Looking at purchasing a hand polisher. The process I think i'm going to use: - 2 bucket wash - Tardis (detar) tar remover - Clay bar meguiars - Polish/seal with machine and some product <-- this is where i'm stuck. - Then wheel treatment... Can anyone recommend me anything - strict budget between £70-£80. Any help would be brilliant. Thanks.Looking at purchasing a hand polisher. The process I think i'm going to use: - 2 bucket wash - Tardis (detar) tar remover - Clay bar meguiars - Polish/seal with machine and some product <-- this is where i'm stuck. - Then wheel treatment... Can anyone recommend me anything - strict budget between £70-£80. Any help would be brilliant. Thanks.
Worth looking at a DAS6 Dual action.. i have a das6 pro i picked up barely used for £60. Can get the normal DAS6 for not alot more new http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dodo-Juic...404331?hash=item5d5f559b2b:g:Zy4AAOSw8-tWU0nz
Macallister from B&Q, about £25. Loads of people on detailing world use them (I've got the older one but I assume they still make an equivalent). If you're only doing the odd car or just your own now and again it doesn't make sense to throw £100+ at a machine.
I second the das 6 pro. I think you can get it for £100 so slightly over your budget but it is very good even for novices. You will need to budget £8-15 per polishing pad also
B&Q have a new version, it's £45. http://www.diy.com/sanders/mac-alli...rbit-sander-meos400/587923_BQ.prd?sander_SRD1 All you do is remove the plastic guard which makes it easier to see where you're polishing precisely, 125 or 150mm pads will fit fine.
I'd echo that. I bought a DAS6 Pro and the 105/205 Meguiars compounds. Spent maybe 8hrs on the car and got probably 65-75% of the swirls and scratches out compared to a pro doing it with a rotary polisher. I might do the wife's car if she's really good, but after that I doubt I'll use it again. Especially if I get one of these super sealants that protects the clear coat.
£100 may sound like a lot but if your paying someone to do it anyway then it's cheaper. Yes the das6 pro took me an absolute age to polish my car but at the end of the day it's a safe machine to use (unless you're being daft) and there's a low risk of damaging paint.
Oh yeah, I don't disagree with that. I paid around £170 all told including compound, polish, sealant etc etc. And it does look great and is 100% safe. All I was getting at is that I doubt I'll use it again as cutting or even fine polishing is not something you should be doing regularly. If you are, then possibly your washing technique or general car car need addressing? I think what others were saying is that a £50 DA may do the job for a one off. And when I was getting quotes for a professional service including 2-3 days work it was coming out at ~£600, so for £170 and say 70% of the results, I'm happy
Where do you live? 600 sounds really expensive. I was quoted £300 for the "ultimate job" from rs valeting in bury. His work looks amazing on his website
Just a small update, I've got the DAS6, and now looking into pads. I'm not looking at spending huge money to begin, just want to get the hang of detailing. I'm expecting imperfections first go round regardless, then will gradually upgrade bits and pieces. What pads (125mm) would people recommend with which product. I'm not looking at cutting yet, just polishing and sealing. Refer to post 1 with the pre-process to machining. Thanks for the input, is helping a lot!
gtechniq p1 and p2 using a medium and finishing pad (depending on what brand you use these may be a yellow / black pad for colour reference. P1 is a safe cut and fill compound good for scratches and p2 is a jewelling/ polishing compound good for gloss. Ideal for beginners too, if it dries out just damp it to reactivate the polish.
Perfect! I shall look into this. Does brand matter a great deal when it comes to pads ? as they seem to fluctuate a bit?
I don't think brand matters but I've not got huge experience with them. Only used menzerna pads and burned through a white and yellow pad after half doing half a car so I would say just go for a cheaper one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP-eAddv2sk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_0nr6XPEHM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyJYtYhz9RQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0rbZOeNN4o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuGMg0wwo6E
Ok, those videos were very good! i feel ready to tackle the paint! He's hilarious as well. "we do it real here ya'll" He doesn't mention using anything after the polish? Would you just leave it or put anything else on?