Thinking of a da polisher
Discussion
Firstly, apologies if this has been asked before. Just considering getting a da polisher firstly to remove any swirls/light scratches in the paintwork (which are only visible in direct bright light).Before I splash out, my question is when I've used the polisher to get the paintwork to a satisfactory level, how much use will I get from the machine? Can it then to be used to apply regular polish/wax or will it sit on the shelf until swirls reappear. Thanks
If it is something worth getting for regular polish use, is there a decent machine to be recommended at about the £80-£100 mark.
If it is something worth getting for regular polish use, is there a decent machine to be recommended at about the £80-£100 mark.
I bought one a few years ago been over my car once and the Mrs car twice (in worse condition than mine).
One the paint is corrected and you follow good washing regime it shouldn't be necessary to polish again for a long time.
There is only so much depth of finish so you don't want to remove too much.
You can use it with a soft pad and non aggressive products but whether it's easier or gives a better finish than by hand is debatable.
I've got a DAS 6 Pro which I'm happy with.
One the paint is corrected and you follow good washing regime it shouldn't be necessary to polish again for a long time.
There is only so much depth of finish so you don't want to remove too much.
You can use it with a soft pad and non aggressive products but whether it's easier or gives a better finish than by hand is debatable.
I've got a DAS 6 Pro which I'm happy with.
trickywoo said:
I bought one a few years ago been over my car once and the Mrs car twice (in worse condition than mine).
One the paint is corrected and you follow good washing regime it shouldn't be necessary to polish again for a long time.
There is only so much depth of finish so you don't want to remove too much.
You can use it with a soft pad and non aggressive products but whether it's easier or gives a better finish than by hand is debatable.
I've got a DAS 6 Pro which I'm happy with.
Thanks, I've just been looking at that model myself and like the look of it. It looks light , thin and easy to handle. Don't mind pushing the budget a bit for something recommended. Could do with knowing the benefits/reasons for the different throws (12mm,15mm or 21mm). CheersOne the paint is corrected and you follow good washing regime it shouldn't be necessary to polish again for a long time.
There is only so much depth of finish so you don't want to remove too much.
You can use it with a soft pad and non aggressive products but whether it's easier or gives a better finish than by hand is debatable.
I've got a DAS 6 Pro which I'm happy with.
I think the bigger throws just cover more area for the same effort and I'd imagine circling wider would also make it a little safer as regards heat buildup. A dual action is however pretty friendly as it is.
The results you get are more dictated by the pads / products you use. I've found the sonax 04-06 (I think it is) with a medium pad excellent.
The results you get are more dictated by the pads / products you use. I've found the sonax 04-06 (I think it is) with a medium pad excellent.
I actually bought a DA a few years back and it sat in my detailing cupboard up until this year.
I was always slightly wary of using it but took some advice from a friend who details professionally and actually they're a lot easier to use than I thought.
You'd have to be very very careless to do any damage, as even with a high cut pad and medium grade polish, you have to work an area to get marks out. To do any lasting damage you'd have to just sit the DA in place for minutes! So from a paint safety perspective you've got no worries.
In terms of use, you can use them to correct paint although without proper lighting (ideally indoors) it's quite tricky on some colours. I polished two silver cars so full correction is tricky to see but after a clay, polish, glaze and wax it looks amazing.
You can use a DA to apply waxes, sealants etc. Although personally I find it as quick to apply a wax by hand.
I was really chuffed with the finish on this, from 13 year old paint that I doubt has ever been detailed!
I was always slightly wary of using it but took some advice from a friend who details professionally and actually they're a lot easier to use than I thought.
You'd have to be very very careless to do any damage, as even with a high cut pad and medium grade polish, you have to work an area to get marks out. To do any lasting damage you'd have to just sit the DA in place for minutes! So from a paint safety perspective you've got no worries.
In terms of use, you can use them to correct paint although without proper lighting (ideally indoors) it's quite tricky on some colours. I polished two silver cars so full correction is tricky to see but after a clay, polish, glaze and wax it looks amazing.
You can use a DA to apply waxes, sealants etc. Although personally I find it as quick to apply a wax by hand.
I was really chuffed with the finish on this, from 13 year old paint that I doubt has ever been detailed!
monty999 said:
Thanks, I've just been looking at that model myself and like the look of it. It looks light , thin and easy to handle. Don't mind pushing the budget a bit for something recommended. Could do with knowing the benefits/reasons for the different throws (12mm,15mm or 21mm). Cheers
The DAS6 Pro is a very capable machine.The regular DAS6 is great too, and a little cheaper. You sacrifice a little bit of power and cable length, but for something you'll use every couple of years (once you nail your wash techniques) the Pro model isn't essential.
The idea of the larger throw DAs is as above, to cover more area.
These machines are suited to large panels, some of them don't like curves either like wings and arches and such.
The big throw machines are intended to be used as a system with a smaller machine(s) to pick up the smaller areas.
If you're just looking at polishing your car and don't want to buy multiple machines, the DAS6 or Pro is the perfect tool for the job
Thanks Scratcher, that was my next question regarding curves etc. I have a porsche 996 which has very few flat panels, daughters mini convertible which again has few flat areas and wife's golf which is probably most suited to the machine. If I get the das6 or das6 pro would they be able to take a smaller size pad than the 5 or 6 inch as supplied to cope with the radius's better. Cheers and have a cool yule !
No problem
Yeah, you can swap the backing plate to a smaller one for the tighter areas. I keep a DAS6 in my workshop just for 3inch pads.
I use a Flexipads 75mm backing plate with it.
For a 996, you'd get away with 5 inch pads for the majority or the car, then 3 inch pads for around the bumpers and things.
Yeah, you can swap the backing plate to a smaller one for the tighter areas. I keep a DAS6 in my workshop just for 3inch pads.
I use a Flexipads 75mm backing plate with it.
For a 996, you'd get away with 5 inch pads for the majority or the car, then 3 inch pads for around the bumpers and things.
Another Das 6 Pro user. Used it across half a dozen cars including a 996 and found it better on the curved parts of the Porsche than eg Mercedes E Class.
Also have a 3" backing plate and pads but seldom find myself changing over.
Have found that choice of pads can make a big difference. This also applies to products ie polish, wax, compound,etc. (Like using Scholl and Meguiars products). Price of products can be silly (my limit is Swissvax) but you do sometimes get what you pay for.
Never applied wax with a machine/pad but some people do. (Prefer to hand apply Dodo Juice Purple Haze Pro on dark cars).
Personally, I "go to town" once a year by stripping back and building up and find the DA invaluable. May use the machine a couple or three times thereafter on the same car. (Un)luckily having more than 1 car means that the machine has paid for itself many times over. It has also helped me rid the paintwork of very minor car park "scrapes" which in the past may have meant £100 to the friendly bodyshop.
A word of caution - it takes a full day to strip a car back and bring it to "showroom shine"
Also have a 3" backing plate and pads but seldom find myself changing over.
Have found that choice of pads can make a big difference. This also applies to products ie polish, wax, compound,etc. (Like using Scholl and Meguiars products). Price of products can be silly (my limit is Swissvax) but you do sometimes get what you pay for.
Never applied wax with a machine/pad but some people do. (Prefer to hand apply Dodo Juice Purple Haze Pro on dark cars).
Personally, I "go to town" once a year by stripping back and building up and find the DA invaluable. May use the machine a couple or three times thereafter on the same car. (Un)luckily having more than 1 car means that the machine has paid for itself many times over. It has also helped me rid the paintwork of very minor car park "scrapes" which in the past may have meant £100 to the friendly bodyshop.
A word of caution - it takes a full day to strip a car back and bring it to "showroom shine"
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