The need for a polisher...

[TXspeed6]

My main question is do i REALLY need a polisher (like the porter cable) If i buy i kit, it ends up pricing around $300. I do want a great looking car and as of right now I clay bar/wax and stuff like that...Is there stuff out there that can get rid of light/moderate scratches without a polisher? And is there a way to get a great look out of product and my car without a polisher? Will a polisher really make that big of a difference?

-Thanks
Ross

 

[TXspeed6]

Ok..well I did it anyways..I figure I can pay this off..anyways, maybe someone can reassure me that i made a good buy...

Cobra Microfiber Detailing Cloth
Porter Cable 7424 6'' Variable-Speed Polisher
CCS 6.5" Gray Finishing Pad
XMT Intermediate Swirl Remover Complete (comes with XMT Intermediate Swirl Remover #3, XMT Ultra Fine Swirl Remover #1, XMT Carnauba Finishing Glaze)
5.5 inch White CCS Smart Pads
5.5 inch Blue CCS Smart Pads
2 Qty 16 oz. Pinnacle Liquid Souveran Wax
4 Qty Cobra Deluxe 6 Inch Green Microfiber
Lambswool 6 Inch Leveling Pad
Cobra Indigo Microfiber Polishing Cloth

please..someone tell me i didn't blow $350

 

[NCZ13]

ive never used wool with a DA before, nor is that very common. I think you should pick up some orange foam pads. I prefer completely flat pads, i dont really like the feel of a CCS pad. but thats just my preference

overall its a great starter kit, and youll see the big difference it makes. It wont be perfect the first time, but the first couple of 50/50s you do will make it all worth it.

 

[doizumi]

I have the same porter cable you have and I use it with the CCS Lake country pads. It is a good buy. I got it from autogeek. It saves me time and keeps my arm from being sore!

 

[altspace]

Wow...pulled the trigger quick on that purchase, eh? I agree with above.

 

[TXspeed6]

Wow...pulled the trigger quick on that purchase, eh? I agree with above.

Ya...I got some people interested in paying me to do their car with it...so I figured i could get it paid off.

Anyways, I have 2 Orange CSS pads, they came with something for free... there are other extras I didn't include..i figured you guys wouldn't want to read all of that. But ya, i have 2 orange, 2 white, 2 blue and 2 grey.

I guess I will just have too see if i like the CSS pads, but right now i have no point of reference, so i'm assuming they will feel ok to me haha and I bought the wool pad, to put the microfiber bonnet on there to take off the wax...idk, i just did what the video told me

Thanks for the input...I do feel better about it now.

 

[ThrillRide]

Man sorry I didn't check this last night. But the deal is done. The kit is just fine. Especially for your needs, sounds like. CCS Pads are great. Cobra towels are great. I think you'll really like the Pinnacle Liquid Souveran Wax. Good luck with it.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Who here is using a speed wheel to take wax off?

 

[NCZ13]

i dont, i prefer by hand. I didnt spend hundreds on plush microfiber for nothing lol.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

I could see and have used an obitle (sp) for putting on/taking off wax but a speed wheel? Hmm...

 

[BlackCherry06]

Orange Lake Country pads with Pinnacle light swirl remover brought my car back to new. Followed up with Pinnacle Finishing Glaze applied with gray pad, and Car Magic carnauba applied with a red pad. It was (and pretty much still is) like a mirror.

 

[ThrillRide]

Who here is using a speed wheel to take wax off?

What's a speed wheel?

 

[NCZ13]

i thought he was referring to a DA polisher

 

[TXspeed6]

Thanks everyone for your input. I do feel much better now...

and ya I will probably try both, for removing wax. I will use the lambswool pad with a microfiber bonnet and also try by hand..whichever I like better and is easiest.

 

[TXspeed6]

What not to do with a polisher...

So like you all may know I have just purchased a polisher...but before I use it i was wondering if you all could throw me some good pointers of things to watch out for when using it. Things that could give me worse swirl marks, mess up the paint or anything of that nature when using a polisher...
Any tips/hints would be helpful.
Thanks

 

[altspace]

Don't need to create a new thread.

 

[NCZ13]

use clean pads, be sure they are free of debris. dont ever let it rest pad side down.

using a DA is almost idiot proof, very hard to do any damage to your paint as compared with a rotary.

 

[TXspeed6]

my bad..thanks for the help, I just don't want to mess my car up

 

[ThrillRide]

So like you all may know I have just purchased a polisher...but before I use it i was wondering if you all could throw me some good pointers of things to watch out for when using it. Things that could give me worse swirl marks, mess up the paint or anything of that nature when using a polisher...
Any tips/hints would be helpful.
Thanks

Some good info right here http://autogeek.net/dual-action-polishers.html

Those vids should help some. Careful about using too much pressure. The machine should safegaurd you against any burning, but you can still damage paint. Soft paints and paints with a flex agent in them can easily be ruined with too much pressure and the wrong product.

Other than that, be sure to keep the pads clean and well maintained, both during use and after. Don't use too much product. Start with the least aggressive method and work up as needed. Take your time.

 

[TXspeed6]

Thanks everyone for the help, i'll take some pictures of my first car to see what you guys think.