Machine Polisher

[Dizeee]

I am after a machine (plug in) to buy so that I can spend all my spare time polishing and waxing and sealing my paintwork.

I dont want to spend any more than around £100 - but could stretch. I hear Makita is the one to get - Ebay threw up no results. I also want something I can easily change and wash the pads for different liquids to apply.

What should I get - where do I get and how much do I pay???

Thanks

[belleair302]

THE QUESTION IS DO YOU HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH POLISHERS? If not look for a Porter Cable or a Meguiars G220, both of which are random orbital polishers and will not harm your cars finish.

If you have some experience then a rotary is the way to go, but is heavier and harder to use than a pc...the results are also better.

All polishers use hook and loop pads (velcro to you and I), so buying and cleaning pads is simple.

Where to buy is upto you, ebay maybe but I would be careful about buying previously owned machines and would want to start with a pc, before shelling out on a rotary.

[Tim Bomford]

As above really. A rotary polisher is a tricky beast to get to grips with for a 1st timer and if you have no experience I'd suggest Porter cable DA, or Megs 220 too. The UDM (or ultimate detailing machine) seems to have elctrical gremlins for now so personally I'd go for the other 2.
Best wishes
Tim

[Dizeee]

So what exactly is the big deal with a rotary? The G220 looks ideal and I would be happy to purchase one.

I have a (cringe - dont worry it's been used rarley) Woolworths Car Polisher - quite a large polisher that plugs in, and spins fast. The unit is heavy and I believe the weight of it alone is enough for the job when it is "on" the car. The mits that connect just slip over the rotary unit. However, when it spins eventually they work loose aned fly off. In a nutshell it is ste.

[plasticpig]

I love my Megs G220. Because I was worried about damaging paint work I tried it out on a scrap car first. I delaminated the back of the foam polishing pad before I burnt through the paint. Using Sonus SFX1 polish and Sonus pad for those intrested.

[Glyn waxmaster]

I use a rotary and it has been the same ornage silverline one bought from ebay from a guy selling tools in driffield for £40 called cnhagronomy.
As a pro its important that i have a good rotary and i know many others who use this too.

[Anatol]

We used to use Silverlines off eBay for about £40 too, but found that a year or so of use tended to be their lifespan (that's daily, professional use though).

We're now using Milwaukee polishers, which are about 3 times the cost, but lighter, come with a cable of a useful length (unlike the eBay ones which are way, way too short) and last much longer. A nearby neighbour swears by the quality of Rupes (sp?).

I also have a Porter Cable with Sonus SFX pads, bought to see what all the fuss is about. It's a good machine for a non-professional, but very gentle.

I'd imagine for hobby use, if you've not got an impatient temperament, a Silverline off eBay would do fine, but I'd recommend going with a gentle mop head. Big recommendation for the Farecla Advanced G-MOP heads that go on their backing plate that screws onto an M14 (IIRC) thread.

Tol