Buffing, Any Suggestions?

ryangruhn · Jul 22, 2004

Hey All,
I got a 3200 RPM buffer for my birthday and before I dive right into it I wanted to see if you guys know of any special tips to give before I start. Also, if there are any instructional sites/eBooks/threads etc. that you can think of let me see 'em! I want to get started!!!

Thanks!

Ryan

exceldetail · Jul 22, 2004

Grustang said:
Hey All,
I got a 3200 RPM buffer for my birthday and before I dive right into it I wanted to see if you guys know of any special tips to give before I start. Also, if there are any instructional sites/eBooks/threads etc. that you can think of let me see 'em! I want to get started!!!

Thanks!

Ryan

Hi Speed polishers are the fastest way to misery, in inexperienced hands. And i say this with the assumption your inexperienced. They are great machines for paint repair, but are not necessary for monthly maintenance. Your much better off with a Porter Cable Random Orbital Polisher, aka PC. Less chance for accidental swirls and scratches.....and very user friendly.
If you elect to stay with the Hi Speed, break out the Kleenex my friend!

jonw440 · Jul 22, 2004

Grustang said:
Hey All,
I got a 3200 RPM buffer for my birthday and before I dive right into it I wanted to see if you guys know of any special tips to give before I start. Also, if there are any instructional sites/eBooks/threads etc. that you can think of let me see 'em! I want to get started!!!

Thanks!

Ryan

Sell it and buy a Porter Cable 7424. Just kidding.... kind of. First please go to a junk yard and buy a fender so you can practice on it. Misuse of a rotory buffer CAN and WILL burn paint, go throught to bare metal on door edges and whip any part of the car not bolted down. (I personally had ALL three of these happen when I decided to buff my 68 Roadrunner. I broke the antenna, burned the paint near the window post and went completly through to the metal on the drivers door edge.
With the warnings out of the way.........
Start out with a foam pad and a "mild polish" NO RUBBING compounds. Just keep the machine moving and practice practice and practice some more on the junk yard fender.

ramair88' · Jul 22, 2004

im a detail specialist for a ford dealership, i buff cars everyday, yes to the inexperienced it can lead to nightmares, so itd be wise to either find a beater that you couldnt care less about the paint, or the junkyard fender, however once you know what your doing it can bring dull/scratched/scuffed or just plain retarded looking paint to look brand new when done right.. also like said before it isnt somthing you should do to your car on a daily basis... as far as buffing itself... probly the best info i could give you would be to pretty much let the buffer work itself, dont apply ANY unnecessary force and always keep it moving, it usualy works alot better to apply practically no force and just lightly buff the area several times rather then try to get everything out at once... sorry if none of that made any sense?

jonw440 · Jul 23, 2004

I should add that a rotary buffer can polish paint like nothing else can. I just didn't want him to ruin the paint the first time out.Once you have a little time working with practice fenders, then you can make the stang really shine with the rotary. It is the best type of buffer to shine paint with the right pads, polish, speed and technique.

DJsZincGT · Jul 23, 2004

I would also add that if you do use the rotary, don't polish at 3000 rpms. The faster you turn the buffer, the easier it is to ruin the paint. I never exceed 1700 rpm. As a matter of fact in House of Kolor's fact sheets, they tell you to buff at 1400-1700 rpm for any basecoat/clearcoat paint. Any faster than that and you are asking for trouble. I hope your polisher is adjustable.

ramair88' · Jul 23, 2004

DJsZincGT said:
I would also add that if you do use the rotary, don't polish at 3000 rpms. The faster you turn the buffer, the easier it is to ruin the paint. I never exceed 1700 rpm. As a matter of fact in House of Kolor's fact sheets, they tell you to buff at 1400-1700 rpm for any basecoat/clearcoat paint. Any faster than that and you are asking for trouble. I hope you polisher is adjustable.

yeah i should have mentioned that also, i usually buff at 1600 for the majority of paint conditions.

ryangruhn · Jul 30, 2004

Wow,
Thanks for all the helpful posts. So I plugged her in and found out its no adjustable. It is a wal-mart quality buffer rated for 3200 RPM's. They do have another one there that is 2100 RPM's, do you think I should go back and get the other one? Also I think that is a wonderful idea to practice on a scrap fender, I am going to get one later this weekend.

Let Me Know!

Ryan

xseler8 · Aug 8, 2004

keep the bonnets clean.a gritted/dirty one will damage paint. READ the instructions and like everyone said "practice" Good luck.

larrendeuce · Aug 8, 2004

I recently started working for a detailer. I just got a chance to use a rotary buffer. I learned on a light blue metallic minivan. I had a rpm at 1000 and used a polishing compound to remove scratches and a finishing compound afterwards all with a wool pad. I always thought wool would leave spider webbing and swirls but on the light cars you really don't see it. Using it on the lower rpm lets you get a feel for the technique without really screwing up. Don't polish onto edges, rather off of them. Tape off any plastic and glass. Move with the buffer and work an edge it will start hopping on you if you fight its rotation. Move the buffer front to back and not up and down, you otherwise you will get noticeable marks in the paint. Its best to finish with a swirl remover and a foam pad. To learn more about technique with the buffer and other detailing information goto www.detailcity.com

rjstaaf · Aug 9, 2004

Grustang said:
Wow,
Thanks for all the helpful posts. So I plugged her in and found out its no adjustable. It is a wal-mart quality buffer rated for 3200 RPM's. They do have another one there that is 2100 RPM's, do you think I should go back and get the other one? Also I think that is a wonderful idea to practice on a scrap fender, I am going to get one later this weekend.

Let Me Know!

Ryan

I think we are confused on terms here. WalMart does not sell rotary buffers. I am going to make a guess here by your post that you are talking about a random orbital buffer. These are perfectly safe for your paint but, in my opinion they are worthless. As a few have posted take a look at the Porter Cable dual action polisher. It costs more but, you will be much happier with it.

http://www.properautocare.com/porcabpolac.html

grodgers · Aug 9, 2004

Bingo!!

rjstaaf said:
I think we are confused on terms here. WalMart does not sell rotary buffers. I am going to make a guess here by your post that you are talking about a random orbital buffer. These are perfectly safe for your paint but, in my opinion they are worthless. As a few have posted take a look at the Porter Cable dual action polisher. It costs more but, you will be much happier with it.

http://www.properautocare.com/porcabpolac.html

I have this 8" buffer that plugs into the cigarette lighter - I have had it 5 years. I tried to use it exactly twice. it's junk.

I was *very* skeptical about the porter cable dual-action polisher....

I shouldn't have been. It's the BEST tool I've ever bought - I just need to learn some finesse - and just how much product to use...i made a hell of a mess with the polish the first time I used it.

Buffing, Any Suggestions?

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