merlin

Just wondering how many folks here have and use a dual action orbital polisher?


How often do you use it?

What pads do you like?

What polishing products do you like?

What finishing products sealant/wax do you like?

Harley#356

I've got a Meguiars Porter Cable DA buffer from
Auto Detailing Solutions -- Meguiar's Car Wax, Auto Polish & Detailing Supplies Store

The meguiars is the same thing as the PC, just a lifetime warranty instead of the 1 year warranty the non-meguiars PC's come with. I think meguiars has their own new version out now though.

Anyway, that website has great package deals.

I use mine anytime I'm waxing or polishing my truck! Makes things go SOOOOO much quicker!!! I wish I bought it years ago, its truly worth every single penny!!!!

I've got yellow Meguiars pads for compounds, and tan for polishes.

Polishing products, I use 3M compound and 3M swirl remover for more aggressive compounding, Meguiars swirl remover for medium stuff. And Zaino for everything else and all my finish coats.

'02 H-D #677

[QUOTE=merlin;542069]Just wondering how many folks here have and use a dual action orbital polisher?

Cyclo polishers make anything else seem like "child's play"!

merlin

Are there only two folks on here that have a DA polisher?

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L&S oil seperator, 6lb lower, NGKTR6, Diablo, JL Audio, OCDetailed and a long list

Harley#356

i'm sure there's others, but there's also a bunch who haven't taken the plunge. I was terrified of buffers for years till I finally went to a meguiars detailing session and learned how to use a DA and finally see how dummy proof they were lol.

Just started detailing Jekyll yesterday. Claybar, 3M swirl remover with the DA, then a quick coat of Z-CS to hold me over till today. Today going to do Z-PC, then a coat of Z-2 (out of Z5!) then probably a coat of Z-CS

merlin

The "big" plunge is purchasing the polisher. Griot's Garage just came out with a nice one.
I agree, I was a little afraid of the DA polisher the first time or two I used it.
IMO a DA is dummy proof, faster, less work and you get much better results than by hand.

The claybar is the hard part for me.
After that it's all pretty easy.

Polishing and prepwork is the key.

Have you tried the following products?

For swirls I like
Surbuf Pad w/Meguires 105 (if needed)
Lake Country (LC) Orange Pad w/MEG105

To finish I use
LC White Pad w/MEG205
LC Black Pad w/Menzerna PO85RD

I use the KB method M105/M205 1-2 punch above then follow with Zaino Z-2.

Have you ever tried BlackFire Wet Diamond as a Last Step Product (LSP)?

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L&S oil seperator, 6lb lower, NGKTR6, Diablo, JL Audio, OCDetailed and a long list

BlairTruck

I have the ultimate detailing machine, same as porter cable

here I am ready to rock

merlin

Yepper, Prepwork is the key!

It's better to lay down a little painter's tape rather than trying to figure out how to remove white wax/sealant from black trim pieces.
I even like putting a couple of big towels over the windshield. It sure beats spending lots of time trying to clean splatter from everywhere.

What's the old saying...I like to polish paint. I hate to detail!

Harley#356

I usually keep them clean enough that when I do clay once maybe twice a year, there's barely anything on the paint so it takes no time to clay, but yeah I've done others where they needed a clay bar baaaad and its no fun at all! lol

For swirls, the most aggressive stuff I've used is 3M rubbing compound, followed by 3M swirl remover, then Meguiars #82 swirl remover, then Zaino Z-PC as the least aggressive. So depending how bad they are, i'll start at different levels. The only pads I've used so far are yellow and tan meguiars pads. I use yellow for compounds, and tans for finishing polishes.

As for regular polishes, I've used a ton of different brands throughout the years, meguiars, adams, zaino, mothers, liquid glass, etc. I always come back to Zaino. And I usually get bored with what I use and want to try something different, but I haven't been able to find anything to hold a candle to zaino's longevity which is my biggest thing. Zainoed Jekyll this week for the first time since last July and the paint was still nice and slick!

If you've got spatter you're either using too much product, or make sure you're putting the pad on the paint before you turn the PC on, and make sure you turn the PC off before lifting it off the paint. Really shouldn't have any issues with spatter with a PC compared to a rotary!

BlairTruck

First time out i got splatter everywhere. gotta leave it on the paint until a complete stop.

merlin

It's not much, if any, it just eliminates the need to worry about cleaning "little tiny spots" off the cowl and wiper arms.
I'm actually pretty good about down then on and off then lift.
All it takes is one time with product splatter and you learn that real fast.

I just ordered some BlackFire Wet Diamond sealant. I'm interested in finding out how it compares to Zaino. With direct sun and hot temperatures Zaino can be difficult to use.
I've heard BFWD is super slick and is supposed to be able to be used in direct sunlight. As far as longevity...I do the truck way too often to worry much about that. (SIGH)
I also heard you can apply BFWD over Z-2, it will bond to Z-2 and it is a sealant with a caranuba look. I like Zaino. I have heard good things about BFWD. I thought I'd give it a try.

Anyway, I'll report back on my findings using BlackFire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection (BFWD-AFPP) when it arrives and I get the chance to try it out.

'02 H-D #677

[QUOTE='02 H-D #677;542097]Folks are still not listening/researching?

merlin

[QUOTE='02 H-D #677;542631]Wasn't it originally created to polish aircraft?

I have held one (a little heavy) but never actually used one.
That's the one that looks like a 1950's retro dual headed chrome Mixmaster.

but I must admit...
Everyone I have spoken with that uses the Cyclo loves the results it produces.

What size are the pads it uses?

Blind

I have the meguiars DA, I get my products from Car Wax, Car Polish, Auto Detail Supplies : CHEMICAL GUYS WHOLESALE AUTO DETAILING SUPPLIES CAR WASH PRODUCTS PROFESSIONAL CAR DETAIL SUPPLY FACTORY DIRECT and easyDNS Parked Page for: zaino.com

I try to do a twice a year 5 step on my cars, wash with dawn dish soap, clay, polish, seal, wax. with different pads for each of the last 3 steps using the DA.

then I go over the plastic trim with 'back to black'

merlin

What do you use to polish with?
Pads, products?

I have not had real good results with B2B.
Have you tried PB Trim Restorer or Black WOW!