ok guys, here's the deal. i'm planning on detailing BOTH of my cars this weekend. to save my shoulders a little bit of pain (i'm doing paint cleaner, polish, and wax on both), i went out and bought a 10 inch orbital buffer/waxer. thing is, i have very little knowledge on how to wax with one of these things.
it comes with two terry cloth type pads and a micro fiber pad.
which pad is used for which product?
do i put the wax/polish on (using seperate pads for each of course) with the buffer and then wipe off by hand? or do i use a seperate pad for taking the product off?
i really don't want to screw up my paint or anything, i just need a step by step "how to" guide. any help is great.
thanks guys
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ok so use the buffer to put it on and some micro fiber towels to wipe it off.
now does anyone know which pad i should use for which application? or does it matter?
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yea i was part of that thread. only problem is that it doesn't tell me what pad i should use for which application. i need to know if it makes a difference or if the micro fiber pad and the terry cloth pad are just about the same; with both being included for user preference purposes...
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meguiars help for detailing
this is from a class i(in the jeff gordon jacket) went to mequiars did here in the DFW area. the 1st time they did the class outside of their cali shop. the forum is one of the best to get questions answered to detailing.
okie dokie. after reading that website, i'm utterly confused on what i can and can't/should and shouldn't use my buffer for/on/with. i'll be returning my buffer today and doing the job by hand. at least i know i'll be doing it correctly that way.
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I've always done everything by hand. I perfer it that way since you'll know that by hand, you can get into all the little nooks and crannies. Also, you won't have to worry about the speed setting, or if you do it wrong, risk burning your clearcoat.
ok i read the directions that came with the buffer a little more carefully. i THINK THINK THINK that i use the micro fiber pad to apply the product and the wool looking pad to buff it away. i'm going to go buy another set of each pad so i can use one for polish and one for wax. the paint cleaner i'm doing by hand.
anyone want to chime in and disagree with what i THINK? practicing on the wifes car cuz her paint is a little worse off than mine already and she doesn't care about her car as much as i do mine...
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I just read the instructions that I got with my buffer. It says terry cloth to put on and wool to remove, so you should be fine.
You can't outrun the radio.
yea i'm going to try it out tomorrow. my arm feels like jello after applying the meguiars paint cleaner by hand, but my god did it make a difference. all the haziness is gone. its a white car but it looked like it always had a reflection of brown clouds. now its white, looks amazing. i can't wait to get the polish and wax on, it should look damned near brand new.
i've got another month or so before i can do my cavy (got rearended and the paint is still fresh) but i'm already looking forward to it.
after it gets done i'll post pictures so you can guys can see what this stuff can do to a 9 year old paint job...
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I used to be a car detailer for Big Lots Chevy in Springfield, MO. All I did all day was clean and buff cars. The best way to get a really good shine out of your paint is to get foam pads for your buffer. One for putting on the wax and the other for taking it off. With the foam pads it is nearly impossible to mess up your clear coat. Trust me I know my second week there they had me buff a 2005 black vette. It was my second time buffing ever. And let me tell you that foam pad for the buffer works like a charm. Just pour a tiny bit of wax on the car smear it around with the pad and slowly start working the wax into the paint until it is an even layer. Then switch pads and do it agian to buff it off. Just remember do one section at a time in circles and you can't go wrong!
My car has two speeds, fast and faster.
The meguiars 3-step process looks amazing when done....well, after 2 steps. lol Ive yet to wax it, but after the first 2 it looks amazing. Cleared most of the swirls, small scratches, and such and its got a nice wet look to it.
yea i'm not too concerned with the waxing part, thats easy. i'm worried about polishing. the meguiars bottle says not to let the polish dry, wipe it right away, but my buffer is one where i have to changed the bonnets, not just a velcro backing plate. it takes forever to get those damn things on and off. i think i'm going to put it on by hand and then have the buffer right there to work the polish in.
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I have always did my car by hand; i just put nufinish polish on the whole car; then buff it off by hand, then put wax on the whole car and buff that off; turns out wicked; but after it rains the paint does not feel as smooth; but i am going to dry the cleaner wax next time; meguiars all the way!
98 j-body sedan
do the meguiars 3 step deal. the step one paint cleaner worked wonders. took the white paint from a hazey eggshell color back to bright white with little effort.
car turned out great. my stupid ass screwed up though. i did the step on paint cleaner, started on step two polish. i got about 3/4 through the car and realized that i had grabbed the wax bottle instead of the polish. oh well, finished up with wax and called it quits. car looks great, just not as shiney as i could have been. another 4-5 months and i'll do it again.
my car is up in two weeks...i'm all excited and stuff. my wife thinks i'm retarded, my dad's proud that he raised a car guy. go figure...
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