Im looking at buying a car polisher but could do with some info on what to look for or specific models worth looking at. Ive been advised to buy an orbital version as these dont leave swirl marks like basic rotary ones?. Is orbital the same as random orbit.
No. There's rotary, which spin round and round, there's orbital, which move the pad in small circles, but which doesn't actually turn, and there's "random" which sort of jitters about all over the shop.
I got mine from Argos its orbital under firm pressure but if you lift off a bit for finishing it runs rotary so you get the option cheap enough too just drop a blob of your favourite polish spread it a bit with a cloth and away you go
Even random orbit can leave swirl marks if you move it too quickly, buy a cheap one & several bonnets, crap in the bonnets makes more difference than the model , unless you're doing if for a living.
Hand + cloth. IMO polishers are a bloody good way to rub big holes in the paint and cause massive scratches with any bits of grit you pick up. FWIW, the one I had was pretty heavy, and lugging it about was nearly as much work as polishing it by hand. And you get a better finish by hand.
If you're polishing every week, get a different polish. There's no need to put proper wax on more than every couple of months...
Just read your other post. There's no need to use a polishing machine with Super Resin. It'd be harder work to do it with a polisher than by hand. And Super Resin is mildly abrasive, so you'll be rubbing more paint off.
I agree, I do my car by hand (did it last week), and the result can't really be faulted. With a mechanical thing I would be very worried about scratches. IIRC I think it took me about 2.5hrs, and was REALLY tiring, but it looks great now. Actually, it was Thursday when I polished it, it still looks the same now and it hasn't even been washed :-o. It would usually need washing by now, but maybe it's just because of the weather.
I use some Turtle wax stuff, which was less than a tenner, and it was buy one get one free at the time. They say they last around 6 months, but from my experience they benefit from a polish around ever 4-5 months.
is the same as the meguiars one they sell for £100.00buy more pads from a body shop supplier they are made by frecla.2. Use meguiars products have a look at there video clinics. more info
I've never seen owt last 4-5 months on one of my cars. 3 months is about it. Depends what you use though. Some stuff is ultra shiny and last pretty well, some stuff isn't as shiny and lasts ages...
MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.