Pro correction or buy a DAS myself?

[raf_gti]

I've recently bought myself a '57 plate, black MX-5 and whilst the paintwork is in 'ok' condition it could certainly do with correcting.

Having acquired a vast aray of products over the past year or so the only thing missing is a machine polisher, this could be just the excuse I need to buy one However, I'm also well aware that with the thin paint on the Mazda I could easily do some damage and take it beyond the point of no return.

I guess what I'm saying is that should I spend the money that I could on a machine and simply have a pro do all the hard work for me? Once the car has been corrected I'm more than happy to keep it regularly clayed/glazed/waxed etc.

[PJ S]

If you do decide to DIY the paintwork polishing, get a panel from a scrappers and practice on that with the pads and polishes in varying combos to see what does what at different speeds and pressures, although you can't really lean into a DA, as it just vibrates rather than rotate.
Don't think 1st timers should only use a DA too, a decent rotary at low speed and with less aggressive combo pad/polish can be as less likely to damage the paintwork as a DA, and gives you the benefit of higher speeds when confidence and experience is gained on the panel.

Obviously go for a typical Jap panel - Honda, Mazda, Toyota, Lexus - as there's little point trying to learn on Merc/BMW hard paints, only to forget that when it comes to doing the MX-5's.

[Anatol]

I'd echo sensible use of a rotary over a DA. The dodo spin doctor is a hell of a lot of rotary for your money too.

[pro paul]

hey fella

your right to say the paint is likely to be thin and as such should proceed with caution

at very least i'd be contacting a pro to have depths taken before any sort of machine polishing

the good thing with it being soft it will correct easily and should only need a day or so of a pro's time leaving you a car thats a dream to look after

if i can help at all give me a shout

paul