polishing with a machine

james west · 01-04-2014, 12:30 PM

do most people wax by hand or do they use a electric polisher? AND whats the best machine out there that anybody can use that you can"t hurt your car?

RoadsterST · 01-04-2014, 12:33 PM

I do Zymol by hand every 2-3 weeks. It really doesn't take that long

Chuck33079 · 01-04-2014, 12:37 PM

Get a Porter Cable. Go watch all of the Junkman's videos. That should be all the info you need.

Chuck33079 · 01-04-2014, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadsterST

I do Zymol by hand every 2-3 weeks. It really doesn't take that long

You can't really polish a car by hand. The difference between a job done by hand and one done with a machine is massive.

RoadsterST · 01-04-2014, 12:42 PM

True. But a good hand job is better than none at all...

Chuck33079 · 01-04-2014, 12:44 PM

You stand a good chance of adding more swirls than you remove trying to polish by hand. If it looks better than before, it's because the fillers in the product are covering up swirls. That's why you have to keep polishing it over and over. The fillers break down over time. Do it once with a machine to remove the swirls and then just keep a coat of wax on it.

RoadsterST · 01-04-2014, 12:46 PM

Gotcha. I dont do it because it looks bad though. No swirls to be seen yet. I get your point and agree there is a diff.

Chuck33079 · 01-04-2014, 12:49 PM

Then you got lucky and got the one without all of the dealer-installed swirls

Go to detailersdomain and buy one of the Porter Cable combo packs with all of the pads and polishes. It's easier on you, it takes far less time and it does an exponentially better job. Plus, you really can't mess up your paint with a PC like an rotary polisher.

Chuck33079 · 01-04-2014, 12:56 PM

https://detailersdomain.com/Griots-G...Kit_p_990.html

Something like this would do the job like a champ. Just buy a few more pads. Grab one of the Nanoskin Autoscrub pads as well. It acts like a clay bar.

RonRizz · 01-04-2014, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadsterST

True. But a good hand job is better than none at all...

I see what you did there!! Lol

Slam128 · 01-05-2014, 01:52 AM

The PORTER-CABLE 7424XP works pretty well with variable setting so you don't burn the paint. A little over $100 but you might be able to find one cheaper on the net.

Datsun240Z71 · 01-05-2014, 06:03 AM

I've had good success with a Turtle Wax random orbital buffer from Walmart that cost about $25 and using foam and microfiber pads. Had it for about two years now and use it on all 4 of our cars.

FireDan50 · 01-05-2014, 09:43 AM

+1 machine random orbital polisher. Been using the same Porter Cable polisher for several years now and its never done me wrong. Just have to buy replacement pads/backing once in a while....try out different polishes/pads here and there. +1 on Nanoskin also....its a pain trying to get rid of my exhaust stains on the pearl white paint all the time with clay, but the Nanoskin makes everything so much easier.

Junkman2008 · 01-11-2014, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Datsun240Z71

I've had good success with a Turtle Wax random orbital buffer from Walmart that cost about $25 and using foam and microfiber pads. Had it for about two years now and use it on all 4 of our cars.

"Good success" at what? You sure ain't gonna fix any paint damage with that thing!

Datsun240Z71 · 01-11-2014, 04:08 PM

"Good sucess" at maintaining a "like new" appearance on all our cars, including my 240Z... which was last painted in 1989. It does a better job than you probably give it credit for. The 2008 Versa with 106k miles I traded recently for the 370Z looked great and I got compliments on the paintwork all the time, as does the 2001 Sentra with 150k miles we handed down to my mother in law for Christmas.

01-04-2014, 12:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
james west Base Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: no where man Posts: 58 Drives: 2013370zcoupemagma r Rep Power: 12	polishing with a machine do most people wax by hand or do they use a electric polisher? AND whats the best machine out there that anybody can use that you can"t hurt your car?

01-04-2014, 12:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29539	Get a Porter Cable. Go watch all of the Junkman's videos. That should be all the info you need. __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

01-04-2014, 12:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
RoadsterST Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 446 Drives: 2013 roadster ST Rep Power: 13	True. But a good hand job is better than none at all... AK370Z likes this.

01-04-2014, 12:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29539	You stand a good chance of adding more swirls than you remove trying to polish by hand. If it looks better than before, it's because the fillers in the product are covering up swirls. That's why you have to keep polishing it over and over. The fillers break down over time. Do it once with a machine to remove the swirls and then just keep a coat of wax on it. __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

01-04-2014, 12:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29539	Then you got lucky and got the one without all of the dealer-installed swirls Go to detailersdomain and buy one of the Porter Cable combo packs with all of the pads and polishes. It's easier on you, it takes far less time and it does an exponentially better job. Plus, you really can't mess up your paint with a PC like an rotary polisher. Zbrah and RoadsterST like this. __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent Last edited by Chuck33079; 01-04-2014 at 12:55 PM.

01-04-2014, 12:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
RoadsterST Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 446 Drives: 2013 roadster ST Rep Power: 13	I do Zymol by hand every 2-3 weeks. It really doesn't take that long

01-04-2014, 12:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
RoadsterST Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 446 Drives: 2013 roadster ST Rep Power: 13	Gotcha. I dont do it because it looks bad though. No swirls to be seen yet. I get your point and agree there is a diff.

01-04-2014, 12:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29539	https://detailersdomain.com/Griots-G...Kit_p_990.html Something like this would do the job like a champ. Just buy a few more pads. Grab one of the Nanoskin Autoscrub pads as well. It acts like a clay bar. __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

01-05-2014, 01:52 AM	#11 (permalink)
Slam128 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 26 Drives: 370z Nismo Rep Power: 12	The PORTER-CABLE 7424XP works pretty well with variable setting so you don't burn the paint. A little over $100 but you might be able to find one cheaper on the net. Zbrah likes this.

01-05-2014, 06:03 AM	#12 (permalink)
Datsun240Z71 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Nashville Posts: 177 Drives: '71 240Z Rep Power: 13	I've had good success with a Turtle Wax random orbital buffer from Walmart that cost about $25 and using foam and microfiber pads. Had it for about two years now and use it on all 4 of our cars. __________________ Randy in Nashville Middle Tennnessee Z Club 1971 240Z

01-05-2014, 09:43 AM	#13 (permalink)
FireDan50 Track Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Antonio Posts: 714 Drives: '09 370Z PW M6 Rep Power: 19	+1 machine random orbital polisher. Been using the same Porter Cable polisher for several years now and its never done me wrong. Just have to buy replacement pads/backing once in a while....try out different polishes/pads here and there. +1 on Nanoskin also....its a pain trying to get rid of my exhaust stains on the pearl white paint all the time with clay, but the Nanoskin makes everything so much easier. Chuck33079 likes this. __________________ VSR Single-turbo kit: 611hp/517tq @ 10psi (Q16 race gas) Dan's VSR top-mount turbo 370z Last edited by FireDan50; 01-11-2014 at 02:35 PM.

01-11-2014, 04:08 PM	#15 (permalink)
Datsun240Z71 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Nashville Posts: 177 Drives: '71 240Z Rep Power: 13	"Good sucess" at maintaining a "like new" appearance on all our cars, including my 240Z... which was last painted in 1989. It does a better job than you probably give it credit for. The 2008 Versa with 106k miles I traded recently for the 370Z looked great and I got compliments on the paintwork all the time, as does the 2001 Sentra with 150k miles we handed down to my mother in law for Christmas. __________________ Randy in Nashville Middle Tennnessee Z Club 1971 240Z

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