I got an orbital buffer for Xmas... woo hoo!

Any tips on how to use it?

 

Don't apply wax with it. Just take it off. The pad absorbs more wax than it puts on the car. And if you do apply the wax with it, make sure the pad is against the car before you turn it on.

 

So cleaner and polish only with the buffer?

There are three different pads that came with the thing. One is a wooly looking one. Use that to remove wax, polish, cleaner?

Thanks Scotty.

 

First off, exactly which orbital buffer did you get? "Orbital" is a term that gets thrown around lately, but there are huge differences in these things. Some can be fairly idiot proof, others can easily do a whole bunch of damage if you don't know what you're doing with them.

 

The wool pad is used for compounds like a rubbing compound or polishing compound. If the car has heavy swirls, faded paint or light scratches, use the wool pad with an abrasive compound. The two other pads are used to polish out the compounded finish. More than likely, there is a black pad. That is used for final polish. The other foam pad is for polishing out the surface marring and dull finish left behind after compounding. More than likely, if you have decent paint, you'll only used the black pad.

 

id be carefull with the wool pad if i were you. The wool really burns the paint. If you are just starting to polish i wouldnt start off with that. THe foam rough type pad is used for the compound. The black pad is used for the finessing , glaze, polish whatever you want to call it. Btw at my job they use 3m and meguires compound. 3m will leave the swirls if you are not carfeful with it , meguires is a little more simple and doesnt cut as much. And please make sure you get the compound off the cracks

 

...and don't leave it for too long in any one spot of paint...

 

Craftsman 7 inch Polisher/Buffer. "3800 random orbits per minute".

I think I'll use the wife's Volvo as a guinea pig.

 

Ah, OK, this is what I was waiting for.

Good news - you can't do any damage with this machine unless you drop it on your car.

Bad news - it doesn't have the guts to perform any real paint correction, like removing swirl marks, bad water spotting, oxidation, etc. no matter what polish you use.

If you use a chemical based paint cleaner like Klasse All-In-One you can do a decent job of prepping the paint for a good wax or sealant with this. It will also really help speed the process of applying and removing the wax or sealant and make it much easier to apply an even, thin layer. See if you can get microfber bonnets that go over the foam pad and use that to remove the wax, don't use a foam pad to remove it. Just remember to change pads between steps!

 

Well, heck. I suppose it will be a good tool to introduce me to technique ans use but I am a little disappointed about its overall ability. Oh well. Where is the best place to get the bonnets? Will any auto parts store carry these?

Thanks for the great words of advice, Mike.

 

Bonnet?...are you english?

 

If it uses 6" or 7" pads you might be able to find the bonnets at an autoparts store, but I kind of doubt it. I know you can order them from http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/son-dasbon6-2.html

 

which orbital did yo receive for xmas? picture, brand?. We use a blue one at work not sure which brand, i'll find out.

 

Oh...those. I totally thought you wanted to buy a hood to test on... Haha. I'm a doof.