hand or machine buffer

E

Espada

New member
Sorry if this question has been answered but I'm new here and wondering what is the general opinion on waxing by hand versus a machine buffer (orbital or otherwise)? I have always used soft cotton flannel to apply and buff off the wax. Each piece lasts only maybe four square feet of car but I buy it by the yard so I just throw out the piece and reach for a new one.



How about polishing or removing swirls? I think my hand system doesn't work as well with swirls but what do you experts think?
 
On my new cars with no swirls I prefer a good ole hand job!:D However if any of my cars had swirls I would think you would have to use an orbiter to remove. I also prefer great quality micro-fiber over the flannel for removing the wax/polish and I have used both.
 
I do most everything by machine, I just like it better and I believe it gives me a better job (I doubt that I match all those orbits-per-minute when I work by hand).



Doing LSP stuff by hand *can* be satisfying when I'm in the mood to caress the Jag...but life if short.



But for polishing, no way you can match a PC (let alone a Cyclo) by hand. Heh heh, just ask ScottWax, the king of by-hand detailing :D



Espada- Yeah, I'd be careful with the flannel. Too great a risk of marring for me.
 
The only time I would consider flannel now a days, ( I still held on to some) is if I'm working on an already mared car that I'm going to completely detail any way. I'd use the flannel perhaps to apply some Klean Strip Prep All
 
I used to do everything by hand, and had some great results. As far as removing any scratches or swirls, it is possible to do by hand but very labor-intense. I have a PC now, and I do everything by PC that I can. I still have to get under the spoiler, around the front bumper, etc by hand, and I also apply paste waxes by hand most of the time.

With a PC you usually use less product, and get a much more even coat. Plus your arm isn't so tired afterward.
 
For me, this is a no brainer. I do everything by machine. All polishing/compounding is done with the cyclo and all waxing (application and removal) is done with my cordless orbital polisher.
 
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