Best Buffer?

[Purdue_Boiler_Viper]

Have tried to be a purist and do all waxing and buffing by hand. But, now with a baby don't have the time. Have read horror stories about burning, etc.

OK, you posers. Which is the best buffer, and are there any tips on use? How often do you change the pad?

[CROM]

PORTER CABLE 7424



Go here and read the whole article: http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-p...-polisher.html

You will answer all your questions and dozens more by going to that link. You will thank me once you try it on your car!

[mad0953]

Ditto on the PC. Just got one and tested it out on my Miata b4 it touches the Viper and the 18 year old Mazda looks like it has a new paint job and best of all zero swirls!!!!!

[Matt M, PA]

Ditto. Porter Cable....you would be hard pressed to damage your finish with one of these.

For what it's worth, there is a 7424 and 7336. The only difference is the counter weight inside the machine..the 7424 uses a 5" or 5.5" counterweight....the 7336 uses a 6" counterweight which is better suited for polishing.

Also, pick up a 3M Hook-It plate (NOT Hook-It II) and some Meguiars' 6.5" pads. Most likely you will use the finishing and polishing pads most often. Cutting pads are also available.

Lake County makes good pads as well, but Meg's pads and the above mentioned
plate is available at your local auto body supply shop. Or, you can mail order a whole kits form any number of on-line detail stores.

For applying Zaino, I use a finishing pad lightly spritzed with Z6. Buff off with a MF towel or cotton towel.

In my view, you get a better more thorough job, with lots less work.

[DAMN YANKEE]

Thats what I use too...

[Knight Viper]

DeWalts polisher is an Awesome unit as well. Body shop grade, thats what I use

[agentf1]

There is also a new ROB being released that is supposed to be even more powerful than the Porter Cable but still a Random Orbitol so you do not need to worry about swirls. I will probably be replacing my Porter Cable with one real soon. Do a search on Autopia for the Ultimate Buffer.

[RAYSIR]

Originally Posted by Purdue_Boiler_Viper

Have tried to be a purist and do all waxing and buffing by hand. But, now with a baby don't have the time. Have read horror stories about burning, etc.

OK, you posers. Which is the best buffer, and are there any tips on use? How often do you change the pad?

Just make sure you have a buffer with variable speed so you can start at low RPM while learning to use it. Just think how slow your hand buff can move and how slow a buffer can go!! There is NO way you can burn with your hand. Just go slow. In order to burn the paint you have to be in 1 spot too long to build up heat(burn). Keep the buffer moving but Slowly!! You can stop and feel the paint getting warm. The most IMPORTANT is to THINK!!! when you are at an edge of the hood or a seam have the circular motion of the buffer PUSHING the material to the edge rather than pulling the edge toward the surface. Always away from the surface with buffer. After you see and understand how to use one it will be full speed. ALSO. only use the foam pads as a NEWBIE. OH I also use a Dewalt body shop grade variable speed buffer. Have painted a few cars and was self taught with books and reading posts like these.

[agentf1]

Originally Posted by RAYSIR

Just make sure you have a buffer with variable speed so you can start at low RPM while learning to use it. Just think how slow your hand buff can move and how slow a buffer can go!! There is NO way you can burn with your hand. Just go slow. In order to burn the paint you have to be in 1 spot too long to build up heat(burn). Keep the buffer moving but Slowly!! You can stop and feel the paint getting warm. The most IMPORTANT is to THINK!!! when you are at an edge of the hood or a seam have the circular motion of the buffer PUSHING the material to the edge rather than pulling the edge toward the surface. Always away from the surface with buffer. After you see and understand how to use one it will be full speed. ALSO. only use the foam pads as a NEWBIE. OH I also use a Dewalt body shop grade variable speed buffer. Have painted a few cars and was self taught with books and reading posts like these.

Excellent advice, always buff off of an edge. Even with a PC you want to be careful on any sharp peaks and edges where the paint is the thinnest. I also use blue painters tape and tape off any trim. edges or whatever you do not want to get polish on or burn through. This is needed more so with the rotary than with the ROB but if you are a newbie it is better safe than sorry. Another thing you wil want to do is try to keep the pad as flat as possible. If you pull up on an angle you create a hot spot and in turn get swirls or even worst possible burn the paint.. You should also only buff until the polish turns clear and then remove the residue with a quality micro fiber towel. If you buff until dry you will produce swirls, even with a foam pad.

Any micro fibers you use on your paint you should test them first on a CD. If they scratch the CD chances are they will scratch your paint. There are a lot of cheap/bad micro fibers on the market.

[johnk]

I bought a 7424 today, brand new in the box for $100. Not a bad deal.

[RaceDeck]

With out question the best buffer is the Dual Head Random Orbital Buffer see one here http://www.jorgensgarage.com/product...&cat=13&page=1

They are american made, precision ball bearing gears and housed in a polished metal casing...very trick

[Matt M, PA]

The one listed in Racedeck's post is a Cyclo. Been around for a loooong time.

[RaceDeck]

The Cyclo has been around a long time and is a great machine. The Porter 7424 is also a great orbital buffer ( Jorgens Shine Shop also sells the 7424), but if you use them side by side, there really is no comparison ( it's like using a Harbour Freight socket set compared to a Snap On set).. Plus it is just a much cooler looking tool to have in your arsenal.

The GT you see in the picture was done with the Dual Head

[ViperJay]

does anyone have experience with the griot's ROB and their polishes? i was thinking of buying their kit.

[ViperTony]

Originally Posted by ViperJay

does anyone have experience with the griot's ROB and their polishes? i was thinking of buying their kit.

I haven't tried their ROB, I use the Porter Cable, but I have tried their polishes. All of them Machine Polish I-IV. They work very well on my BMW but didn't do squat on the Viper as far as removing fine scratches and swirl marks. It could be my Viper as I think my paint is uber thick and seems incredibly hard on my '01. I ended up using 3M polishes which worked well for me. Griot's is worth a try since you can send it back if you're not satisfied. I did.

- Tony