A bit of advice required - appropriate bits of kit?
Discussion
My son, apple of my eye, decided to run his car all over the painwork of our car - needless to say it's damaged the paintwork but not too seriously that it could not be buffed out. I was therefore thinking of purchasing a modest car polishing kit as it's not the first time my children have caused havoc!
Just wondered what your views would be on something like this from ebay. I like the idea of the variable speed - I guess one concern would be whether the head is a universal fit. Any thoughts/comments greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AMAZING-Industrial-Car-Polis...
Just wondered what your views would be on something like this from ebay. I like the idea of the variable speed - I guess one concern would be whether the head is a universal fit. Any thoughts/comments greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AMAZING-Industrial-Car-Polis...
Well it's certainly very cheap for a rotary kit 
The guy selling is a bit of a d1ck and clearly trained in the art of sales by one Derek Trotter of Peckham, London. For example, he doesn't say what the thread of the spindle is (most European ones are M14 metric, yank ones tend to be 5/8 imperial) but assuming one of these, then there is no problem getting accessories for it. He also b0llocks on about the wool pad but you'd have to be very careful with that; they will hologram (weird micro marring effect) paint quite easily and I wouldn't touch that as a beginner. In fact, as a beginner you also need to know what you're doing with a rotary, so get onto www.detailingworld.co.uk and check out DaveKG's rotary polishing guides.
In theory you could do more harm than good with this kit, but rotary polishing is great fun, so just be careful, read up on detailing world about the techniques and use the right polishing compounds. The machine is cheap as chips as are the pads and backing plates, so if you get into it you are likely to replace them all with decent equivalents... it's like buying a 'beginner's ski kit' containing everything you need for 99 GBP... if you get into it you'll be changing the stuff within a month or two.
It's a shame the pack wasn't a bit more intelligently put together, as the backing plates are monstrous in size - a 180mm is overkill unless doing London buses for a living. A kit with maybe a 75mm backing plate, 125mm backing plate and 150mm backing plate would be perfect.
Hope some of this is useful
The guy selling is a bit of a d1ck and clearly trained in the art of sales by one Derek Trotter of Peckham, London. For example, he doesn't say what the thread of the spindle is (most European ones are M14 metric, yank ones tend to be 5/8 imperial) but assuming one of these, then there is no problem getting accessories for it. He also b0llocks on about the wool pad but you'd have to be very careful with that; they will hologram (weird micro marring effect) paint quite easily and I wouldn't touch that as a beginner. In fact, as a beginner you also need to know what you're doing with a rotary, so get onto www.detailingworld.co.uk and check out DaveKG's rotary polishing guides.
In theory you could do more harm than good with this kit, but rotary polishing is great fun, so just be careful, read up on detailing world about the techniques and use the right polishing compounds. The machine is cheap as chips as are the pads and backing plates, so if you get into it you are likely to replace them all with decent equivalents... it's like buying a 'beginner's ski kit' containing everything you need for 99 GBP... if you get into it you'll be changing the stuff within a month or two.
It's a shame the pack wasn't a bit more intelligently put together, as the backing plates are monstrous in size - a 180mm is overkill unless doing London buses for a living. A kit with maybe a 75mm backing plate, 125mm backing plate and 150mm backing plate would be perfect.
Hope some of this is useful
Edited by domster on Saturday 13th December 13:28
Thanks Dom for the kind words, again.
As you've pointed out, it's not the best or easiest read to a beginner, which is exactly the type of buyer the seller is likely to attract - but for the money it's a decent enough bit of kit to see if it's something you might use just the once, or do for family/friends for a few beer tokens in exchange.
The 180mm backing plate is big, but then that can be fairly useful for a large flat surface like bonnets/bootlids/roofs, so long as the user remembers the outer edge of the pad is travelling quite a lot faster than the central/inner section - so differences of heat build up.
But if kept moving, shouldn't in itself prove to be any more of concern than a typically smaller 150mm plate and pads used by most pros.
Another few pads of varying density, depending on the type of paint being tackled might come in handy, just so the right combination of pad/polish can be found to do it in one or two hits, without removing more clearcoat/paint than is necessary to level out the area.
My one "concern" is the variable speed is stepped, rather than infinitely variable - but if I'm wrong, then aside from having an on/off trigger response, the right speed should be easily enough attained.
As you've pointed out, it's not the best or easiest read to a beginner, which is exactly the type of buyer the seller is likely to attract - but for the money it's a decent enough bit of kit to see if it's something you might use just the once, or do for family/friends for a few beer tokens in exchange.
The 180mm backing plate is big, but then that can be fairly useful for a large flat surface like bonnets/bootlids/roofs, so long as the user remembers the outer edge of the pad is travelling quite a lot faster than the central/inner section - so differences of heat build up.
But if kept moving, shouldn't in itself prove to be any more of concern than a typically smaller 150mm plate and pads used by most pros.
Another few pads of varying density, depending on the type of paint being tackled might come in handy, just so the right combination of pad/polish can be found to do it in one or two hits, without removing more clearcoat/paint than is necessary to level out the area.
My one "concern" is the variable speed is stepped, rather than infinitely variable - but if I'm wrong, then aside from having an on/off trigger response, the right speed should be easily enough attained.
Thanks PJS.
I've never used a machine polisher before and, perhaps naively, was thinking that it would quicken the process of polishing out the marks to the paint. What I dont want to do is make it worse by removing more clearcoat than I need to. I think to answer PJS' question the rpm is fixed at intervals rather than infinitely variable.
I guess the bottom line is what are the risks of using the machine and pads supplied with a suitable polish, and what polish would you recommend? I'm not wedded to the kit on ebay - it just struck me as something of a bargain, which usually means 'beware'. I currently use Sonus P2 polish from the Polishing Company which I work in by hand. It's not bad, but it takes absolutely ages to remove fine marks from the paint.
thanks for your help.
I've never used a machine polisher before and, perhaps naively, was thinking that it would quicken the process of polishing out the marks to the paint. What I dont want to do is make it worse by removing more clearcoat than I need to. I think to answer PJS' question the rpm is fixed at intervals rather than infinitely variable.
I guess the bottom line is what are the risks of using the machine and pads supplied with a suitable polish, and what polish would you recommend? I'm not wedded to the kit on ebay - it just struck me as something of a bargain, which usually means 'beware'. I currently use Sonus P2 polish from the Polishing Company which I work in by hand. It's not bad, but it takes absolutely ages to remove fine marks from the paint.
thanks for your help.
Since you use TPC for your Sonus, I'd continue speaking with Mike.
That said, I favour Menzerna, but it can be a bit of a bugger in certain weather conditions, so 3M (can be a fair bit more expensive) tends to come into use then.
Another is Mark V Mystique, which is a polish that has varying properties depending on the pad firmness used.
An alternative to the kit on ebay there, would be (also on ebay) the Silverline Orange rotary, and some pads - Lake Country, 3M, Meguiar's, Edge2000, and others.
What's the make and model of car you're wanting to correct?
That said, I favour Menzerna, but it can be a bit of a bugger in certain weather conditions, so 3M (can be a fair bit more expensive) tends to come into use then.
Another is Mark V Mystique, which is a polish that has varying properties depending on the pad firmness used.
An alternative to the kit on ebay there, would be (also on ebay) the Silverline Orange rotary, and some pads - Lake Country, 3M, Meguiar's, Edge2000, and others.
What's the make and model of car you're wanting to correct?
Audi - German - hard clearcoat - you'll definitely benefit from a machine and "proper" polishing compounds than hand using AG SRP.
Time to invest a little, or get a Pro in to do, for you to maintain thereafter with proper wash and dry regime, and a good LSP (last stage product - wax or sealant).
Time to invest a little, or get a Pro in to do, for you to maintain thereafter with proper wash and dry regime, and a good LSP (last stage product - wax or sealant).
thanks PJS.I might just ask a local detailer for a price before I embark on doing this myself. I have the enthusiasm but probably not the skill. I've not discounted completely making an investment but dont know where to start with the correct machine, correct pads and correct polishing compound. i will happily receive the benefit your and others' wisdom.
Have a great xmas
Have a great xmas
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