question about D.A.

[Mike Phillips]

Sometimes it's helpful to share...

• What are you working on?
• What are you trying to accomplish?

New car? Old car?

Trying to create a show car finish? Trying to restore enough shine to sell a car?

[5.4 Shelby]

Just my opinion -

I have a 3 in mini air polisher. I love the action of the polisher itself, but, the air hose is a deal breaker for me. I rarely use it because of the weight and clumsiness of the air hose. I use it for wheels and small projects only.

[dawnn]

Ok, I have a white, (I read your post about the white paint) and the paint is pretty good, xterra 2002. I would love to have show car shine on it, although having read your post, I would not be able to get that....?? also have a light blue (very bland blue, does have some metal flake) caliber, both cars have good paint, of coarse would like to make both better. I have some swirls and spider webbing on the xterra.
I might also do some other peoples cars if I can get buy with the da, who knows? but for now thats what I have.

[Mike Phillips]

Just my opinion -

I have a 3 in mini air polisher. I love the action of the polisher itself, but, the air hose is a deal breaker for me. I rarely use it because of the weight and clumsiness of the air hose. I use it for wheels and small projects only.

Yeah... I didn't want to be a Debbie Downer but that's why I included this,

be sure to keep the air hose from rubbing against the paint.

For anyone reading this, the primary difference between the air hose for an air-powered DA Sander, (used to polish paint or sand paint), and an electrical cord attached to an electric DA Polisher, (when used to polish paint or sand paint), is that the air line, because it's under pressure is stiff and much thicker in diameter compared to an electrical cord which is flexible and small in diameter.

So if you're using a air tool, you just have to put a little more effort into managing the air line, it's not a HUGE deal but it is an issue that you need to manage.

You still do use practices like keep the hose over your shoulder, like you would a cord so you don't drag the cord against the paint possibly marring or even scratching it.


Like we taught in this class in the old training room...

Pictures & Comments from October 4th, 2009 Sunday Detailing 102 - Advanced Class











Now where did I put that Cordless DA Polisher with tons of power and a battery that will last long enough to remove the swirls out of a 1959 Cadillac without changing batteries...

(Oh wait... technology hasn't come that far yet)

[Mike Phillips]

Ok, I have a white, (I read your post about the white paint) and the paint is pretty good, xterra 2002. I would love to have show car shine on it, although having read your post, I would not be able to get that....??

Ha ha... the actual point about the post about White Paint is that,

If you're car is a daily driver, parked outside at least part of each day, then over time the paint gets dirty, as in a film build of dirt builds-up on the surface and in the paint to some level. If you have a medium to dark colored car you might not see this build-up BUT even if you can't see it, knowing your car is a daily driver and exposed to the elements that when you go to work on it you need to either use a dedicated paint cleaner of some type or a cleaner/wax to remove the dirt staining to restore clarity to the paint and enable the protection ingredients to better bond to the surface.

also have a light blue (very bland blue, does have some metal flake) caliber, both cars have good paint, of coarse would like to make both better. I have some swirls and spider webbing on the xterra.

The key to removing swirls and scratches out of any paint system when using a DA Polisher of any type, is to... drum roll please....

Use good technique

Plus of course use the right pad and product, but if you have the right pad and product you could still be ineffective if you're not using good technique.

Good technique is basically,

• Only tackling small, workable sections at one time
• Using overlapping passes
• Using firm downward pressure but keeping the pad rotating
• Using a high speed, high enough to keep the pad rotating under pressure
• Moving the polisher slowly, not quickly

That's the jist of it and I cover all of this here,

How to do a Section Pass using a Dual Action Polisher - Key to Removing Swirls

There's other things too but the above list are the primary things. Also, when you move onto a new section... overlap a little into the previous section for good UMR

UMR = Uniform Material Removal

I might also do some other peoples cars if I can get buy with the DA, who knows? but for now thats what I have.

Be sure to check out some of the articles in this forum...

How to make money detailing cars

[C. Charles Hahn]

Now where did I put that Cordless DA Polisher with tons of power and a battery that will last long enough to remove the swirls out of a 1959 Cadillac without changing batteries...

(Oh wait... technology hasn't come that far yet)

HA! Don't we all wish.

I think for now that's called a portable generator or power inverter in the back of the work truck/van

[dawnn]

the part I meant by mentioning your post about the white paint, (what i got out of it) is that it will never be shiny enough, cast reflections or see yourself in full color...

here I coppied :
(The characteristic of white paint that makes it so boring to work on is that it offers no visual depth or reflectivity. Because of this, it is difficult to see your reflection, or the reflection of an object, even when the finish is brand new and in a highly polished condition. Conversely, dark colors like black paint, if properly polished, reflect images like a mirror.)

I definitely agree with this more than anything

[dawnn]

There was a guy on a corvette forum somewhere, (you may remember it or have saw it)
I saw, that had taken a picture of himself in a reflection on the hood of a black corvette, I remember wondering why my paint never looked that good after waxing...? when i saw your article on white paint I realized it never would and why!!
I realize he has done more than just waxed it a couple of times!!

[dawnn]

I have some 3 m products...I have rubbing compound, perfect it durable glaze and performance finish.... Is this all I need??
will the glaze take care of the swirls or will I need a dedicated swirl remover??

[5.4 Shelby]

I have some 3 m products...I have rubbing compound, perfect it durable glaze and performance finish.... Is this all I need??
will the glaze take care of the swirls or will I need a dedicated swirl remover??

Glaze will only temporarily hide the swirls. Megs SwirlX and Ultimate compound are fantastic products, easy to work with and available at your local WalMart for about 8 bucks each.