B189s

I am about to polish my car.

Still wondering, is it best to hand polishing the car or buy a buffer?

Is it possible to get a decent result from hand polishing?

Thanks..

vraa

You can get great results by hand, but to really get the best results you'll need a buffer.

Everyone says things by hand are best, but detailing is an area I've found it's a lot better to have a machine. I'd read all the stickies in the forum about detailing before you give it a shot though. It's smart to do it right the first time by hand so you learn the ins and outs and then move onto using a machine.

BTW - If i remember right, some waxes / sealants (sp?) / polishes don't respond well to being used by a machine. I don't remember if that's true or just something that is stuck in my head for a lame reason. I'm sure another member will chime in soon.

revstriker

It really depends on what kind of "polishing" you're trying to accomplish. For most waxes, and polymer sealers (such as zaino polish which I use), a buffer is not needed. You will get just as good, if not better results by hand. If you are using an abrasive type polish to "cut in" to the finish (to remove swirl marks etc.), then a good quality buffer is a worthwhile investment.

By all means though, avoid those Pep Boy / Walmart car buffers that sell for $20-50. These are junk, and will actually cause swirl marks in some cases. Many of us on this forum have invested in a specific Porter Cable (PC) random orbital sander/buffer which does a great job for this kind of polishing. Expect to spend around $100-120 for one of these.

Big Kahuna

There are so many variables involved with this decision. I would suggest you lurk around the forum at autopia.org