Car detailing buffer/compound update?

[Keifersmith]

So after attempting to detail my daughters car this past weekend by hand it's time to invest in some better quality power tools and supplies. The Car detailing sticky post (http://www.dfwmiata.com/threads/1143...y-of-XM_Rocks) ), great thread BTW, on the forum is about 7 years old so just curious if the tools/compounds i.e. Porter Cable 7424 w/ car detail fixings and Menzerna compounds, etc is still the way to go or if there is something better now that all the cool kids are using? Keep in mind whatever I use needs to be clear coat safe.

TIA

[CosmosMpower]

Porter Cable is good or Harbor freight has a similar one for about 1/2 the price that is pretty well reviewed. Get some good lake country pads. As far as polishes there are lots more on the market than 7 years ago. I mostly use Klasse all in one (AIO).

[wrx74]

POS Racing is the master buffer-out-er

[POS Racing]

POS Racing is the master buffer-out-er

Wait what??




The Harbor Freight polisher looks nice if I didn't already have a Meguiar's Dual Action Polisher. I'd defiantly consider it.

I have a few of the HF foam pads for that work pretty good. I'm a fan boy of Lake County Pads as well and I am also a user of Klasse AIO.

Klasse AIO- http://www.autogeek.net/klasseallinone.html

Lake County Pads - http://www.autogeek.net/lakecountry.html

I have learned a bunch from Autogeek!

Check out Autogeek's website http://www.autogeek.net and YouTube Page https://www.youtube.com/user/autogeek

[OZMDD]

I've had the HF knock off DA polisher for over 2 years, and it is outstanding. Get something to cover the cord to avoid dragging it on the paint. I've worked it pretty hard on some rough flip car paint, no issues.

[Keifersmith]

Great info... I'm guessing this is the correct HF polisher?

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-57...her-69924.html

If so, I'll be headed to HF with my 20% coupon in hand TCB FTW!!

[CosmosMpower]

Yep, that's a good deal with another 20% off

[Keifersmith]

After my 20% coupon I was out the door for $63 total including tax . Now, to get some pads and polish ordered....

BTW, this thing will buff out light hail dings right?

[POS Racing]

BTW, this thing will buff out light hail dings right?

Um well in a word.... No.

Get a Clay Bar as well (I usual just get a cheap one local) - http://www.autogeek.net/detailing-clay-bar.html

[motorollow]

HF has a 25% coupon for 7-4-15 ONLY. I will be pulling the trigger on a new racing jack that day since I received 4 aluminum 3 ton jackstands for father's day!

[Avarice]

I have the http://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-57...her-69924.html Paid somewhere in the $60-70 for it.
I can vouch for it. Reminds me I need to get some more pads for it.

[CosmosMpower]

If you have a lot of surface area to clay (big vehicle) or do a lot of cars look into the nano scrub sponge or disc, much faster and less messy.

The HF pads work in a pinch but I found they tend to come apart after a few uses, not super durable. Make sure you are using the right color pad and chemical for your application.

[POS Racing]

If you have a lot of surface area to clay (big vehicle) or do a lot of cars look into the nano scrub sponge or disc, much faster and less messy.

The HF pads work in a pinch but I found they tend to come apart after a few uses, not super durable. Make sure you are using the right color pad and chemical for your application.

How come you kids in the Beatles can't post links....

[CosmosMpower]

How come you kids in the Beatles can't post links....

Man you old folks are getting soft. Warning: Not TCB friendly. Unless you factor in the time it saves you.

http://www.autogeek.net/nanoskin-autoscrub-system.html

[Avarice]

I have the http://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-57...her-69924.html Paid somewhere in the $60-70 for it.
I can vouch for it. Reminds me I need to get some more pads for it.

Only $57.99 with coupon 32807692

[POS Racing]

Well??

Where is your before and after pictures and full report??

[Keifersmith]

Brown Santa just delivered all the goods early this week. Looks like I'll be buffing the '05 Mustang all day Saturday before it heads back to school on Tuesday. Heck, I'm so anxious to give it a try I may just have to take friday off and get an early start.

[wrx74]

11pm to 7am works best this time of year!

[POS Racing]

Well??

[Keifersmith]

Between my regular job and working Rangers games at night, when I’ve been home my eyes have been shut tight …

Quick story is the car turned out looking great even though it was my first detail and it was a learn as you go experiment. I think there’s still significant room for improvement on my next one. I’ll post up pictures when I get home tonight but I’m not sure the difference will be all that noticeable in the pics. Guess there’s a good reason I’m not a photographer.

Basically here’s what I did:

Thoroughly wash car
- Clay bared the car (Meguires clay bar kit I got from autozone)
- Rewashed car to remove any clay bar residue
- There were a ton of rock chips on the hood so I touched them up with some touchup paint.
- Polished with Klasse AIO, HF DA polisher and an orange Lake Country CCS pad. Buffed off using DA with a wool pad covered with a microfiber buffing bonnet.
- Applied a coat of Klasse sealant glaze by hand (against the advice of most people as it can be very difficult to remove). Again Buffed off using DA with a wool pad covered with a microfiber buffing bonnet.
- Applied a coat of Meguire’s Ultimate wax by hand.

Here’s a few things I learned:
- Found a great tip online to cut a q-tip in half and use the stick to dab the touchup paint into chips. Provided a lot better control on getting the paint into the chips and a lot better than trying to use the brush or pen included with the touchup paint. I cut the stick on a diagonal so that it was more “pointed”.
- I probably could have stopped after polishing with the Klasse AIO. It made a huge difference, not so much with the sealant/wax. But my son took the car to school and it’ll be at least a year before it gets any attention again so I went all out.
- Against the advice of most people, I applied a coat of the Klasse sealant glaze. I didn’t have too much problem getting it back off but you’ve got to put on a really, really thin coat. Had to use the DA to buff it off as you’ll never get it back off by hand. Also in spots where the DA wouldn’t buff it off I just hit it with a real light mist of detailing spray. That seemed to take it right on off.
- Probably won’t wax the next one or I’ll try a different wax. Not sure it adds much protection over the sealant and I’m not so sure it didn’t actually reduce the shine just a tad.
- I’ll probably wait to do the rest of our cars until the temps come down a bit. I was in the shade so I was comfortable but it seemed like the polish/sealant tended to dry very quickly not allowing enough time to really work the polish on each section with the DA as long as I would have liked.

Overall, I'm incredibly happy with how it turned out and anxious to try it out on the Miata.