Cheap DA

[cincibcat9]

I have always applied and buffed off sealant by hand, and was looking to pick up a cheap DA just to try things out. Does anyone have any recommendations or an extra one lying around they are willing to sell? I saw one at Autozone for $30 dollars or something, and was wondering if it was even worth it?

[Dubbin1]

I have always applied and buffed off sealant by hand, and was looking to pick up a cheap DA just to try things out. Does anyone have any recommendations or an extra one lying around they are willing to sell? I saw one at Autozone for $30 dollars or something, and was wondering if it was even worth it?

That one at AutoZone isn't a DA, it is a cheap orbital that isn't good for anything but applying and removing wax, and it isn't very good at that.

[Mike Phillips]

I have always applied and buffed off sealant by hand, and was looking to pick up a cheap DA just to try things out. Does anyone have any recommendations or an extra one lying around they are willing to sell? I saw one at Autozone for $30 dollars or something, and was wondering if it was even worth it?

This article can be found in my list of articles in my Signature Line,


The Traditional Orbital Buffer aka The Wax Spreader


Here's another article that discusses eclectic polishers in general...

How to choose the right polisher for your detailing project

If you want to move up to machine polishing get one of the DA Polishers we offer, they offer the best bang for the buck and easily do a better job than you can do working by hand...

Man versus Machine

[cincibcat9]

I was under the impression that a DA was also referred to as an orbital.

[cincibcat9]

This article can be found in my list of articles in my Signature Line,


The Traditional Orbital Buffer aka The Wax Spreader

This link does not work for me... I dont have permission to access this page.

[Mike Phillips]

This link does not work for me... I dont have permission to access this page.

Let me see why the link isn't working...

Hang on...

[Mike Phillips]

I'm not sure what happened but I re-created the thread, the link above now works and here it is again...

The Traditional Orbital Buffer aka The Wax Spreader

[Mike Phillips]

I was under the impression that a DA was also referred to as an orbital.

They are referred to as orbitals but in the article I wrote on this topic I explain why the cheapie old school buffers just won't work to remove swirls out of clear coat paints.

Some would argue that they work a little bit... key words being little and bit but for the amount of time you would have to invest to actually remove swirls using one of these traditional orbital buffers as compared to using a DA style polisher or simply by working by hand with an aggressive compound they are not very effective.

You can try if you like, keep your receipt and check what the return policy is in case the tool does not perform as you expect of to the manufactures statements.

[ScottB]

spend the additional dollars and grab a new PC-XP, G110 vr 2, or Griots. You wont find them much cheaper used (so get the warranty) and save yourself some headaches. The others large headed buffers or randoms arent worth more than removing wax and some not even that.

[BimmerFerret]

I have always applied and buffed off sealant by hand, and was looking to pick up a cheap DA just to try things out. Does anyone have any recommendations or an extra one lying around they are willing to sell? I saw one at Autozone for $30 dollars or something, and was wondering if it was even worth it?

Don't do it dude. I have a 10" at my house from AZ and it was the worst thing ever. If you want mine, give me $5 and pay shipping and it is all yours.

I did my cars with it one time and yeah... I didn't have any "confidence" with how it reacted in my hands. There are no speed settings or anything either!