Looking to buy a polisher....

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RocketRod

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So I am in the market for a polisher, but I am overwhelmed by all the choices: which polisher, what size, types of pads, etc and need some help. I will not be doing a lot of detailing, but the 69 Camaro shown below does have some light/medium scratches over in the clear that need to be removed. Once it is done I will probably use the the tool to occasionally wax this car and our two other vehicles and I would like to know if I got the right pads and compound could it be used to polish rims? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

IMG_2793a.jpg
 
Flex XC 3401, FLEX Orbital Polisher,flex XC 3401 VRG dual-action polisher,flex XC3401VRG,Dual Action polisher,FLEX buffer

Lake Country 6.5 FLAT Pads 6 Pack - Your Choice! (orange, white, gray). Some might suggest Lake Country Hydrotech pads(cyan, tangerine, crimson). Lake Country Hydro-Tech 6.5 Inch Foam Pads, water-based polish pads, foam buffing pads, hydro tech pads

Wolfgang 8 oz. Swirl Remover Combo, Wolfgang polishes, total swirl remover, finishing glaze, machine glaze

It looks as though you have polished aluminum rims(not clear coated)? If they're polished aluminum, you'll want to polish them with metal polish Optimum Metal Polish, chrome polish, wheel polish, aluminum polish, motorcycle polish, how to polish metal. If they're clear coated, you can treat them as you would the paint on your car.

:dblthumb2:
 
My insight would be to read the threads, there is tons of good info in here and lots to be learned. "Detailing 101" and "Ask Mike" are full of help, and all the members here are a tremendous help too. I'm a newbie too so I'll leave the product recommendations to the pros, but I've learned more than I thought I could just by reading and watching videos. Best of luck to you and Welcome to AG.
 
As a first timer too I recently got the PC xp with a few 5.5 inch LC pads and got pretty amazing results IMO. And as the other poster said I did a LOT of reading and watching how-to video's.
I used Menzerna polishes (for no particular reason), intensive and micro polishes, and took out all but the heavier scratches/imperfections with the orange and white pads - because I didn't want to take off too much paint.

The car looks better than I had thought possible (for a noob) and all in all it was well worth the $300 or so I spent to do it. Not counting waxes/sealants, towels etc.
 
I guess the first question is, is money a factor? If it is then I would say go with the porter cable get the 5in backing plate with 5.5in pads. I would get 12 pads atleast. Get maybe 4 orange 4 white 4 black. I like having plenty of pads because I like using a fresh pad when the pad gets pretty saturated. I use 3-4 pads per step and I clean the pad after every section. Learn how to clean your pads on the fly, this will keep them from getting saturated with spent product.

If money is not an issue then go with the flex. I have a flex and absolutely love it. I like what 07-z reccomended. I personally would get 12 pads again but they are more expensive.

Jon
 
RocketRod said:
So I am in the market for a polisher, but I am overwhelmed by all the choices: which polisher, what size, types of pads, etc and need some help.
Click to expand...

The best way to find out which polisher is for you is to attend one of our Detailing 101 Classes. In these classes everyone has the opportunity to use each of the different polishers buff on some paint... I can't think of a better way experience a tool and decide which one is best for you and your detailing project...

Information Threads
Detailing 101 - Machine Polishing - Saturday September 18th
Detailing 102 - Wetsanding, Cutting and Buffing for a Show Car Finish - Sunday September 19th


I have at least 2 different groups flying in for these classes as of yesterday...



RocketRod said:
I will not be doing a lot of detailing, but the 69 Camaro shown below does have some light/medium scratches over in the clear that need to be removed.
Click to expand...

The easiest tool to learn how to use is the Porter Cable style DA Polisher and when using 5.5" pads and quality product there's not much you can't do with one of these tools. No mater which tool you get the secret to your success will be to use good technique.

Here's my son at age 9 using a Meguiar's G110 on a black Batmobile recreation owned and built by Nate Trueman...


Photo courtesy of LacViet Photography
RandBuffingBatmobile1.jpg


Here's an article I wrote that explains how and why these tools are so safe to use even for an absolute beginner...

The Free Floating Spindle Assembly - The Story Behind The Story...

It has to do with what's called a Free Floating Spindle Assembly

Porter Cable 7424XP with the Backing Plate Removed Exposing the
Counterweight and Free Rotating Spindle Assembly
FreeRotatingSpingleAssembley003.jpg


Close-up
FreeRotatingSpingleAssembley004.jpg



Here's a short video that shows the different tools...


Part 1 - How To Pick the Right Car Polisher for your Detail Project​
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtrdTvnZX3I]YouTube - Part 1 - How To Pick the Right Car Polisher for your Detail Project[/video]


Part 2 - How To Pick the Right Car Polisher for your Detail Project​
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k92m5cJxCk]YouTube - Part 2 - How To Pick the Right Car Polisher for your Detail Project[/video]



The Flex 3401 in action...​
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CtUaI_8HhE]YouTube - Performing a "Test Spot" to the paint on a 1957 Chevrolet Belair[/video]


Here's an in-depth article on the topic... in this article I created an "Ease of Use Scale" and rated all the polishers in the article, it's pretty in-depth...

How to choose the right polisher for your detailing project



RocketRod said:
Once it is done I will probably use the the tool to occasionally wax this car and our two other vehicles
Click to expand...

Besides removing swirls and scratches they also work very well for apply paste or liquid waxes and if you like, removing waxes after they've dried.

RocketRod said:
and I would like to know if I got the right pads and compound could it be used to polish rims? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Yes and no...

Depends upon which polisher you buy, for the most part the only electric polisher that will be good for polishing something with an intricate design like a wheel will be a rotary buffer like the Flex 3403 Lightweight Rotary Buffer you see me using in this thread...

Old School Aluminum Slotted Mag Wheels - Extreme Makeover


PolishingAluminumbyMachine016.jpg



The good news is your Camaro has nice, large gently curved panels with not pebble textured black plastic trim like modern cars, not only will it be easy to work on it will be fun to work on...


:)
 
First of all! :welcome:
If money is not an issue go for the Flex 3401 Flex XC 3401, FLEX Orbital Polisher,flex XC 3401 VRG dual-action polisher,flex XC3401VRG,Dual Action polisher,FLEX buffer. The Best for sure.

If that is to much for you starting out (it was for me) the IMHO the next best Random Orbital is the Griot's Garage Griot's Garage 6 inch Random Orbital Polisher, Dual action buffer, DA polisher This has more power than a PC XP.

Read through Mikes post above and you will get an idea what you want.:buffing:
 
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