I want to purchase a somewhat inexpensive orbital buffer to wax my car. It would be nice to detail my car at lightning speed.

Is there a specific brand I should stick with, or does any old buffer work?

Also, are there any special techniques to using one of these so I don't burn my paint?

generally speaking, Random orbital'* don't burn paint.

are you looking to remove swirls and anything of that nature....or you just want to make waxing easier?

i highly recommend the porter cable 7424 or meguiars g100 ROB'*, but they are a little spendy (but worth every $)


bring the GTP to MN and i'll hook ya up

*edit*
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/
lots of good information there

**edit x2**
http://autopia-carcare.com/inf-pc7424.html
and lots of good information here too

I'm just lookin to make waxing easier.

i used to use a $20 wal mart or fleet farm special......uses a 10" bonnet.......it worked ok for removing wax, but wasn't my favorite for applying. I actually went back to hand applications/removal until i got my Porter Cable.

*edit*

you won't burn your paint with a wax on a buffer........shouldn't have any abrasives in it

I've seen those cheaper orbitals at Wal Mart and Meijer and stuff, and I didn't know how good those work.

I'm really not too intensive when I work on my car. I clay once in a while, followed by a heavy coat of good wax. I do the major waxing every 3 months or so. Then in between, I just use the Wax-as-you-dry stuff every week after a wash, which does the job pretty well.

I'm just looking for something effective when I do a major wax every 3 months or so.

The cheapies work, and work well. Cut your waxing time by at least a half. My kids love using them.

The trick is to buy extra boots for them. I actually buff the wax with the boot on, but still put a lint-free small towel down first. Finish buffing with the fuzzy boot.

I look at the results from that PC7424, and it is incredible of what that thing can do. But for 150 bucks, it'* way out of my range.

I might go take a look at a cheapo one and try it out. I want to get a good coat on Red Hot before the winter hits. Michigan'* salty roads are a killer.

I have a cheap Simoniz 8" orbit polisher (cheap <$50 cdn), works well for applying but not enough omph to remove it and the bonnet keeps getting 'plugged'. I can apply the wax though in less than 10 min and use half as much as when doing it by hand.

I find that a 50% overlap works best when making passes and gives a good even coverage.

I have one of those cheapie ones too.. sucks big time. Save up for a real polisher, my dad has one, and he let me borrow it one weekend [amazing!], and my paint actually looked pretty damn good.. except where the clear coat is comming off :(.


-justin

PC 7424 is 119 at Coastal Tool, but then you need pads also