Power polishers

[TurkS4]

Just purchased a machine polisher for cleaning me car. Its a rotary polisher very much like a sander!!

It states on the dos and dont's, that no pressure should be put on the polisher as its weight is sufficient to apply the right pressure (its a hefty lump)....all the better, less work [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

It comes with two cloths which you put over the foam layers (which are thick), one for waxing and one for polishing.

Questions.

Is it safe to use on me loved one ?

Do I need just apply wax and then buff or do I need to prepare it?

Any comments on what to use as well. Looking to give it that full wax protection which lasts a few months and not until it rains... [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

Your thoughts would be appreciated, especially as there are one or two of you who are in the know [img]images/graemlins/033102bigblink_1_prv.gif[/img]

[Bushy]

Hi mate

Well never actually owned one as it is too easy to put swirl marks in the finished product

IMHO it isnt really that hard to polish a car off with a towel and really the time saved in using a machine is minimal

By the time you get it out and an extension lead etc. Als it doesnt do the complete car

So if you dont apply pressure and it uses its own wieght you can then only do the bonet and the roof, as on the vertical panels it will surely fall off???

Use the Meguiars 3 stage for the ultimate wax, but needs to be polished 3 times or Gold Class one stage is the top selle rin the UK, depends how much effort you want to put in really

good luck

[Nige_RS4]

A friend of mine is seriously (and I mean seriously) into concours and swears by his machine polisher (non rotary type) for prepping his cars to remove small scratches, swirl marks and previous applications of wax using a product called HD-Cleanse - this is not a wax, but a surface preparer. He would NEVER use the machine polisher for applying wax to the car.

Nige.

[Golich]

I've got one of these polishers - I bought a really cheap one for £15 (I think) from B&Q. I couldn't believe how cheap it was. I just used it at the weekend for the first time. It's an orbital type which works by an ecentric weight. The reason for this is so that you don't burn the paint. something a drill with a polishing pad would do if held on the same spot for too long.

Hmm I'm undecided about it. I used it on the girlfriends Fiesta. I suppose it is great for talking the hard work out of rubbing the car. I have hardly every polished any car I've owned. So when I do, I usually have to give it a thorough rubbing. It's certainly no where near as knackering and I work out 4 times a week!

Anyway, as said above, you still have to take a cloth to do the bit you can't reach. However, on large sufaces it certainly takes the rubbing side of things out of polishing. Be warned though - don't over load the polishing mop with polish as it will splatter polish everywhere!

I'll keep you posted when I tackle the S4 with it.

[Joshie]

I saw the Meguiars tutorial - I think you provded the link somewhere Steve - where they demonstrate the Meguiars power polisher.

Looked quite impressive and designed not to leave swirl marks. Also a lengthy section on how to remove scatches.

[Rob_O]

Power Polishing Clinic now available in the Video Center on Extreme car Care. [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Joshie]

Yeah - that's it Rob - cheers