Need a Buffer or Polisher to Give my Shoulder a Rest

[Accubond]

Greetings all. I’m a new member to the site and was hoping to find some good information. I’m just a hobby detailer for my and my wife’s vehicles. For decades I’ve used good old fashion elbow grease and sweat to apply wax/polish and remove it. I’m getting a bit older now and starting to have a few minor issues with my shoulder and don’t want to wear out what’s left of it. My question is this… I just want to find an easier, more efficient power tool for removing the wax/polish after I apply it. I also would be interested in applying it with a power tool but it’s the removing that is the most work. I don’t want to remove swirls, water marks, recondition paint, professionally detail, etc… I just want to simply remove and possibly apply normal wax and polish a few times per year, nothing fancy. I just would like something to speed up the process and be much easier physically. I am experienced with many power tools as I’m also a wood worker and do most of my own mechanical work.

Thank for any replies.

[The Guz]

Re: Need a Buffer or Polisher to Give my Shoulder a Rest

Welcome to MOL.

Invest in a dual action polisher. There are quite a few on the market. The porter cable is the one people tend to pick up the most. Here are some others. Pads are indeed recommended.

Porter Cable 7424XP
Griot's Garage
Meguiar's MT300
Meguiar's DA Power System (drill attachment)
Harbor Freight Dual Action polisher

The MT300 will be the one that has the smoothest operation and better ergonomics than the others.

[Nick Winn]

Re: Need a Buffer or Polisher to Give my Shoulder a Rest

Welcome to MOL. We would agree with The Guz to check out a dual action polisher. We would also like to mention that these machines are designed to apply product to the paint, not really to remove them. Below is an article which explains how these different machines works:

Beginners guide to the different types of paint polishing tools

[Top Gear]

Re: Need a Buffer or Polisher to Give my Shoulder a Rest

The DA will save you much work and pain, but also, use a wax that does not have to dry before removal. I never realized how much of a difference that would be until I changed from Gold Class, which is very hard to remove no matter how thin, to Detailer Finishing Wax (D301), which is extremely easy to remove no matter how thick. D301 literally wipes off with one wipe, immediately after you spread it on a given area. No need to wait at all, or re-wipe or buff. No kidding, one wipe. So, I can re-wax by machine in about as much time as a full wash, with no more work or pain than doing a waterless wash.

[Blueline]

Re: Need a Buffer or Polisher to Give my Shoulder a Rest

You say you don't want to remove swirls or correct paint.

In that case the dual action polishers recommended previously are probably not necessary and a bit of an expensive overkill. Those DA, dual action machines are heavy duty units, made for paint correction, and they and their different pads are expensive. Just go buy an 8 inch Simonize orbital polisher at WalMart. They are around $50 and the waxing bonnets are cheap. I use one for applying wax, (saves the elbow and ensure coverage) but I hand remove it since Mequiar's Ultimate Wax is so easy to remove.

[Accubond]

Re: Need a Buffer or Polisher to Give my Shoulder a Rest

Thanks for the replies and informative links. Yes, I do not need to do any paint correction.I just want something that makes removing the wax easier than using a towel and elbow grease.For me, applying the wax wet is much easier than removing it dry but I have only been using the NXT Tech Wax.Maybe changing to a different wax would make removal easier???

With power tools, I well understand you get what you pay for as I have a lot invested in my wood working setup so I’m more than willing to pay the price to get something that will do a quality job and last. Most of you mention either a DA Polisher or a Random Orbital Polisher.I understand the differences between the 2 and that both can do a good job applying a wax product to the paint but would one be recommended as better than the other for removing the product?

If it’s the wax product I should change that will make removal easier, I know nothing about the different products. What would you recommend for just normal, regular, usage maybe about 3 times a year during the non-winter months for the upper Midwest.

Thanks for all the help.

[The Guz]

Re: Need a Buffer or Polisher to Give my Shoulder a Rest

NXT is one of the easiest products to remove. If you are having a hard time removing it then you are applying too much product. You only need a thin application of product.

If you want to try something different, ultimate wax can be removed within 3-5 minutes of application per panel.

[drumdan]

Re: Need a Buffer or Polisher to Give my Shoulder a Rest

You say you don't want to remove swirls or correct paint.

In that case the dual action polishers recommended previously are probably not necessary and a bit of an expensive overkill. Those DA, dual action machines are heavy duty units, made for paint correction, and they and their different pads are expensive. Just go buy an 8 inch Simonize orbital polisher at WalMart. They are around $50 and the waxing bonnets are cheap. I use one for applying wax, (saves the elbow and ensure coverage) but I hand remove it since Mequiar's Ultimate Wax is so easy to remove.

The 6" Ryobi is really not a bad machine for that either.

[Top Gear]

Re: Need a Buffer or Polisher to Give my Shoulder a Rest

I forgot to mention above that regularly using a waterless wash, like UWWA, along with a given quik wax, like GCQW, is amazingly effective for satisfying the hobby without having to "officially" re-wax or correct. As long as the finish is already in good shape, mind you, I've found it's easy to go many months on end without using anything more than spray products. A few minutes every couple of days is great therapy