[Yesterdaysnews]

9 months and 22,000 KM in, my white VW Taigun GT seemed like she wanted a good buff and polish. I’ve tried ceramic coating on my previous car, and wasn’t too impressed, as far as bang for buck is concerned.

I started making calls to my usual places and was quite taken aback by how much they wanted. Even for just polishing and waxing, everyone seemed to be pushing for yearly 20,000 - 35,000 packages - 4 polishes a year. I think it makes no sense buffing and polishing 4 times a year. Twice or so a year is more than enough!

For single services, 3M quoted 9,500, another center 7500, someone said they’d come home and do it for 6k, myTVS asked for 4k but had horrid reviews…

I’ve always been wanting to polish and detail myself, but was wary after reading threads here on TeamBHp with too much information which made detailing seem rather difficult. Elsewhere online was quite confusing as well - “you’ll burn your paint,” some said and others “you’ll take your clear coat off.” Yet others were recommending expensive Dual action polishers saying they are the easiest for novices, and rotary polishers were dangerous in the hands of a noob. I really didn’t want an expensive polishing machine as I’d be using it only 2 times or so a year.

I decided to take the plunge and try machine buffing and polishing on one panel, and if I burnt it, I figured I’d scratch a wall and claim insurance.

So I bought a 6 speed polish machine on Amazon for Rs 3,500 which came with 2 pads, including a woollen one.

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07CJ1CSZ1/..._cWultnHN8um6g



And Turtle wax compound, hard shell polish and ceramic spray coating. Also a clay bar and a new set of microfiber cloths.

The Internet was screaming that a woollen pad was in the hands of a noob detailer a recipe for disaster - so I got a foam pad as well.

When everything arrived, I tested the machine on my coffee table with the foam pad. And I ended up scratching the table. I next tried it on my refrigerator while my wife was screaming blue bloody murder, and I scratched it.

I went to sleep in the guest bedroom as my wife was still screaming blue bloody murder over the coffee table and fridge, woke up this morning and decided to just go ahead on my car.

I first washed it, using my Karcher 120 bar washer. Then clayed the surface and then got the machine ready.

Didn’t use the foam pad, instead the buffing pad that came with the machine.

Dabbed some compound and off I went on a panel. Started slow, picked up speed. I was sure that I was going to scratch the panel. But after I was done, and wiped away with a cloth, nothing had happened to the panel and infact all the swirls and minor scratches were gone!

Boom! Finished compounding and buffing the entire car, and then wiped it with a cloth. All swirl marks gone, scratches gone.

I had by now worn out the buffing pad, and had to get on the wool pad. Was wary again, for everyone said it was really aggressive and would scratch the car, but my confidence was boosted by now and rubbing some hard shell polish on it and dabbing a panel, I went to work. Stared slow first working myself to full RPM.

Again, nothing adverse happened and the panel came out sparkling. In fact the woollen pad was the easiest to work with!

Finished the entire car, and I then sprayed the Turtle wax ceramic spray and buffed with a microfiber cloth.

I’ve given my previous cars to many a wax and polishing, and like mentioned previously even for an expensive ceramic coating with ceramic pro.

My results were equal if not better. Picture above of the sky reflecting off the bonnet.

Took me about 5 hours, I got a real good workout, drank much more water than I usually would, and achieved pro like results, for a mere 6,000 - and except for the can of polish and one pad, everything remains for me use again - which means about Rs 1,000 next time - 600 for polish and 400 for a pad.

Sometimes, we just gotta take the plunge!

[Jeroen]

Good job.

The trick to avoid scratching and paint damage when using a machine polisher is getting an eccentric polishing machine.

I went to a workshop car detailing nd polishing not too long ago:

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/diy-d...ml#post5502397 (My Car Hobby: Jaguar XJR, Mercedes W123, Alfa Romeo Spider, Jeep Cherokee & Mini One)

Getting great results!

You can see some of my polishing and detailing kit, including the eccentric polisher in this post towards the end.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/diy-d...ml#post5506141 (My Car Hobby: Jaguar XJR, Mercedes W123, Alfa Romeo Spider, Jeep Cherokee & Mini One)

Jeroen

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by Yesterdaysnews

I decided to take the plunge and try machine buffing and polishing on one panel, and if I burnt it, I figured I’d scratch a wall and claim insurance.

Sometimes, we just gotta take the plunge!

Oh I have been in this dilemma for years now and whenever I decide I go weak knees again and decide to leave it to the professionals. But good for you as you emerged out successful. Pls do share the post activity pics to do justice to your thread.

Any reasons for zeroing on the polish machine brand?

I must say it was super bold of you to scratch a wall & claim insurance if things were to go on the wrong side.

[Yesterdaysnews]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Any reasons for zeroing on the polish machine brand?

Picture is of the car after I worked it. All my friends now want me to polish their cars after seeing mine! :P

Bought that because it wasn’t expensive, came with a buffer and woollen pad + had a 6 speed switch, + was 7 days returnable.

Ended up being a great choice!

[gauravdgr8]

This is something I been dying to try on my own, however everytime stop short of clicking the Buy Now button.

Your thread now gives me enough confidence to give it a shot

[swami69]

Good Job. These are rotary polishers and when we are trying for the first few times, use it with the lowest speed setting and get a hang of it. Use sufficient compound / Polish so that it does not get dried up on the panel due to heat. I use same methods for my cars once in 3 months and the results are very good. I use the following

Wash
Clay
Wash, Wipe
Meguiars Ultimate Compound
Meguiars Ultimate Polish
finally seal it of with ICE & Shine coat

Yes, it takes a toll on your body, but end of the day, satisfaction matters

swami

[Cresterk]

Originally Posted by swami69

Good Job. These are rotary polishers and when we are trying for the first few times, use it with the lowest speed setting and get a hang of it. Use sufficient compound / Polish so that it does not get dried up on the panel due to heat. I use same methods for my cars once in 3 months and the results are very good. I use the following
swami

Does polishing the car every 3 months lead to excessive clearcoat wear? I'm a bit hesitant of stripping the clearcoat out as compounding and polishing takes off a small layer of clearcoat.

[Yesterdaysnews]

Originally Posted by gauravdgr8

This is something I been dying to try on my own, however everytime stop short of clicking the Buy Now button.

Your thread now gives me enough confidence to give it a shot

Do give it a shot Gaurav. I was in the same bucket as you were for a long time. But once I took the plunge, I figured it is quite easy and brings a lot of satisfaction, especially if one was on the edge to do it or not for a while! Keep us posted!

Originally Posted by Cresterk

Does polishing the car every 3 months lead to excessive clearcoat wear? I'm a bit hesitant of stripping the clearcoat out as compounding and polishing takes off a small layer of clearcoat.

I think once in 3 months is excessive and not needed. That was why I wasn’t keen on taking yearly packages with 3/4 services - which translates in to a service every 3 or so months. Once every 6-8 months is good to go to keep the cars exteriors in great shape and shine!

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by Cresterk

Does polishing the car every 3 months lead to excessive clearcoat wear? I'm a bit hesitant of stripping the clearcoat out as compounding and polishing takes off a small layer of clearcoat.

If you use the polishing machine correctly it takes about 3-4 micron of the top coat. Polishing every three months does seem a bit much though.

The biggest problem is this type of polisher. As it only rotates you have to be very careful using it.

If you use an eccentric or dual action polisher the chances of damaging the paint, getting swirls and so on are almost nil. And you can use them to put on the wax too!

Jeroen

[Revvatron]

Originally Posted by Yesterdaysnews

I decided to take the plunge and try machine buffing and polishing on one panel, and if I burnt it, I figured I’d scratch a wall and claim insurance.

Wow, never heard such a simple trick

Originally Posted by Yesterdaysnews

Dabbed some compound and off I went on a panel. Started slow, picked up speed. I was sure that I was going to scratch the panel. But after I was done, and wiped away with a cloth, nothing had happened to the panel and infact all the swirls and minor scratches were gone!

So what changed? Did you make any adjustments when you started on the car. Or you just followed the same process, would love to know what was the difference between polishing the coffee table/fridge and the car

[Yesterdaysnews]

Originally Posted by Revvatron

Wow, never heard such a simple trick

So what changed? Did you make any adjustments when you started on the car. Or you just followed the same process, would love to know what was the difference between polishing the coffee table/fridge and the car

I used this pad on the fridge and refrigerator.

Inditrust New Car Clean Polishing Foam (Sponge) Buffing Waxing Pad 7inch 1pc for 7inch polishing foam pad fitting to 7inch Backing pad Metal Polisher https://amzn.eu/d/eRC9mqz




This is what happened to my coffee table with it.



I then just went ahead and used the pads that came with the machine, and got the below results!

[Cresterk]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

If you use the polishing machine correctly it takes about 3-4 micron of the top coat. Polishing every three months does seem a bit much though.

The biggest problem is this type of polisher. As it only rotates you have to be very careful using it.

If you use an eccentric or dual action polisher the chances of damaging the paint, getting swirls and so on are almost nil. And you can use them to put on the wax too!

Jeroen

Thank you for responding. I think if we keep taking off 3-4 micron off the clearcoat every 3 months, then in 2 years we might not have any clearcoat left. As far as I know, it's not possible to reapply just clearcoat on a car. You need to start over by sanding away existing paint and then apply primer, base coat and then finally clear coat again. The clearcoat needs to chemically bond with the paint while it's still wet.

Note: I have heard about some people causing scratches in existing clearcoat to create a rough surface and then re-applying clearcoat over it to make it physically bond but I'm unsure how well that would turn out nor how long it would last.

Best way as far I know is to put on a good wax/sealant or ceramic coating after compounding and polishing to protect the clearcoat and paint underneath. Reapply the wax every month or two. Ceramic coatings will last a few years depending on quality. Either of this will ensure that we don't have to keep polishing frequently.

I find that rotory polishers generally have a scary reputation but they are not bad. I will leave these videos for your perusal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ6YAgShmlA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn_PgCJr7HM

https://youtu.be/Vyz6P9XeYrw?si=4fYBvC4O9rY7UNvZ