Few questions on Polishers...

[05quadratrac]

I was planning to buy something better but my dad just bought this. http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/polishers/7-inch-variable-speed-polisher-sander-92623.html

What do you guys think? Can I use good pad's like Lake on it? Would I need special adapters etc? I plan to use 3m 105 and follow it up with 205? What else would I need to polish a car? I'll work on getting a better polisher later but for now i'll try to make do with this.

[Scottina06]

that baby will roast your paint in a heartbeat in the wrong hands. use caution. Its a hook and loop pad thingy...but they are 7"....thats a little large for foam pads. try to find a 4-5" hook and loop for it.

[05quadratrac]

that baby will roast your paint in a heartbeat in the wrong hands. use caution. Its a hook and loop pad thingy...but they are 7"....thats a little large for foam pads. try to find a 4-5" hook and loop for it.


It's an adjustable speed, if I use a slow speed on it will that solve the paint burn problem? I figure mid speed should be about 1600rpm or so? It does come with a foam pad but i'm sure thats crap. I'm going to give it a shot on an old truck I have this with some better pad's and Meguiars 105 and 205 so if I mess up it wont be on my jeep. :D Are more pad's like Meguiar and Lake velcro backs? Hopefully I will have some before and hopefully good after pics later this week.

[BuckeyeSRT]

I would not recommend you use that on your Jeep. I have a HF rotary and it is horrible.

[jeepster23]

It all gos back to the addage "You get what you pay for".

[Uncle Paul]

For most hobbiests a porter cable type random orbital is a much safer option.

A full rotary buffer can do a lot of damage in seconds. Better in the hands of an experienced pro.

[Crestwood1001]

Don't touch your paint with that, you will burn right through the clear coat. Spend the money on a porter cable and come lake country pads, I used an Orange light cut pad and a Black finishing pad, along with meg's 105 heavy cut compound and 205 finishing compound.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk

[Uncle Paul]

Those 20% off Harbor Freight coupons are pretty hard to resist...

Google The Junkman for tips on restoring auto finishes.

[Crestwood1001]

No no no, if you are serious about restoring your paint go to detailed image and look at the detailing guide, its the best detaiking guide iv ever seen.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk

[05quadratrac]

I bought some 105 and 205 and 2 meguiars pad's today a light polishing and a finishing pad, I have a faded as hell dump truck i'm going to try it out on since im not too concerned about ruining the paint. I paid like $107 at PepBoys for a 32oz 105, 205, and the 2 pads. it seems really high does anyone know if anyone has any sales on them? I might return them and buy the 8oz instead. I think the 105 was like $39 and the 205 was like $29 plus $15 for each pad. I'm going to use the polisher on the lowest speed and keep it moving. I'll take some before and after shots of the faded red paint on the truck and you guys can let me know how it works before I hit my Jeep.

[Crestwood1001]

Use detailed image, their stuffs a little less but that stuffs expensive. And bro, I'd really think about taking that to your jeep before you do it, you might think keeping it on a low speed and moving will prevent damage, but it can still do damage. There IS a HUGE difference between that and the porter cable, I HIGHLY suggest you go on the detailed image site and read the detailing guide before you even think about touching the jeep.
Please don't think I'm tryin to hate, I just would hate to see ya do damage you the jeep, if you have any questions on how to use the products ask, I know quite a bit about them, and a lot of guys on here can help. And yes, return those pads and get lake country hydro pads from DI, the ones at pep boys will even further increase the chance of damage, yes there is a difference in the pads.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk

[Uncle Paul]

You think the supplies are expensive, wait till you get the bill for the new paint job.

The clear coat on a Jeep is very thin, and if you go through it to the color coat, you are toast.

A two part finish only has so many times it can be buffed with an agressive pad or compound. You will not know you have burned through the clear coat till it is too late.

If you see color coming off on the pad it's over.

[Crestwood1001]

I would HIGHLY advise you to not try this with the tool you have. If your serrious about doing it, invest in the correct tools, the porter cable and lake country pads are a good start, and meg's 105 and 205 are great compounds and easy to work with if you take your time. LINK: http://www.detailedimage.com/DI-Packages-M29/Porter-Cable-7424-XP-Meguiars-Polish-and-Hydro-Pads-P425/ Thats what iv got and its a great start, id also say get an orange lake pad and a black one two, great setup.

[05quadratrac]

A few more questions, What lake pad's do I need? I have average wear, some cobweb effect, but nothing too major on my Jeep paint. Also how many Jeeps with the 8oz bottle do? is it enough for say 3 polishes. Also do I want the 5in or 6in lake backing pad for the porter cable? Sorry for all the questions.

[Crestwood1001]

Right now im using the included 6 inch backing plate because it came in the kit with the 6 inch pads. I dont mind it so much cause I tape everything off before I polish, if you have some extra money to spend id get a 4 inch one also because its easier to work with smaller pads in tight spots. My favorite pad combo is yellow, orange, black, in that order, only use the yellow the first time you polish, its got a heavy cut for the deep stuff, after the first time stick with orange and black.
8oz should get you pretty far, key is to not use alot. Read this.... PLEASE... http://www.detailedimage.com/Auto-Detailing-Guide/Polishing/

[05quadratrac]

Right now im using the included 6 inch backing plate because it came in the kit with the 6 inch pads. I dont mind it so much cause I tape everything off before I polish, if you have some extra money to spend id get a 4 inch one also because its easier to work with smaller pads in tight spots. My favorite pad combo is yellow, orange, black, in that order, only use the yellow the first time you polish, its got a heavy cut for the deep stuff, after the first time stick with orange and black.
8oz should get you pretty far, key is to not use alot. Read this.... PLEASE... http://www.detailedimage.com/Auto-Detailing-Guide/Polishing/


Thank's im going to order that combo tomorrow along with a porter cable as long as I can return the Meguiars 105/205 and pad's to pepboys.

[Crestwood1001]

Just take it easy bro, try the 105 with the orange pad first, its less aggressive and more forgiving. Once your comfortable with that move up, and remember a 12x12 section at a time only.
Your gonna put three small spot of product on the pad, and work it onto the car untill it dusts, them remove it. Take your time and relax, get comfortable with it, study that guide I showed you and enjoy it!
Oh, and you won't be disappointed with the porter cable, its a great, user friendly polisher.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk

[05quadratrac]

Is it better to buy one of their packages or buy the pads and porter cable seperate? I want to stay around $200 for everything. I see a few for around that price come with the 32oz 105/205 and 2 sets of 2 pads but they are blue and orange pads.

Or I can buy the porter cable, and get the smaller 8oz 105/205, 1 yellow, 1 orange, 1 black pad and the lake backing plate for 200 if I buy seperate. I'd like to order tonight, so I can hopefully have it for the weekend.

[Scottina06]

take it from someone whos done this for years...you need more than one pad for each product. I suggest cyan and tangerine hydrtech lake country pads for 105/205. I have quite a few write up in the detailing forums on paint corrections

[05quadratrac]

take it from someone whos done this for years...you need more than one pad for each product. I suggest cyan and tangerine hydrtech lake country pads for 105/205. I have quite a few write up in the detailing forums on paint corrections


OK thanks, The one set for $215 has 2 cyan and 2 tangerine, 32oz of 105 and 205, and the backing plate so I guess ill just get that. Do you guys know of any discounts?

[Crestwood1001]

jg10off gets us ten off, and like scott said, get more then one pad of each, I use 3 for a whole suv, always good to use a fresh pad. And you gonna be over 200$ bro, prob 250 ish


Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk

[05quadratrac]

Thanks guys, ordered the Porter Cable package with the 105/205 2 cyan and 2 tangerine pads and baking plate. Should be here Sat. I'll take some pics before and after. I'll use the harbor freight one to sand down the bed of the dump truck I guess. Can I clean and reuse the pad's or are they basically one time use? I have 2 cars to do this weekend. Also what do you guys do the the plastic trim on the Laredos? I've been thinking about painting them black but I have the glittery black paint they used on the 05' and it might be a PITA to match.

[Crestwood1001]

I painted mine black, but tape it off. The kit comes with a packet of snappy clean I believe, if not they are like 99 cents a packet. You fill and bucket with water and add the packet and let your pads soak for a few hours, then rinse them out and let dry for a few days.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk

[BuckeyeSRT]

Thanks guys, ordered the Porter Cable package with the 105/205 2 cyan and 2 tangerine pads and baking plate. Should be here Sat. I'll take some pics before and after.

Very good call.

[Crestwood1001]

Yea finally someone who listens lol I hate when people ask a question then just ignore peoples suggestions

Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk