Polish Cars
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Polish Cars by Hand
There are many people and so-called "experts" that will tell you the only way to polish cars, is to do it by hand. The problem with this is that it is an opinion based on ignorance, and an out-dated past. It is through the development of power tools that craftsman in every industry has been able to raise the level of results; the same holds true when it comes to car polishing and the use of power car buffers and polishers.Why Polish Cars?
Polishing the paint on your car can serve multiple reasons:
- Restore and enhance the shine and luster of the paint.
- Remove or conceal blemishes and scratches.
- Remove dead, or oxidized paint.
The High-Speed Buffer
The high speed buffer is the reason behind all the bad press when it comes to car polishing. Different than the orbital polisher, the high speed polisher can generate lots of heat and friction. Depending on your skill set and type of results you are after, heat and friction can either be your friend or enemy. Certainly in the wrong hands, a rotary (high speed) polisher can be dangerous to your cars paint. Known to burn edges in seconds, skill and focus must be applied when using one of these machines.- The only tool able to truly remove blemishes and scratches from your cars paint.
- Required tool for gelcoat and fiberglass polishing.
- In the "right" hands, can take paint polishing to new heights.
- Beginners can use at lower speeds with much success; 800-1200 RPM's
- Getting the "perfect fit" will be the correct amount of speed, combined with the correct car polish and buffing pads.
The Orbital Buffer
The orbital buffer is different than the rotary buffer in a couple ways. The rotary buffer spins on a single axis point, while the orbital polisher rotates on two. When thinking of an orbital, it helps to think of the orbiting earth in the solar system. The earth spins on its axis, while orbiting around the sun; the same holds true to the orbital polisher. The other key difference is the speed; we are talking low speed here. Because of the much lower speeds than the rotary polisher, this tool is perfect for he beginner and in my professional opinion, is the only polisher that 95% of you would ever need for your personal cars.- Perfect for the beginner.
- Can find the perfect fit with combination of the correct car polishes and buffing pads.
- Also a perfect tool to follow the rotary polisher with if your skills are such that you are unable to remove swirl marks you put in with your high speed polisher.
- Perfect tool for applying wax.
Polish Cars and Tips from the Expert
When asked how to polish car paint, I am going to recommend some things that are unconventional and based on my experiences. What I am about to tell you will be counter to what you are going to see or read at most any other detailing site, and goes against what most "experts" will be telling you. I am actually going to be telling you information based on your agenda, not my agenda. Meaning, most sites will review product after product all in attempt to sell you more and more product. I am simply going to tell you what I recommend, based on my years of experience; so here we go!
- Most cars, for most people, never need polishing.
- As car enthusiasts, we are forever enamored with shiny paint. So we endlessly search for the best car waxes or the best auto polish, only to be disappointed because of misrepresentation on the manufacturer's part, as well as unrealistic expectations on our part.
- Don't try to polish your car by hand.
- There are many so called "experts" and good intentioned neighbors who insist that you should never use a buffer on your cars paint, and you should only polish by hand. This is not only advice coming out of ignorance, but an excuse taken by guys who don't know how to correctly use a car polisher or buffer in the first place. The fact is, you will never duplicate the necessary speed, pressure, and rotation of car buffers with that of your hand. If you remain unwilling to even buy and learn to use a very safe DA, or random orbital polisher, then by all means polish by hand, but there really is not only a better way, but a safe way for any level of beginner.
- Leave the polishing to an expert.
- If your car ever really needs polishing as in the form of true "paint correction", find yourself an expert with much experience and pay him to do it correctly, then you can maintain it from there on out. You will find that simply using quality detailing clay, quality car wax, and doing so consistently, is all that most cars ever need. The main reason for this is the fact that most people don't even have a developed eye to discern the difference between truly superior paint work, and the type of shine you can do yourself with a clay bar and some paste wax.
- Polish cars wisely.
- If you decide you really need and want to take on the expense and time to polish your car, follow my advice and arm yourself with tools and products that will guarantee you success. You do this by reading this "polish cars" page further, as I outline specific strategies for beginners, to intermediate driveway detailers.
Polish Cars Basics
Let's start with understanding that all the bad press of polishing cars and buffing your car paint has to do with a specific kind of car polishing; high speed buffing. Rotary (high speed) polishers are notorious for burning edges, or burning paint. Because of the great speeds at which these types of buffers can spin, the edges of your cars paint are especially prone to burning. This just means that you actually buff the paint right off the edge of the body panel you are working on. To polish cars with this type of buffer requires experience and skill. The alternative is what is called the orbital buffer as outlined at the very beginning of this page; these types of car buffers are virtually fool proof. Not only are these a great place to start your efforts of car polishing, but are recommended as the final step in polishing a car if you have used a high speed buffer and lack the skills necessary to remove the buffer tracks left behind when using a high speed polisher.Use What Works
I have used Meguiar's car care products for a very long time now; simply because they work and are easy to get. The polishes below are the two polishes that I use almost exclusively for any job and any car. Because of the two different grades of polish, and the many choices in buffer pads, it is possible to create the perfect amount of polishing needed. This kit below is the most ideal and versatile kit I have ever seen.
Meguiars FLEX 3401 Ultra Polish Kit with 6.5 Inch Pads FREE BONUS
Not only are these quality and professional grade, but like I said before, these polishes can be used on virtually every type of polishing job imaginable:
- From beginners to expert.
- Use for moderate paint restoration, to paint perfecting.
- The most user friendly polish I have ever used.
- Also ideal for use on fiberglass and gel coat.
- Yes, safe for clear coats.
The Next Level
When you are ready to take it to the next level and you have mastered the use of the orbital polisher, you are ready to move up to a rotary buffer. For sever paint correction, or working on fiberglass or gelcoats, nothing delivers these types of results like a professional rotary buffer in the right hands.
DeWalt 849 Variable Speed Polisher
The Choice of the Expert
Having a professional grade car buffer is required when it comes to delivering professional results to picky customers. Because I had such great luck with my last version of a car buffer, I recently chose to sign onto a DeWalt once again. The picture at right shows my new buffer in the hands of the Expert performing one of many removing car emblems service as part of my professional auto detailing business.
DeWalt car polishers have a winning combination of value with their list of features and price point. You can use the secure online shopping link at the column to the right to get your own.
15+ Years of Polish Cars Service
The picture to right shows the sorry condition of my last polisher. This Black and Decker is the same car buffer as the new DeWalt car buffer I purchased. DeWalt took over the Black and Decker name years ago. I had so much success and reliability with this previous car buffer, I decided to go with it again to polish cars and all things regarding boat and RV polishing since it can withstand the heavy duty demands.
Any of the car buffers I have laid out in the column to the right will serve you well. Personally I am a big fan of the DeWalt when it comes to a choice with a rotary car buffer. I realize buying a car buffer is not cheap, and learning to use a rotary polisher to polish cars is scary to most people. It is something you can ease into gradually with the ability to set the speed to very low; 800 RPM's with the DeWalt. If you are looking to perform any form of polishing on gelcoats or fiberglass, then a rotary polisher is a must. The DeWalt is also built for this type of heavy duty use and will not let you down when it comes to this type of service!
I hope my professional "polish cars" tips have helped you become an informed and educated consumer.
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Auto Polishing Made
Simple
You could spend countless days researching all the hundreds of tools and products just on the subject of car polishing. For this reason I have simplified this area to showing you what this professional recommends. Much of these are the same products and tools I use on a daily basis to produce superior results to my own picky and fanatical customers!
Beginning to Intermediate Level
This kit below from Meguiar's is professional grade. Based on your level of experience, you can't go wrong with this combination of polishes, pads and buffer. This professional grade dual-action polisher will provide amazing results, without the fear or experience needed with use of a high speed polisher.
- Perfect for the beginner to intermediate level.
- The exact polishes I use daily.
- Learn your technique with this
Meguiars FLEX 3401 Ultra Polish Kit with 6.5 Inch Pads FREE BONUS
Professional Rotary Buffer
If you are ready to take it to the next level, this high-speed or rotary polisher from Dewalt is the exact polisher I use. Built to last and built with the many features that makes this one of the favorites amongst professional detailers who know.
DeWalt 849 Variable Speed Polisher
Meguiar's Polish Kit
Already have a buffer at home, or you want to use the rotary buffer with a complete polish kit from Meguiar's; the actual polishes and pads I use professionally. Whether you are working on car paint, gelcoat, or fiberglass siding, these professional grade polishes and pads are the way to go!
Meguiars Ultra Polish Kit with 5.5 Inch Pads
Finished Results
No sense in spending all your time polishing to perfection without taking the time to finish with a quality wax product. These two wax products from Meguiar's are a perfect fit to any polish job.
Meguiar's Ultimate Paste Wax
By combining synthetic polymers and formulating into a paste wax, you get the ultimate in beauty and protection. Perfect for dark colored cars for depth and glossing. Polymer technology creates a durable layer of protection guaranteed to outlast traditional carnauba paste waxes.
Meguiars Ultimate Paste Wax
Meguiar's Polymer Sealant
For the ultimate in durability and protection, nothing lasts longer or holds up to the elements better than polymer technology. Perfect for use on boats, RV's, or light colored cars when protection is your first goal. With the ease of use in liquid form, wax less often with this advance polymer sealant.
