to buy or not to buy a polisher?

[Mike Phillips]

do the pads make a difference? willing to learn

The Meguiar's Microfiber DA System is a simple system that's for sure as it was designed to be that way for the production detailing world. Two products, to pads and you have a fairly Bubba-proof system and that's a benefit in the production detailing world.

The system works great on factory paint but Meguiar's does not recommend it for non-factory paint. I've used it on non-factory pad and had good luck and bad luck and the key point is to ALWAYS test this system or any system on the car you're working on by doing a Test Spot and make sure you're getting GREAT results in one spot before you buff out the entire vehicle.

There are threads on this forum where you'll read about a person buffing out an entire car without doing a test spot only to find out something went wrong, they're looking for a solution but in the end... they have to buff out the entire car all over again.

So no matter what pad and chemical line you use, be sure to test it out to a small spot first and then INSPECT the results in good light and even by chemically stripping the paint to remove any polishing oils so you can see the true and accurate results BEFORE buffing out the rest of the car.

As far as do the pads make a difference?

Yes and no.

There are different types, styles, face designs for foam pads and there are categories.

The categories are basically,

Cutting
Polishing
Finishing

There are sub categories inside each one of these 3 primary categories but you get the idea.

If you're using good quality products, (that's the chemicals), and good technique, then as long as you're suing a pad from the right category with the right product you really can't help be get great results.

The easiest pads to use are the flat face pad designs, these are also the first designs dating back to 1965, back when,

• Gilligan's Island debuted
• The Mustang was introduced
• The Rolling Stones came out with "I can't get no satisfaction"

Which pads are best is personal preference, kind of like the Coke or Pepsi opinions.

Flat pads
CCS pads
Hydro-Tech Pads
Kompressor Pads


They will all work and get the job done, more important is using the right category of pad with the right product with good technique.

• Cutting pad with a compound
• Polishing pad with a medium to fine cut polish or a cleaner/wax is you're doing a one-step
• Finishing pad with a finishing polish or for applying your choice of wax or paint sealant by machine.

Read through this article, it walks you through the entire process...

DA Polisher Articles - Help for Newbies to Machine Polishing

[CAMAROZL1]

thanks again mike

[Mike Phillips]

thanks again mike

The easiest way to get into machine polishing is to call us at 1-800-869-3011 and any of our customer care staff can help make sure you get what you need to buff out your truck.

DA Polisher
5.5" pads
Backing Plate
Compound, Polish, Wax

That's the basics and we have kits for the above or we can just create a package over the phone.


Check one or two of these success stories out by people that have never machine polished before...


Success Stories

Two Part Success Story

• Getting my Griot's DA Polisher today and need some direction?
• Getting a feel for the Griots (pics)

Wolfgang Twins

Lessons I learned from a Black 2009 BMW 550i <-- Good read

How To Remove Horrible Rotary Buffer Swirl Marks out of a 350Z using the Wolfgang Twins

Getting my Griot's DA Polisher today and need some direction?


Proof You Can Do It! - Joe The Detailer - Black Porsche Turned into Black Pearl!

[ProMoDe]

Mike said it all! I do love my cyclo polisher too.

[4wheelsonline]

Welcome to the forum! Listen to Mike, especially if you have a truck with a lot of surface area, you won't regret buying a polisher.

Yes, Mike advice is always the best. Cleaning your truck by hand is quite good but sometimes there still a surface of our truck that cannot clean by using our hand. Using polisher is really the best for our truck.
.

[touring]

Take it from a noob... you would have wished you had it sooner once you use it.

wait for a special to go on. i think there should be a noob special or something on kits over 350$