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Accumulator · 06-25-06, 10:13

I got the Makita myself.

Get the best, and lightest one you can afford. I'd get one that doesn't bog down/vary its speed when you apply some pressure (I like consistent performance).

Get the Meguiar's video on how to use it, but don't expect to absorb skill by osmosis

A Meguiar's tech seminar might be helpful.

If you're especially nervous about the whole thing, get a junk panel from a bodyshop/junkyard or practice on a beater.

Study, be careful, think, and IMO you should be fine. This is just my opinion but I'd say that people have trouble when they: under-think the whole thing, get careless (and it doesn't take much carelessness to have problems) or fatigued, fail to inspect as they go ("my whole car is hologrammed!") to spot problems before they become serious, and fail to resist the "just a little more..." temptation because they seek perfection when it's not reasonable.

I hadn't used a rotary in maybe 20 years, don't recall if I'd *ever* used one on basecoat/clear paint before, but I took the new Makita straight out of the box and used it on my beloved S8 with no problems at all. But note that I've been accused of "overthinking" detailing processes

and some people don't go about things the way I do.

06-25-06, 10:13	#8 (permalink)
Accumulator Practical Perfectionist Accumulator is online now Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 20,883	I got the Makita myself. Get the best, and lightest one you can afford. I'd get one that doesn't bog down/vary its speed when you apply some pressure (I like consistent performance). Get the Meguiar's video on how to use it, but don't expect to absorb skill by osmosis A Meguiar's tech seminar might be helpful. If you're especially nervous about the whole thing, get a junk panel from a bodyshop/junkyard or practice on a beater. Study, be careful, think, and IMO you should be fine. This is just my opinion but I'd say that people have trouble when they: under-think the whole thing, get careless (and it doesn't take much carelessness to have problems) or fatigued, fail to inspect as they go ("my whole car is hologrammed!") to spot problems before they become serious, and fail to resist the "just a little more..." temptation because they seek perfection when it's not reasonable. I hadn't used a rotary in maybe 20 years, don't recall if I'd ever used one on basecoat/clear paint before, but I took the new Makita straight out of the box and used it on my beloved S8 with no problems at all. But note that I've been accused of "overthinking" detailing processes and some people don't go about things the way I do.