Ideas and opinions needed

[coke4class]

Hi all,



Just trying to see if I can get some help on purchasing my detailing tool



For a fresh beginner, who hasn't used rotary or any machine polish... what should I be looking at? I'll be focusing on periodic detail for my vehicle... nothing commercial...



I've searched and looked at mikita... metabo... porter cable... all that... im all :think:



Thank you in advance!



P.S. My car's paint is Carbon Black BMW paint.

 

[DetailsByDennis]

Are you trying to remove surface defects or just maintaining the paint etc?



Machine: Ultimate Detailing Machine/Porter Cable ($100-150) or Flex ($250+)

Polishes: Menzerna

Pads: Lake Country

LSP: Personal Choice



A lot of sites offer "starter" packages which include a variety of the items I listed above.



You will be in great shape though if you spend $250-300 :2thumbs:

 

[MBurnickas]

If you buy a rotary and learn on it as i did, it is as easy if not easier than a orbital. Yes, there is more risk, but there is more reward too. As a bonus if you need deck sanding or other sanding it is an easy switch. Having said that, I own a porter cable pc too, and it's a fine inexpensive machine. If you don't own a dark color car but it sounds like you do you might want the Bam effect of a rotary, if not maybe a PC is all you need, or should I say get away with.

 

[coke4class]

Are you trying to remove surface defects or just maintaining the paint etc?



Machine: Ultimate Detailing Machine/Porter Cable ($100-150) or Flex ($250+)

Polishes: Menzerna

Pads: Lake Country

LSP: Personal Choice



A lot of sites offer "starter" packages which include a variety of the items I listed above.



You will be in great shape though if you spend $250-300 :2thumbs:

Mostlikely I will be doing the maintainance on the paint...

I dont think I have much or any surface defects... but again... Im not a pro.



I will see if I can post some pics and let you guys help me through with this.



:woot:

 

[coke4class]

I couldnt add pic... yet... it seems like i need couple of more posts...

 

[MBurnickas]

I dont think I have much or any surface defects... but again...

You may not now, but if you have a black car they will appear regardless how careful you are. You still can correct them with a PC, but Rotary will make the car look better, especially black.

 

[Accumulator]

coke4class- Welcome to Autopia!



Noting that I have two rotaries, two PCs, two Cyclos, and a Flex 3401, I'd recommend the Flex 3401 or a PC/UDM, or whatever Meguiar's calls their machine these days. I emphatically recommend that you go with some kind of random orbital/dual-action polisher instead of a rotary.



And note that you can get great results without going overboard. It's easy to get carried away and overcomplicate this stuff, especially if you spend enough time here at Autopia



I'd keep it simple: one user-friendly medium-strength polish that finishes out well (e.g., Meguiar's #80, 1Z High Gloss) topped with a good, durable Last Step Product(e.g., Collinite wax or Meguiar's NXT V2.0). It's a sensible way to get your car in "best car in the parking lot" condition without turning the whole thing into a big production.



You can always go off the deep end later if you find you need a new way to spend all your time and money

 

[coke4class]

coke4class- Welcome to Autopia!



Noting that I have two rotaries, two PCs, two Cyclos, and a Flex 3401, I'd recommend the Flex 3401 or a PC/UDM, or whatever Meguiar's calls their machine these days. I emphatically recommend that you go with some kind of random orbital/dual-action polisher instead of a rotary.



And note that you can get great results without going overboard. It's easy to get carried away and overcomplicate this stuff, especially if you spend enough time here at Autopia



I'd keep it simple: one user-friendly medium-strength polish that finishes out well (e.g., Meguiar's #80, 1Z High Gloss) topped with a good, durable Last Step Product(e.g., Collinite wax or Meguiar's NXT V2.0). It's a sensible way to get your car in "best car in the parking lot" condition without turning the whole thing into a big production.



You can always go off the deep end later if you find you need a new way to spend all your time and money

:xyxthumbs



Ill definately keep that in mind...



i am still getting the hang of the random orbital...vs rotary...

is mikita and porter cable... is that same...? sorry if I sound like a :doh but thats why we are here arent we? to ask and get answers!



I think i can finally post some pics...



Here's condition of my car... just an idea...



arrr... I tried to do attachment... and it says... "file attach error..."..

 

[V_Eight]

My recommendation would be to do what I did--team up with a local Autopian who can show you the ropes. A lot of learning can be had for cheap or free.



Also note that if someone just says one product, they are extremely biased, and there will be differences of opinions.

 

[coke4class]

My recommendation would be to do what I did--team up with a local Autopian who can show you the ropes. A lot of learning can be had for cheap or free.



Also note that if someone just says one product, they are extremely biased, and there will be differences of opinions.

I certainly agree!



There's a local guy... his name is TODD (TH0001):bow, I've seen his posts here... he really does some amazing work... seriously... amazing work that I would love to learn some tricks from him.



It's not that I wanna open my shop... or make profit from it...

I just want to be able to adopt this as my hobby and take care of my own car... which I enjoy doing as is... but in a higher level of detail and skill. :laugh:





Speaking of... I checked out your website... ! Is it possible to wrap the whole car...?!

 

[V_Eight]

Speaking of... I checked out your website... ! Is it possible to wrap the whole car...?!

Sure. All the people too cheap to paint their "drift cars" wrap them in low-end vinyl. It takes a while, but can come out looking pretty off the wall.



Send Todd a private message asking if you can swing by for a few hours of instruction on your personal car. I'm sure he'll oblige, as most Autopians are nice folks.

 

[coke4class]

Sure. All the people too cheap to paint their "drift cars" wrap them in low-end vinyl. It takes a while, but can come out looking pretty off the wall.

I was just wondering... coz I've heard people "wrapping" their cars with vinyl and instead of painting... color such as matte black.



Arrr... I just tried to post pic and attach and its not working :faint:

 

[V_Eight]

I was just wondering... coz I've heard people "wrapping" their cars with vinyl and instead of painting... color such as matte black.



Arrr... I just tried to post pic and attach and its not working :faint:

Right! A lot of the odd exotic owners wrap theirs in flat black vinyl. It doesn't harm the finish, in fact, it protects it.



Here's something like I was talking about:

 

[coke4class]

I can't view... coz im at work... but I will check it out once I get home.



Hmmm... maybe i'll wrap mine up...(wait... that sounded odd...)

 

[V_Eight]

I can't view... coz im at work... but I will check it out once I get home.



Hmmm... maybe i'll wrap mine up...(wait... that sounded odd...)

The only downside is, you're not going to be able to polish it. It's just apply and keep clean and 2-10 years (depending on brand and line) remove or replace it.

 

[coke4class]

Right! A lot of the odd exotic owners wrap theirs in flat black vinyl. It doesn't harm the finish, in fact, it protects it.



Here's something like I was talking about:

:nono hmm... I'll definately pass on that...lol.



But something flat black... nice clean look would be cool to do.

 

[Accumulator]

i am still getting the hang of the random orbital...vs rotary...

is mikita and porter cable... is that same...?

NO, they're the two different types (well, Porter Cable *does* make a rotary but when people say "PC"/porter cable in the generic sense they mean "random orbital").



As mentioned, the quickest way to get up to speed on this stuff would be to find an Autopian in your area.



Meanwhile, check out the stuff at these sites, especially their polisher sections: Aloha & Welcome to Our Oasis for All Your Auto Detailing, Auto Detailing Supplies, Auto Detailing Equipment, Auto Detailing Products, & Auto Detailing Accessories for all your Automobile Detailing



Car Care, Car Waxes, Car Polishes, Auto Detailing Supplies, Car Buffers, Car Covers, Car Accessories from Classic Motoring Accessories



Top of the Line Auto Detailing Supplies

 

[coke4class]

NO, they're the two different types (well, Porter Cable *does* make a rotary but when people say "PC"/porter cable in the generic sense they mean "random orbital").



As mentioned, the quickest way to get up to speed on this stuff would be to find an Autopian in your area.



Meanwhile, check out the stuff at these sites, especially their polisher sections: Aloha & Welcome to Our Oasis for All Your Auto Detailing, Auto Detailing Supplies, Auto Detailing Equipment, Auto Detailing Products, & Auto Detailing Accessories for all your Automobile Detailing



Car Care, Car Waxes, Car Polishes, Auto Detailing Supplies, Car Buffers, Car Covers, Car Accessories from Classic Motoring Accessories



Top of the Line Auto Detailing Supplies

Sounds like Porter Cable is good choice to go for maintaining the paint...?



Is that right?



I think... im going to order one this weekend.... which vender has the best price/deal...?



any suggestions?

 

[Accumulator]

Sounds like Porter Cable is good choice to go for maintaining the paint...?



Is that right?



I think... im going to order one this weekend.... which vender has the best price/deal...?



any suggestions?

Actually, I consider the PC to be only *barely* acceptable. Machines like the Flex 3401 are, IMO, a lot better.



To do significant correction via PC requires 4" pads IME. People buy PCs and larger pads and then complain that they're not getting the results they expected.



No idea at all who has the best deal :nixweiss It's been a long, long time since I bought a PC.

 

[akimel]

If your budget allows, then by all means get, as Accumulator has suggested, the Flex XC 3401 VRG. I have Meguiar's G110, and while I do not regret getting this machine, I wish I had known about the Flex. I don't know who has the best deal on the Flex, but check out the package offered by Auto Detailing Solutions. If budget does not allow the purchase of the Flex, then consider either the G110 or UDM. Both are more powerful than the popular PC.