First steps at machine polishing

arnosvale65 · 6th April 2016, 16:28

I have just bought and taken delivery of a Duren dual action polisher which cam complete with polishing pads, two discs and a carry bag. It was only £76 but has multi speeds and is very light. i am not expecting professional standards with it but hopefully it will save my poor old arms from aching.

I just need a bit of advice about my first attempts to remove the usual car park scuffs and trolley side swipes. I have a fair old selection of Megulars and Auto Glym and used Megulars scratch remover to good effect by hand. I take it that I should not use compound with a rough surface pad and set the polisher on its highest speed! I thought that by having a not very powerful polisher I would have less chance of burning the paint. I have seen those pads with the lumpy surface which seem to be recommended for compounding. Are they the best thing. I am not expecting to bring my car up to Clydes standards, just make it look good for POL.
Is it best to dampen the pads like we used to in the old days with a damp cloth?

I did join detailing world but it won't let me post and it seems a bit too obsessive for my liking.

v-man · 6th April 2016, 16:55

Does this help any - http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...ad.php?t=63859

Be interesting to know how you get on with the Duren D/A.

Edit: Have you already used clay on the paintwork to remove bonded contaminants? I think you might be best of doing that first, to save possible issues.

arnosvale65 · 6th April 2016, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by v-man

Does this help any - http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...ad.php?t=63859

Be interesting to know how you get on with the Duren D/A.

Thanks, just what I was looking for. I shall report in due course.

arnosvale65 · 6th April 2016, 17:19

Wow! That is an extensive article. Whenever I read one of those I start off feeling confident and end up petrified! It is very good though and I have already learned a few things. I am going to start with the weakest compound and the smoothest of pads. Oh yes! I didn't even know I would have to clay bar it first. I have bought a clay mit which came very recommended by a polishing mad friend of mine. Mind you I might fail at the first hurdle as the chap writing the article says to do the job under cover if possible. No chance of that for me. Its the street or nothing!

Ravinder · 7th April 2016, 14:33

You will not burn the paint with your DA. You will be just fine.

Spread the polish on the paint work at around speed 3 or 4. Give it a good spread, then speed 3, work it in, several overlapping motions. Then when it starts to go clear, speed 4 until it goes nice and clear. It's quite hard to describe it, but I have now got the hang of it. Takes a while. Oh, and it still hurts the arms

But the finish is much more pleasing then doing it by hand.

Unicorn1 · 7th April 2016, 15:44

One of these polishers is on my birthday list - looking forward to hearing about your progress!

Les

arnosvale65 · 7th April 2016, 17:49

Progress report to follow. What I want to do is try and get rid of a few scuffs and scrapes, the usual supermarket ones, and then give her various coats of polish. I normally finish off with autoglym super resin polish which works very well by hand. Does anyone have a good recommendation for machine polish? I saw some very expensive stuff today. The last time I gave my BRG tourer love and attention was for POL last year!! She still looks OK now though. I saw a very good item about which car wash to use on TV the other day and believe it or not a really good machine wash with super soft brushes came out better than the old hand wash boys. Mind you the guy obviously did not like those soft plastic wipers they all use. I always have to tell the lads at my local not to get too close with the pressure washer.

Ravinder · 7th April 2016, 18:59

You cannot go wrong with the Menzerma kit. A very popular kit for polishing with a DA. It's the same stuff I use and it's terrific.

Go for the kit with all the polishes. It's great stuff and they will last you a long time, even the smaller bottles.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polish...ml/cat_28.html

steve1975 · 9th April 2016, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by v-man

Does this help any - http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...ad.php?t=63859

Be interesting to know how you get on with the Duren D/A.

Edit: Have you already used clay on the paintwork to remove bonded contaminants? I think you might be best of doing that first, to save possible issues.

i have the same guide in pdf format if anyone wants it

v-man · 9th April 2016, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve1975

i have the same guide in pdf format if anyone wants it

Might be useful good sir.

6th April 2016, 16:28	#1
arnosvale65 Posted a thing or two 75 facelift CDTi Connie SE Tourer. MGF 1.8 VVC Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: bristol Posts: 1,424 Thanks: 176 Thanked 176 Times in 119 Posts	First steps at machine polishing I have just bought and taken delivery of a Duren dual action polisher which cam complete with polishing pads, two discs and a carry bag. It was only £76 but has multi speeds and is very light. i am not expecting professional standards with it but hopefully it will save my poor old arms from aching. I just need a bit of advice about my first attempts to remove the usual car park scuffs and trolley side swipes. I have a fair old selection of Megulars and Auto Glym and used Megulars scratch remover to good effect by hand. I take it that I should not use compound with a rough surface pad and set the polisher on its highest speed! I thought that by having a not very powerful polisher I would have less chance of burning the paint. I have seen those pads with the lumpy surface which seem to be recommended for compounding. Are they the best thing. I am not expecting to bring my car up to Clydes standards, just make it look good for POL. Is it best to dampen the pads like we used to in the old days with a damp cloth? I did join detailing world but it won't let me post and it seems a bit too obsessive for my liking. __________________ Onwards and upwards. MGZT-T MK1 front and rear ends fitted, specialist- components in line thermostat mod done, retro fitted cruise control, Mk1 real wood dash fitted, real walnut steering wheel fitted, Pioneer DAB radio fitted.

6th April 2016, 16:55	#2
v-man I really should get out more....... Ford Fezza Poverty Spec & ? Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 2,892 Thanks: 526 Thanked 349 Times in 275 Posts	Does this help any - http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...ad.php?t=63859 Be interesting to know how you get on with the Duren D/A. Edit: Have you already used clay on the paintwork to remove bonded contaminants? I think you might be best of doing that first, to save possible issues. __________________ Report potholes, flytipping, broken streetlights - www.fixmystreet.com Find cheaper diesel/petrol - www.petrolprices.com 2001 Rover 45 1.8 Impression S owned for 15 years, now scrapped. Last edited by v-man; 6th April 2016 at 16:59..

6th April 2016, 17:19	#4
arnosvale65 Posted a thing or two 75 facelift CDTi Connie SE Tourer. MGF 1.8 VVC Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: bristol Posts: 1,424 Thanks: 176 Thanked 176 Times in 119 Posts	Wow! That is an extensive article. Whenever I read one of those I start off feeling confident and end up petrified! It is very good though and I have already learned a few things. I am going to start with the weakest compound and the smoothest of pads. Oh yes! I didn't even know I would have to clay bar it first. I have bought a clay mit which came very recommended by a polishing mad friend of mine. Mind you I might fail at the first hurdle as the chap writing the article says to do the job under cover if possible. No chance of that for me. Its the street or nothing! __________________ Onwards and upwards. MGZT-T MK1 front and rear ends fitted, specialist- components in line thermostat mod done, retro fitted cruise control, Mk1 real wood dash fitted, real walnut steering wheel fitted, Pioneer DAB radio fitted.

7th April 2016, 15:44	#6
Unicorn1 Avid contributor Rover 75 CDTi Conn Join Date: May 2012 Location: Canterbury Posts: 169 Thanks: 281 Thanked 125 Times in 65 Posts	One of these polishers is on my birthday list - looking forward to hearing about your progress! Les __________________ My other car's from Longbridge too - a 1948 A40 Devon.

7th April 2016, 17:49	#7
arnosvale65 Posted a thing or two 75 facelift CDTi Connie SE Tourer. MGF 1.8 VVC Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: bristol Posts: 1,424 Thanks: 176 Thanked 176 Times in 119 Posts	Progress report to follow. What I want to do is try and get rid of a few scuffs and scrapes, the usual supermarket ones, and then give her various coats of polish. I normally finish off with autoglym super resin polish which works very well by hand. Does anyone have a good recommendation for machine polish? I saw some very expensive stuff today. The last time I gave my BRG tourer love and attention was for POL last year!! She still looks OK now though. I saw a very good item about which car wash to use on TV the other day and believe it or not a really good machine wash with super soft brushes came out better than the old hand wash boys. Mind you the guy obviously did not like those soft plastic wipers they all use. I always have to tell the lads at my local not to get too close with the pressure washer. __________________ Onwards and upwards. MGZT-T MK1 front and rear ends fitted, specialist- components in line thermostat mod done, retro fitted cruise control, Mk1 real wood dash fitted, real walnut steering wheel fitted, Pioneer DAB radio fitted.

7th April 2016, 14:33	#5
Ravinder This is my second home Rover 75 saloon x2, Rover 75 Tourer x2, Rover 220 Coupe Turbo Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kirkcaldy, Fife Posts: 9,036 Thanks: 2,278 Thanked 2,852 Times in 1,718 Posts	You will not burn the paint with your DA. You will be just fine. Spread the polish on the paint work at around speed 3 or 4. Give it a good spread, then speed 3, work it in, several overlapping motions. Then when it starts to go clear, speed 4 until it goes nice and clear. It's quite hard to describe it, but I have now got the hang of it. Takes a while. Oh, and it still hurts the arms But the finish is much more pleasing then doing it by hand.

7th April 2016, 18:59	#8
Ravinder This is my second home Rover 75 saloon x2, Rover 75 Tourer x2, Rover 220 Coupe Turbo Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kirkcaldy, Fife Posts: 9,036 Thanks: 2,278 Thanked 2,852 Times in 1,718 Posts	You cannot go wrong with the Menzerma kit. A very popular kit for polishing with a DA. It's the same stuff I use and it's terrific. Go for the kit with all the polishes. It's great stuff and they will last you a long time, even the smaller bottles. http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polish...ml/cat_28.html