Go Back   The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums > Social Forums > The Valeting Forum
Register FAQ Image Gallery Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read
Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 14th June 2020, 07:14   #1
oldie
Loves to post
 
Connoisseur SE v8 auto '54

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 487
Thanks: 105
Thanked 56 Times in 41 Posts
Default Polishing the car

Thinking of giving the car a decent buffing. Would you recommend using a random orbital sander (with appropriate heads!) as a polisher? Or something else.
oldie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th June 2020, 08:18   #2
AndyN01
This is my second home
 
AndyN01's Avatar
 
Toyota RAV4

Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Tamworth
Posts: 3,054
Thanks: 2,478
Thanked 1,579 Times in 968 Posts
Default

Hi.

Short answer - No.

Here's my thoughts (apologies if this is teaching granny to suck eggs etc.).

First get hold of some car detailing clay bar or mitt (I prefer a mitt - I just find it easier to use)

Something like this: https://www.car-chem.com/shop/fine-grade-clay-mitt

If you've never used one you might be surprised just how much smoother the paintwork is afterwards. They take off particles that are embedded in the paintwork.

Then use a car polisher.

The number of variables is vast as is the amount of £££'s you can spend .

I started off by going the "cheap" route with the idea that if it works - great, if not I haven't invested too many £££'s.

Off to Argos for their Dual Action polisher and then some polish

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8647...polisher:2:8:1

and

Something like Scholl S20 https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/scholl-s20-black-1-step-compound)

That'll get you started.

After that you can get different sized backing plates, different pads, different grades of polish, different machines and types of machine etc. etc.

There's a fair few of us one here that are also on the Detailing World forum (https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/). While it's a truly awesome site beware that you can get totally overwhelmed by the amount of info/options/opinions there. My mantra is to Keep It Simple.

Like you would for any new tool, do a bit of homework about how to use it and what the risks are. Here's a video well worth watching:

https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/for...d.php?t=281047

Hope that helps.

Let us know how you get on.

Good Luck.

Andy

Last edited by AndyN01; 15th June 2020 at 07:10.. Reason: Wording
AndyN01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th June 2020, 09:05   #3
oldie
Loves to post
 
Connoisseur SE v8 auto '54

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 487
Thanks: 105
Thanked 56 Times in 41 Posts
Default

Thank you AndyN01. I know nothing about car cleaning you have been very helpful. Usually I leave my cars to gather dust and whatever and give them a desultory wash on occasion. Caught in two minds whether to sell or keep (merely to replace with another 75, preferably a v6 again). So a good clean will probably be beneficial either way. I have a couple of supermarket scratches which could do with some attention; why should my bonnet be thought a suitable place to park a fully loaded, metal-studded shopping bag? Wondered about using ChipsAway, any thoughts?

Last edited by oldie; 14th June 2020 at 09:12..
oldie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th June 2020, 12:51   #4
baxlin
This is my second home
 
Volvo C70 Convertible and JZR 3 wheeler

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tring, Herts
Posts: 3,960
Thanks: 124
Thanked 173 Times in 124 Posts
Default

I’m also on DW, and I agree about claying the car before polishing. I use a G3 clay mitt (about £12 or so), and lots of lubricant, after a preliminary plenty-of-water wash.

I don’t have any sort of machine polisher, doing all the work by hand. After the claying, and another wash, I’d give it a coat of a polish that contains fillers, something like Autoglym SRP, followed by a wax. I’ve been using G3 Super Paste Wax, but I think I’m going for Harly Wax next.

Some waxes are expensive, but nether of these at around £25 should break the bank, yet give good results.

But see my sig!
__________________
Only my opinion, obviously, so please don’t shoot me if it doesn’t match yours!

Last edited by baxlin; 14th June 2020 at 12:53..
baxlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th June 2020, 07:27   #5
AndyN01
This is my second home
 
AndyN01's Avatar
 
Toyota RAV4

Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Tamworth
Posts: 3,054
Thanks: 2,478
Thanked 1,579 Times in 968 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by oldie View Post
Thank you AndyN01. I know nothing about car cleaning you have been very helpful. Usually I leave my cars to gather dust and whatever and give them a desultory wash on occasion.


Caught in two minds whether to sell or keep (merely to replace with another 75, preferably a v6 again). So a good clean will probably be beneficial either way.


I have a couple of supermarket scratches which could do with some attention; why should my bonnet be thought a suitable place to park a fully loaded, metal-studded shopping bag? Wondered about using ChipsAway, any thoughts?

You're very welcome. You and many many others including me at the moment as I have a huge amount of house stuff going on. .


Ah, the awkward question - to sell and buy, or keep. Yes, either way a good clean is a great idea.


Removal of scratches depends upon how deep they are. As a rough guide, if you can "catch" them with a fingernail then they need paint, if not they'll probably polish out. Like Baxlin says if you use a polish with fillers that may well do the job. Look for a "glaze" something like https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/poorboys-black-hole or https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/poorboys-white-diamond.


As for ChipsAway, get a quote and see. Done properly the results will be fine.

Cheers.

Andy.

Last edited by AndyN01; 15th June 2020 at 07:39..
AndyN01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th June 2020, 07:54   #6
baxlin
This is my second home
 
Volvo C70 Convertible and JZR 3 wheeler

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tring, Herts
Posts: 3,960
Thanks: 124
Thanked 173 Times in 124 Posts
Default

I second the use of Poorboys Black Hole and/or White Diamond, I have both as Mrs B has a white car, and mine is red. I suggested SRP as it’s more readily available and I didn’t know what colour (light or dark) the car in question was. So any of those should help.

Malcolm
__________________
Only my opinion, obviously, so please don’t shoot me if it doesn’t match yours!
baxlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 12:04.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © 2006-2023, The Rover 75 & MG ZT Owners Club Ltd