Car Polishing Buffers

[4ballhero]

All,

I'm looking for a heavy duty car polishing buffer???

Has anybody got any good websites where I can buy one? or know of any brands that are worth buying?

Look forward to your comments and help>

Cheers

Matt

[Fastra]

I'm far from expert but I've heard that the best is a Porter Cab;e 7424:

http://www.limitedgoods.com/itemView.php?ProdID=74...

with some details on how to use it here:

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?...

can be expensive though!

[belleair302]

Buy a G220 from Meguiars, unless you want to become a professional detailer. Spend some time on detailingworld to see whats available.

[V6Alfisti]

I bought a G220 and it is a fantastic tool.

Only problem being you need a million different pads/polishes to achieve various things.

It could get to the point of obsession, you've been warned :P

[4ballhero]

Cheers guys... Do you he to have the different polishes or can you use a multi polish? daft question I know... will it still acheive the same finish?

[otolith]

Other thing about machine polishers - don't think they make the job easy, they give much better results but it's still hard work to do a proper job with one.

[Berger 3rd]

I have aso read it better for a begginer to get one that randomly oscillates, as there is less chance of damaging the paintwork with one of those.

[V6Alfisti]

4ballhero said:

Cheers guys... Do you he to have the different polishes or can you use a multi polish? daft question I know... will it still acheive the same finish?

It depends on what you want to achieve, if you just care about applying a polish, then just use a quality polish, then protect with a wax.

You will need a pad for each type, but more often than not you will will want to get rid of the micro hazing before going with a more standard polish and that requires another type of pad/polish.

I have about 2/3 grades of polish before the main polish, then a wax finish.

Barely use it though, as it does require a lot of time to get the results you want and time is at a limit currently

PS: The G220 randomly oscillates, I bought my pack from polished bliss, worth while contacting them with details of your car (age, make, colour) and they suggest the best polishes for your car too

Edited by V6Alfisti on Saturday 20th June 13:49

[exitwound]

I clayed (soft type, £10) my '87 vette, then washed it off with carb and choke cleaner (£1) to shift the difficult tar spots, then used my £15 ebay Kinzo buffer and T-cut to get the original, 100k mile, red colour back with only one bonnet.

After that I washed it again in TW Platinum wash and used TW Platinum wax to get it shiny and glossy, one terry towelling bonnet again, and it now shines like it was brand new. Its about to get sealed with TW Platinum sealer now, so hopefully it won't compromise the mirror finish I worked so hard for.

The wheels (black powder coated), got the Wonder Wheels treatment, with Tyre Slik for the boots!

I found a supplier in Kent for cheap bonnets made of coarse terry-towelling, which worked very well.

With a few bargains (3 for 2 at Halfords, ebay etc,) detailing work doesn't have to cost the earth. I prefer TW products as they have been around longer than most and they know how to make a good and reasonably priced product.

All I need now is some decent weather for the trip to Loudoun Castle, Cars and Rides 2009 tomorrow!

Edited by exitwound on Tuesday 30th June 13:26

[dan1502]

Auto express did a review of the kinzo and others a while back and I just remembered I have a Halfords one. Is this any use and how should I get the best from it?

[exitwound]

I get my polishing bonnets from these guys. Quite cheap and good quality.

http://www.carcare.co.uk/acatalog/polisher.html

I used the buffer to t-cut the bodywork, then waxed it and sealed it by hand, only using the buffer each time after polishing off the excess wax/sealer to raise a good shine. Its still just as shiny today after two more washes since that post.

[dan1502]

Some pics of the end results.

I washed it using Bilthamber Auto Foam, hand washed it with Autoglym car shampoo, clayed it with Bilthamber Auto Clay, then washed with Auto Foam again then waxed with Bilthamber Auto Balm.

All done manually with the supplied appplicator and microfibre cloths for polishing. All products were reasonably priced.

Edited by dan1502 on Tuesday 30th June 22:51

[exitwound]

Sweet!!!

Nothing nicer than a deep shine on a red car!

[dan1502]

Thanks. I was going to give it a final buff off with the Halfords machine but it started to rain. I did the same with my wife's focus estate a few days later (which took a few hours longer) and tried the machine but the bonnets are crap and slip. Next time I'll order some from the site you recommended and give it a try though hopefully that won't be for a while as it's such hard work. I can see why a full detail costs so much now. Some of the quotes I've heard are still a bit over the top in my opinion but those for a few hundred pounds seem value for money given the time that must be involved to do the whole exterior and interior properly.

[4ballhero]

Gents,

Cheers for all your help, I have commited to the G220 and associated products just got of the phone with them and walked away £350 lighter in my pocket but looking forward to getting a deep shine on both cars! Once I have completed buffing and so on I will post some pics and write a review on all?

Just hope the other half dont find out!

Matt

[otolith]

4ballhero said:

Just hope the other half dont find out!

Mine was a birthday present from the other half!

[4ballhero]

I should have thought?

Looking forward to getting to grips with all the products! I have read and seen a lot of examples of other guys cars so hopefully I can get just as good results!!!!

On to the next spending spree I'm sure I may need some other stuff maybe a engine remap on the Cooper!

The plot thickens?