Help with rotary purchase and products

[Tech]

I have experience running a rotary polisher but, up until now, I've always benefited from using shop tools. I don't work in a body shop anymore so I'd like to purchase a few items to help maintain the finish of my personal cars (and family members). All of our cars are 2-stage paint. Most of them are darker hues (dark green, blue, black, bright blue, charcoal and one champagne). I've used many rotary products however most of them were "boutique" brands other than Menzerna and 3M. I've had good success with the Meguiar's hand-applied products, so I figured I'd start here looking for some help.

Of the Makita, Bosch and DeWalt polishers, does anyone have a strong preference? If so, why? I suppose the most important factors to me are a consistent trigger, weight and durability. While the Flex products look interesting, I can't justify another $100 over other well respected products.

I'm sure the need will arise for some 1000-2000 grit sanding (scratch/scuff repair). What products provide an efficient way to remove scratches and prepare for hand finishing?

Thanks in advance!

[Tech]

Re: Help with rotary purchase and products

I think I can answer my first question. It seems that the 9227c or the 849x are the polishers of choice from that list. However, the HF tool is so cheap that I might give it a shot first.

The question about products is still up in the air. Mequiars has so many products, many of which seem to overlap for the intended use, that I'm having a hard time deciding what to try.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Help with rotary purchase and products

For light weight, quietness, smoothness and overall build quality at a very good price, the Makita 9227 is an extremely popular choice. The Flex PE14-2-150 has the decided advantage of being extremely light and whisper quiet, but it is easily double the price of the Makita.

From our perspective, once you decide on the tool, the essential product choices are pretty straightforward:

• Start off with a couple of backing plates - the W68 and W66 - for use with both foam and So1o wool pads, respectively. Or you could just stick with both foam and wool pads from the So1o line and go with just the W66 backing plate.
• For heavier cutting, like when removing sanding marks (and provided you're a wool fan) our W5000 double sided wool pad is really hard to beat. You will need an extension/adapter piece for that pad, however.
• Liquids should include M105, M205 and probably even some Ultimate Compound. We don't technically recommend UC as a rotary use liquid, but so many people have given such great reviews of it used this way that it might be worth looking into. In cases where the paint has dried out and M105 doesn't want to play well (admittedly a rare occurrence) you could opt for M86 So1o and still get plenty of cut.

A lot of the other compounds and cleaner polishes, from M85 down to M80, are old school diminishing abrasive products. Great as they are, the M105/M205 combo seems to provide for better overall gloss and clarity on base/clear paint systems.

[greg0303]

Re: Help with rotary purchase and products

My first rotary buffer was Black & Decker WB107B from Amazon (they still sell it):

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-W.../dp/B00282ETBY

but after over a year I decided to upgrade to Makita 9227C and it was like day & night. Makita has a smooth start, the speed goes down to 600 rpm (great for paint jewelling or wax application if needed), it's quiter and much more enjoyable to work with.

I also have Flex PE14-2-150 and I absolutely love it. It costs much more than other rotary buffers though.