Random orbital polishers.. any good?

[Kermit power]

As I've got a couple of weeks off between jobs, I thought I'd get the car all nice and shiny. I thought rather than doing it all by pure elbow grease, I'd try an electric polisher. 4 Halfords, 1 Camberly Automotive (although I was there anyway) and a couple of local car parts independents, and I've miserably failed to find one in stock!

Question is, are they worth it? Alternatively, is there any reason I can't use a polishing pad on an electric drill attachment?

[ukwill]

Kermit power said:

As I've got a couple of weeks off between jobs, I thought I'd get the car all nice and shiny. I thought rather than doing it all by pure elbow grease, I'd try an electric polisher. 4 Halfords, 1 Camberly Automotive (although I was there anyway) and a couple of local car parts independents, and I've miserably failed to find one in stock!

Question is, are they worth it? Alternatively, is there any reason I can't use a polishing pad on an electric drill attachment?

Hi Chris,

I have the full works inc. the Porter Cable RO etc. You're more than welcome to come round and try it out. I'd be happy to give you a hand.

The leccy polishers you'll find in the shops are, for want of a better word, crap. The best tool for correction/defect removal would be a rotary, but I wouldn't recommend that to anyone that hadn't first had a fair bit of practice. The next step down, the PorterCable, can get a decent level of defect removal and is near on impossible to screw up.

cheers
will

[markbigears]

Chris, I bought a halfords orbital a few years back, its a 240 volt version, and does give an excellent job of polishing. It does get swirls out leaving a great glass finish, but I doubt it would correct paintwork problems, its too slow. All in all, it gives better results than by hand, so don't totally dismiss them, and they are cheap £30, unlike a £150 PC.

[hutchingsp]

Wait a couple of months and buy an Ultimate Detailing Machine.

Tacky name IMO, but it's being made/marketed by Autopia and is basically a 240v Porter Cable equivalent.

Expected cost is around £99.

[Eddie 4.2]

Hi Kermit power



I have both orbital and rotary can give you a demo if you like.Mate dont go near a rotary unless you have worked in a paint shop



Ed

[Kermit power]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the advice! I took Will up on his offer of a demo which extended to getting half the car shinier than it has ever been! Thanks Will! Sadly the tree cutters turned up to cut the tree we were under, so the remainder has to wait for another day, but the Porter cable was very impressive, so if there's a UK 240V version coming out, I'll be in the queue!

The picture below is off a crappy mobile phone camera and doesn't really do the final result justice, but I reckon it's pretty impressive for a 4yr old car that's spent its whole life outdoors!

The only downside to the new level of shiny came when walking back to the car in a supermarket carpark thinking "some bastard has keyed it right down the side!!!" only to realise as I got closer that it was a perfect reflection of the white line marking the next parking bay!

[Panthro]

That looks great

Does anyone know if its possible to use a random orbital sander/polisher such as this

http://www.tool-net.co.uk/p-332800/bosch-pex420ae-...

obviously buy the appropriate backing plates, cloths etc. I have been considering using one as an alternative to a PC.

[Kermit power]

Panthro said:

That looks great

Does anyone know if its possible to use a random orbital sander/polisher such as this I have been considering using one as an alternative to a PC.

I doubt you'll be able to access PH on it!

Edited by Kermit power on Thursday 21st June 23:19

[Panthro]

Kermit power said:

Panthro said:

That looks great

Does anyone know if its possible to use a random orbital sander/polisher such as this I have been considering using one as an alternative to a PC.

I doubt you'll be able to access PH on it!

Edited by Kermit power on Thursday 21st June 23:19

At least you knew to get your coat