Rotary Polisher - Honda Prelude Forum

telram · 02-06-2007, 07:39 AM

Should I buy a rotary polisher to get rid of swirl marks in my paint? I have been using a dual action polisher for a while now, but everything I read suggests that rotary polishers need experience in order to use. I am worried about burning my paint or other such damage. Are rotary polishers as hard to use as everyone says?

Thanks

KB798 · 02-06-2007, 02:57 PM

Best thing to do is to get an old hood or door panel from the junkyard and practice using the rotary.

ExodusFX · 02-06-2007, 07:56 PM

Yeah, practice on some old panel and remember that it's the heat buildup from leaving the buffer in one place for too long, that'll burn through the paint. You'll most likely have to go over everything with the DA, after you use the rotary, to get rid of any holograms.

KB798 · 02-07-2007, 02:31 AM

At first you probably will to get rid of buffer trails and holograms, but if you become skilled enough you won't ever need a DA again. Finish up with a mild polish on a finishing pad.

telram · 02-07-2007, 10:44 AM

Are results from a rotary much better than those from a $30 10in Random Orbit Polisher? I've been using a Random Orbit for a few years now, the results are great, but I'm wondering if it can be better.

KB798 · 02-07-2007, 12:10 PM

Using a rotary can do a lot more than the polisher you have, but it can also destroy your finish if you're not careful. Rather than going straight to a rotary, have you considered getting a dual-action random orbital? Porter Cable 7424 or the 7336 is the weapon of choice by many detailers out there - not the stuff you pick up from Wal-Mart or something. You'll be able to do a lot with that without the fear of burning through the clearcoat with a rotary.

If you have serious paint correction to do or want to start detailing other ppl's cars, then getting a rotary may be worth it.

ExodusFX · 02-10-2007, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telram

Are results from a rotary much better than those from a $30 10in Random Orbit Polisher? I've been using a Random Orbit for a few years now, the results are great, but I'm wondering if it can be better.

It all depends on the condition of your paint. In a lot of cases (where the paint is good), a DA will be all you need. But like I said, it depends. Different tools for different jobs. One does not completely replace the other.

hustler904 · 02-15-2007, 04:00 PM

i used to use a random orbital from porter cable,then I bought a makita rotary,I was also worried i might burn the paint but i kept the adjustable speed locked in at 1500 rpms and never had a problem,definitely worth the money,dewalt also makes a great rotary,but i preferred to go with makita

telram · 02-20-2007, 09:50 AM

So last question, is it worth going from my $30 Oribital polisher to a Porter Cable 7424? Will I noticea big enough difference to justify the $200 I'm going to end up spending?

hustler904 · 02-20-2007, 03:56 PM

if you're going to spend 200 on the porter cable,you're wasting you're money,the makita rotary is the same price range and you'll get better results

telram · 02-20-2007, 04:55 PM

Well I think I want to stick to the DA polishers, I don't want to risk burning my paint. That being said, same question is it worth going from my $30 Oribital polisher to a Porter Cable 7424? Will I noticea big enough difference to justify the money I'm going to end up spending?

KB798 · 02-20-2007, 05:26 PM

You definitely will, but keep in mind that purchasing pads and products will cost a lot of money too. Decent pads alone go for about $10-15, and buying polishes aren't cheap either. It's not to say that it's worth just sticking with the $30 orbital because the PC will do a lot more than the cheap orbital. Unless you need to do serious paint correction - i.e. polishing out wetsanded areas - the PC will be fine.

Besides, a flawless finish is created through proper technique - not products or machine.

realLEMMIWINKZ · 02-21-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KB798

Using a rotary can do a lot more than the polisher you have, but it can also destroy your finish if you're not careful. Rather than going straight to a rotary, have you considered getting a dual-action random orbital? Porter Cable 7424 or the 7336 is the weapon of choice by many detailers out there - not the stuff you pick up from Wal-Mart or something. You'll be able to do a lot with that without the fear of burning through the clearcoat with a rotary.

If you have serious paint correction to do or want to start detailing other ppl's cars, then getting a rotary may be worth it.

I totally second the porter cable 7424. It's a great buffer that is both beginner and expert friendly: thus garnering a great reputation in the detailing community. Attempting to remove swirl marks by hand is near impossible (depending on the depth of the swirl) so using something like the PC 7424 will drastically cut down your work time and also enhance the finished product. if you wanna learn about it more, go to autopia.org and look for a "how to use Porter Cable buffer". i believe that this also has some before and after pics of some heavily oxidized paint polished with the PC 7424.

ExodusFX · 02-23-2007, 01:04 AM

I'm sure that you'll love the PC once you get your hands on it. There's a bunch of sites with instruction on how to use it with various products. I have the dvd "How-To Use The PC For Showcar Results!" You don't need it, but it's a great dvd for newbies to get to see proper technique, pad pressure, product ammount, etc.

cementups · 02-23-2007, 05:46 PM

I have the PC as well and it is quite nice and easy to use. And you get very good results with it with no worries.