Can anybody recommend a decent machine polisher and product

[Mitchy88]

Im sure that this is a commonly asked question but the search engine has been down for a few days and I cant seem to find any threads in the recent history…

So. Can anybody recommend a decent machine polisher and products?

I have a garage full of crap that has been collected from Halfords over the years but have decided that my the paintwork on my current car being a bit tatty and the potential new one being a bit special, now would be a good time to invest.

Collinite seems to be the way to go with regards to a good long lasting wax, but what should I go for with regards to paint correction?

Should I stick with a DA polisher for now?

Cheers, Mitch

[Stig]

Just been through the same thing. Bought a Silverline 'silverstorm' polisher for about £38 on Amazon. Regarding correction compounds, I tend to stick to Meguiars - #205 for aggressive cut, then a number of finer compounds and pads to finish).

What level of correction do you need? A DA is easier for the beginner to get to grips with, but there's a lot of scaremongering with rotary's. Just take your time and apply common sense to the job in hand

Collinite is a LSP remember. You need to polish the paint before using colly to protect/seal the shine.

PS. This thread would be better off on Detailing World

Edited by Stig on Thursday 5th August 10:26

[H13BSM]

D.a. is a good start if you have never used a rotary. Get use to using a machine polisher and the right techniques before you hit a polisher with no clutch. I always go with menzerna and 3M polishes, compounds and pads.

[Johno]

I've used a Meg's G220 DA for the last 3yrs or so and get great results with it . . The spindle is getting a little sloppy now so I'm about to add the Silverline Silverstorm as per Stig above and keep the DA for glazes etc and the polishing can be done by Rotary.

I'd recommend a DA to start with, as it get's you used to machine polishing and what you can achieve with differing pads/compounds etc . . then move onto a rotary. There is a lot of internet myth about the potential damage that can be caused by rotaries, but with all these things, literally start slow and gentle and build up from there.

Although I'm not a member of Detailing World, their forums are open to read and are an invaluable resource for recomendations and more pertinent guides on using DA's or Rotaries.

Stig and I obviously share a garage as I use Meg's polishes and some of their pads as well. I also like Sonus pads and some of the 3M for the really difficult scratches. . . I'm also quite sure there isn't a great deal of difference between the various high end polishes available and it will come down to personal preference, I used to use Mothers, but find Meg's better for my car. I've not used Merzena but only hear good things.

[Stig]

Johno said:

I've used a Meg's G220 DA for the last 3yrs or so and get great results with it . . The spindle is getting a little sloppy now so I'm about to add the Silverline Silverstorm as per Stig above and keep the DA for glazes etc and the polishing can be done by Rotary.

I'd recommend a DA to start with, as it get's you used to machine polishing and what you can achieve with differing pads/compounds etc . . then move onto a rotary. There is a lot of internet myth about the potential damage that can be caused by rotaries, but with all these things, literally start slow and gentle and build up from there.

Although I'm not a member of Detailing World, their forums are open to read and are an invaluable resource for recomendations and more pertinent guides on using DA's or Rotaries.

Stig and I obviously share a garage as I use Meg's polishes and some of their pads as well. I also like Sonus pads and some of the 3M for the really difficult scratches. . . I'm also quite sure there isn't a great deal of difference between the various high end polishes available and it will come down to personal preference, I used to use Mothers, but find Meg's better for my car. I've not used Merzena but only hear good things.

Sounds advice there

I went for the rotary because I was having trouble getting enough cut with the G220 and I don't have the patience for 58 passes

Thinking about getting some hexlogic pads though as the megs ones seem to get gummed up quite quickly.

One thing about detailing is that there's a LOT of snake oil product out there. Most half decent products will do the same thing - just comes down to preference.

Be sure to check out Dodo Juice too. Domster (the owner) is a regular PHer.

[Johno]

Exactly why I've decided to up to a rotary, just done my Dad's Chimaera with 9yr old paint and no previous waxing having gone on, plenty of SRP applied, but looked pretty awful. Has taken me a week of evening to get it back to something looking really good and decided a rotary would have got me there much quicker !

What regime do you wash your pads with . . I've been using a pad cleaner solution which has been very good, however I've also used washing up liquid equally well, just make sure they are absolutely rinsed.

I find with the DA that it's the outer edges of the pads that gum up and I find i make it worse if I'm using too much product . . . sometimes difficult to get the balance right with also trying to get full breakdown of polishes as well.

I hadn't realised until a beer with Ted the other month confirmed Domster was Dodo . .. been using a couple of their bits lately incl. purple velvet which I've been mightily impressed with.

[H13BSM]

Dodo products are very good, but they have yet to tackle the area of compounds and machine polishes (well for what they have out to buy anyway) Hex-logic pads are awsume, I tend to use them and 3m pads are there really good for fast results and work everytime.Rotary is the way forward but randomly had problems with my makita and had to do my own car with the d.a.

Check out my post on here for paint correction on my c32 AMG with a d.a. Yes it takes forever but you'll get 95% of what a rotary will get, given the time.(And lots of it lol!)

[p200msd]

Johno said:

Exactly why I've decided to up to a rotary, just done my Dad's Chimaera with 9yr old paint and no previous waxing having gone on, plenty of SRP applied, but looked pretty awful. Has taken me a week of evening to get it back to something looking really good and decided a rotary would have got me there much quicker !

Did you use the SRP with a machine???? Hopefully not as it dries out far too quickly.

I find poorboys SSR 1, 2 & 3 to be good, althuogh i highly recomment both menzerna and 3M products, namely the Fastcut and ultrafina.

[Johno]

No I didn't !

SRP applied by my Dad for last 8yrs, no waxing etc and washed by sponge, dried with chami . . You can imagine the swirls and how dull it had got, I was on a mission to restore it to former glory . . .

I don't use SRP at all . . . Let along by machine.

[H13BSM]

srp is actually one of the best filler polishes you can buy, and works a treat on paint thats too thin to, or for someone who doesnt have the time or patience to machine. Honestly after years of using so meny products autoglym just doesn't cut it over whats around now, but srp is the only product I would use from ag, if I needed too. For which I can vouch for as I spend ££££££ on products.

[Mitchy88]

Thanks for the info chaps,

Im realy not too sure which route to follow. Im usually pretty good with things like this but not sure if its worth the risk! I wont be using it all too often so maybe i should invest a little more time and pop for the DA.

Looked it this combo through Clean Your Car...

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing/polishing-...

Any opinions on the Menzerna kit?



What about this Wax?

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/collinite-915-ma...


With the kit about i should only need clay and then a sealer before the wax stage, correct?

Cheers, Mitch

[H13BSM]

the d.a. kit your looking at will be perfect for you. Merzerna compounds and polishes are very good and you will get the desired effect your after with patience and time. Colli is very good on a budget and works very well too, so for you these are good routes to go down. like you said get the clay and a clay lube, and a pre-wax cleaner to put down on the paint before you wax.

Dodo juice lime prime lite, and zymol HD cleaner or both very good pre-wax cleaner's.

[Mitchy88]

Cheers, ill get that ordered this weekend. Play with the Scenic before i touch anything good!

So, I need to:

Wash,
Clay,
Pre-wax clean (lime Prime)
Polish (four stage with DA and products in package)
Seal,
Wax,

What does a pre-wax cleaner do and when should it be used?

Also any recommendations on a good sealant?

[H13BSM]

You'll need to do the following in order:

-degrease
-Rinse
-Wash
-rinse
-Clay
-I would wash again at this point, but most don't so up to you.
-Rinse
-dry
-At this point I would mask up all rubbers etc and I would also give the car an IPA wipedown, but also up to you.
-Machine polish(It is best if you click on the link below this, as its one of the best write-ups on machine polishing with a d.a. Read it back to front and side to side, and you'll know eveerything you need to for machine polishing with a d.a.)

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

-Wash car again to remove compound dust.
-Another IPA wipedown if you want to, but is good as it will remove any left over oils from the polishing and compounding.
-You can then refine the paint on the d.a. to give it that perfect sharpness, or do to your pre-wax cleaner. This will help the lsp (protection)stick to the paint much better, therefore lasting longer.
-Wax (2 to 3 coats, up to you bud)

Hope that helps.

Regards Michael

[plasticpig]

Mitchy88 said:

Thanks for the info chaps,

Im realy not too sure which route to follow. Im usually pretty good with things like this but not sure if its worth the risk! I wont be using it all too often so maybe i should invest a little more time and pop for the DA.

Looked it this combo through Clean Your Car...

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing/polishing-...

Any opinions on the Menzerna kit?



What about this Wax?

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/collinite-915-ma...


With the kit about i should only need clay and then a sealer before the wax stage, correct?

Cheers, Mitch

I would go for this polisher instead of the G220:

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing-machines/d...

It's cheaper than the G220 but quite a bit more powerful. I have both and really only use the G220 as a buffer these days as the DAS-6-Pro produces results faster.

[gj88]

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing/polishing-...

Like the OP, I've been looking at this combo. Is it safe to use for someone who has never used a machine polisher?

[warmfuzzies]

gj88 said:

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing/polishing-...

Like the OP, I've been looking at this combo. Is it safe to use for someone who has never used a machine polisher?

I went for the Kestral with the Menzenra. absolutely brill, Tim gives a pretty good service.

Kevin

[PJ S]

Gaz. said:

Does anyone know if any shops sell these DA's pads and polishes or are they on-line e-shops only? (I did search but my google skills are crap)

Thanks

DA's not so much, as real "shops" tend to cater for the bodyshop trade, etc.
As such, it'd be rotaries, and even then the entry level stuff from Sealy and Silverline, if they do.
Online your best bet.

On a related note, Dodo Juice have just released their new rotary polisher and pads - http://www.carnaubawaxshop.co.uk/shop/viewproduct....

[Benengo]

Gaz. said:

PJ S said:

Gaz. said:

Does anyone know if any shops sell these DA's pads and polishes or are they on-line e-shops only? (I did search but my google skills are crap)

Thanks

DA's not so much, as real "shops" tend to cater for the bodyshop trade, etc.
As such, it'd be rotaries, and even then the entry level stuff from Sealy and Silverline, if they do.
Online your best bet.

On a related note, Dodo Juice have just released their new rotary polisher and pads - http://www.carnaubawaxshop.co.uk/shop/viewproduct....

I had to take the plunge and do the internet shopping thing, I have a DAS6 Pro in the post...

Gaz, you've had it a while now... any feedback?

[Mattt]

I've got a DAS6 now, just waiting for weather to improve to try it!