Dual action polisher or not to dual action polisher?

S

SmoothAsGlass

New member
I have used a dual action polisher in the past, but never really got it done to work well. Seemed I was always using too much product or something, but have always found working my hand to be more my style.



However, I am curious for those using polish and Meg #16 or Collinite 845IW, do you apply by hand or with a dual action polisher? If you are using a dual action polisher, trying to figure out which one to go with and what type of pads.
 
For LSP's I usually apply by hand, but for any paint correction or even just working in an AIO I always use a machine. Right now I'm using the Meguairs G110v2 and the griots 6" polisher.
 
Was looking at the Meguiars you mentioned and the Porter-Cable 7424XP 6-Inch Variable-Speed Polisher.



Which pads did you end up going with for polishing or using an AIO?





gmblack3a said:
For LSP's I usually apply by hand, but for any paint correction or even just working in an AIO I always use a machine. Right now I'm using the Meguairs G110v2 and the griots 6" polisher.
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smoothasglass said:
.. I am curious for those using polish and Meg #16 or Collinite 845IW, do you apply by hand or with a dual action polisher? If you are using a dual action polisher, trying to figure out which one to go with and what type of pads.
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I do those two LSPs both ways, but IMO both really lend themselves to machine application. Especially the #16, it really does its "the paste wax that turns liquid" thing when applied by machine.



I do #16 via Cyclo and 845 via Griot's/PC. For PC type machines, I like the read Griot's waxing pads, but most any zero-cut/finishing/LSPing pad will work fine with both products.
 
smoothasglass said:
Was looking at the Meguiars you mentioned and the Porter-Cable 7424XP 6-Inch Variable-Speed Polisher.



Which pads did you end up going with for polishing or using an AIO?
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I'd use smaller pads than 6" with any PC type machine (possible exception is the Griot's). Which polishing pad depends on what kind of polishing, but the Griot's polishing pad or the LC Hydrotech tangerine would be a good general-purpose choice.



For AIOs, I prefer a very mild polishing pad over a finishing pad, but that's just my personal preference. I use polishing pads that are gentle enough to *NOT* have any cut of their own (on harder paints the Griot's polishing pad works fine for me).
 
smoothasglass said:
Considering the following:



- Porter-Cable 7424XP

- Meguiar's G110v2 Professional Dual Action Polisher
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Don't leave the Griots unit off your shopping list. Very powerful and a lifetime warranty.
 
yakky said:
Don't leave the Griots unit off your shopping list. Very powerful and a lifetime warranty.
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Yeah, seriously. There are scads of people who tried the other two and ended up switching to the Griot's.
 
Take it from someone who polished cars by hand professionally for several years before switching to DA polishers and a rotary. Get a good polisher. You simply cannot polish as deeply and evenly by hand as you can by machine.
 
smoothasglass said:
Which Griots model are you referring to?
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Here's one, though it's also offered with a longer cord (which I recommend)- Griot's Garage 6 inch Random Orbital Polisher, Dual action buffer, DA polisher



Can you elaborate on the differences in the Griot compared to the other two?
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The Griot's is more powerful (and yeah, you really will appreciate the difference like you can't imagine) and it has a better warranty.



Among the people who've tried others and prefer the Griot's you'll find Barry Theal. Just get him going on how superior the Griot's is!
 
You use the orange Griot's pad for polishing and the red pad for waxing?

For a cleaner, would you still go with an orange pad too?





Accumulator said:
Here's one, though it's also offered with a longer cord (which I recommend)- Griot's Garage 6 inch Random Orbital Polisher, Dual action buffer, DA polisher







The Griot's is more powerful (and yeah, you really will appreciate the difference like you can't imagine) and it has a better warranty.



Among the people who've tried others and prefer the Griot's you'll find Barry Theal. Just get him going on how superior the Griot's is!
Click to expand...
 
Ended up ordering the Griot's Garage 6 inch Random Orbital Polisher.



As for pad, is generally 2 of the orange pads sufficient?



I think a problem I have always had in the past is using too much of the product. How do you determine the appropriate amount? Add it directly to the surface of the car or to the pad and rub it around some on the finish?





yakky said:
Don't leave the Griots unit off your shopping list. Very powerful and a lifetime warranty.
Click to expand...
 
smoothasglass said:
Ended up ordering the Griot's Garage 6 inch Random Orbital Polisher.



As for pad, is generally 2 of the orange pads sufficient?
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It depends what you're doing.



Some products seem to require that the pads stay very clean *and dry* (that last bit's the kicker in many cases). To do a whole car you'd need a lot of pads or a lot of time/effort.



Generally, I'd want four of those. BUT I wouldn't want to be doing serious correction with them either. Even on that machine IMO they're still a bit too big and they're not all that aggressive.
 
smoothasglass said:
As for pad, is generally 2 of the orange pads sufficient?



I think a problem I have always had in the past is using too much of the product. How do you determine the appropriate amount? Add it directly to the surface of the car or to the pad and rub it around some on the finish?
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See my response in the PM.



I'd recommend that you apply the product to the pad and not the panel. If you suspect you're using too much product then you probably are ;)



With most of the non-diminishing abrasive products, I would *NOT* do any spreading before you start to "work" them. IMO that just makes it more likely that you'll flash/dry them out too fast and have issues.



You know...I'm starting to think that maybe the Meguiar's MF system would be OK for you. I'm not really into that finishing polish with the LSP in it, and there *is* the "concealing issue", but *for your situation* I think you could maybe do a lot worse. You're splitting hairs with the "swirl-x vs. Scratch-x vs. M205 vs. etc. etc. and you could make this very simple by just doing the two MF steps and maybe topping with 845.
 
Just ordered the Griot's Garage 6 inch Random Orbital Polisher with 2 orange pads.



Would appreciate feedback on the following before I order them:



Clay

3D HD- Uno Auto Polish using orange pad

Collinite 845IW applied by hand



Then maintain by applying CG SPEED WIPE SPRAY & Streak Free QUICK SHINE which I already have about a gallon.



After applying Collinite 845IW, how long should this last before anything should need to be reapplied? 3-4 months? At that point would you repeat the above process?



I still have leftover Klasse All In One, Werkstat Acrylic Jett Trigger and Acrylic Glos. Could these still be used or to simply things, are they no longer really needed?
 
The griots machine will serve you well As for the 845, with a car parked outdoors and 2-coats applied, 3-4 months should be no problem. I'd reapply 845 every other month for maximum protection and polish once a year or less depending on your wash routine.
 
Flex 3401, it's got incredible power and forced rotation so there is never bogging down under load like on a traditional D/A. They are pricey but worth it.
 
Get the Griots from AutoGeek. You will not be sorry. Griots has the best warranty in the business and AutoGeek has the best Customer Service. Take this from someone who has experienced both!
 
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