Well, first day using random orbital polisher, and I failed

[TrustJesus]

Hey Guys, I went to a local shop picked up a car panel. It’s red in color has a few scratches not to deep. I bought a rubbing compound and I got no scratches out. I cleaned the panel with alcohol, and primed the pad. I spread product on slow speed. Then I started to work panel, at @3000 rpm across, up down around 4 times. I used both a microfiber pad and foam pad. What else, we’ll regardless no scratches came off. Do I need to wetsand for scratches to come off?

[acuRAS82]

Which machine and pad are you using?

First thought - spin faster than 3000rpm. Try different amounts of pressure. Draw a line on the pad or backing plate to help see whether the pad is actually spinning.

I generally spread on low speed, speed way up and apply decent pressure for a few passes, then slowly apply less pressure for a few passes, then end barely putting any pressure on. This allows the pad to spin at max speed and hopefully ‘finesse’ (if that’s a word for compounding!) any larger marring into less significant marring.

[TrustJesus]

Well we can’t mention products we buy other places. It’s a 3” random orbital polisher I used both microfiber and even a yellow pad, and nothing. The rubbing compound I bought somewhere else, but disappointed. Oh well, I guess I’ll keep trying. I dislike feeling stuck man lol

[MarkD51]

There's probably no harm caused by mentioning the brand of the polisher for one. You say a 3", is it a Griots 3"? (I own one) Many will tell you that this is not a powerhouse unit, it takes patience, perfect technique, and the right combo of pads and product to get any serious correction from. Mark the Backing Plate so you can keep tabs on Pad Rotation. Without Pad Rotation, you'll get little in the way of paint correction.

You might need to up your game to a larger polisher, The Griots G9, or older GG6, Porter Cable 7424XP, etc.

Another thing is, it depends on how deep a scratch is also. Where the clear coat has been scratched down into the base color coat, and a fingernail easily catches on the scratch, it might be unlikely the scratch will ever be fully removed. It might look better, a bit less noticeable, but that might be all that can be achieved, and expected.

[TrustJesus]

Mark, remember I’m new to this detail thing, I don’t know what I’m doing. That don’t discourage me I’m trying to learn by me self, I expect to fail. It’s a 3” random orbital polisher I got (way before) I joined this site. It’s not a Griots, a cheap china brand model.

It came with 3 pads, microfiber-yellow foam pad-black soft pad. I tired microfiber and yellow pad, did everything and panel got hot but no correction. I understand the nail catch method for scratches, however these were very minimal scratches.

[MarkD51]

Mark, remember I’m new to this detail thing, I don’t know what I’m doing. That don’t discourage me I’m trying to learn by me self, I expect to fail. It’s a 3” random orbital polisher I got (way before) I joined this site. It’s not a Griots, a cheap china brand model.

It came with 3 pads, microfiber-yellow foam pad-black soft pad. I tired microfiber and yellow pad, did everything and panel got hot but no correction. I understand the nail catch method for scratches, however these were very minimal scratches.

I commend, and praise you for trying. Experience is the best teacher, but it can be a bit harder teacher when you're not receiving anything in the way of help of someone personally showing and teaching you some hands on methods, and what the problems are to then rectify them.

I was a beginner, we all were here. Nobody here picked up a tool such as these, and was a master in an afternoon. That includes Mike Phillips our forum master detailer and host.

There's so many videos on the internet, and also here to be studied, they're countless in number.
I'm no expert at posting links to vids, but someone else might? Search for videos here about Pad Rotation, marking the Backing Plate.

Study the basics of Random Orbital Polisher Operation, the priming of Pads, the Section Pass, and Hand Speeds, downforce pressure, etc.

The Random Orbital Polisher you have may be fine, but I'll assume there are selectable speed settings, and the lower settings might be fine for applying a wax or sealant to a vehicle, but not for correction purposes. The Griots 3" DA I spoke of earlier often will need to run full tilt at the very highest speed, and can still be difficult to efficiently correct swirls, marring etc. Reason why? This older machine they made did lack some power.

Don't be discouraged by your trial and error attempts, and some disappointments along the way. One must walk before they can run, and be it a hobby, a martial art, a musical instrument, and car detailing as well.

I've had some disasters in my day, like once burning through the paint on a person's car with a Rotary Polisher, thankfully it was not a fancy new vehicle, I was lucky the person did not much mind what happened. That could've been a quite costly mistake. DA Polishers are generally very safe to use, versus a rotary which can generate a whole lot of heat.

The paths to successes and achievement are all different in length and time for different people. One Gung Fu Martial Artist Student might achieve a Yellow or Purple Sash in 6 months, but then never go no further. Another student might still only be a white Sash in the same period of time, but with diligence and perseverance, may take longer, but can sometimes surpass the proficiency of the first student I previously mention.

[oneheadlite]

I'd say failure's a pretty harsh term for your first go-around. You're not diffusing a bomb, you're playing on a test panel!

Great points above. First thought I had was that a 3" dual action (random orbital) polisher is generally used for spot correction/tight spaces, not large scale correction. Like Mark mentioned - backing plate rotation is critical, especially on a 3" machine.

I'd say go ahead and just let us know what polisher/pads/chemicals you're using (thanks for respecting the rules!) - it's clear you're looking to learn and I think it can help folks understand what you're working with so it's easier to speculate what kind of results you can expect.

[TrustJesus]

Oneheadlite, yes I’m trying to respect rules. It’s a 3” China random orbital polisher from amazon I got way before I joined on here. Brand is Zota.

I went last night got panel put in our truck, and stopped at local store got a turtle wax rubbing compound and went off to test. I’m new, did everything I read and no correction occurred.

[Mike Phillips]

I cleaned the panel with alcohol,

Why?

Then I started to work panel, at @3000 rpm

So you're using a 3" Rotary Buffer?

Or a full size rotary buffer with a 3" pad?






You posted this thread in a forum group with the title,

Rotary Buffer



But the title of your thread is,

Well, first day using random orbital polisher, and I failed

[TrustJesus]

Mike, hey man I’m new to all this I’m just lost. Lol the alcohol was because it was late and I wanted to try out my machine. Again I thought alcohol would clean it.

I don’t know man it’s a 3” random orbital polisher I got a while before I joined here, saw the forum rotary polisher again mistake.