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Ok I've been given an electric buffer polisher thingy.
Are they any good & should I be using this instead of waxing/polishing by hand?

What should I be aware of if I do use it and are there any tricks to getting the best shine?
I've been using Meguiars Gold Class last couple of times I've waxed (waxed the car I mean ) but it doesn't seem to last - water stops beading after about a month and the car seems to loose some of its sparkle?

Any hints tips or suggestions?

Steve 818 wrote:You should use your buffer with the polish until it completely breaks down. This can take up to five minutes per panel.

Holy crap - that last job is sensational!

Can you clarify what you mean by the polish 'breaking down'?

To the OP - I've been quite happy with my Black and Decker random orbit jobbie. Takes a lot of the hard work out of polishing my car, but without the risk of a rotating buffer.

Shiny

Will really need to look into getting some proper cleaning equipment for the car. I saw what the Auto Glym stuff can do for the car briefly (and on my own car) at Mania on the weekend, so I'm pretty keen to give it all a full go.

Ok thanks guys - cant see me getting that much shine but who knows?
Thanx for words of wisdom

Here's my question; I too have a 'buffer polisher thingy', which comes with two pad covers (and no instructions). One is like a terri-towelling material, the other a quasi sheepskin. Is the approved method to apply the polish, then work it with the tt pad, followed by buffing off with the sheepskin?

Also, any slight pressure seems to decouple the rotating head, meaning that extremely light force is needed to keep it spinning. Is this according to design, or a fault in my particular buffer?

[quote="Steve 818"]
c) Get yourself some 'proper' swirl removers/polishes/sealants. Don't just rely on a single product (no matter which brand).

The 'new' method of sealing the paint is to use a synthetic polymeric-based sealant which gives an excellent depth of shine (but not quite as good as the carnauba waxes) and it will last for anything up to 6 months.

quote]

Thanks Steve818 - any brand/product preferences? (opening a can of worms)
I'd rather use whats been tried & successful rather than muddle along trying many many different types - mainly cos I wouldn't know where to start!

Pluto - keep those buffer operating questions coming cos I'm sure I'm gonna have them too

So autoglym is fairly reputable then?

Steve 818 wrote:That is a result of a small electric motor in your buffer. It is probably only one or two hundred watts and doesn't have the torque to be able to handle a lot of pressure. If you want to go to the next level with your polishing, then there is a random orbital GMC that has variable speed settings from Big W for $40 that is a good little unit for a 'weekend polisher' like us.

Hmm, that's interesting. My Black and Decker random orbit thing really does rotate quite slowly with pressure on it. I kind of figured that it was still making small movements back and fore, so was still being effective. When I've used it (with quite good results too), it has been turning at maybe 60-80 rpm?

Am I pressing too hard?

To Pluto and Curly, if you guys have random orbital buffers, then they shouldn't spin so that's nothing to worry about. They are meant to just move back and forth randomly.

Ok I've decided - had a lesson last night (thank you again!) and am gonna throw the polisher thingy in the shed & leave it there.

Suzi will be receiving my best cleaning/waxing/polishing efforts - by hand in the future.

Thanks for all of the comments & suggestions too.

Kim

marcusus wrote:Shiny

Will really need to look into getting some proper cleaning equipment for the car. I saw what the Auto Glym stuff can do for the car briefly (and on my own car) at Mania on the weekend, so I'm pretty keen to give it all a full go.

Yeah I was there when Dave gave a demo of those products as well, very impressive

Suzi looks pretty good after one go I think.



and

suzi wrote:Ok I've decided - had a lesson last night (thank you again!) and am gonna throw the polisher thingy in the shed & leave it there.

Suzi will be receiving my best cleaning/waxing/polishing efforts - by hand in the future.

Would you mind sharing the lesson you learnt and why you're not using the electric buffer?

Suzi looks good btw.

No problem Curly - lesson consisted of
1. Rinse off
2. Wash with Meguires Gold Class
3. Introduction to the magic world of clay barring - damn she felt smooooth after that
4. A bit of a rinse off
5. Dry with a microfibre towel
6. A layer of Swissol Saphir wax which was left on overnight & removed by hand with soft cloths mid morning the next day. Wax buffed off very easily too.

Whole lesson was about 2hrs (I think?) plus time next morning (1hr max)and the result speaks for itself. I prefer to do things manaully - something about TLC works better for me than using a buffer. Guess its also a girl thing - some girls & some machinery should never mix!

Have washed her since then & the finish is still just as good as when she was done 3 weeks ago.