Buffing / Waxing with buffing machine...
 

So I am entering my first car show this weekend and wanted to do a really good job with the buffin/waxing... Decided to borrow my frineds buffing maching...The ones that look like electric sander with the perpenducilar grips and a finger triger with the pad spinning in circles. Anyway, one guy here at work says "Doooood, you need to be careful or you can really fuck up your paint!"

I was just planning to do a McGuier's 3 stage with it...Is there something I should know before embarking on this dangerous journey? Any tips, tricks, dos, don'ts?

Thanks,
Me

take your time, and don't leave the buffer in one place for too long. good luck..

Yeah you really do need to be carefull. The single action buffers/grinders are OK but you run the chance of overheating the paint or going thru it all.
Mequires actually sells a great full detail kit if you are into the show scene. Ithas a dual action buffer.and a safety built in.( so that if somethong hangs up the pad or you push to hard.. the pad stops turning but the power shaft still moves. A Clutch type dealo;) )

This kit is around 300 bonmes i think but it comes with EVERYTHING. I mean soap, wax's tires, seats, New car smell. Buffing compounds ETC..

I think it is called the Gold class detailing kit. I look for a link and post it up.

can't find the whole kit but here are some good tools

http://www.meguiars.com/store_meguia...&subcatagory=2

very very careful with burning your paint
you should go out and buy a decent orbital buffer so you can keep your car nicely waxed all the time and not having to worry about burning the paint. You can get some now for pretty cheep :)

p.s - meguires 3 step is good but i find that mothers 3 step works well

like everyone mentioned. just make sure to keep it moving watch especially around the edges. if it is adjustable speed turn it to the lowest speed. it doesnt take a genius, just some patience and common sense.

oh and the meguiars NXT wax is the best thing I have used, better than meguiars & mother's stage 3. i haven't tried any other synthetics, but the NXT gave my black FD that deep wet look everyone loves and it is easy to apply and remove, though it is a liquid.

here is a write-up i did a few days ago. http://www.teamfc3s.org/forum/showth...threadid=36161

Is the NTX also a 3 stage process? I like the results of the 3 stage but i can't say i am a fan of 3hours of waxing/buffing.

then go with liquid glass.

How does this compare to others you've tried? Is it just standard waxing procedure? one coat, wipe it off?

Step 1 Compound

2. Wax

3. polish..

My friend has been buffing/detailing cars for the past 6+ years and this is how he has done my car in the past... be REALLY carefull with the compound as it is very easy to mess up and go through the clear. If done right, your car will look amazing.

Are you refering to Liquid Glass? if yes, I guess it's the same deal as the McGuire's 3 stage.

hey man. listen. read that link i posted above. its a step by step process for detailing your car. i was a detailer for 4 years. i've done 200k ferrari's on a daily basis.

Cheers
Jeremy

I read it. Thanks.

no problem, anytime. i'll be adding more i just did not feel like adding more

Don't stay in one area too long else you'll burn it. And don't use a lot of pressure. Let the compound that you're working with do the work. As far as motion, I snake it in whatever direction. Not a big fan of circular motion.

^ what he is refering to is what is called the snake manuver. Its a constant winding track that you put the orbital in to cover the most area with the least amount of movement and less overrun (keeps the wax from building in one spot)

You can do it one of 2 ways. there are no right or wrong ways.

Say the pics below is your hood. here are 2 diffrent ways you could do your hood from standing on one side of the car. As i stated in my write up. you start at one corner and work your way around.

sorry for the shitty example. i did this on a laptop and the left mouse button dose not work to well. :(

I just bought a 10" orbital polisher from Sears for $25 last week; they were on sale for half price! Came with a few bonnets too. I would check and see if they're still on sale...

Thanks guys, this is good info. Will check on it this week...We'll see how the car show thing goes. I managed to yank all the aluminum from the engine bay that was already polished and repolished them. Will clean the interior and start the body tonight. Will post photos.

Dave

cool :)

no, the nxt is just a liquid wax, but it does a good imitation of a 3 stage :). I "3 stage" my care about once every six months then maintain with NXT. I have always been a big fan of meguiar's products. i think mothers has been hyped and their prices reflect it.

ive detailed for over 4 years and this stuff here has been the best stuff i have ever used. http://www.k2distributing.com/pages/...-supplies.html

FYI: I just got done doing the McGuires Stage 3 with the orbital buffer. It worked great...Whole thing took me 2 hours instead of 3....I put the stuff on with the buffer and took it off by hand.

I was even able to buff out a few scratches I had...Car is looking like glass now.

Thanks. will post pics from the car show. I have a feeling it may turn out to be a rice fest.

Here's the site of the show. www.TheTunerFest.com

Don't forget your 3m hand glaze. You'll thank me when you take first place.

the 3m stuff works well but is to expensive for the quality.

If it works for Derosa and sons. It works for me. ;)

i just dont like how a bottle of it is 8 bucks and you only get enough to do your car twice. plus the time ive used it here in FL it wore off within 2 weeks. The ardex last's upto a month and a half to 2 months. I love their teflon wax. It makes the car like glass.

Your right about how the imperial glaze does not last very long but it might give apneablue a edge in his car show.



Thanks for the heads up, I'll give ardex a go. :bigthumb:

4262 PURE GOLD
Thick Liquid Wax
Pure Gold is a pure wax formulation in a creamy, liquid form. Pure Gold goes on like a wax, wipes bright like a wax and lasts like a real paste wax because that's what it is- plus Teflon.

Try that stuff out and tell me what you think. post your results on my sticky thread. I'd like to hear what you think of it.

Jeremy

I'll give te Pure gold a try later on in the week. Anyword on apneablue car show?
apneablue post some pics on here so we can see how your project turned out.

We've got some errors here...first of all, never use a harsh cleaner like glass cleaner (which will contain ammonia) on your car's paint. Clay bar lubricant should be either a wax free quick detailer (like meguiars or mothers showtime) or a solution of a quality car wash and water.

Another thing, many new synthetic waxes (sealants) can be applied in direct sunlight without any harm done. Meguiars NXT is a good example just be sure to leave these synthetics on the paint for the appropriate amount of cure time. 30 minutes should be fine before the final buffing. NXT, like most sealants, do not leave any wax residue or dust.

Rubber trim (especially like the trim on S4 FC's) should be masked for best results in avoiding wax stains. A little trick is to have your trim 100% finished BEFORE waxing the car. When properly dressed, any wax fling should wipe right off freshly detailed trim as the wax will not stick to the layer of dressing on the trim. When waxing is complete, any fling should wipe off with a cloth that is damp w/ dressing.

Cheapy orbitals are really no help IMHO. They cannot remove any paint defects that you can't get out by hand as they are not powerful enough. I can wax a car by hand just as well/quickly as with a cheap orbital. A porter cable polisher is a great choice for those who want to use a machine but are worried about burning the paint ; these machines have enough power to remove deep scratches and swirls but are not nearly as harsh as a professional rotary polisher. Porter cables are around $120.00.

For those of us who keep our cars washed/waxed regularly but aren't too into the detailing game, I really recommend meguiars NXT. This sealant will produce great paint color (especially metallics) and the very mild cleaners will hide swirls really well. It will last MUCH longer than any pure caranuba, is easier to apply and remove and will not leave any residue/wax dust. NXT is also available pretty much anywhere and though it isn't cheap ($15) everyone at the shop has been very impressed w/ the results.

i use the windex with the claybar when i remove overspray from a certin area. and its not "windex that i use. its a commercial glass cleaner that you delute with water. i call it windex" Also masking the trim and doing the trim before oyu wax is not a good idea. if your orbital or hand applicator hits the gell you put on the trim will get on the bonnet and spread over your car. Thats why when you wax you leave 1/2 inch from your trim and go back over by hands and hit that little area with your hand.

everyone say meguires is the best. its at the top with a few others, but thats stuff you can get at a pep boys ect. I like some of their products but they are not my fav.

Also sorry about the link. but there is also that same thread stickeyed at the top of this section. :bigthumb:

When my car is done i'll take some pics of my detailing. :D so look for pics jan/feb time lol :rlaugh: . Whenever i gets outta the shop and the new fresh paint has had a chance to cure i'll be putting a nice coat of the teflon wax on it. I used it on my car and it beads up so well even the morning dew rolls off the car. with others i just noticed that it just beads up and stays on your car.


TurboSmoke

oh btw apneablue congrats on the car show :bigthumb:

Hmm, I should really use the buffer I bought a year ago.