First time detailing with a Hitachi SP18VA... any advice?

[dtuna42]

Re: 2001 Explorer roof: Maybe a good place to start practicing with the rotary? The panels are horizontal- easy to see what you're doing; the rows are fairly narrow- make you work in a small area; and if you mess up, you're working on a roof that not very many people will see...

[opie_7afe]

with the raised "bars" in the roof those would be high spots you would want to tape the edges off as paint is always thinner on a edge... so for the roof i would use a pad size more suited for that areas your polishing, and yes all paint correction artists have to use up some elbow grease..not everything can be done by machine...not yet anyways. good luck to you i really would just grab a scrap panel from the junk yard,might be able to call a body shop and tell them you need a scrap hood. me i just went ahead and started on my own car as it needed a good buffing anyways and im the type who can watch videos and it helps out a great deal...have fun...