how to do it 5 minutes and never had a problem.
If speed doesn't mean anything to you then try hand buffing a car twice (once do remove oxidation and fine scratches and one to remove swirl marks, washing the car in between each step) and then waxing and glazing it. You'll poop out way before you are done. An orbital waxer isn't much faster and they are heavy so you will poop out faster.
I thought about doing an FAQ about how to properly buff a car but I already have several websites I'm maintaining and have little time. If you come down to So Cal drop by and I'll show you how do to it.
If speed doesn't mean anything to you then try hand buffing a car twice (once do remove oxidation and fine scratches and one to remove swirl marks, washing the car in between each step) and then waxing and glazing it. You'll poop out way before you are done. An orbital waxer isn't much faster and they are heavy so you will poop out faster.
I thought about doing an FAQ about how to properly buff a car but I already have several websites I'm maintaining and have little time. If you come down to So Cal drop by and I'll show you how do to it.
lol... its too tempting.... 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,211
Likes: 2
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Don't have a shop, just used to restore classic cars and needed to look their best at antique car shows. I'm in Laguna Niguel as it says to the left here. I'll be at Fashion Island this morning. See ya there if you go. I have the black coupe with chrome 16" factory wheels (the only one I've ever seen).
