Power car polishing / buffing / waxing

[GordonTarling]

Thanks again. Still undecided though. My main problem is that I don't have power to my garage, so any work has to be done by hand or cordless machine. There's hope though - Autopia mentioned that it's possible to run the Porter Cable from an inverter plugged into your lighter socket - hadn't considered that before and it might be cheaper than a transformer from the mains! My research is ongoing.

 

[Aletank]

With the transformer you also buy a 14 Metre 110v extension lead along with the 2 metre of cable on the transformer and about 2 metre cable on the Porter Cable. Should be enough to run it from your nearest power supply.

Just buy it - You know you want too

PS - My Bro has just been quoted £120 to have electric to his Garage, thats for 2 Fluorescent lights and 2 double sockets

 

[GordonTarling]

Aletank - thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately, my garage is located across a main road from my own house and is in a block behind some flats - extension leads not possible. I did once investigate the cost of getting electric laid on to the garages - Electricity company wanted about £1000 just to lay the cable, that EXCLUDES the costs of digging a trench through all the concrete and then making good. There are only 6 garages in the block and other users simply use them for storage and have no interest in having power, so no chance of sharing the costs. Whatever I decide to buy, it will have to run off a battery of some kind.

 

[Pietre]

Have taken the plunge, and have ordered from Autopia the Porter Cable kit along with pads, bonnets etc, with shipping $276 after 10% discount, which my credit card informs me is £145, so all I need now is to get the 110V transformer organised from ScrewFix and we are away. Thanks for your assist Goldfish11, and I said i was recomended by you, so some more brownies for you. Thanks again, just hope the VAT man leaves me alone this time.

 

[Goldfish11]

Have taken the plunge, and have ordered from Autopia the Porter Cable kit along with pads, bonnets etc, with shipping $276 after 10% discount, which my credit card informs me is £145, so all I need now is to get the 110V transformer organised from ScrewFix and we are away. Thanks for your assist Goldfish11, and I said i was recomended by you, so some more brownies for you. Thanks again, just hope the VAT man leaves me alone this time.

I am definatly not going to win the cleanest car award at the next GTG. Everyone now has my secret weapon.

Have fun when it arrives and thanks for the Brownie Point.

 

[Brian WH]

I am definatly not going to win the cleanest car award at the next GTG. Everyone now has my secret weapon.

You will be banned anyway, due to unfair advantage.

 

[Goldfish11]

You will be banned anyway, due to unfair advantage.

Will have to go for Dirtiest Car instead , Rugby Cement should be able to help me out. A few months ago when they covered the whole place with Chalk and Clay dust

 

[Pietre]

now the outside is covered, do you know of a 110v or even 12v vacuum that will get in the nooks and crannies to make the inside as sparkly as the outside?

 

[Goldfish11]

now the outside is covered, do you know of a 110v or even 12v vacuum that will get in the nooks and crannies to make the inside as sparkly as the outside?

I just get the old Dyson out fit the little brush attachment I find this is excellent.

If you are getting a car vacuum get one with a blow attachment so you can blow water out of the external trim when you wash it or get a leaf blower as well

 

[design guru]

Cordless Buffer £20!!

I recentley purchaced a cordless buffer from Maplins and was more than satisfied with the results, I will admit it is quite noisey, a bit like a lawnmower but it applies the wax evenly and saves time. For only £20 its a real bargain and cordless so no wires rubbing on the body work.

I used it to apply the wax and was amazed it left no smears when I wiped the wax off.

 

[Goldfish11]

I recentley purchaced a cordless buffer from Maplins and was more than satisfied with the results, I will admit it is quite noisey, a bit like a lawnmower but it applies the wax evenly and saves time. For only £20 its a real bargain and cordless so no wires rubbing on the body work.

I used it to apply the wax and was amazed it left no smears when I wiped the wax off.

Cordless machines are great if all you want to do is apply wax as all this involves is putting a thin coat all over the surface. The PC really works the wax into the surface and also is used to prepare the surface with the polish. It is unlikely you will remove swirl easily with a cordless machine, unless you used highly abrasive compounds which would also damage your paint more. I notice BandQ are doing a corded car polisher for £20 for Christmas but the size of the head and the pads is no good. I would not risk it on my car it would probably create a fantastic swirlfest!

 

[Abbs985uk]

Porter Cable

Having invested in one of these machines all Iwill say is try it and see.

I have a cubanite silver car and after meguiars cleaner wax and then gold class wax the results are excellent. Only used it once, very easy and car is still shining two washes later!

 

[doriant]

Guys,
Just a foot note:
I have bought some pads from Machine Mart, and seem good.
Have used them a few times now, washing in soapy water after use.
Costs from £2.94 - 4.95.

 

[mrfiepro]

Thanks to everyone :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:

Order my PC on Wednesday with Sonus kit got it Saturday morning. Only forgot to order the transformer. I'll let you know how to I get on.

I have a lot of swirl, can anyone help me with what polishes and compounds I should use? I have read lots and am tottaly confused with how to do this.

Ta

 

[Goldfish11]

Please use my link, I am not getting my Brownie points

http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?autopia+MBWu4u+index.html+ or ebook

It seems you have to go directly from the link to purchase without surfing to much or they loose me. One day I will get enough for some free pads and polish .

 

[Goldfish11]

Thanks to everyone :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:

Order my PC on Wednesday with Sonus kit got it Saturday morning. Only forgot to order the transformer. I'll let you know how to I get on.

I have a lot of swirl, can anyone help me with what polishes and compounds I should use? I have read lots and am tottaly confused with how to do this.

Ta

Check out the Autopia "Perfect Shine" section in the ebook. You can source most of the products in the UK. Klasse has a European equivalent of Car Lack.

But if you want to keep it simple and get a great result. Use Autoglym Super Resin and see if this shifts the Swirl. If it does not get some Meguiars Swirl remover. (This is fully compatable with the PC) Then use Autoglym after using this. and then apply Autoglym Extra Gloss protection.

Leave a few days and then apply a nice wax.

This is what I did when I won the Summer GTG cleanest Car contest (Everyone will have probably recognised that this has been the highlight of 2004 I do need to get out a bit more)


PS The Sonus pads now supplied by Autopia with the Sonus kit are Guarenteed for 10 uses it seems. So many of the pad problems experienced by people earlier this year with the Lakeland pads should no longer be an issue. I think I will get some for Christmas!!

Using my link ofcourse

http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?autopia+MBWu4u+index.html+

http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?autopia+MBWu4u+index.html+

 

[Abbs985uk]

Klasse polish supplies

Cant find a link for uk suppliers in the ebook? Where shoud I be looking exactly?

 

[glojo]

I am an old 'fuddy duddy' die hard that cringes at the thought of using anything mechanical on the bodywork of our car. BUT....... I have yet to read a bad report on this machine. (apart from Jimmy's pad problem)

My questions are..

Is this machine light enough for my 'petite' (midget) wife to use??

How fool proof is foolproof? close your eyes Pammy.... Is it wife proof

Is there padding on the ends of the handle to prevent it from scratching the bodywork?

What would it take to do something wrong?

I really need a push to take the plunge on this issue and would buy anything that made 'the bosses' life easier.

It looks like the company the is recommended by Gold fish uses the same courier for everyone in the UK (am I correct in thinking it is Parcel Force?) Has anyone paid import duty?

If I do take the plunge what is the best set-up options wise to order from the US?

All help and suggestions are most welcome and appreciated i.e. extra pads when ordering, or sourcing pads from a UK supplier.

I don't know whether to thank you for this excellent, informative thread, or curse you for making me review my thoughts on the cleaning of our car.

Do you still take off the polish with a cloth?

Thanks again and sorry for all my questions

Ooops, Jimmy have you had a reply yet. (I like to hear reports of after sales service)

Regards to you all,
John

Don't suppose you want to demonstrate your product on my 'stretched limo'? (Sprinter)

 

[Goldfish11]

Cant find a link for uk suppliers in the ebook? Where shoud I be looking exactly?

Ah, this is the problem there are no UK suppliers of Klasse as it is unavailable in this country. Search the Web for CarLack this is the same stuff.

 

[Goldfish11]

I am an old 'fuddy duddy' die hard that cringes at the thought of using anything mechanical on the bodywork of our car. BUT....... I have yet to read a bad report on this machine. (apart from Jimmy's pad problem)

My questions are..

Is this machine light enough for my 'petite' (midget) wife to use??

Yes, you need no pressure just rest the machine on the paint work and let it do the work.
How fool proof is foolproof? close your eyes Pammy.... Is it wife proof

Only thing you could do to damage car is drop it, the handle is smooth plastic. If you go for the Sonus pads they completely surround the plate so no problems at this end. Check out the Meguiars video on Power Polishing to see it in use (link is in first entry)
Is there padding on the ends of the handle to prevent it from scratching the bodywork? No but you could take the handle off and it is smooth, I sometimes just hold the body over the plate

What would it take to do something wrong?

If you did not screw the plate on properly or you did not check the pads I guess something could go wrong but it is pretty fool proof.
I really need a push to take the plunge on this issue and would buy anything that made 'the bosses' life easier.

It looks like the company the is recommended by Gold fish uses the same courier for everyone in the UK (am I correct in thinking it is Parcel Force?) Has anyone paid import duty? Delivery is really quick and yes I think Parcel Force did deliver it, sometimes you may be unlucky and pay duty but sometimes you are lucky.
If I do take the plunge what is the best set-up options wise to order from the US? USA ordering is really easy and no one has had a problem. You will need to order a Screwfix transformer and extension lead. This may be the only thing your wife may have an issue with as these are heavy but once set up you dont need to move again.
All help and suggestions are most welcome and appreciated i.e. extra pads when ordering, or sourcing pads from a UK supplier.

I don't know whether to thank you for this excellent, informative thread, or curse you for making me review my thoughts on the cleaning of our car.

Do you still take off the polish with a cloth?

Yes or you can use a microfibre bonnet on the PC, I do it by hand but it is really easy as the PC puts on such a light coat
Thanks again and sorry for all my questions

Ooops, Jimmy have you had a reply yet. (I like to hear reports of after sales service)

Not sure about this but I never had any problems and the new Sonus pads have a longer guarantee, but I would buy extra pads.
Regards to you all,
John

Don't suppose you want to demonstrate your product on my 'stretched limo'? (Sprinter) Yes perhaps at the next GTG or if you are in the Rugby area

See above for answers to questions. They are within the quoted test