Hello! new guy here and need help

tek

tek

New member
Hi fellow car buffs. No pun really...
Like the site and hope to use it alot. Will also be turning my friends on to it too.
Can someone give me help or where to get info on using a buffer (7") correctly? Mainly want to polish after a wax or glaze job.
I picked up an old Black & Decker cheapie two hand model at a yard sale for 3 bucks so I figured I could get some use out of it.
I have a 2006 Traiblazer SS that I take special care of and want to give it a special job for some local car shows coming up etc. Got the proper wash method down from the advice on here but now want to learn some more tricks as to wax and detail. Not rich so I need to buy stuff from local parts stores. Any suggestions/opinions are welcomed.

I'm also wondering if it might help my 91 Tempo that has lost the clearcoat on the hood, roof and trunk. Anyway to get it looking respectible again using a cleaner and a buffer?
Thanks for any help you can give!
Tek
 
Welcome to the site from Sonoma County CA

What kind of buffer are you talking about...a rotary or orbital?

If you want some practice I would start with the 91 regardless of the condition of the paint..that way you get use to the buffer before attacking your 06
 
tek said:
Hi fellow car buffs. No pun really...
Like the site and hope to use it alot. Will also be turning my friends on to it too.
Can someone give me help or where to get info on using a buffer (7") correctly? Mainly want to polish after a wax or glaze job.
I picked up an old Black & Decker cheapie two hand model at a yard sale for 3 bucks so I figured I could get some use out of it.
I have a 2006 Traiblazer SS that I take special care of and want to give it a special job for some local car shows coming up etc. Got the proper wash method down from the advice on here but now want to learn some more tricks as to wax and detail. Not rich so I need to buy stuff from local parts stores. Any suggestions/opinions are welcomed.

I'm also wondering if it might help my 91 Tempo that has lost the clearcoat on the hood, roof and trunk. Anyway to get it looking respectible again using a cleaner and a buffer?
Thanks for any help you can give!
Tek
Click to expand...
My response is probably not what you really wanted to hear. :)
1. Sell the old B&D at a garage sale for $3. :D
2. You don't need to be wealthy to buy detailing products on-line, but you can also find some good stuff at the auto parts store.
3. If the Trailblazer doesn't have a lot of marring or swirls, buy some Meguiar's COLORx and NXT Tech Wax 2.0. You might only need the NXT 2.0 and you could try using it on a section to see if you need to use the COLORx. The COLORx is a good first step cleaner and mild polish which you might not even need.
4. Hand apply them per the directions on the product. Good microfiber towels would be the thing to use for removal of the product, but I have no idea what OTC towels are good.
5. Polish, glaze, wax won't do anything for the missing clearcoat. If you want it respectable, it will need to be repainted.

You can keep the Trailblazer looking better than most with OTC products and hand application.
A good polisher does make it a lot easier, but isn't an absolute necessity.
 
Thanks Beemerboy and Charles.
The polisher/grinder is rotary and I sort of knew the answer going in. I'll probably hang on to it though to grind rust off my BBQ!:D
The 91 I'm selling so all I wanted was to try to boost the eye appeal on it and get a few more bucks maybe.
The Trailblazer on the other hand is my "jewell" and since buying it i've become a real student of proper washing and detailing. I've used the NXT on other cars and do like it. But was looking to maybe try something different. No swirls to worry about, it's mostly shine I'm going for. After a wash and dry I usually hit it with Meguiar's Quik Detail and it looks great.:inspector:
Thanks again!
 
Hi You may laugh and think I am crazy, but my daughter who just graduated from high school wants to keep her 05 Focus looking sharp, so I taught her on old hoods and doors how to use buffer so she did not go off and burn the paint. Then she wanted her own buffer, so I bought a electric variable from Fingerhut of all places and it surprised me the results she got using it with Lake pads, it was under 50 bucks and has a year warranty.
 
A Tempo and a 2006 Trailblazer, GEEZ sounds like me last August. The variable speed buffer use ONLY on the Tempo, locate a PC or UDM with correct pads and procucts for the Trailblazer. hey seem to have harder clean coat then the Tempo will. If no paint correction is needed on the TB try Polish with Sealant from POORBOYS, that is after a good wash and clay bar with lube. Have plenty of good microfiber towels for the bestg results. (i have towels from Walmart, Sams club, and POORBOYS WORLD, I use the cheaper towels for door jams, wheeels, fender wheel lips, etc.) Use the BEST towels on the better locations.
 
tek said:
Thanks Beemerboy and Charles.
The polisher/grinder is rotary and I sort of knew the answer going in. I'll probably hang on to it though to grind rust off my BBQ!:D
The 91 I'm selling so all I wanted was to try to boost the eye appeal on it and get a few more bucks maybe.
The Trailblazer on the other hand is my "jewell" and since buying it i've become a real student of proper washing and detailing. I've used the NXT on other cars and do like it. But was looking to maybe try something different. No swirls to worry about, it's mostly shine I'm going for. After a wash and dry I usually hit it with Meguiar's Quik Detail and it looks great.:inspector:
Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Your grinder can be adapted to accommodate polishing pads..I think? mine is a grinder with two speeds...you might want to see what those are before proceeding...if they are 1200 RPM or less you can work with it...mine is 1200 an 900 and works OK for me, if you do then look for a practice car so as not to ruin your babies.

For the two cars that you have and since you are working on by hand..I would use PB P-w-S or P-w-C they are both great by hand and will help any paint in OK condition....you can then top that off with a sealant or paste wax or both for that matter...On the older car a simple polish and wax will give back a decent shine and help with the curb appeal...I find most with selling cars is make them clean and presentable, rugs, glass, engine, trunk, etc...the car just shows better and will sell faster at a better price!
 
Cool!!:D
What a great bunch of people on here! I'm grateful for such a huge reply.
Poorboy's products come highly recomended by several dudes on here so I'm going to give them a try. Until I get a Porter Cable I'll do it by hand.
One last item -

With the truck only 2 years old and paint in great shape, will I gain that much from claying?

Thanks
 
tek said:
With the truck only 2 years old and paint in great shape, will I gain that much from claying?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Claying is essential IMO. The age of the car/truck isn't what you should use to determine whether it needs claying. Here's a good way to see if your car needs claying.

- Find the thinnest plastic bag you can (cigarette box wrapper, grocery bag).

- Make sure your car is as clean as you can get it. I would wipe the surface with a soft microfiber and some clay lubricant or quick detailer.

- Now put your fingers inside the plastic bag and gently run them along the surface. If you feel any roughness at all you should clay. Once you clay do the test again and you should feel a perfectly smooth surface when you're done.

I usually test the hood and/or the rear bumper. The hood is the most conspicuous place and the rear bumper is going to be where brake dust will get embedded.


*This is a great sales tool for you pros.
 
Thanks for the advice Troy. Pretty much thought is was necessary for the best possible job and was planning on it the first chance I get plenty of time to devote to it. I hate rushing through something and get OCD when I do something. "It not only has to be done right, I want it perfect!"
Now, tell me what clay YOU recommend and I'll be on my way.
Thanks again-
Tek
(great forum!)
 
tek said:
Now, tell me what clay YOU recommend and I'll be on my way.
Thanks again-
Tek
(great forum!)
Click to expand...

How about this answer? Any of the detailing clays I sell.:D

Seriously, for a fine delicate finish I would recommend Pinnacle's Ultra Poly Clay. There isn't much difference in the other clays we carry. They all have the same cleaning power and are made of equal quality IMO. Then it's just a matter of size.

I have been testing Ultima's Elastrofoam bar with some reluctance because I'm afraid of contaminants getting trapped on the surface and scratching. I have to say so far the elastro foam bar has performed very well and it has some advantages over clay. Not ready to say that I don't need my clay anymore though.
 
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