Looking for a good, affordable buffer that will do the job.

Where can I buy one and what is a good price? Any place to get them from online?

also,
looking for a good buffing compound. I've seen detailers and body shops use stuff that does wonders on scratches, what is something like this?
I do not want to spend 30-40 bucks everytime i need a section of the car buffed or a scratch removed.


thanks

 

Hmm, nothing "cheap" is going to work well for Porter Cable-like performance and jobs. None of them can use the different grades of foam pads that the PC can. Few of them have any real power, and a lot of them are very large too. I think the most you're going to find is something that can help you apply waxes and other lightly applied products, but I don't think that most of them are really suitable for serious polishing.

Polishes and products like that aren't really that expensive, and if you want to be minimal about it you could probably get away with 2 or 3 polishes and spend $30 or under. The problem is applying them (hand polishing is almost free, but hard work...).

 

so what is a fair price for a Porter Cable buffer?
and there is nothing else that can do a fair job? I am not looking to participate in shows, i just want to keep my car clean and buffing it by hand is annoying..

 

Ive got a P C and a regular high speed buffer with plenty of product if you would want to borrow it, or if you feel like taking a drive out here I can do it for you.

 

PC 7424 is $119 with 6" hook/loop backing pad and counterweight at coastaltool.com

http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/S...82d+1083209978

 

That's where i bought mine over 3 years ago and it was the same price then.

The Porter Cable is awesome for polishing but will not remove scratches. For a some what inexpensive but effective circular polisher that will remove scratches, go here: Classic Motoring

 

thanks

pardon my ignorance

but what qualities make a buffer good for removing scratches? or what what makes it better for polishing?

this might sound stupid, but i figured that most buffers would do a similar job..

 

Man, thanks for the great links. I hope they sell to Canada!

 

For individual scratches, it's best to take care of them by hand. You don't want to have to level a large patch of paint just to take out one scratch. If they're widespread scratches that require the whole panel to be polished, a PC probably can deal with them as long as you get some stronger polishes and more aggressive pads to use with them. It's like sanding a block of wood in principle.

Rotary/circular polishers where the pad spins in place are more effective and faster at everything because of how they produce more heat and friction, but....

I would not get a rotary polisher if you're just a weekend warrior detailer like most folks and I. It has a steeper and longer learning curve, and it has the potential to cause some damage if you goof. It's also heavier and harder to handle IIRC.

Also check this site out if you haven't already: http://www.carcaresmart.com

 

You can get an "orbital" buffer. That is what you want....not just one that spins, but that orbits and spins....it will apply the stuff much more evenly.
Black and Decker makes one, and they are pretty cheap.
I have one, and they are great.
Be sure not to get anything under the buffer while using, because then you will be forcing it into the paint. I did this and scratched up my bumper. Then, I had to go back with a swirl remover and do it all over again.
Meguiar's makes good products. They have swirl removers and polishes and waxes.

 

thanks guys


one more thing

i used some kind of 3M buffing/rubbing compound to remove scratches/scuffs.. it actually worked pretty darn well when applied by hand and going over and over the same spot

anything similar or better than this stuff?

 

If you think it worked pretty well then I would stick with it.

(Assuming this must be 3M's Fine Cut Rubbing Compound....)

Meguiar's #2 is supposedly similar, but probably is not as "hand use friendly" as the 3M equivalent. #83 Dual Action Cleaner/Polish might be similar too, but I'm not sure how similar.

I think you should just stick with it, as I believe it's stronger than a retail "scratch remover" product, but can still leave a pretty good finish if used well. You don't really want to use anything stronger because they often leave hazing, and it's sometimes preferrable to use a product a couple times to get results rather than using a much stronger product once because it's more controllable this way.

 

The PC absolutely will remove scratches. If you're using a very fine/nonabrasive polish, then no, it probably won't. Use a more aggressive polish, then a finer polish, then a glaze, then wax. If you have a bad scratch, use a very fine sandpaper that's been soaked overnight, then the polish. This all sounds horrible, but there's no real way to remove a scratch other than to remove some clearcoat.

I use Zaino for the waxing part. It's a "show car polish", but that's really a misnomer. The stuff is not abrasive at all, and is essentially a synthetic wax.

YMMV.

 

that is exactly what i am using. I didn't know it was supposed to be one that is good quality. It really reduced the look of a lot of nasty things on my car.. especially after 2 or 3 applications..

what exactly is hazing? pardon my ignorance again..

any other downsides or side effects of using the 3M rubbing compound?