Just got my first DA

[Jsuro]

Hi all,

New member here and all - this week I received my first DA machine - a Griot orbital polisher. I have no experience whatsoever with machine polishing so instead of putting it to my cars I decided to experiment with my canoes . I like to fly fish on the flats around here and found the best way to do that is with a canoe. I had Wenonah build me a custom Kevlar/gelcoat boat to my specifications (the white one below) and it was featured in their catalog some years back. I also own a two man boat - an 18.5 foot carbon fiber/clear coat boat (the black one). It's a dream boat at only 37 pounds.

Any way, I learned a lot! Each boat took me about a two and half hours to mask with tape and polish, and another half hour to seal with Klasse All in One. I figure from this that a car will be a whole day affair....

I still have not figured out how dry to polish, how to clean the pads while working etc. It seems that if I go on the dry side the polish comes of a lot easier but I don't know if this would hurt a car's finish. Too wet and then it's a pain to take the polish off. Suggestions are most welcome.

I attached some images of the finished boats I snapped with my little P&S. Please excuse the garage! I'm in the process of remodeling it into my own personal "man cave" down to the checkerboard floor and all :xyxthumbs:.

The Kevlar single seater:

And detail shots of the carbon fiber boat:

I'm VERY pleased with the results! My canoes never looked this good but I'm still a little worried of putting the machine to my cars. I really need to do my daughters car soon. It's a two month old 2011 Jetta in dark blue metallic. It has zero protection on it at the moment, and it came with a few swirls from the dealer so I do need to polish it.


Best,

Jose Suro
Tierra Verde, FL

 

[termigator]

Nice job on the boats. You'll do just fine on the cars. It's not nearly as hard as you think it might be.

My brother-in-law has a white 2010 Jetta. That paint is hard, hard and harder. I tried polishing out the swirls with the Flex and SwirlX and I barely made any headway. I finally got most of the swirls out when I switched to Menzerna Power Finish, but it wasn't fun. Good luck with your daugther's Jetta!

My fishing partner likes to fly fish too. We do our flats fishing over at the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon in Titusville. Where to you fish?

 

[James K]

As slick as those canoes are now, they should be real easy to paddle! LOL

Great job on them.

 

[Jsuro]

Nice job on the boats. You'll do just fine on the cars. It's not nearly as hard as you think it might be.

My brother-in-law has a white 2010 Jetta. That paint is hard, hard and harder. I tried polishing out the swirls with the Flex and SwirlX and I barely made any headway. I finally got most of the swirls out when I switched to Menzerna Power Finish, but it wasn't fun. Good luck with your daugther's Jetta!

My fishing partner likes to fly fish too. We do our flats fishing over at the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon in Titusville. Where to you fish?

Thanks for the heads-up on the hardness of the Jetta paint. I might want to start in on a Saturday instead of a Sunday!! Good to know that it will be hard to hurt it though .

I fish all over Tampa Bay. Tons of flats around here. Joe Island just south of the Skyway bridge is super on an incoming morning tide for reds getting up on the shallow grass. Lots of tailers - target rich environment :xyxthumbs:.

Best,

Jose

 

[James K]

I always see folks fishing down there. I have never tried it though. Everytime I drive by there I stop and relax. I just love it.

 

[CleanGene]

Congrats on the new DA. I remember purchasing my first. I wish I'd kept it for keepsakes. Don't be surprised if you become a detailing junkie shortly like most of us.