Polisher other than a PC?

[Daragh]

Hello Paul,

Buy the PC. D'ont, D'ont, D'ont buy any polishers from the Argos or Halfords range. You will regret it big time if you do. Before I bought my PC I got a few of the Meguiar's polishers to retail on my website and I had to send them all back. No matter how many times I charged them, not one ever worked properly. Faulty batch ? I do not know. Think of the adage ... a bad job is an expensive one & you get what you pay for.

Good old fashioned elbow grease and quality foam or microfibre pads & cloths, will do a far better job than a budget polisher. Much more rewarding as well. You will only end up frustrated, f'ing and blinding if you choose the latter.

The PC or long nights burning the midnight oil !!! - You decide.

Regards,

Daragh.

[hutchingsp]

Originally Posted by chpsk8

How about something like this...
Rotary Polisher
70 "quid" including VAT. Might be something to start with. I started with an old Black and Decker rotary before moving to a PC. Rotaries are fine if you use your noodle and dont' sit in one spot. For the money it's worth a shot.

I'm tempted to try a rotary as there are lots on eBay but I am totally confused by all the specs - many appear to be nothing more than sanders with "polisher" written on the box?

How about this for example - can't see how it diffeers that much from the Clarke that you suggested? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-180MM-SAND...QQcmdZViewItem

Common sense suggests right pads/products and low rpm and keep it moving and you should be OK?

I did grab a £12.99 3200rpm/110w orbital from the local Motor Mania - it'll probably be next to useless but I figured at that sort of money it's a chuck-away job if it's no good.

Sorry if I appear to be a pedantic cheapskate but there's a hell of a difference between £50 and £200 and there seems to be little middle ground.

Paul

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally Posted by chpsk8

I started with an old Black and Decker rotary before moving to a PC. Rotaries are fine if you use your noodle and dont' sit in one spot. For the money it's worth a shot.

I have to disagree with you on this; granted rotaries are fine, but there are alot more ways to cause damage than just sitting in one spot. Not to mention moving "TO" a PC after having been with a rotary is to me just back-arsewards. You can't do any damage with a PC for the most part, and you most definitely aren't going to remove as many defects with it as you would with a rotary. It is definitely more wise to start out with a DA machine like the PC before moving to a Rotary, because it will teach you good machine buffer technique and prevent you from making as many mistakes when you use a rotary for the first time.

[Lowejackson]

Originally Posted by hutchingsp

Sorry if I appear to be a pedantic cheapskate but there's a hell of a difference between £50 and £200 and there seems to be little middle ground.

Paul

Have a look at the Autopia shop, they are selling the PC kit (inc SFX-2, backing plate etc ) for about £79 plus postage. Get yourself a transformer for about £40 and your set for a very cheap £120'ish

[Lowejackson]

As for a rotary, have a look at this thread http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=62065

[hutchingsp]

I think I shall keep reading up on rotarys - the more I read the more it suggests keep it low and use the right products and you should be fine.

One thought. The cheap orbital I brought - theoretically I can hack the foam pad off and cover the backing plate with sticky-back velcro allowing me to use Meguiars or any velcro-backed pads.

Does this sound like it might turn it into something even slightly useful or is it still a case of "too little power"?

I've not had chance to try the buffer yet because of the weather.

Paul

[Lowejackson]

I guess you could try but the lack of power is always going to be an issue

[hutchingsp]

Originally Posted by Lowejackson

I guess you could try but the lack of power is always going to be an issue

I figure that's likely to be the case.

I've asked for opinions in the Machine Polishing forum simply because it's a bit more active - the Autopia 25% off offer makes a Porter Cable more tempting but it's still not a cheap option, though of course if you try enough cheap things that don't work you soon end up spending more than biting the bullet first time.

Paul

[kempie]

I have an Ebay $29. rotary. I use it 2 or 3 times a year on two different cars. The only feature I would like added is the "constant RPM control". I dont know what it is called in tool terms but it keeps the RPMs of the buffer the same, even under load.
As stated before, unless you get a powerfull orbital you might as well do it by hand.
The rotary is not hard to learn. A lot of reading & a little common sense and patience will pay big rewards. Doing the work slowly at low RPMs will not cause problems useing the proper pads & products.
I've got four times or more of the cost of the rotary in the pads & products so no matter what you do it isnt gonna be "low cost".

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by hutchingsp

I'm tempted to try a rotary...Common sense suggests right pads/products and low rpm and keep it moving and you should be OK?

IMO you shouldn't get a rotary until you have a PC or something similar. Besides the general advisability of starting out with the milder/safer machine, there will be times when the rotary is the wrong tool for the job and you'll *need* the PC. I'm no newcomer to the rotary and I'm not bad with it, but there are *far* more times that I use the Cyclo/PC and I *always* use them after my rotary work.

[hutchingsp]

Originally Posted by riggsyUK

Ive just got a smartool make by AutoSmart.. seems ok but aint given it a whirl yet..

will be using it over weekend when my pads arrive..

SMARTOOL

Do you have any specifications on the Smartool such as power/speed please?

I can get one of these http://www.biltema.no/products/produ...?iItemId=98894 for around £21 plus £17 shipping and the resemblance is uncanny?

Paul