Hi everyone. I have a Craftsman 10" orbital buffer that i want to use to polish my car and apply wax. I have been using the included terry cloth bonnets to apply the Mother's 3 step wax system (cleaner, glaze, and wax), and I was wondering if they were ok to use, or if they are too aggresive. Also, my car has some swirl marks and water spots, and I was wondering what compound or polish i should use to get rid of them. I also have a few paint chips that i have filled with touch up paint, and i need to level them with some compound, and was wondering what compound to use. I also heard that when u apply polish or compound, you should not apply it in circles, does this mean i should not use my buffer to apply the product? I know these are a lot of questions for my first post, but please help me out. Thanks.
1st Post, Polishing question.
- Thread starter dpreuss
- Start date
ok here here goes in the words of someone else "one mans opinion"... *I* generally dont use the craftsman for anything, thats just me. I do not think that they produce enough friction/heat to do much in the way of polishing. I dont think the mothers 3 step is going to be too aggressive, but that depends on how much you polish and with what and how bad the swirl marks are. For the water spots if they are not too old you might try vinegar to get rid of them. The swirl marks I would use the 1z products because I have them in my arsenal and I think they are pretty user friendly even for a beginner...there doesnt seem to be a big learning curve with them. The paint chips *I* would wet sand them down, only because I am comfortable doing so, I have never tried to buff them down with a compound because of the surrounding area I would be afraid is going to lose to much clear coat. That is why I would try to isolate the area by wetsanding, which I dont condone if you havent done it before (might want to have some proffesional help, just my opinion of course, and I dont know your skill level).
As for going in circles with a polish I do because well my PC does. I think it helps leveling all sides of the swirl mark.
I hope this helps you out a little bit. and maybe someone else will have a few tricks for the craftsman that I do not know about. Post some pics for us, we love to see before and afters
As for going in circles with a polish I do because well my PC does. I think it helps leveling all sides of the swirl mark.
I hope this helps you out a little bit. and maybe someone else will have a few tricks for the craftsman that I do not know about. Post some pics for us, we love to see before and afters
former86camaro
New member
Just for a test I broke out my craftsman orbital to use when I applied 1Z in the green can to the hood of my red car. It has been 2 years since I used it. I did 3 coats before I figured out the correct way to use it.
Here our my opinions:
Move to fast and it does not have enough time to work in. Move slow and get the small semi circles. Work left right then go over up and down. Move slowly letting things work in, but not to much. Let dry and remove by hand with a micro fiber. Came out smooth and did remove some swirls. I might begin using it until I save up enough for the PC.
Do not USE IT TO REMOVE anything. Use a micro fiber and do it by hand.
Here our my opinions:
Move to fast and it does not have enough time to work in. Move slow and get the small semi circles. Work left right then go over up and down. Move slowly letting things work in, but not to much. Let dry and remove by hand with a micro fiber. Came out smooth and did remove some swirls. I might begin using it until I save up enough for the PC.
Do not USE IT TO REMOVE anything. Use a micro fiber and do it by hand.
Did you use the terry cloth bonnets to apply the product on your craftsman? By the way, thanks for your replies. I also need to know a couple more things:
1. What swirl remover should I use, and should I use it with my buffer.
2. Should I apply the swirl remover over the whole area with the swirls, or just try to pin point the swirl marks.
3. What should I use after I use the swirl remover?
4. Should I claybar after the swirl remover?
5. And finally, is there a better polish that i could use to replace my mothers polish, and if so, what is it, and should i use my buffer to put it on?
I know its a lot, but please help. Thanks in advance! - Derek
1. What swirl remover should I use, and should I use it with my buffer.
2. Should I apply the swirl remover over the whole area with the swirls, or just try to pin point the swirl marks.
3. What should I use after I use the swirl remover?
4. Should I claybar after the swirl remover?
5. And finally, is there a better polish that i could use to replace my mothers polish, and if so, what is it, and should i use my buffer to put it on?
I know its a lot, but please help. Thanks in advance! - Derek
1. What swirl remover should I use, and should I use it with my buffer.
There are TONS of options. I'm going to be trying out the 1z product line soon. They should work well by hand or by a buffer. There are still many other options. Meguiar's products should be easy to find locally in body shops or else where.
2. Should I apply the swirl remover over the whole area with the swirls, or just try to pin point the swirl marks.
You usually apply it to the entire area.
3. What should I use after I use the swirl remover?
Your favorite selant/wax
4. Should I claybar after the swirl remover?
No, use it before the swirl remover. If you dont have one already, Clay Magic and Mother's make kits that you can find easily in auto parts stores.
5. And finally, is there a better polish that i could use to replace my mothers polish, and if so, what is it, and should i use my buffer to put it on?
Sorry, can't help here :nixweiss
There are TONS of options. I'm going to be trying out the 1z product line soon. They should work well by hand or by a buffer. There are still many other options. Meguiar's products should be easy to find locally in body shops or else where.
2. Should I apply the swirl remover over the whole area with the swirls, or just try to pin point the swirl marks.
You usually apply it to the entire area.
3. What should I use after I use the swirl remover?
Your favorite selant/wax
4. Should I claybar after the swirl remover?
No, use it before the swirl remover. If you dont have one already, Clay Magic and Mother's make kits that you can find easily in auto parts stores.
5. And finally, is there a better polish that i could use to replace my mothers polish, and if so, what is it, and should i use my buffer to put it on?
Sorry, can't help here :nixweiss
Dpruess:
Try a 2'X2' section, that is usually a good starting point with figuring out how big of an area to work at a given time.
You can go with a nice glaze (which will help HIDE some swirl marks for a while) I happen to like Clearkotes VM or Menzerna Final Glaze. After that you can add you wax of choice.
I am going to have to say try the search button on this one. There are sooo many choices of good polishes out there, I like the 1Z line as I stated above, but that is just one of many good ones. You may want to think about getting a PC to help remove the swirls, it is very user friendly and doesnt cost a ton of money. Your mothers polish will probably work out a lot better using one too.
Mr. Clean 2K:
Save up for that PC-you'll love it. Makes polishing a lot nicer, easier.
Try a 2'X2' section, that is usually a good starting point with figuring out how big of an area to work at a given time.
You can go with a nice glaze (which will help HIDE some swirl marks for a while) I happen to like Clearkotes VM or Menzerna Final Glaze. After that you can add you wax of choice.
I am going to have to say try the search button on this one. There are sooo many choices of good polishes out there, I like the 1Z line as I stated above, but that is just one of many good ones. You may want to think about getting a PC to help remove the swirls, it is very user friendly and doesnt cost a ton of money. Your mothers polish will probably work out a lot better using one too.
Mr. Clean 2K:
Save up for that PC-you'll love it. Makes polishing a lot nicer, easier.
for one a nice glaze can really add a nice "wet" look or shine to your paint...if you have been polishing for a while and you dont want to jeopardize your clear thickness (daily drivers are gonna have some swirls) you can use the glaze to "hide" these for a few washings. But after a nice polish, a glaze (VM, FP, Menzerna FG ect.) or whatever you want to call em (big confusion sometimes as to what a glaze is or isnt) adds that extra little "wow" to the paint, IMHO at least.