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.
Thanks
The message from "Rob Kirk" contains these words:
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.
would I just use my usual AutoGlym Super resin polish on the polisher?. Do they spray polish all over the shop?
I find it best to put the polish on manually and use the polisher for buffing.
Yes, big-time. When cutting paint with a rotary I have to clear the surrounding area, or wash every car in the vicinity afterwards!
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.
Random orbit is what you want. I've got a Halfords one. Waste of time.
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.
If you have a Macro trade card, they are selling random orbit car polishers for £9.99, they seem fairly good.
Andy
Think you'll find they're a good idea in principle, but in fact it's quicker by hand.
Lol, Doesn't suprise me, I'v never used one myself.
I was told a polishing bonnet on an angle grinder was the way to go for an all out shine :)
Andy
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...
I assume you mean "bare metal silver"? Doesn't stay shiny long tho...
Wot - after the smoke clears? ;-)
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