Buffer

[Lydia]

My Dad bought me a buffer yesterday! It's a Rockford 10" 120V 3200 RPM. Yes I know it's not as good as a PC, but it's still better than working by hand and I don't have money for a PC (besides it was really sweet of my Dad to buy it for me). Anyways, I used it today to remove wax, and I was wondering if y'all thought it would work to use a product like ScratchX with it? It has two bonnets, a fake sheep wool one and an applicator one. Is there somewhere I could order any more bonnets in that size? Also, if I can use some kind of scratch-removing product with it, what product would you recommend? I just want to remove fine scratches and oxidation. Also, I'm considering ordering from Meg's soon and I was wondering what product y'all would recommend to use to clean my wheel wells and engine (I'm guessing APC?), and also a product to dress my wells, engine, and other exterior things? Thank you so much in advance!


-Lydia

P.S. The products I used on my truck were:
DC Car Wash
ScratchX in some places
ColorX
NXT Tech Wax (I LOVE this stuff!!)
Hot Shine Tire Spray
PlastX
NXT Metal Polysh (another awesome product [actually I love all Meg's products that I have tried so far lol])

Is this a good order with the ColorX used as a Paint Cleaner and then NXT as additional protection? Thanks again!

[PaintPolisher]

You are now officially sliding down that slippery slope of addiction of polishing paint which will last a lifetime and currently there is no cure – ever. Thank your Dad again for giving you his support on this addiction.
APC or APC+ for cleaning is the way to go on wheel wells and just about everything else and I would suggest extra sprayers for the dilution rates. I use a lot of QD and by removing the glue labels and rinsing out the container and spray attachment I use the blue painters tape once around the container writing the dilution 4/1, 10/1.
For LSP on wheel wells, engine, rubber gaskets, interior and exterior trim… I highly recommend #40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner. Which I use as a spray, spread and walk away product when doing wheel wells. The best way I describe this stuff is “it dries – DRY”. So cool.
Al

[the other pc]

Large orbital buffers like the one you have can save you some work/time when applying “wipe on” products like waxes and glazes (pure polishes). They don’t have enough power to remove defects and their surface area is so large they can’t concentrate what little power they do have.

The 10” size is pretty common. Bonnets are readily available. Meguiar’s has foam application bonnets (p/n X4008) and microfiber removal bonnets (p/n X4009) for 9”-10” buffers.


PC.

[pepseeboy]

Make sure your surface is completely clean by Claying, this will remove imbedded dirt that wont wash off, and then your polish will work 100% better on a clean smooth surface, Meguiar's has a Claying kit it works wonders. Good Luck on your Car

[Lydia]

IBstoney1: Thanks for the recommendation. I think I probably will order both of those products. #40 sounds awesome because I need something to use on my interior too (Monday when I washed and vacuumed my truck I went to put some left over armorall on the dash and in the dark grabbed the wrong bottle....I ended up using some left over armorall wheel cleaner it took me a few seconds to realize why the armorall stunk so bad. Fortunately it didn't mess up my dash....it did kinda scare me though lol).

PC: Thanks for the links. Those are just what I was looking for. Also thanks for the advice.

pepseeboy: I have to agree with you. Meguiar's clay kit really does work wonders. I didn't clay this time because it didn't need it. Thanks for the suggestion though!

Would my buffer do ANY good with a product like ScratchX? My Dad is working on rebuilding or replacing (he's not sure which yet) the engine of a 1990 Celica GT which is pink. It used to be red, but after the engine got blown (the ex-owner ran it without oil until the piston rod snapped and busted a hole in BOTH sides of the block) it sat in the previous owner's yard for a few months. Anyways, to make a short story long, I want to see what I can do with the paint on the Celica. It has oxidation and swirlies. I was hoping to be able to use the buffer on it so my arms won't get so tired. Also, when I tried a little ScratchX by hand, the MF I was using turned pinkish. Does that mean it is SS paint? If so, should I use a different product on it?

Thanks again for the help!

[the other pc]

Originally posted by Lydia
…Would my buffer do ANY good with a product like ScratchX? …

ScratchX is being reformulated for use by DA and orbital buffers. I guess if your tube says it’s OK then you might as well try it. Don’t get your hopes up though. The whole point is to work the product so the diminishing abrasives can cut the top layer of paint. A 10” buffr won’t concentrate much energy on any given portion of the surface so it can’t do much. By hand you concentrate your energy on a much smaller area.

Originally posted by Lydia
… My Dad is working on rebuilding or replacing (he's not sure which yet) the engine of a 1990 Celica GT which is pink. It used to be red, but after the engine got blown (the ex-owner ran it without oil until the piston rod snapped and busted a hole in BOTH sides of the block)…

If it pitched a rod through the block I think replacing is in order.

Originally posted by Lydia
…. I tried a little ScratchX by hand, the MF I was using turned pinkish. Does that mean it is SS paint? If so, should I use a different product on it?…

Yes, it’s probably ss paint. Or, maybe the particular area you were working had lost its clearcoat. ScatchX is the right (by hand) product for either bc/cc or ss.


PC.

[Superior Shine]

3200 rpm !?!?! Is that all!?!?!

[Lydia]

Joe: Yes that is all.

PC: OK well thanks for the help. About the engine block, I think he was saying there was some way he could rig it so it would work. But I'm prettty sure he's just going to replace it since there is a hole on each side of the block. Also since the piston rod is broken and the bearing is messed up bad, it's not worth trying to rebuild it.

PS: Sorry it took so long to reply; I've been working a lot lately so I didn't have time to reply.

[Lydia]

Hmm I went to order today from ADS and now I have another question. Would APC+ or normal APC be better? Thanks!