How to use the rotary on side panels?

[Airborne Ranger]

Yesterday I was watching my Meguiars How to remove Paint Defects video just to keep up on what they say and techniques used. They make using the rotary look so easy, course then again, there pros.

For those of you who have this video, on the chapter where they describe how to remove wet sanding marks, they showed Mike Pennington I believe his name is?? showed him using the rotary on the front fender drivers side of that red alero buffing out just a small portion of it. When he started out, I tried to watch as closely as possible to watch his technique when he applied product and began buffing. Do you know which part in the video I'm talking about?? I'm also trying to picture in my minds eye the best technique for applying product to side panels then trying to use the rotary on those panels. I'm thinking the same technique as you would use for horizontal panels--apply a small bead of product onto the surface of the panel and pick up the bead at a small angle with the rotary and being buffing with the pad flat to the surface. One other thing I also question is "product run" I like to call it when you apply product directly to the vertical surfaces and the product begins to run down the panel, any ideas for this? Am I right on this or any of this for that matter?? Thanks,,,,,,,,,AR

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

Good questions!

You do the side/vertical panels the same way as the horizontal. But your question about the strip of product is a good one. If you open a container of Meguiar's #83 etc, the spout's opening has a bit of a lip. When you place this lip gently against the panel, squeeze the product from the bottle. This lip will direct it to the paint's surface. The product will sag slightly due to gravity pulling it down, but not that much. Now, just pick up the product with the buffing pad the same way as in the video.

It takes a little practice, but you will get the hang of it!

Tim

[Airborne Ranger]

Thanks 2hotford. I always did wonder about that since they don't really show much using the rotary on side panels. Thanks for clearing that up,,,,,,AR

[Tim Lingor]

Hi AR,

Side panels are a little trickier as the balance of the rotary is even more critical. But again, once you get the hang of it, it is not that bad!

Tim

[macdude]

Like Tim said, it's not that tough. Try it and you'll pick it up in a cinch. What I usually do if I need it to be targetted to a more specific area is to squirt the compound/polishes onto the pad and apply it directly. Pretty much the same thing but no drips

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by 2hotford
If you open a container of Meguiar's #83 etc, the spouts opening has a bit of a lip. When you place this lip gently against the panel, squeeze the product from the bottle. This lip will direct it to the paint's surface.

This is how I do it also. Just to add to what Tim wrote, you need to be sensitive to the panel when you do this and use a gentle touch, you don't want to push this lip too hard against the finish.

This is done easiest when the bottle is full of product, as you drain your product down, it will become more difficult. If you have more than one bottle of the product you're using, save the full bottles for the sides and use the less than full bottles for horizontal surfaces and before starting and during starting, shake the bottles and stand or rest them in away that they are upside down so the product is continually moving towards the opening.

[Airborne Ranger]

Thanks for the tips guys. I was thinking about the lip on the bottles and took a gander at what I have. I was thinking about how would you apply product right onto to the pad of the rotary and how much sling would you get?? With rotaries I've learned that it seems almost impossible to get zero sling. Maybe apply the product in a thin line across the pad do it that way maybe?

All I need to do now is save up some green and get a makita. Thanks,,,,,AR

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Airborne Ranger
I was thinking about how would you apply product right onto to the pad of the rotary and how much sling would you get??

You can do it this way also. To reduce sling, don't' apply too much product at a time and start out spreading the product out at a lower speed, then turn your speed to the appropriate setting. Also apply your product more to the inside of the pad than to the outside of the pad.

Mike

[RDVT4ME]

One other tip that we learned at NXTI (thank you Kevin) when doing side panels. Keep the rotary closer to your body. This helps you keep better control.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by RDVT4ME
One other tip that we learned at NXT TI (thank you Kevin) when doing side panels. Keep the rotary closer to your body. This helps you keep better control.

Excellent, excellent point Bob.

Also, don't bend-over to work on lower sections. Use a roll-around stool, or a something else to sit on so that you can work directly across from the panel you are buffing. Remember it's import to work safe and take care of you back.

Mike