Should I buy a $30 Orbital Buffer from AutoZone?

[MSorrell7]

I am not a professional detailer but I do have some experience detailing my car and friends and neighbors' cars. What I do most (on exterior) is wash, clay, wax, and remove very minor scratches. I do enjoy spending the time working on cars but I am very anal about the way I do things so it usually takes me a long time, especially waxing. I just spent two whole days detailing the exterior of my Ford Taurus. The first day I spent about 5 hours just washing, drying, and claying. The second day (today), I spent about 6 1/2 hours washing again, drying again, and waxing (using Cleaner Wax [A12]). After an hour of waxing, I get tired, knowing I have 3 more hours to go. As you can tell, I do everything by hand, no power tools whatsoever.

So anyway, I am starting to consider buying an orbital buffer before I have to spend another 4 hours waxing someones else's car who wouldn't appreciate all the work that goes into it. I would love to buy the Mequiars' one or another of equal value, but I just can't afford $150-$200.

I saw that there was a 6" random orbital buffer for $30 at AutoZone, plus I have $20 worth of reward points, so it would only be $10. The brand is either Great Neck, Titan, or Vapor. I'm not sure. I believe it was 3,000 or 3,500 RPM. Would this be a good purchase? Safe for my car (I have NO experience with buffers)? Probably last a few years?

Just looking for a little advice on this matter. Thanks for reading my book lol.

[Poki]

Re: Should I buy a $30 Orbital Buffer from AutoZone?

I have given up on the light duty orbitals after going through 3 Sears units at $30 each and a couple others too. They are usually not repairable and last maybe a year or so. They are OK for applying wax but don't have enough power for any paint correction. Also, you won't have much choice in pads for doing anything other than applying wax. If you goal is to make the wax application easier it can aid that process for sure. Maybe Santa can help towards the purchase of a G110?

[tcope1]

Re: Should I buy a $30 Orbital Buffer from AutoZone?

Washing and drying should take 30 minutes. Claying time varies with the amount of contaminants on the paint. It very well can take 4 hours. After a vehicle is clayed it should not take 6 hours to apply wax by hand and remove. Have you tried taping the plastic parts before applying wax? Regardless, you should be able to apply wax by hand to a car in about 2-3 hours after claying as it should just wipe on, dry and wipe off. I'm guessing that you are trying to work the wax into the paint by hand. You only need to apply a thin layer and then move onto the next panel. If you go over a spot it's only to ensure complete coverage... not to work the product into the paint.

As mentioned an OP is only good for applying a LSP (Last Step Product) such as wax. It's good for larger areas such as the roof, hood and deck lid but for smaller areas I find applying by hand is easier and quicker.

The paint on my F150 is very clean. I can wax the entire truck in about 2 hours by hand. I only need to spend about 10 minutes on each panel.

[cnfowler]

Re: Should I buy a $30 Orbital Buffer from AutoZone?

Washing and drying should take 30 minutes. Claying time varies with the amount of contaminants on the paint. It very well can take 4 hours. After a vehicle is clayed it should not take 6 hours to apply wax by hand and remove. Have you tried taping the plastic parts before applying wax? Regardless, you should be able to apply wax by hand to a car in about 2-3 hours after claying as it should just wipe on, dry and wipe off. I'm guessing that you are trying to work the wax into the paint by hand. You only need to apply a thin layer and then move onto the next panel. If you go over a spot it's only to ensure complete coverage... not to work the product into the paint.

As mentioned an OP is only good for applying a LSP (Last Step Product) such as wax. It's good for larger areas such as the roof, hood and deck lid but for smaller areas I find applying by hand is easier and quicker.

The paint on my F150 is very clean. I can wax the entire truck in about 2 hours by hand. I only need to spend about 10 minutes on each panel.

Depending on what you are trying to achieve, this is completely wrong. When using a cleaner wax, you WANT to work it into the paint. You won't achieve any correction or cleaning if you just wipe on, wipe off. Since the OP stated he was using cleaner wax, his application is correct in wanting to work it into the paint.

Colin

[MSorrell7]

Re: Should I buy a $30 Orbital Buffer from AutoZone?

Washing and drying should take 30 minutes. Claying time varies with the amount of contaminants on the paint. It very well can take 4 hours. After a vehicle is clayed it should not take 6 hours to apply wax by hand and remove. Have you tried taping the plastic parts before applying wax? Regardless, you should be able to apply wax by hand to a car in about 2-3 hours after claying as it should just wipe on, dry and wipe off. I'm guessing that you are trying to work the wax into the paint by hand. You only need to apply a thin layer and then move onto the next panel. If you go over a spot it's only to ensure complete coverage... not to work the product into the paint.

As mentioned an OP is only good for applying a LSP (Last Step Product) such as wax. It's good for larger areas such as the roof, hood and deck lid but for smaller areas I find applying by hand is easier and quicker.

The paint on my F150 is very clean. I can wax the entire truck in about 2 hours by hand. I only need to spend about 10 minutes on each panel.

It usually takes me 45-60 minutes to wash and dry my car. That includes washing wheel wells and drying door jams, so everything except the underbody and engine bay are cleaned and dried.

Claying isn't hard at all for me. I can do my Ford Taurus in an hour probably. I didn't pay attention to how long that step took.

Waxing is definitely what takes me the longest, regardless of the type of wax I use. As another poster said, with Cleaner/Wax, your supposed to work it into the paint but I think I might have been applying too much.

I thought getting a 6" buffer would be better since its able to reach more places. I think with my Taurus, I would be able to use a 6" buffer on almost all of the car.

[tcope1]

Re: Should I buy a $30 Orbital Buffer from AutoZone?

Depending on what you are trying to achieve, this is completely wrong. When using a cleaner wax, you WANT to work it into the paint. You won't achieve any correction or cleaning if you just wipe on, wipe off. Since the OP stated he was using cleaner wax, his application is correct in wanting to work it into the paint.

True, I was refering to just applying a wax. The OP mentioned applying Paint Cleaner and not looking forward to more hours of applying a "wax". I thought he was speaking of waxing after applying the Paint Cleaner. Good clarification.

If I was the OP and washing, claying, applying paint cleaner and then wax, I'd charge the person a little "somethin somethin" and put some it toward the purchase of a DA. $50/car and put $20 toward a DA. Or make a deal.. I'll detail your vehicle 5 times if you buy me a DA.

[ziggo99]

Re: Should I buy a $30 Orbital Buffer from AutoZone?

I have a 10" and a 6" buffer like the ones you're talking about, and if you're wanting minor correction and wax application, then yes, that buffer would be worth it. You can get the microfiber or terry cloth bonnets for them, one may be better than the other. I've only used terry cloth and I think I let them get too full of product, but I like the time they save.

[cnfowler]

Re: Should I buy a $30 Orbital Buffer from AutoZone?

...If I was the OP and washing, claying, applying paint cleaner and then wax, I'd charge the person a little "somethin somethin" and put some it toward the purchase of a DA. $50/car and put $20 toward a DA. Or make a deal.. I'll detail your vehicle 5 times if you buy me a DA.

That's certainly something to think about. Years ago I traded a full detail, inside and out, shampoo carpets, the whole nine yards for a G100 kit from ADS. Turns out the car was my father's and he paid me up front so I could get the kit. It was a great investment and my father was so impressed by the end result he tipped me $100.

You have to get creative when you're broke. Whatever it takes to get you started. A DA is certainly a wise investment, even if you're only doing your own vehicle.

Colin

[MSorrell7]

Re: Should I buy a $30 Orbital Buffer from AutoZone?

One major bad thing about the cheap ones at AutoZone is that there's only one speed (as far as I know).

Another question I have is, how do you REMOVE wax with a buffer?

[tcope1]

Re: Should I buy a $30 Orbital Buffer from AutoZone?

One major bad thing about the cheap ones at AutoZone is that there's only one speed (as far as I know).

Another question I have is, how do you REMOVE wax with a buffer?

You can use a clean terry cloth on the buffer to remove wax but even when I was using a OB, I still removed by hand. The OB will put a nice even and very light coat onto the vehicle. So it's very easy to just wipe off by hand. Also, you can fold a good microfiber towel several times in order to keep the towel from loading up with dried wax. A terry pad on the buffer is going to load up pretty quick so you'd go through a few using it this way. Pick up a 5 pack of Vroom MF towels from your local Target. They are on same for $4/pack.

OB also come with a lambs wool for buffing after the wax is removed. I still prefer buffing by hand with a good towel.