Judge my polishing technique!

[bookeem]

great advice and tips here for someone like me looking to step up to a rotary..



keep it up guys..

 

[Mindflux]

For working SIP, your work time seemed pretty spot on. About a minute or so. Your arm speed is perfect, and even buffing at tough angles (since the bottom of the C3's doors curve back in) you have great control over the polisher, your actual technique look's perfect.

There are 2 minutes and two seconds worth of buffing in this video, not accounting for lifting the buffer to change the speed. That work time seems a bit long, but he's getting great results (as you mentioned).. so no change required.

 

[stilez]

Good work, Joy.



Maybe I'm not in the norm on this one, but I never go vertically when buffing a door with a rotary like that.



I agree with Todd to use the trigger lock if using the speed dial to control the speed. For me, I keep it at "3" or one click past on the Makita and feather the trigger when spreading and beginning the buffing. I usually only do one set of passes on a lower speed when finishing too.



Overall though, if it's working, keep going.

 

[Mindflux]

Good work, Joy.



Maybe I'm not in the norm on this one, but I never go vertically when buffing a door with a rotary like that.

Why not? When I wash my car I do the 'vertical' panels up and down (versus the length of the car). You are less likely to see marring that runs the direction of the panel (relative to your viewing angle) than you are to see it if it were lengthwise (on a vertical panel) and vice versa for panels that lay horizontal. Since you view your car from the side you'd see side to side scratches more easily than up and down. And usually viewing the hood/roof is done from the front (or back for the roof too).. you are less likely to see flaws running lengthwise in this respect.



In short, my hood and roof get done lengthwise (front to back of car) and the rest of my panels get done in a vertical up and down cleaning.



The same would apply for buffing, one would imagine if you were worried about adding imperfections (which happens now and then).

 

[stilez]

Why not? When I wash my car I do the 'vertical' panels up and down (versus the length of the car). You are less likely to see marring that runs the direction of the panel (relative to your viewing angle) than you are to see it if it were lengthwise (on a vertical panel).



In short, my hood and roof get done lengthwise (front to back of car) and the rest of my panels get done in a vertical up and down cleaning.



The same would apply for buffing, one would imagine if you were worried about adding imperfections (which happens now and then).

Its just the way I've been doing it. It has been working out just fine for me, I will not knock the vertical buffing though. Next victim I will certainly give 'er a go and see how it pans out.



That's the beauty of Autopia, I've been buffing this way for years, yet others have had success with different techniques. I can take, try, and possibly improve my overall skill level thanks to this community. Can't beat it!

 

[Mindflux]

Its just the way I've been doing it. It has been working out just fine for me, I will not knock the vertical buffing though. Next victim I will certainly give 'er a go and see how it pans out.



That's the beauty of Autopia, I've been buffing this way for years, yet others have had success with different techniques. I can take, try, and possibly improve my overall skill level thanks to this community. Can't beat it!

Yep. I agree, there are numerous ways to get the same job done. I just thought I'd inquire.

<-- 'OG'.



:waxing:

 

[SuperBee364]

Something nobody has brought up...



Ear plugs.



I'm only 21, and I can honestly tell that my machines are hurting my ears in a few different ways. Lots of ringing lately, not good. Too much polishing.:buffing:



Seriously though. Do it.

+1. My old rotary was so loud, I had to wear earplugs. Greg Nichols will vouch for this.



I wear plugs with my new Flex 3403.

 

[imported_fishbonezken]

Wow, as a rotary newbie, I find this video extremely useful....and very surprising. I had no idea that you would work the polish that long! I thought using a rotary would take half the time, or less, than a PC. That doesn't seem possible if you have to work it this long (especially at 1500 rpm's). :nixweiss

hi Rob,in my humble opinion, it also depends on the product.

For example, you can work Optimum polishes relatively longer than Meguiar's polishes.

correct me if I'm wrong on this one.

 

[Rob Tomlin]

hi Rob,in my humble opinion, it also depends on the product.

For example, you can work Optimum polishes relatively longer than Meguiar's polishes.

correct me if I'm wrong on this one.

Makes sense.



Do we know what polishes and pad he was using in that video?

 

[charlesaferg]

+1. My old rotary was so loud, I had to wear earplugs. Greg Nichols will vouch for this.



I wear plugs with my new Flex 3403.

Who is Greg Nichols?



I think all of my machines are too loud, especially when working in a garage - but even outside it's bad, and it's more noticable outside with all the ambient sounds.

 

[SuperBee364]

Who is Greg Nichols?



I think all of my machines are too loud, especially when working in a garage - but even outside it's bad, and it's more noticable outside with all the ambient sounds.

He's a fellow detailer here in Utah. Really good guy, and a heck of a good detailer. When we did a car together, I thought the noise of my rotary was gonna drive him crazy. He uses a Makita 9227 which is so nice and quiet.

 

[charlesaferg]

He's a fellow detailer here in Utah. Really good guy, and a heck of a good detailer. When we did a car together, I thought the noise of my rotary was gonna drive him crazy. He uses a Makita 9227 which is so nice and quiet.

Hah, yea the Metabo is loud. I think it's small size makes up for it, but it's probably also the cause. not much between the mechanical workings and your hands. Yet, it's my favorite rotary, built like a Panzer tank.