got an orbital buffer for xmas

S

Spawne32

New member



2800 rpm, single speed, random orbit, what special instructions do you guys have on what products i should use with it or methods,etc. The car just got back from paint about a week ago and its already pretty finely scratched from all the winter weather, i got swirl marks in it from going through the automatic car wash as well lol but thats why i didnt cut compound and polish it yet until the spring. Not gona use this till the spring either but i gotta return the turtle wax because its a tinted black wax and it will dull my pearl paint.
 
I'm sorry to be the one to say it, but that is nothing more than a wax applicator. It won't generate enough friction/heat to break down polishes. But that's MY experience/opinion. Not saying ot won't do what you want it to do, but..............

As far as products to use with it, I would say any liquid wax. You won't be able to cut/compound with that at all. Polishing will be slim to none on correction, s i cannot recommend any compounds or polishes for the machine.
 
TexasTB said:
I'm sorry to be the one to say it, but that is nothing more than a wax applicator. It won't generate enough friction/heat to break down polishes. But that's MY experience/opinion. Not saying ot won't do what you want it to do, but..............

As far as products to use with it, I would say any liquid wax. You won't be able to cut/compound with that at all. Polishing will be slim to none on correction, s i cannot recommend any compounds or polishes for the machine.
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no no, i know i cant cut and compound with this, i have a old porter cable buffer for that that my dad used to compound and polish cars back when he was a painter. What wax's do recommend for that machine though, its 2800 rpm and the turtle wax says dont exceed 1500 rpm.
 
Sorry, guess I misunderstood. Just about any waxes I would imagine. I would look at the Poorboys line. Anything from the Sealants to liquid waxes. I would return the turtle wax to the store it was purchased at.
 
I have never paid much attention to these polishers but why could products like Megs SwirlX etc be applied with it if they can be done by hand.
 
sorry to say, but I would politely ask for the receipt and return it ... if you have a PC then use the money to buy some more pads and accessories ...

if you decide to keep it ... products like PwC and PwS will work ok with a buffer like that ...
 
i was planning on picking up some gold class or tech wax from megs and using the buffer, apply by hand with the hand applicator pad and then buff out, im not sure if i should use the terry cloth pads, or the polishing pad to buff the wax out however. The pc that my dad has isnt like the new ones, its huge and cumbersome to use which is why i would only use it in a compound/polish application imo for myself. Which i dont intend on doing very often.
 
I have one that I used once then never used it again. I don't mean to rain on your parade but once you get serious into detailing that machine is 100% useless. It works ok with cleaner waxes, but you will outgrow that right away and would be better off returning it if that was possible...As far as what wax to use I would stay away from the Turtle Wax and NXT that you have and use the Meguiars Mirror Glaze #6 Cleaner Wax..Sometimes you can even find it at a local store. Thats what worked for me when I used it that one time...But definitly try to invest in a newer PC
 
i dont understand why everyone is calling the machine junk, im not a proffesional detailer, im just detailing my own car on the weekends in the spring/summer, its a 2800rpm random orbital buffer with a 10" pad, what is bad about that? I understand the need for the foam pads and such for the compounding and polishing but for wax application...? Why cant i just use this?
 
Poorboy said:
sorry to say, but I would politely ask for the receipt and return it ... if you have a PC then use the money to buy some more pads and accessories ...

if you decide to keep it ... products like PwC and PwS will work ok with a buffer like that ...
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This! I'm sorry because any way I say it sounds like I'm dissing your present. The uses for this type of product are so limited it almost isn't worth the shelf space to store it on.
 
ok so lets say that i keep the thing, wax application only....what wax should i use, how should i apply it with the machine, and what bonnets should i use. Ive seen alot of different methods in my research with alot of different wax's, some say to apply the wax by hand with a foam applicator, and buff out, some apply with the buffer using an applicator bonnet, and buff out with a microfiber bonnet....what method would you recommend.
 
Spawne32, no one is trying to intentionally disprespect your new gift. I understand how excited you must be in receiving it. Everyone is just trying their best to be helpful to you by explaining the limitations of this machine vs some of the units we are used to using. I've never owned that Craftsman unit, so I can't speak to its abilities, but can only imagine that wax application might the the extent of its capabilities. If that is all you expect out of the machine and you are intent on keeping the unit then so be it. Do you know about foam pad replacement availability? If that is a problem, then that would be a really compelling reason to reconsider this unit. But I won't further belabor the unit and my opinion of same. As far as the use of the machine, that is what the instruction manual/sheet is for because I doubt many of us have ever had this machine.

Get the wax of your choice (liquid or paste) and apply it with a foam pad. Follow the directions of the product and remove with a quality MF towel. If you're happy with it then it's good enough.
 
so foam pad application and micro fiber bonnet removal would be the correct way to use this thing for wax? or do you endorse using this for the application of wax? It has these blue disposable wax applicator bonnets but they look abrasive to me..
 
Spawne32 said:
so foam pad application and micro fiber bonnet removal would be the correct way to use this thing for wax? or do you endorse using this for the application of wax? It has these blue disposable wax applicator bonnets but they look abrasive to me..
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Yes for foam pad application. No to the MF bonnet removal, not a fan. As my previous post states, MF towel removal. As far as the wax applicator bonnets, not familiar with the product so use your own judgement.

And no, I don't (nor does anyone else in this thread) endorse this machine for any purpose. You just sound intent on using it, so I was trying to offer a suggestion. I agree with the rest who recommend returning the machine and applying the funds to a machine better suited for the job.
 
im evaluating my options, trust me i never take action without thorough research first, id just hate to disappoint my brother by returning everything he bought me, im already taking the turtle wax back because its a pigmented wax and i have brand new nighthawk black pearl paint.

I went in the garage and pulled out the old box of my dads compounding stuff and heres what im working with...Snap On ET1490 standard rpm polisher. No random orbit action. Most of the pads are shot, and the pads he has are 8 inch sized pads which i havent seen before in that size.






with the exception of what i have already my only other option im considering is going back to sears and possibly getting one of these....

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00917556000P

but this also isnt random orbit, and quite frankly i dont feel good about using something that isnt random orbit.
 
Spawne32 said:
...with the exception of what i have already my only other option im considering is going back to sears and possibly getting one of these....

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00917556000P

but this also isnt random orbit, and quite frankly i dont feel good about using something that isnt random orbit.
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I'm not going to tell you what to do, you must make that decision. I would only offer my opinion to save your money and purchase a PC with backing plate and pads. I believe that in the long run you will come out cheaper than by spending money on a machine that will disappoint and will be replaced. Until then do the best work you can by hand.
 
If I were going to use the orbital machine you received as a gift for wax application, I would use a terry cloth bonnet for application. You can use any liquid wax, off-the-shelf or special order. It doesn't appear that you expect much in the way of defect correction out of it, so I'd say use the polisher. I used one similar to that for a few years before I was able to step up and get something like a PC. You gotta use what you got, and since you have that go ahead and use it.

Contrary to popular detailing forum belief, not everyone can start out fresh using PC, Flex, Pinnacle or Zaino stuff. You can achieve excellent results using stuff OTC. Not saying it's the best stuff out there, but use what you already have until you can step up and get something else.
 
you have the wrong piece of equipment for what you need. you need a good speed buffer, some good cutting compounds and a lot of time on your hands. they when you have all the scratches removed, you then can use your Christmas present with some polish to remove the swirls ,, left from the speed buffer
 
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