I find myself always reading thru all these threads looking at all the transformations with the detailing. I've decided I want to get some equipment such as a polisher, and maybe a foam canon for car wash. I'm kind of a newbie with polishing, I have alot of small scratches on my car I want to get rid of. And I'd much rather do it myself than pay a detailer. I'd like to do the families cars, and possibly do it on the side later on. Any products you guys would recommend? Looking to stay around $200 right now, I have alot of products of various sorts. The new Mequires g110 v2 has caught my eye which is supposed to release this week, but I don't know if its better than the porter cable.

 

This is a good question I was reading a detail thread the other day and the guy had swissvax, which I had read was amazing, but then I noticed he had like a full on plexi glass case for it with like an etched silver plaque w his screen name on it? My first thought was WTF does he need the plexiglass security case for 2nd thought was my god how much does this shit cost?!!? and what in gods name is a foam cannon haha sounds like something they use in an Ibiza nightclub?

 

i would pick up the pc and pads.

something like this.

http://www.detailersdomain.com/theuberport...h8uberpads.aspx

add the right polishes and you should be good to start.

 

I have a Porter Cable that I used once...PM me if your interested

 

$2500 http://www.detailersdomain.com/swissvax-divine.aspx
A couple of kids probably died making that wax

 

I use Wolfgang products. I also got the porter cable and OCC pads. check there website at http://www.wolfgangcarcare.com/bupopa.html

I first tried it out on my wifes SUV which needed more TLC, and it works pretty well. Once They have a DIY video and just follow the procedure. I have a dual halogen spot light that I use to spot the swirl marks and inperfections on the paint. GL with your project.

 

not sure how to advise you. the problem is the pc is truely a stupid-proof machine, but the downside it's cut doesn't compared to a circular polisher (read: it can take a very long time to get rid of swirls). the problem with a circular is can cut too much if you keep it in one spot for a long time, but its fast, and imo, easy to use. kevin brown has a paper due out (he's been saying its coming out "soon") that shows step-by-step how to use a pc with megs 105/205 (go to autopia.org), and there has been a lot of info "leaked" from the paper that can show you how to do this method. the reason this is important is it makes it possible to use only 2 polishes to be able to quickly cut/polish like a circular could do with other polish types, thus, fitting into your $200 budget.

phil yiu over at dd offers great equipment/products for reasonable prices, and also does some damn fine work. he'd be a great place to start.

best of luck -- detailing can be a lot of fun!

 

Whatever route you take, I HIGHLY reccomend you DONT get an orbital polisher. It takes a lot of time/experience to use a orbital. If your just starting out, you will probably end up making it worse.

Nothing beats a DA if your starting out

 

What is a DA? Sorry for the noob question, isn't the porter cable a orbital?

 

Tony Curtis hair style (DA=duck's arse)!