Appearance & Detailing Interior & Exterior Appearance Modifications

Detailing using machines.

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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 01:13 PM
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Question Detailing using machines.

I see posts for Tropi-Care and other ones that have people using power buffers, and all different kinds of color pads. Quite frankly im getting tired of my arm almost falling off doing it the manual way, i'm afraid of ******* up my paint.

My paint isn't bad; it has some chips and light scratches. Im interested in using the abrasive polishes and such but i have NEVER done it before and im scared of ******* it up so bad that i will NEED a new paint job ASAP. I guess my question(s) is how easy is it to do catastrophic damange to your paint and what system is ideal fo rthe noob?
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 01:32 PM
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Get a Porter Cable. Tropi-Care sells them. Its pretty hard to screw your paint up with that. That is an entry level buffer that does a great job. That is what I use and have had no problems!
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 01:32 PM
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Start here: https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/263061-porter-cable-dual-action-polisher-faq.html

It's REALLY REALLY hard to do real damage to your paint with a dual action orbital like the Porter Cable. The only time you really need to worry is if you start using wool pads or a rotary, which will burn through a clear coat pretty fast.

Tropi-Care's polisher kit comes with a good variety of pads and is an excellent first step.


-Mike
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 01:33 PM
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The Porter Cable buffer is very user friendly and is easy on the paint. A rotary buffer on the other hand will damage the paint very fast if you don't know what your doing. TC has a buffer kit that includes the buffer, backing plate for the pads, pads and bonnets for 169.99. Add to that a hand full of products and your ready to go. There are also a few kits available to help you get started. Its not difficult, you just need to take your time and get the right products. A good car wash, clay bar, polish and some microfiber towels is a good start.

Man, no one had posted when I started typing. You guys are fast
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 01:34 PM
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Well the Porter Cable is very popular because it works very well, yet its hard to burn the paint since its a dual action polisher.

Read through this thread for some additional details: https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263061
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 01:41 PM
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That is what i was worried about, the rotary buffers. I know of people that use drills and pads to do it. I have just always heard of people creating swirl marks and burns intheir paint.

Now, what about the abrasive polishes? Does tropi-Care use them?
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 01:48 PM
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Tropi-Care's polish is not abrasive. The paint needs to be clean and smooth before you polish. Just guessing on the condition of your paint you might need to use some compound to get the paint ready. Depending on the paint condition the Porter Cable works well with some light compound and a stiffer pad (orange pad) You can follow that with some swirl remover then re-evaluate the paint.
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 01:59 PM
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you mean use the same compound that removes 1500 grit sandpaper marks?
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 03:33 PM
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I would start with a light compound. Not sure which compound your talking about. Always start with the least aggressive products. Its hard to say without seeing the car in person. I have used a medium compound (works on 1200 grit and finer scratches) with the TC orange pad on highly oxidizedscratched paint with great results.
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Old Apr 30, 2008 | 07:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Nightrydass
That is what i was worried about, the rotary buffers. I know of people that use drills and pads to do it. I have just always heard of people creating swirl marks and burns intheir paint.

Now, what about the abrasive polishes? Does tropi-Care use them?
I suggest you check out our Menzerna collection of abrasives.

Here's a Dinan BMW M6 I polished for the owner today. Rotary polishers are not for the weak of heart. They're fast and can burn easily. This was done with my Makita rotary polisher using the orange CCS foam pad and Menzerna Super Intensive Polish to knock out some hood scratches. Notice the holograms. These are true rotary inflicted swirl marks.


After switching to the PC and orange pad and SIP again, the swirl marks are removed. Second, a follow up of the TC-8 Swirl Cutter using a white pad. Finished off the the TC-2 Liquid Wax.

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Old May 1, 2008 | 08:13 AM
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ok, so this is what you would recomend for someone like me who has NEVER done this before? i value everyones opinion very much on here.

My biggest concern is ******* up my paint.
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Old May 1, 2008 | 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Steve@Tropi-Care
I suggest you check out our Menzerna collection of abrasives.

Here's a Dinan BMW M6 I polished for the owner today. Rotary polishers are not for the weak of heart. They're fast and can burn easily. This was done with my Makita rotary polisher using the orange CCS foam pad and Menzerna Super Intensive Polish to knock out some hood scratches. Notice the holograms. These are true rotary inflicted swirl marks.


After switching to the PC and orange pad and SIP again, the swirl marks are removed. Second, a follow up of the TC-8 Swirl Cutter using a white pad. Finished off the the TC-2 Liquid Wax.


Tell MiniMe to park his mustang in the driveway next time and not on the sidewalk!!

******* celebrities!!
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Old May 1, 2008 | 08:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Nightrydass
ok, so this is what you would recomend for someone like me who has NEVER done this before? i value everyones opinion very much on here.

My biggest concern is ******* up my paint.
We sell many of these kits to those who have never used a machine like this before. I answer questions online or over the phone every day from new users. It is very user friendly and cannot burn the clear coat. The only way you can damage the paint is to drop the machine on the car.

An easy way to learn its capability is by applying a non-abrasive sealant or wax using the blue pad.
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Old May 1, 2008 | 09:01 AM
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Originally Posted by CamaroFan71
Tell MiniMe to park his mustang in the driveway next time and not on the sidewalk!!

******* celebrities!!
Not a celebrity, just another successful businessman.
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Old May 1, 2008 | 09:05 AM
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I started out using the yellow pad with 3m perfectit II rubbing compound. You would have to try to burn the paint with the PC.
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Old May 1, 2008 | 09:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Steve@Tropi-Care
...the only way you can damage the paint is to drop the machine on the car.
An easy way to learn its capability is by applying a non-abrasive sealant or wax using the blue pad.

cool! I'll check it out!

*note to self - don't drop unit on paint*
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Old May 1, 2008 | 09:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Steve@Tropi-Care
We sell many of these kits to those who have never used a machine like this before. I answer questions online or over the phone every day from new users. It is very user friendly and cannot burn the clear coat. The only way you can damage the paint is to drop the machine on the car.

An easy way to learn its capability is by applying a non-abrasive sealant or wax using the blue pad.
Damn; you have a million products. Canyou give me a brief list of what i need BESIDES the main $160 kit?
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Old May 1, 2008 | 09:34 AM
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Give Steve a call...................he will explain everything to you
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Old May 1, 2008 | 10:40 PM
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great thread, i was going to use one of those rotary pads on my drill.

so the porter cable, moves side to side? and not round and round?
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Old May 1, 2008 | 10:47 PM
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Originally Posted by 98boxer
great thread, i was going to use one of those rotary pads on my drill.

so the porter cable, moves side to side? and not round and round?
No, it orbits. Think about putting a pad on a drill. You turn on the drill and the pad spins. But if you move the rotation point off-center, it orbits.

If you remember The Karate Kid, it's the Wax on/Wax off motion, not a simple spin.


-Mike
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