I have been hand waxing since ive owned my 95 coupe
Would a hand held buffer do a better job or do they
leave swirls? If so what kind do you recommend

 

I use the Porter Cable machine with all Adam's products and my black does not have a swirl in it.

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Using a buffer can be tricky, especially on factory paint(low millage). Stay away from the edges and keep it moving.

I have several but prefer the DeWalt.

 

I recently purchased the shurmold hand held buffer/polisher. Very user friendly, I have had no problems leaving swirl marks. AIt is varible speed and osolates also. I l love it. brent317

 

Mike is correct (hope your doing well mike, I heard you will ill)

A corvette is not a car to learn machine polishing on. Polishing can do as much damage as sand paper in inexperienced hands.

However, the term "buffer" and "polisher" can refer to two very different machines.


This is what should be called "a buffer". It works in a dual orbital action. It is basically a quick and effective way to apply and remove wax and compounds. It is harmless to paint as long as your using over the counter, retail waxes and compounds and a soft bonnet.



This is a "polisher" It is used to polish new and old paints. It is a single orbital just like an angle grinder. (Although don't try to use an angle grinder, They run at too high speed and don't have the low RPM torque needed to polish). And just like an angle grinder, it will do damage FAST if not experienced. Polishers are used to remove material fast and leave a high polish finish in a multi step process. They should only be used with professional machine compounds (such as the 3M perfect it II paint finish system) only, and should be the last resort for old paint.

 

mike and lushdrunk

thanks for the good advice, my corvette has beautiful paint and
i have been waxing it by hand, will the orbital do a better job than hand?
If not who needs it

 

It may not do better, But it will be much faster then by hand.

 

thanks lushdrunk, can you recommend a particular brand, sears has a number of them

 

I've been using this for a while and it's done a fantastic job on my vehicles.

http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-dua...sher-g110.html

I've heard good things about the Porter-Cable machine too.

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-7...3591809&sr=8-1

Dave T.

 

I have very limited experience with orbital buffers. The only advice I know to give would be the same advice I would give for any power tool.

Buy one with the best features and warranty for the lowest amount of money

 

To really get the 'eye popping' shine you want is a multi-step process that take some work. That's where the orbital polisher comes in. Check out the Meguiar's and Autogeek's websites for car detailing steps. The steps are the same even if you use someone else's products. After washing, use a claybay to clean the paint. Then you polish with your favorite polishing compound. The polishing is a vital step that brings out the shine in your paint. Waxing is the last step and adds a protective coat and a final shine. Using a good orbital buffer and the proper foam pads can make a car look outstanding, not to mention saving your shoulders! The cheap buffers I've had before didn't have enough power to do the job right, so get some recommendations on good equipment. Before you try on your Vette I'd practice on another vehicle. You'll find it is pretty safe and easy with the right equipment.

Dave T.

 

If you want to destroy the paint on that car go buy a power buffer.Ive been using the idiot proof orbital buffers for years but you can still screw up the paint with one of these if you dont know what youre doing.If you know somebody that does paint work have them show you how to use one of these cheap buffers.Years ago my uncle thought he would buff the paint on my cousins car.Had to have the car repainted after that.

 

A couple years ago a buddy gave me an air buffer/polisher whatever. Said he wanted it out of his garage before he was tempted to use it. Figured that if he tried, he'd be paying me to repaint the car.

 

Griot's Garage has some great instructional videos on YouTube. Check them out.

 

Thats what I use. Adams product are the best

 

Even without the Adam's products, (which will never happen with my car) the Porter Cable combined with the proper pads is a combination that you CANNOT burn the paint. I have tried on purpose on my dd to see just how far I could go and I have never, ever burnt the paint or buffed through. And I am no way en expert. Now one of the big buffer/polishers is a whole different story, I have accidentally burnt paint on a dd with one of those.

 

find yourself a good detail shop local to you. One that you always see high end cars at. Drop off the car and pick it up later. Youll be amazed at the outcome and you wont have to worry about burning the paint if you did it yourself

 

Bingo...............Couldn't have said it better myself.....
I use to do all waxing by hand, and didn't think I could get a better result until I tried an orbital buffer. WOW, what a difference.


Rik

 

I use a simple Black & Decker hand buffer, works awesome...simple trick is to let the buffer do the work and don't apply pressure. Cuts waxing time down to nothing. I like the ones you control with one hand and leaves the other hand free to keep the cord out of the way.

 

Qualify what you mean by the word machine? If you are referring to the low cost orbital buffers on the market they are plenty safe for a novice. But if you are referring to a circular polisher then stay away unless you have a lot of practice under your belt.
I learned to polish using a circular polisher when I was 13. My uncle owned a fleet of taxi's and I was the car washer. Even after years of use I still managed to burn a edge or two on my 911s years latter using one.