whats wrong with these?

ok heres what the local shops here have



vectors buffer its 79.00

10" road expidition orbital its 29.99

10" nikota orbial its 37.48



now i want something for removing scratchs and stuff like that, i can wax it by hand or the machine thats not a big deal but im just looking at something for removing the swirls.
 
They are useless for doing any sort of polishing... They can make the surface look very smooth and reflective, but they won't remove marring. They barely move at all!



The only way to get ANY cutting capability from an orbital polisher is to apply a lot of pressure, 15-25lbs worth or more. If you apply 10lbs of pressure to any of those machines, they will bog down and probably won't even move.



There is a reason professionals charge a lot, it requires expensive tools! Well, if you consider $200 expensive, that is.



Spend $200 on a PorterCable polisher, some pads, and good product, and you will save 4x that over the course of 2 years by not needing it profesionally polished.



And you can make the money back in 3 days if you have friends willing to pay you to do their cars as well!



I have a Simoniz 10" polisher that I started with, and it worked, but definitly didn't remove anything more than the lightest of marring. It has been sitting for about 3 years now :)
 
Those machines don't have the right OPM or power however you want to explain it to eliminate swirls. The PC for only $110 will do that for you, and in a much more efficient manner. Also, the machines you listed don't have the capability of using different pads for different purposes such as cutting, light cutting, polishing, and finishing.



The PC is a much better machine, trust me when I didn't have a clue about anything and was not on this site I went to Autozone and spent $50 on one of the things, I used it once and never used it again. They just don't do anything...



http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=77159&highlight=orbital+polisher

http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=30072&highlight=orbital+polisher
 
Thats a rotary and not definately not for you.



Get the PC, stop tryin to be cheap.



Sorry if that comes across as mean but come on man, your vehicle is worth it.
 
That Vector will work, but it is a rotary, and you'll need quite a bit of practice to master it or you can damage your paint (very quickly). The beauty of the PC is that it is *almost* idiot proof.



Nothing wrong with a rotary if you want to take the time to learn how to use it properly, but for about $30 more you can pick up a PC that is very user friendly.



There aren't really too many cheap alternatives if you want the tools to do the job right..... unless you find a good deal on a used PC or Cyclo in good condition.
 
The PC is not a fix all, but in comparison with the cheapo's you posted and that Vector Rotary, the PC is the only way to go for a novice (or *twice* a year guy). Trust me, once you get the Porter Cable you will WANT to use it more than twice a year. Its a great tool with the proper pads and product. Now THATS a totally different subject....
 
Coupe said:
Thats a rotary and not definately not for you.



Get the PC, stop tryin to be cheap.



Sorry if that comes across as mean but come on man, your vehicle is worth it.
Click to expand...



I agree, it seems like your just trying to go the cheapest route without even doing any research. If you're going to detail your cars twice a year...You need to be willing to spend the money, otherwise just forget it. If you cheap out on your tools, products, etc you're results will show it.



Research the tools you are listing here...the rotary isn't a tool you can just pick up and use..I still do not feel comfortable purchasing one after using both the PC and cyclo. Use the search function and look at the results people get with the PC - - is there any reason you don't want to get the pc?



Remember...Depending what kind of condition your vehicles are in your going to need to invest in the following:



Clay

Wash Mitts

Microfiber Towels

Polish ( possibly 3 different abrasive levels)

Wax/Sealant

Tire/Trim dressing

Etc...The list goes on



What are you expecting to do with this tool, do you want to just apply wax, remove swirls?
 
fordraceing_man said:
porblem is location, the closest lowes is 2 hours from here, i can get all these right here in the home town.
Click to expand...



If you're willing there are many websites that sell the PC or PC kits that include pads/backing plate.



I'd just hate to see you settle with one of those other orbital polishers and not be happy once you start using it. I know they sound like a good deal, but they just dont get the job done. Heck, to prove it to you I'd be willing to ship you my cheap-o orbital polisher like the one your mentioning if you pay S&H. It'd feel bad even making you pay for the S&H on what you're going to recieve...you won't be happy with the results/quality of the machine, they are very limited in what they can accomplish.
 
fordraceing_man said:
porblem is location, the closest lowes is 2 hours from here, i can get all these right here in the home town.
Click to expand...
A PC complete with pads and a backing plate is only a few mouse clicks (or a phone call) away:



http://www.autopia-carcare.com/son-sfxpol-kit.html



http://www.autogeek.net/hk7424.html



http://www.topoftheline.com/porcabpolpac.html



http://www.properautocare.com/74uldemawico.html



Or order it from Lowes and pay $5 shipping (you'll still need to order pads and a backing plate):



http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=51472-546-7336SP&lpage=none
 
Hey, the $20 Coleman Powermate Polisher: 6" Palm Style is great for applying wax! I've got one of these guys. Way more bite than my big 10" Chamberlain Oribital. You can really lean into it and it still moves. Truth is, that with any of these, power is going to be on the low side, and worst of all, pad selection.
 
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