machine polisher?

[jpieps]

Ok, so I'm a noob at detailing, I have been prowling around these forums since January, but haven't actually taken the step to get some stuff. I don't want to go out and buy everything at once, cause then if I decide that detailing's not my cup of tea I will have all of this stuff on my hands that is pretty much worthless to me. So, here's my real dilemma: To get, or not to get a machine polisher right away.(random orbital, dual action, whatever, haven't done a lot of research.) If I don't, I'm afraid I'll just think "Man, I spent the entire day doing THAT!! My car doesn't even look that good!" On the other hand, if I decide that detailing's not my thing, I will have a $150 device on my hands, that I may or may not be able to sell. I mean, really, I did some calculations, and to get all of the "beginners" stuff is going to be at least $150, so to spend $300 overall on something I don't know if I will like...Oh, and are the cheapo ones ok, like this Amazon.com: Advanced Tool Design Model ATD-10511 7-Inch Polisher: Automotive. Lastly, is it possible to "convert" a random orbit sander to a polisher? I can find good deals on those.



Thanks a ton

Jpieps



EDIT: Ive been reading, ppl say that DA's are better for beginners, but once you get used to rotaries, DA's aren't used as much. Why is this? Sorry about the long winded post, props if you've made it this far

 

[Dubbin1]

Stay away from that cheapo. A DA sander IS what the PC 7424 really is



Your best bet would be to pick up one of the kits that autogeek offers. They range from $169.99 on up and come with everything you need to get started.

 

[jpieps]

Stay away from that cheapo. A DA sander IS what the PC 7424 really is



Your best bet would be to pick up one of the kits that autogeek offers. They range from $169.99 on up and come with everything you need to get started.

Yeah they have everything... except the things you need to WASH the car:laugh:. Seems to me like the kit is not complete without the washing stuff.



I would still like to know if a machine polisher is necessary to have good results. There are plenty of kits on there that don't include a DA or rotary. Or, if I do end up getting a polisher how about this: Amazon.com: Porter-Cable 343VSK 5-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander - Hook & Loop Pad: Home Improvement



I could get this and spend about $225 with the washing stuff and pads. That's about as good as a kit, and it's custom (want Collinite so it lasts, etc.).



I would get a polisher, but they're never on really good sales.



Lastly: does this stuff resell very well. If I detail my car once or twice, decide to sell my stuff, and post it on here for sale, could I sell it for 65-75% of the original price?



Thx again

 

[Accumulator]

Ok, so I'm a noob at detailing, I have been prowling around these forums since January, but haven't actually taken the step to get some stuff. I don't want to go out and buy everything at once, cause then if I decide that detailing's not my cup of tea I will have all of this stuff on my hands that is pretty much worthless to me...

Even if it's not something you want to do as a hobby, I'd think you'd still want the family vehicles to look decent.

If I don't, I'm afraid I'll just think "Man, I spent the entire day doing THAT!! My car doesn't even look that good!"

Note that the polisher isn't a magic bullet And it will still take a while.

On the other hand, if I decide that detailing's not my thing, I will have a $150 device on my hands, that I may or may not be able to sell. I mean, really, I did some calculations, and to get all of the "beginners" stuff is going to be at least $150, so to spend $300 overall on something I don't know if I will like...

Eh, that's the cost of a few pro details. And the polisher oughta last forever. Judicious shopping should cut that figure down a bit too.

Ive been reading, ppl say that DA's are better for beginners, but once you get used to rotaries, DA's aren't used as much. Why is this? Sorry about the long winded post, props if you've made it this far

Not correct. Some pros prefer rotaries, others use the DA/etc. types pretty much exclusively. I have a couple of rotaries and I still use my DA/RO polishers almost exclusively. Rotaries are faster and can have some specific advantages, but nothing you need to think about IMO. You're not interested in spending a *LOT* of time mastering it are you? And by "a lot of time" I don't mean just a few dozen polishing sessions



Just get a good DA/RO polisher and then, whenever a vehicle needs polished (or even waxed), you'll have an efficient way of doing it. IMO the money isn't all that much compared to many aspects of vehicle ownership.

 

[rdorman]

Nope, that orbital will not work. A quick search around the net and I was able to find a PC 7424 for $115. About as cheap as it get new. A 'kit' such as this one Porter Cable 7424 XP-M1 7424 XP Polisher/Meguiar's Polish Kit at Tools Plus would work to get started. If $225 to get started on polishing is to rich for the blood, then it may not be for you. Notice if you search for these machines used, you don't find many. There is a reason for that! They can be addictive. And, there is the rare sale.

 

[snoboarder8232]

Nope, that orbital will not work. A quick search around the net and I was able to find a PC 7424 for $115. About as cheap as it get new. A 'kit' such as this one Porter Cable 7424 XP-M1 7424 XP Polisher/Meguiar's Polish Kit at Tools Plus would work to get started. If $225 to get started on polishing is to rich for the blood, then it may not be for you. Notice if you search for these machines used, you don't find many. There is a reason for that! They can be addictive. And, there is the rare sale.

I'll agree with rdorman here. That kit is perfect for a starter.

 

[jpieps]

Even if it's not something you want to do as a hobby, I'd think you'd still want the family vehicles to look decent.

I think decent by autopian standards and decent by everyone else's standards is quite different. To my dad, decent=self-serve car wash.

Note that the polisher isn't a magic bullet And it will still take a while.

lol, I just want the time spent to be worth it.

Eh, that's the cost of a few pro details. And the polisher oughta last forever. Judicious shopping should cut that figure down a bit too.

Maybe I'm more of a cheapo than I thought. Accumulator what do you think of that kit? You recommended Collinite w/ 1Z polish to me before, would these Meguiars products be alright( durability wise )?

Not correct. Some pros prefer rotaries, others use the DA/etc. types pretty much exclusively. I have a couple of rotaries and I still use my DA/RO polishers almost exclusively. Rotaries are faster and can have some specific advantages, but nothing you need to think about IMO. You're not interested in spending a *LOT* of time mastering it are you? And by "a lot of time" I don't mean just a few dozen polishing sessions

Hey, wanna sell me a rotary? Who knows? If I like detailing, soon I might be:buffing::woohoo:

Just get a good DA/RO polisher and then, whenever a vehicle needs polished (or even waxed), you'll have an efficient way of doing it. IMO the money isn't all that much compared to many aspects of vehicle ownership.

That's true, something to think about.

 

[Dubbin1]

jpieps, pm sent

 

[Accumulator]

I think decent by autopian standards and decent by everyone else's standards is quite different. To my dad, decent=self-serve car wash.

That's what *my* father thought too, until I got his car really nice and then he was all about keeping it that way.

lol, I just want the time spent to be worth it.

Well, then I think you oughta go for time-efficient approaches and realistic (for the time/effort investment) results.

Maybe I'm more of a cheapo than I thought. Accumulator what do you think of that kit? You recommended Collinite w/ 1Z polish to me before, would these Meguiars products be alright( durability wise )?

Wonder what size pads those are in that kit :think: You don't want to go with too-big pads. Durability-wise I'd still say to go with Collinite for the LSP, but you can use it over/after most anything. I don't see any LSP in that kit.



The polishes in that kit (M105/M205) are good, but a bit more involved than the 1Z approach. They can yield considerably better results though, and I *do* recommend them. There's just a bit more of a learning curve.



A good polisher, 1Z Paint Polish, and Collinite wax is still a good way to get started with this stuff, just an alternative to consider.

Hey, wanna sell me a rotary? Who knows? If I like detailing, soon I might be:buffing::woohoo:

Heh heh, nah, I don't sell my tools, even the ones I seldom use But seriously, you don't want to go there (rotary land) anyhow.

 

[jpieps]

Just out of curiosity, why won't the sander work? Will the handle get in the way? It says 5 variable speed, so the adjust-ability is ok. And don't some of the DA's use hook and loop pads? Please enlighten me.:think:

 

[Dubbin1]

Just out of curiosity, why won't the sander work? Will the handle get in the way? It says 5 variable speed, so the adjust-ability is ok. And don't some of the DA's use hook and loop pads? Please enlighten me.:think:

Not near enough power and not designed to do this kind of work. In other words, its just not the right tool for the job.

 

[Accumulator]

Right. Although the general principle is the same, sanders are designed to move a single sheet of sandpaper, usually with *zero* applied pressure.



A foam pad, wet with product is very different from a single sheet of sandpaper and polishing almost always involves applied pressure, sometimes quite a bit.



And for those reasons, the original PCs are somewhat marginal IME for polishing cars. Both of mine merely "jiggle" when I apply any significant pressure whereas my (purpose-built) polishers, which are basically the same type of tool, can keep doing both the motions (elliptical orbits and circular rotation) under considerably more pressure.

 

[jpieps]

Looks like I probably should get a DA, if nothing else to try to fix the places where my littles bros decided to "draw" on my mom's van with rocks.:shocked

 

[Accumulator]

Looks like I probably should get a DA, if nothing else to try to fix the places where my littles bros decided to "draw" on my mom's van with rocks.:shocked

Yikes, sounds like the little bros need some educatin'!

 

[snoboarder8232]

A good polisher, 1Z Paint Polish, and Collinite wax is still a good way to get started with this stuff, just an alternative to consider.

Would you recommend Collinite over Meg's #26? Could you give me a quick comparison if possible? Thanks.

 

[Accumulator]

Would you recommend Collinite over Meg's #26? Could you give me a quick comparison if possible? Thanks.

If you mean "over" in the sense of peferring it, then *generally* yeah. Collinite looks OK and is *VERY* durable. And it sheds dirt quite well too.



#26 can look a bit "darker and richer" on certain colors like red and black, but *IMO* the diff isn't enough to offset the lack of durability on daily drivers. I almost consider #26 to be in the beauty wax category whereas I put Collinite in the durable paint protection realm.



If you mean "over" in the sense of topping #26 with Collinite, I never tried it.

 

[snoboarder8232]

If you mean "over" in the sense of peferring it, then *generally* yeah. Collinite looks OK and is *VERY* durable. And it sheds dirt quite well too.



#26 can look a bit "darker and richer" on certain colors like red and black, but *IMO* the diff isn't enough to offset the lack of durability on daily drivers. I almost consider #26 to be in the beauty wax category whereas I put Collinite in the durable paint protection realm.



If you mean "over" in the sense of topping #26 with Collinite, I never tried it.

Thanks, you answered my question. I went ahead and got Collinite 845.

 

[jpieps]

Thx for the info, everyone. It looks like i might get a PC724xp sometime soon.