I've been looking to purchase a buffer/polisher tool for a while, and was wondering if any of you guys have any specific experience. The tool could be electric or air [expanding the air tool collection is always a good thing ]. However, I don't really want to jump all the way to the $300+ professional stuff. Abrasives of any sort at HF and Northern have always been questionable/useless... but I could potentially buy the tool from a discount store & polishing accessories elsewhere. I'm thinking $100 for the tool & some start up stuff would be ideal.

Feel free to add in anything about preferred buffing compounds, etc.

Carpet & Upholstery attachments would be an added +
(http://www.superiorcarcare.net/porter-cable-brushes.html)

3/5/2008 1:14:34 PM

craigslist if you watch it like a hawk

3/5/2008 1:23:58 PM

There are a few on CL, but I'm mostly looking for ideas about whether a specific style/brand would work best & be most reliable...

3/5/2008 1:26:27 PM

Quote :

"air [expanding the air tool collection is always a good thing ]"

any girl that can be quoted saying this is awesome

3/5/2008 2:11:59 PM

PC7424 and menzerna intensive polish, and final polish II should be all you need.

Those are obviously just for polishing paint in decent condition.

It's moderatly difficult to cause damage with the 7424. A rotary buffer can do damage quickly.

A PC7424 is about 130$
those two polishs are probably 20$ each
and you will want at least two pads which i have no idea how much that is.

Thats an entry level start for a home detailer.

3/5/2008 6:11:51 PM

http://www.superiorcarcare.net/menzerna-porter-cable-intensive-shine-kit.html

3/5/2008 6:17:14 PM

surely you have at least tried to research this yourself and have narrowed it down to some potential ones....you have a price range in mind so i'm sure you have to know what you can get in that price range...that one thing quinn posted sounds good

3/5/2008 6:38:48 PM

I have a PC7424 but it would need new pads.

check out http://www.detailersdomain.com/
Phil gives audizine members 10% off, I think the code is az.

I bought the Adam's kit and the PC kit a couple months ago but after spending 9hrs one day washing my car I quickly lost interest. I got lazy and left the pads out in the rain and well, that's all she wrote. I think I used it all of two times and I'd probably get up off it on the cheap, but I'm in Greenville atm.



[Edited on March 5, 2008 at 6:54 PM. Reason : .]

3/5/2008 6:49:15 PM

you should only have to polish a car once in a blue moon.

if you have enough sense not to wash it with a brush and dry it with sand paper you will avoid swirls.

3/5/2008 7:01:02 PM

the car already had swirls and paint imperfections that I was trying to remove make less noticable.

[Edited on March 5, 2008 at 7:39 PM. Reason : .]

3/5/2008 7:38:54 PM

yeah but if you put in 9 hrs youre done

dont wash it with anything abrasive and wax it a few times a year

3/5/2008 8:09:16 PM

Quote :

"if you have enough sense not to wash it with a brush"

this is not true. often, washing properly with a brush is the best way to get it clean.

3/5/2008 8:46:13 PM

i have most of this kit left as well btw.

http://www.detailersdomain.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=21

Quote :

"4.25 Gallon Detail Bucket Screw-Top Sealed Lid 16oz All-Purpose Cleaner 12oz car wash 16oz detail spray 12oz Vinyl, Rubber, & Tire Protectant (VRT) 12oz Revive Polish 12oz Swirl & Haze Remover 12oz Buttery Wax Clay Bar Two Super Plush Microfiber Polishing Towels Two Microfiber Polish and Wax Applicator Pads Two Detail Sponges Synthetic Jumbo Wash Pad Jumbo Waffle-Weave Microfiber Drying Towel Detailed Step by Step Instructional DVD Laminated Detailing Reference Card "

3/5/2008 9:21:55 PM

washing cars is about as enjoyable as yard work. well worth the money to pay someone to detail my shit once a year that's of any value, and hit bunkeys a few times in between.

3/6/2008 1:43:38 AM

Quote :

"washing cars is about as enjoyable as yard work."

I feel about the same way. I don't get any enjoyment out of the process like many people do, but I do like maintaining my shit. Maybe that's why I wash my car or pay to get it washed frequently, but my techniques are crude and I have minimal desire to learn about it.

3/6/2008 3:01:46 AM

It's not the most fun.

It's kind of like an oil change. You do it yourself not to have fun but to do it right.

If i could pay someone to do a good job I would probably pay upwards of 200$.

3/6/2008 8:17:16 AM

If it's a nice day out, I really don't have any problems cleaning cars.
On nice sunny days, I used to work on cleaning my 626's wheels for hours (and damn did that car look good when I took the time to do it ). I guess I'd call it my exchange for the stereotypical impulse to lay by a pool & tan.

Anyway- we'll see if I actually have the time & patience to put into buffing couple of cars... if so, I'm sure the returns will be worth every minute. OR Maybe by then I'll feel like it's worth paying someone else to do it [which won't happen... ].



[Edited on March 6, 2008 at 10:00 AM. Reason : V ...ugh, I guess I asked for it ]

3/6/2008 9:49:15 AM

fuck those stereotypical females...

3/6/2008 9:50:29 AM

I miss having guitman as the unofficial car detailer of TWW. He would spend hours on your car for $50.

3/6/2008 10:27:20 AM

^^^^, ^

check out the sponsor section on http://www.horsepowerjunkies.com . there's a kid on there that does a hell of a job for very reasonable prices. anything from a basic detail to full on paint reconditioning.

[Edited on March 6, 2008 at 3:13 PM. Reason : .]

3/6/2008 3:12:36 PM