Hand vs Machine?

[jdthompson]

OK I have a Biltema (variable speed Cyclo basically) and a bunch of Cyclo pads on order and various products in the garage.



Assuming new factory fresh paint, would you always apply polish/wax by machine or are there circumstances where hand application is better?



I don't have much experience with machine polishers, and whilst I can see that they probably apply more evenly than any hand ever could I'm also thinking they must cause more "wear" on even new paint?



Probably asking too many questions rather than trying it but I don't want to stuff up!



TIA,

Paul

 

[Accumulator]

This is probably just a rehash of the opinions I posted on the other thread, but I do everything by machine unless I have a *very* good reason to do it by hand.



Those very good reasons are quite limited: there are some products (e.g., KSG) that I can't apply thinly enough by machine; there are some tight spots that I can't reach by machine; there are times when a little job isn't worth getting the machine out.



As far as messing up the paint, with a little common sense the PC is almost as safe as working by hand. And I only say "almost" because any time you add any additional variable into the mix you increase the chances of something going wrong.

 

[jdthompson]

This is probably just a rehash of the opinions I posted on the other thread, but I do everything by machine unless I have a *very* good reason to do it by hand.

Thanks. Again. Can't tell I'm nervous of using this thing can you

 

[Accumulator]

Can't tell I'm nervous of using this thing can you

Oh no, never would've occurred to me



For all the noise, vibration and other drama, you're gonna find it's no big deal. Get some mild product that's easy to use, it'll put your mind to ease right away. If there's any 1Z MetallicPolishWax handy, that'd be ideal. *Anybody* could use that stuff on *any* car with not problems at all; a friend of mine just proved that. I'd lent one of my PCs to her husband to use on her Lexus, but he wasn't getting around to it. So she decided to do it herself with no prior experience, no training, nothing. Turned out fine.

 

[superstring]

Oh no, never would've occurred to me



For all the noise, vibration and other drama, you're gonna find it's no big deal. Get some mild product that's easy to use, it'll put your mind to ease right away. If there's any 1Z MetallicPolishWax handy, that'd be ideal. *Anybody* could use that stuff on *any* car with not problems at all; a friend of mine just proved that. I'd lent one of my PCs to her husband to use on her Lexus, but he wasn't getting around to it. So she decided to do it herself with no prior experience, no training, nothing. Turned out fine.

Accumulator, I'm not sure if you noticed, but hutchingsp is using a Biltema/Cyclo, not a PC. Aren't those machines a lot more aggressive than a PC? You'd be the man to know, since you have both

 

[Accumulator]

Accumulator, I'm not sure if you noticed, but hutchingsp is using a Biltema/Cyclo, not a PC. Aren't those machines a lot more aggressive than a PC? You'd be the man to know, since you have both

I suppose my example wasn't too great (see below). Good question though, and I sure don't want to further hutchingsp's concerns! So:



The Cyclo isn't really that much more "risky" than a PC, especially in the hands of somebody who's approaching the whole thing with a modicum of caution.



IMO if the product is mild (and not something that flashes quickly like AIO) it won't make any difference. Heh heh, the only difference will be that a Cyclo/similar user will have a more pleasant time of it As hutchingsp says his machine has variable speeds, I figure it will at *worst* behave like a Cyclo (no problem IMO) and can be turned down to near-PC levels if desired. In some ways, I consider the Cyclo better for a newbie (no bogging, no worrying about speeds, more ergonomic), but then I prefer it in general; I would've given my friend a Cyclo if I knew she was gonna do the work, her husband prefers the PC for some unfathomable reason.



Better example: when my father was in his late 70s/eraly 80s, I introduced him to the Cyclo. He did just fine with maybe two minutes of advice from me and he wasn't somebody who took to new things readily.



I do think that products like 1Z MP are great to use when getting acquainted with a machine though, makes it all pretty much foolproof.