Car Polisher Suggestions

[04MRADR]

:cool:Okay, after 50 years of driving I am out of elbow grease. Can someone recommend a good quality, not terribly expensive car polishing machine to me? Interested in what the members use. Can you give me a name, model, approximate cost and where I can buy ? Looked in various stores like Wall Mart, Target and others and couldn't find one so I suppose I need to go to an auto supply chain. Want one where buring replacement pads is easy since I'll use for compounding, polishing and removing and buffing. By the way, I just used MaGuirer's Ultimate compiund and it worked beutifully on some claybar streaks I had in the finish. In the mean time, I found the below You Tube link on how to polish a black cr which my Marauder is. Its almost 20 minutes long but very interesting.:cool:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu50iY9RmNg&feature=related

[capt512]

I have a Porter Cable 7424 (PC7424) random orbital polisher and its a good entry level polisher. If I had to do it all again I would get a flex instead of my PC, however its substantially more so you may want to go with a PC.

[J-MAN]

Like the Capt says the Porter cable is a good starter machine. Don't get a rotary as depicted in the video or your next questions will be how to spot paint panels.

Sign up on the Autogeek forum and read the posts and responses. Not many days go by when someone is asking "what polisher should I get"?

Within the last two days another member was asking a similar question.

[Rockettman]

I don't have any "big name brand" polisher; but I just thought I'd put in my 2 cents. ('Cause that's what I do! LOL)

The two polishers I do have, are random-ordital. Super easy to use.
As "J-MAN" mentioned above; rotary ones can be pretty aggresive in unexperienced hands.

[J-MAN]

If you register on the Autogeek forum, not the store, you will see a comparison of polishers, with videos, on the left side of the home page. Just click on it and be educated in your selection.

[Ozark Marauder]

I bought this one about a year ago. Works great!

http://www.tools-plus.com/porter-cable-7424xp-kit.html

Had everything but pads, which I bought at the local auto paint store, I looked online for pads, but by the time I figured shipping, local was the way to go for me.

I don't know what you consider, "not terribly expensive". I've had Sears, Griot garage, and some other off brands I bought from auto parts stores.

Although they all worked well, the ability to "dial in" the RPM's of the buffer, made the Porter cable superior. I did look at the Flex, and used one my friends, but that the forced rotation (direct drive) rotary of the flex will scrape corners like a regular rotary (same mechanism), if your not careful. The Flex is definitely the "Cadillac", but there's a learning curve with the Flex, and it was way out of my budget, twice as much as the Porter Cable.....JMO

OZ

[Accumulator]

I've done this stuff since forever and have maybe a dozen polishers.

The PCXP model is worlds better than the older version. Note that the drive spindle has broken on some of them, leaving a jagged stub of metal that can do serious damage. Not sure if it was just one production run that had that issue or what, but just be aware that it can happen and don't get careless when applying pressure.

The newer Meguiar's unit is also very good and everyone I know who has one loves it. Again, much better then the older model.

The Flex 3401 can do impressive work due to its forced-rotation, but some don't like it's "feel" or "recoil" and it moves counter-clockwise, which apparently bothers some folks (not me). It won't finish out *quite* as well as a "regular" random orbital, but 99.999% of people can't see the diff. I've had zero issues with it being too aggressive, and it works very well for correcting Ford clear. But note that it's limited to pads 6" and larger (there are a few adapters that'll work with other pads, but those are rare, have durability issues, and are best left to experts).

The Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital is simply *GREAT* and has replaced most of my other polishers. Lifetime guarantee too. Numerous Pros have retired their rotaries in favor of this unit.

There's always the Cyclo (user-friendly and as durable as they get), but only old-school nuts like me seem to use them.

Short answer in polishers circa 2012- Get the Griot's.

For pads, other than getting the right size, there's not much to worry about. Lots of different choices, all commonly available. Meguiar's pads are OK and autobody/paint supply places stock them.

By simply changing the backing plates (no need to change the counteweight) you can fit pads as small as 3" on the PC, Meguiar's, and Griot's units.

Insert plug for Autopia.org detailing forums, where we discuss this stuff to death.

[J-MAN]

Accumulator is the MAN when it comes to detailing advice. :bows:


I wonder if he ever got his car back from Reinhart? :confused:

[Ken]

Accumulator, where you located?

Ken

[Accumulator]

J-Man- Thanks for the vote of confidence. Heh heh, I gather you know me from Autopia ;)

Yeah, I got the P73 back from Dennis and, !two years afterwards!, have pretty well sorted out all of its mechanical issues. Just got it back from Lidio in August, he retuned it and tweaked a few things. It's listed in the For Sale forum at $12K/OBO (because I recently bought a *nice* '08 P71) but I'm not in a *huge* hurry to sell it since I went through so much getting it squared away.

Ken- I'm a ways south of you (I'm cyber-paranoid when it comes to PERSEC, so I don't post specifics on public forums).

[Accumulator]

Ken- I tried to PM you, but for some reason I don't think it went through...

[bugsyc]

What about dual action (DA) machines???Porter cable or Maguires...Anybody use them,What's the general concensus???

[Accumulator]

What about dual action (DA) machines???Porter cable or Maguires...Anybody use them,What's the general concensus???

I'd say more people are happy with the Meguiar's G120 (current version) than with the PC, but both have their fans (and detractors). Both will handle Ford clearcoat OK if you use the right stuff.

Most people would say 5.5" pads work better on those machines than larger pads, less friction = less bogging under applied pressure.


But as I said in post#7....