Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: albitz on 18 June 2011, 11:30:17
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Thinking of buying a polishing machine. Not the Halfords cheapo type, but a proper jobby to mop paintwork with G3 etc. Dont have hundreds to spend, and dont know much about them so would welcome any advice on the subject. :y
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I bought one from Toolstation. it looks similar to a 9" angle grinder but they only spin at about 3000 revs so they dont burn the paint off. Machine mart may do some thing similar
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Does it do a good job on the paintwork then Keith ?
I presume you use G3 or similar with it ?
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It does depend if you use the right polish, but it has bought up all cars I have done with it nicely, just needed to finish off by hand with a good quality wax. I used rubbing compound with water then the farecla G10 after before washing off and waxing or resin polishing. Do test areas first so you get used to it as it can be easy to go through on an edge
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Thanks for the info Keith. :y
Does this one looks reasonable quality ?
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cp180-1300w-sander-polisher-230v/path/14-angle-grinders-polishers-accessories
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I've just bought this one Albs, it comes with 3 different hardness foam polishing heads & a lambswool polishing bonnet. It also has a LIFETIME guarantee even though it says 3 yrs in the blurb. They are obviously built to a price (isn't everything these days ::) ) but it is a UK Company & the unit does the job well. This model has the 'soft start' option so no jolts when you start it on the panel being worked on :y
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380220428429&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
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Is it me or does that mm look a bit ott? Just want to take the elbow grease out of the job, not start a fire by friction...?
depends what your polishing I suppose but for detailing work on mine, with paint quite badly swirld the Halfords 240v( ok it's cheap but it does the job) was plenty good enough. In fact I was carefully not to put any extra pressure on it, let the machine do the work lightly( or you'll do more damage).... And a decent polish, auto glym super resin polish.
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Phil - that looks excellent for the money. Might just have one of those. :y
Chris. I want it for mopping with compound rather than just wiping off polish. :y
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Compound...explane? :)
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Compound...explane? :)
here you go mate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A56acHlFQ8
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I use a similar one on mine o k with the lambswool pad but if you use the hard foam pads use plenty of water when cutting. it will do a fab job but i can speak from first hand experiance it does burn the paint if not carefull,
:'( :'(
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Hitachi.. many years of usage without any problem.. advice taken from a repairshop of those tools ;D ;D
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x80/mecdv6/hitachi.jpg)
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The one the car detailing experts recommend is a Kestrel da b6 I'm considering getting one of these as it is the best dual action polisher costs round about 90 pounds :y
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Is it me or does that mm look a bit ott? Just want to take the elbow grease out of the job, not start a fire by friction...?
depends what your polishing I suppose but for detailing work on mine, with paint quite badly swirld the Halfords 240v( ok it's cheap but it does the job) was plenty good enough. In fact I was carefully not to put any extra pressure on it, let the machine do the work lightly( or you'll do more damage).... And a decent polish, auto glym super resin polish.
and the polisher head must be wet.. (but not washing style ;D) ..
ps : dont pull the handbrake at some point ;Dor you will burn the paint.. :'(
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]I've just bought this one[/highlight] Albs, it comes with 3 different hardness foam polishing heads & a lambswool polishing bonnet. It also has a LIFETIME guarantee even though it says 3 yrs in the blurb. They are obviously built to a price (isn't everything these days ::) ) but it is a UK Company & the unit does the job well. This model has the 'soft start' option so no jolts when you start it on the panel being worked on :y
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380220428429&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
got one of these too had mine about 18 mths
great bit of kit for the money
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Hmmm, interesting... First thoughts are that given that my cars paint work was the most heavily swirled and milky looking I have ever seen, and that the vast majority of minor scratches on the panels have polished so far have gone, I'm not convinced it's necessary to go the that expense... Is it?
Ok if your a professional detailer or deal with body shop work on a daily basis then yes. But to do one or two cars DIY, get it to a standard and maintain from there on with washing and waxing then...no....? Surely?
Or am I just tight in the wallet? :-/
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It really comes into its own on a car which heasnt seen a drop of polish in years. That paintwork you see which is almost matt. The effects are magical then.
Im going to be using it (initially) on an MX5 (03 plate) which the owners husband did a bit of diy paintwork on. He got me to do a bit of paintwork repair on his Saab turbo last year and got a bit inspired. he apparently thought "how hard can it be", so off he went to halfrauds and bought an areosol. He then walked around the MX5 pointing and sqiurting the aerosol at everything that looked a bit scratched. Youve never seen anything like it. Metallic dark blue - no lacquer, runs, bubbles....you name it.
I now have to rub the paint back off that he sprayed on - which is going to dull/flatten the paint underneath. Then polish it back to (hopefully) its original shine. A fun way to spend a day off, but he,s buying the polisher etc. and I get to keep it afterwards. ::)
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It really comes into its own on a car which heasnt seen a drop of polish in years. That paintwork you see which is almost matt. The effects are magical then.
Im going to be using it (initially) on an MX5 (03 plate) which the owners husband did a bit of diy paintwork on. He got me to do a bit of paintwork repair on his Saab turbo last year and got a bit inspired. he apparently thought "how hard can it be", so off he went to halfrauds and bought an areosol. He then walked around the MX5 pointing and sqiurting the aerosol at everything that looked a bit scratched. Youve never seen anything like it. Metallic dark blue - no lacquer, runs, bubbles....you name it.
I now have to rub the paint back off that he sprayed on - which is going to dull/flatten the paint underneath. Then polish it back to (hopefully) its original shine. A fun way to spend a day off, but he,s buying the polisher etc. and I get to keep it afterwards. ::)
:o :o :o opps..
please tell him to stay away from painting ;D
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Hmmm, interesting... First thoughts are that given that my cars paint work was the most heavily swirled and milky looking I have ever seen, and that the vast majority of minor scratches on the panels have polished so far have gone, I'm not convinced it's necessary to go the that expense... Is it?
Ok if your a professional detailer or deal with body shop work on a daily basis then yes. But to do one or two cars DIY, get it to a standard and maintain from there on with washing and waxing then...no....? Surely?
Or am I just tight in the wallet? :-/
Chris you have right .. if you will polish your car one time in a year or may be two years, you wont need it..
however, if you are very sensitive about your cars paint you will frequently use it meaning that you will finish the laquer layer so you will need a re-paint soon ;D
personally , I do polish friends cars for scratches or clear the dull paint which I do earn some money.. and I can finish a cars polishing within 3-4 days even with machine.. (these are old cars) .. so only by hand not that easy if you want to earn money.. :-/
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Personally, I wouldn't go near paintwork with something spinning at 3,000 RPM. :o I'm currently in the process of trying to borrow a 300 RPM machine polisher to do the glider. To burn through the finish on that would be an expensive mistake.
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I have been looking at quiet a few different models since yesterday (and becoming more confused/ undecided with every one I see) and Im leaning towards something where the speed has lots of adjustment, so the RPM can be kept down in the hundreds. :y
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Personally, I wouldn't go near paintwork with something spinning at 3,000 RPM. :o I'm currently in the process of trying to borrow a 300 RPM machine polisher to do the glider. To burn through the finish on that would be an expensive mistake.
Kevin, on variable speed models when you are at lowest setting , you can arrange even lower speeds with the trigger..(halfway nearly 500 rpm) they are sensitive..I generally use 1000 rpm.. rarely I do use 2k .. 3k is suicidal mode..
ps: if you are trying to polish a scratched -sanded windscreen, 3k finds some use..
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If you want to be fairly safe on the burning front at fairly high speeds then the dual action machines are the only route to go,they orbit seperately within their spin,as already said the Kestrel DA machines are the best. Meguars currently sell one with their car detailing kits,thats testimonial enough for me, trouble is the price,I suppose once they've done the job and you have a super finish your not going to need to use it very often after that.No way as already said would I use a single obital machine on miggy they are after all simply sanding machines.
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Oh din't mention that the Kestrel also has variable speeds.
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how not to..dirty work, using the machine in angles instead of vertical..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSxQv8pQias&feature=related
better but never go below 1500 grid when sanding laquer.. and must be done more slow.. not in hurry..
also dont use too much paste.. you waste it and scratch the car again when cleaning..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6PyXbrNbsE&playnext=1&list=PL5C1182172769E523
much better example..
working in shadow(must) , all parts protected, moving slowly and no paste spread around..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2rZJ-UJj0Q
(ps : neglect the cigarette ;D ..)
and an important note, stay away from sharp corners of car when polishing those places are sensitive and you can easly wipe out the paint!!!
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What do we think of this one then ?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Professional-Polishing-Machine-Set8/dp/B002WTZ7MS/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1308503190&sr=8-8
Looks like orbital rather then DA, which isnt ideal ?
I am tempted by the Kestrel, but you then have to buy the kit as well, so it starts racking up the total price. :-/
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What do we think of this one then ?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Professional-Polishing-Machine-Set8/dp/B002WTZ7MS/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1308503190&sr=8-8
Looks like orbital rather then DA, which isnt ideal ?
I am tempted by the Kestrel, but you then have to buy the kit as well, so it starts racking up the total price. :-/
seems ok.. but..
imo find some shop who repairs them .. which I did.. we cant estimate the internals.. :-/
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Albs its not as easy as you think mate and if i were you i would go for the daz 6 which is what i have done. As this is a d.a polisher and is harder to burn through the paint as a rotary polisher will go through if not used correctly. There is a polishing guide on detaling world you could have a look at its by a guy called dave.k.g as is the best guide i have seen. I'm still trying to get it right i can get swirls out but its proving harder to get rds's out but i have just changed polish and pads so when i get time i'm gonna be back at it.
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What do we think of this one then ?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Professional-Polishing-Machine-Set8/dp/B002WTZ7MS/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1308503190&sr=8-8
Looks like orbital rather then DA, which isnt ideal ?
I am tempted by the Kestrel, but you then have to buy the kit as well, so it starts racking up the total price. :-/
You can buy it on its own. Also Dodo juice make one now and there stuff is great i use there wax and its brill. Have a look at shinearama,Clean your car and join detailing world as if your a member on there you can get a discount from some place if ask or have a look on the detailing world web site for the codes or in the for sale section you some times find peeps trading up or swapping over to a rotary. Hope this helps mate. :y
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Havent heard of the Daz 6 before.Any info on it or where I can get one from please ? :-/
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Havent heard of the Daz 6 before.Any info on it or where I can get one from please ? :-/
Sorry mate,
Its the Kestrel da that you have been looking at the full title is Kestrel DAS-6 polisher. Not a daz i'm a tool. I got mine from claen your car as they have a points system that at the time i thought was a good idea as once you start you can end up spending loads and i knew i was going to get more stuff plus they were the cheapist around for a full kit which is what i was after at the time. The points work that what ever you spend you collect points which is worth money off your next order or you can collect them up and spend when you want. I have found that some places are cheaper than other for things that i'm after so i tend to look around for a long time before i purcahse and get the best deal for me so not used them for a long while. Defo check out the detailing world web site its full of info maybe to much some times its like overload ;D ;D. Been thinking for a while about starting up a part time detailing business to fit in around my full time job but upto now thats all its been alot of thinking. ;D ;D
Hope this is of some help Albs.
Lee. :y :y
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A lot of help mate, thanks. :y
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Just been doing a bit of research on the Kestrel DAS 6. Im a bit concerned by the fact that the speed range is from 2500 - 6500.
Seems very fast - easy to burn through paint at that speed I would imagine. A lot of the others seem to have a range which drops down into the hundreds, or even starts from zero. :-/
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Albs, you need to come and see my car! I've just finished detailing it, and I can't believe how good it looks!! ;D :y
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Did you use a DA/polisher ?
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Thinking of buying a polishing machine. Not the Halfords cheapo type, but a proper jobby to mop paintwork with G3 etc. Dont have hundreds to spend, and dont know much about them so would welcome any advice on the subject. :y
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z257/belisensis/elbow.jpg)
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z257/belisensis/grease.jpg)
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I've just bought this one Albs, it comes with 3 different hardness foam polishing heads & a lambswool polishing bonnet. It also has a LIFETIME guarantee even though it says 3 yrs in the blurb. They are obviously built to a price (isn't everything these days ::) ) but it is a UK Company & the unit does the job well. This model has the 'soft start' option so no jolts when you start it on the panel being worked on :y
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380220428429&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
Are you going to use it one day?............ :D :D :D
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Thinking of buying a polishing machine. Not the Halfords cheapo type, but a proper jobby to mop paintwork with G3 etc. Dont have hundreds to spend, and dont know much about them so would welcome any advice on the subject. :y
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z257/belisensis/elbow.jpg)
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z257/belisensis/grease.jpg)
You havent seen the car its intended for - an idiot with an aerosol can do a lot of damage in a short time. ::) ;D
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as no opne mentioned it
if you going to start machine polishing and compunding a car have a pratice on a old panel from the scrapys first
and foor fook sake watch the pain edges if you not done it before and the pain is thin on panal edges and your will burn strait throw to the metel
compounding a car is not some thing you do reguraly
or your need a respray prity soon it for getting a show finsh or reparing paint work or renovating/restoring the paint work
or getting out the odd minor scratch/ mark out
I wouldn't want to be moping a whole car more that 2 to 3 times in its life time max
every time your doing it your cutting paint
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Sage advice, thanks. :y
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Wimin are good at polishing apparently ;D ;D ;D ;D
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just an experience.. as the clit's paint is finished and dried upto now.. decided to sand its orange peel surface on hood with 2000 grid..
no way.. ;D ;D
this scratch resistent laquer is so effective that 2000 even dont touch ;D
continued with 1500 .. very hard work.. and the most funny part, polisher machine effects nearly 0.. :o
after 5-6 hours (2.5, 3 hrs wet sanding, 3 hrs polishing) I now have a half shiny hood :(
normally within that time I could finish at least 3-4 parts perfectly..
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From what i have seen and from stuff i have done on my own car its harder than you think to burn though the paint with a d.a. You do have to watch the edges. Have a look on you tube or the adams detailing website they a have a few videos on there and take you though step by step. :y Good advice to get hold of a scrap panel if you want to get some practice before hand. You could alway try and burn though the paint on a scrap panel and then you could see how hard/easy it is to burn just an idea. :y If you look on the for sale section on detailing world i think there is a guy selling a das 6 polisher.
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Thanks for all the advice etc. everyone. I have an Omega drivers door sat outside that I can practice on.
After a lot of searching and head scratching, I decide to go for the one which Philrich recommended - the silverline. It will do me for a while at least (its only £50 including several pads) and if I get the detailing bug, I can upgrade to something more professional a bit later. :y
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Thanks for all the advice etc. everyone. I have a whole Omega sat outside that I can practice on.
After a lot of searching and head scratching, I decide to go for the one which Philrich recommended - the silverline. It will do me for a while at least (its only £50 including several pads) and if I get the detailing bug, I can upgrade to something more professional a bit later. :y
Fixed that for you ;) ;D :y
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Thanks for all the advice etc. everyone. I know where theres a tatty old Omega in woodbridge that I can go and practice burning through the paint on.
After a lot of searching and head scratching, I decide to go for the one which Philrich recommended - the silverline. It will do me for a while at least (its only £50 including several pads) and if I get the detailing bug, I can upgrade to something more professional a bit later. :y
Fixed that for you ;) ;D :y
Thanks. :y ;D ;D