Machine polishing.

[Falkster]

I'm looking at getting a basic machine polishing kits for about £100 - it comes with compounding sponge, inter. sponge and a fine polishing sponge.
What's the process I should go through? I've had my cars detailed but want to do Sarah's boxster and my 968 myself.

I've got a clay bar, 3 stage maguires and other AG products. What product do I use at what stage and do I need anything else?

[Stonkin]

Hi mate, what machine are you looking at? i'm guessing you are talking about a Dual Action as opposed to rotary?

The 3 stage meguiars process is not really ideal for use with a machine. There are several products to choose from such as meguiars (but not the ones you mentioned), 3M, Menzerna etc

Your Porsche's will have reasonably hard paint. It will be very important to take your time, 1 panel at a time. Dont go straight in with a harsh compound and pad without knowing paint thickness's. Watch the edges of panels. If any of the cars have had paintwork done they will react differently to original. You will certainly want a nice wax or sealant to finish with and seal in your hard work. If i know what machine you are looking at i am more than happy to give you a basic guide

[Rtaylor2208]

I can vouch for the 3/4 stage merzerna products. To be honest if the paint is fairly good go with only the 2 lightest grades.

My cab paint was very flat and after about 40 hours with the polisher taking my time and a low speed as I was shite scared of burning the paint the results were pretty fantastic.

I have also tried rotary and dual action polishers and the dual action gave far better results.

Fortunately my brother is a bit of detailing homo so I borrowed all the kit from him.

[Stonkin]

It certainly takes many hours eh Rtaylor i'm sure some people think its a quicker process when working by machine

a rotary though will give better results and quicker, however a da does refine down to a nicer finish when doing a multistage polish if the technique is correct

[Falkster]

What's the difference between dual action and rotary plus given a rough budget of £100 what can I get for that? I don't want to be spunking £100 on a machine then have to spend a further £50 on pads then another £50 on specific polishes.

[Rtaylor2208]

On rotary you can get a silverline polisher for approx £50. I found it a bit harsh but was a second hand one so may have been fauty. At 1 it was too slow at 2 it would ruin the paint very quickly if the compound cut out.

For £100 you wont get anything special brand new. Second hand may be a better option for that budget.

I managed to borrow everything but the merzerna products and they cost me about £60 from what I remember for the 4 compounds.

[Falkster]

I've done a bit of searching and dual action is basically the old 'da' we used to sand a car down years ago but with the polishing heads it has less chance of damaging. It looks like my budget is too low so I'm looking at £150 but that's all in which I thinks quite good.
I just want to know opinions on what to do at what stage? What happens before I crack open the DA and what compound to use with which head.

[Gavla]

Try googling meguiars or have a look at detailingworld.com should give you all the info you need.

[Falkster]

Registered to detailingworld and search but its so complicated I just wanted an abridged version rather than getting flamed by paedo polishers gone mad.

[billgatese30]

This is a pretty good guide

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

[Falkster]

Thanks for that Chris, just what I was looking for

[Falkster]

Bought this, should get me started with the correct polishes

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kestrel-DAS6- ... true&rt=nc

[Rtaylor2208]

Looks like a good start. What polishes are you going to go with?

[Falkster]

Looks like a good start. What polishes are you going to go with?

From watching some novice videos on youtube it was recommended to go with Megiuars 105 and 205 but I dont know what wax to go with. Its tough getting used to all the different terms seals, glazes - wtf??

[Rtaylor2208]

This 4 stage kit will get you going:

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing ... d_220.html

There is enough in there to do a couple of cars as you dont need much. Each is progressivly less abrhasive than the other.

then a decent hard wax to finish.

Personally I used a spray bottle of water to wet the paint a little before polishing as its quite easy to damage the paint. It takes much longer but safer until you get a hang of it.

[Falkster]

This 4 stage kit will get you going:

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing ... d_220.html

There is enough in there to do a couple of cars as you dont need much. Each is progressivly less abrhasive than the other.

then a decent hard wax to finish.

Personally I used a spray bottle of water to wet the paint a little before polishing as its quite easy to damage the paint. It takes much longer but safer until you get a hang of it.

cheers for that, you'd have to explain what each bottle did though cos that adding another stage to the mix

[Rtaylor2208]

Think of it a bit like sandpapaer, the most abrasive polish cuts back the most removing scratches etc working up to least which gives the shine. Not really any more complicated than that.

[Rtaylor2208]

from memory thats what the numbers on the bottles are for. It explians on the bottles themselves.

[Falkster]

Think of it a bit like sandpapaer, the most abrasive polish cuts back the most removing scratches etc working up to least which gives the shine. Not really any more complicated than that.

Is there a 4th pad or do I apply the last one by hand?

[Rtaylor2208]

All by the machine, then I apply the wax using one of those hand mit type things. The last two products I used the least abrahsive foam pads for the polisher my brother had.

[Falkster]

Last question and Ill be quiet. Would you seal then wax or vice versa

[Rtaylor2208]

I never used a sealent, just a good quality hard wax. Again borrowed but it lasted for over 6 months.

[Falkster]

Thanks mate, really appreciate it. Hopefully, if the weather f+*ks off I could get some pics up - fingers crossed not ones of me burning a hole in a panel.

[Falkster]

I feel like a seasoned professional yet I've not touched a car yet. Found a detailer/suppliers where I spent and hour asking questions that would have taken days on forums. The guy knew his stuff and give me everything I need to get me started. Pre wash, snow foam, clay, detailing spray, different grades of polish, cloths that are softer then my 'blanky' I had as a baby!!

Well pleased!

[kangman]

how much did all that set you back??

[Falkster]

£150 mate. He chucked a few bits in, the really soft microfibres are £10 each!! Well worth it and will do a good few cars!

[kangman]

great stuff, looks like you got your moneys worth and your work cut off lol

please let us know which of those products gave you amazing results and should be in every man's car cleaning kit

[Kos]

Aerospace 303 FTW !

[Falkster]

Aerospace 303 FTW !

What have you used it on?

[Kos]

Aerospace 303 FTW !

What have you used it on?

dash and engine covers mainly, sometimes door rubbers.

[Falkster]

Aerospace 303 FTW !

What have you used it on?

dash and engine covers mainly, sometimes door rubbers.

He gave me it for the engine bay - atleast he wasn't ripping me off.

[Kos]

lol no he wasnt

but i wouldnt have bought the poorboys natural look dressing. i'd just use 303 instead

[Rtaylor2208]

Nice but there falkster, remember lots of pictures pre and post so we can see how you got on.

[Falkster]

lol no he wasnt

but i wouldnt have bought the poorboys natural look dressing. i'd just use 303 instead

I'm still really new to this so theres a little bit of experience needed to decide what works best on my cars. That poor boys will last a while cos I've only got a bit of interior to use it on. For the leather I use gliptone anyway and he chucked in a cracked bottle!!

[Falkster]

Nice but there falkster, remember lots of pictures pre and post so we can see how you got on.

Be nice to get started but need it to get a bit warmer yet!