Buffers - Which do you recommend?

[PhilD]

Hi guys,
can anyone recommend a buffer, as I note that certain makes are not recommended on here.

Many thanks

Phil

[Sean Smallman]

I bought one of the Meguiars 240v Dual action polishers. Very pleased with it, I prefer Sonus pads to the Meguiars ones.

Don't forget TIPEC members get 10% discount and free posting from GP Wizard so you'd save about £20 buying it from them.

[c4s]

i got mine from ebay.
£50.00
come from germany, used it for the 1st at weekend on a friends stunt airplane.
its really good, varable speed, good weight but not to heavy, comes in a protective case and loads of different sized and types of pads.
seller still sells them.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Top-car-boat-poli ... dZViewItem

[ExAudiSi]

I was looking at those after I came back from watching Andrew at Gmund machine polishing a BMW when we visited yesterday. He reckoned mine needed machine polishing to get the swirls out and I am quite tempted by that kit.

[JasonGibson]

It looks great value but not sure i'd be using it to remove swirls

I can't see anywhere in the info that it's a Dual Action polisher like the Meguiars or the Porta cable that it's based on

[ExAudiSi]

The one that was used at Gmund yesterday wasn't dual action either. It looked more like a variable speed angle grinder. Seemed like it worked OK to me though?

[c4s]

its fine at swirl removal. i use a glaze or 3M finishing material when swirl removing with a 'knobbly' pad. personally i think using any machine on a lower speed helps stop swirls.

[Clive993]

Others may disagree - but unless you are a pro i wouldnt go near a rotary - a lapse in concentration with a cutting pad or compound and i think you might regret it, espcially on a panel edge!

A Dual action may take longer to remove swirls and scratches (and of course you can work up in cutting power with pad and polish) but unless you are completely insane you wont go back to paint.

[PhilD]

Others may disagree - but unless you are a pro i wouldnt go near a rotary - a lapse in concentration with a cutting pad or compound and i think you might regret it, espcially on a panel edge!

A Dual action may take longer to remove swirls and scratches (and of course you can work up in cutting power with pad and polish) but unless you are completely insane you wont go back to paint.

I thought those ones loooked a bit severe and reminded me of an angle grinder, so I'll keep a look out for a dual action..

Thanks everyone..

Phil

[thegumeister]

I've just bought 1 let you know later what I think
[quote="c4s"]i got mine from ebay.
£50.00
come from germany, used it for the 1st at weekend on a friends stunt airplane.
its really good, varable speed, good weight but not to heavy, comes in a protective case and loads of different sized and types of pads.
seller still sells them.....

[c4s]

nice one. ya wont regret it.

[ExAudiSi]

Let me know how you get on with that Paul, I'm quite tempted by one of those myself.

I was impressed by the work done on Alby's Boxster, just not so keen on the idea of spending £100 on having the car machine polished. Need to get rid of the swirls though.

[thegumeister]

Will do Si, on the Monday after Gmund had the whole car to clean, then went after the swirls on the boot lid again, clay bar, paint cleanse then carnauba wax, in patches (where I did first) it looks great, in other patches it looks that bit streaky so I've bit the bullet and bought the M/C. I'll have the shiniest Forester in the village by the time I have finished practicing

[simes69]

Has anyone used the £29.99 one from Halfords? Is it worth putting on my birthday list?

[colt45_gto]

The one that was used at Gmund yesterday wasn't dual action either. It looked more like a variable speed angle grinder. Seemed like it worked OK to me though?

that will be very similar to what i use, they are made purely for buffing and don't spin too fast, they use either fixed or velcro heads, i always buy farcela heads and farcela G3 compound, i use 2 stages of the heads the white one to cut and the black soft one to finish using G10, it leaves no swirls and has a very rich deep shine and flawless finish. but you can burn the paint very easily if your not careful i normally mist the area with a water squirter thru out the process

they are made for bodyshop use so every bodyshop inc porsche will have one or two laying around