Vrodman

Hey Guys,

I used to detail my own paint and such years back with decent rotary and orbital machines. It has been a lot of years though and it looks like a lot more options are out there now. Like dual action, dual head, etc.

Here is a list of what I am finding online and would I would appreciate any recommendations you guys can offer or if you have used one of the brands listed, what do you think of it?

I am willing to spend ~$200 to $300 for a decent machine. My car is Obsidian Black so swirls are a Bi*tch.

I used to use 3M "Finesse-it" for my polishing compound. Is this still the way to go? What do you guys use?

Here is the list I came up with for polishers:

Cyclo Dual Head
Flex
Porter Cable
Meguiars
Rupes
Griots
3M

Any of these winners? Any I missed that you recommend?

Thanks in Advance

Mixedfruits

Im using a torq flex, using chemical guys products at the moment.

TheVazha

I'm running with this. Got it for Christmas last year and it's the read deal Holyfield.

http://www.chemicalguys.com/TORQ_10F...p/buf_501x.htm

Mixedfruits

yea that one I mean ^

KarlG

Please also consider this kit based on the PC 7424XP which is of comparable quality and a bit more complete including the smaller pads and a few more items.

The PC 7424 XP remains the best selling DA and is well regarded.

http://www.autogeek.net/porter-cable-7424-kit.html

Vrodman

The Vazha and KarlG,

Thanks to both of you. I looked over both options fairly thoroughly and they both appear to be great kits.

Leaning a bit toward Porter Cable simply cuz of more stuff.

I know these "kits" typically give you teaser sample quantities of the consumables.

Since you guys appear to be first hand experienced, when I place the order, what other stuff or extra chemicals, or extra pads should I buy at the same time (pad cleaner)? In other words, after you bought your kits, what was the first things you had to turnaround and reorder?

Thanks Again!

KarlG

The pad cleaner is a consumable and either CG or AG work well. You can get buy without it by washing the pads in a mild soap bucket and rinsing well. Conditioning lasts awhile as its a few sprays per pad before use and after cleaning the pads. You'll need a microfiber bonnet (preferably 2) if you want to remove wax with the polisher.

The biggest supplies you need are the polishes and waxes. No clear winners, everyone has their favorite. Depending on your car's surface, you might want to just use a sealent and forgo a polish.

For most of us non pro, a All in one product is used (not on new) every 6 months and wax or polish in between.

beegee227

I'm using a FLEX and liking it so far.

vdubpower

meguiars microfiber pads are the way to go now, foam pads still good too

cnolke

Good ole' Harbor Freight sells a DA polisher for ~$55 or $45 on sale. I've had the Porter Cable 7424 before and I can't tell the difference in functionality.

I've done 8-9 whole car paint conditionings with it (these new Mercedes have strange Ceramicoat paint... please learn about it before buying too much product). Menzerna products seem to work best for me on the Mercedes and Corvette paint. Other cars seem to do just fine with Megs, but the Mercs sort of shrug it off.

Vrodman

Hey Bud, thanks a lot for the Menzerna tip. I checked out their product line and they have a lot to choose from. Sounds like you are pretty experienced at this. Soooooo . . .

Can you recommend what products of theirs I should use based on the following:

Car paint is generally in very good shape. Minor swirls visible in the sun and minor holograms in a couple of places. Car is black. Car is 4 years old and recently detailed by the dealer.

I only want to eliminate, or at least minimize, the swirls and such and apply the best sealant/wax.

Thanks in advance man. Really appreciate your time.

Cheers

cnolke

I would skip the PF2500 (which I started with) and go straight to the SF4000. It should gloss it up without you having to worry about removing too much material.

Vrodman

So polish with the sf4000 and then seal/wax it with??

Thanks again.

cnolke

seal or wax it with whatever... I think Megs gold liquid is pretty easy to use and lasts awhile.

Vrodman

Thanks man.

I was thinking the same thing. I was just considering if I'm gonna buy the menzerna polish, I might as well buy their wax at the same time.

But it really doesn't matter a lot on the wax. I agree.

KarlG

Good advice. Another combo that appears to work well are the Wolfgang products and a good combo pack with the PC buffer:

http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-porter-cable-kit.html

I debated the HF. The advantages, prices above when on sale and for 10-15 dollars you can add the 2 year guarantee with in store replacement. Quality can be a bit hit and miss, most problems with the buttons. with mostly hits though.



Hey to confuse you further, Vrodman, but a very reasonable kit to start would be the PC or HF DA Polisher and the Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System which for less than $200 gives you a all you need to start including the products to polish/correct and to finish/seal.

Vrodman

Hey Bud,

About to pull trigger on this kit. Do I need cloth bonnets at all? Or is that old school? I remember when I used to detail my cars a LONG time ago, I needed quite a few cotton bonnets on hand for polishing and then waxing.

Thanks in advance.

UNCReed

I use Chemical Guys as well and love the results.

UNCReed

Use the Hexlogic pads. Get set and they will serve you well.

KarlG

If you end up using a hard drying finishing wax or sealant that needs to be removed after drying, you might want to use a bonnet on the DA to machine remove. You really don't need more than 2 microfiber bonnets, as they are reversible and you can use one to do an entire car.

Romoving by machine is a personal preference, most of the time I remove by hand except for large flat panels where it seems to go faster with the machine.

Here is a nice overview:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...x-machine.html