Bonus time = Machine polish time

[Scott™]

So i get my work bonus end of the month and im wanting after all these years to make the jump from polishing the car by hand to a machine polisher. I was looking at this kit

http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Kestrel_DAS-6_Sonus_Kit_1.html

As it seems good value for money and i like so many others would love a rotary but just dont trust myself to bring it to the paint work. Whats your thoughts on the item as a kit? Good value? Worth getting? Ive heard the Megs G220 breaks alot so the kestrel is the better of the two.

 

[The Boosh!]

Yup I would also get a kestrel.

I personally don't rate the Sonus polishes but it will still do the job. Seems alright!

 

[Scott™]

My only concern is that , the d/a and sonus pollish wont cut the paint enough and remove all the swirls id like. My paint isnt badly scratched but has swirls like most hand polished cars. Id ideally love to remove the swirls. Would a harsher polish be better?

 

[The Boosh!]

No, the idea with machine polishing is to remove as little paint as possible.

I'm guessing you have a Renault? If so that will be fine, you only need to start buying stupidly harsh cutting polishes when you start working with BMW's/Mercedes/Porka's.

Those polishes will remove the majority of your swirls though, soon as you get better start looking into different products. Good for a beginner though!

 

[Scott™]

Yes it will mainly be a Renault. Is making a jump to a rotary to much of an ask first time? I think the D/A is my best option. Is there a polish other than the sonus you would recomend?

 

[The Boosh!]

Personally I would just go straight to rotary.

Having done the whole DA then Rotary thing I don't know why I bothered with DA (although a DA is still handy, even when you have a rotary, for example on the panels with awkward crevices & bends, its a lot safer if you aren't sure).

Depends how bothered you are about it I suppose. If you get a scrap panel and practise (with the rotary and the DA) I can't see the problem. Its not this fire breathig dragon everyone makes it out to be, you just have to be careful.

Personal choice I guess.

 

[Scott™]

Ok mate, thanks for your input.

 

[Camble]

I've got the Kestrol you're thinking of getting mate and so far it's really good, very well ergenomically (however you spell it) designed so it doesn't irritate at all.

 

[Scott™]

I've got the Kestrol you're thinking of getting mate and so far it's really good, very well ergenomically (however you spell it) designed so it doesn't irritate at all.

How did you find the results afterwards mate?

 

[muld]

I bought that exact package Can't fault the pads and the DAS-6, I did however find myself resorting to the Menzerna polish I'd already purchased instead of the Sonus stuff, this wasn't on a Renault however (Toyota Rav4), personally i'd go for this http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Kestrel_DAS-6_Menz_Kit_2_1.html instead and use the money saved on a few other bits and pieces Sonus sfx-1 i found to be very hard work

 

[Cliotoby]

Yes it will mainly be a Renault. Is making a jump to a rotary to much of an ask first time? I think the D/A is my best option. Is there a polish other than the sonus you would recomend?

Knowing renault, paint will be ripped from plastic pannels with a rotary. I know that Russ zs had this problem on a mk3. Im not sure if its the same on MK2's. Rotary is great, its faster, and more effective than a DA, but you get a lot of heat build up and takes some getting used to which is where the whole ripping paint off edges and burn through comes from. Da on the other hand is piss easy to use and very safe.

 

[Scott™]

I bought that exact package Can't fault the pads and the DAS-6, I did however find myself resorting to the Menzerna polish I'd already purchased instead of the Sonus stuff, this wasn't on a Renault however (Toyota Rav4), personally i'd go for this http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Kestrel_DAS-6_Menz_Kit_2_1.html instead and use the money saved on a few other bits and pieces Sonus sfx-1 i found to be very hard work

I will take that into consideration mate, but problem is i dont know what other bits and peices to buy haha.

 

[Camble]

How did you find the results afterwards mate?

I only did a quick pass on half of my bonnet, literally had no spare time lately

But the results were awesome, not perfect but I didn't spend as much time as I would have liked.
Before there were swirl marks all over the bonnet and a few scratches, when I'd finished there were only a couple and I could see my reflection like it was a mirror.
I found it easiest to not use any of the attachments to be honest.

I used a halogen bulb to see the swirl marks, when I used the light over areas not covered it was a massive difference compared to those I had covered.

I know that when I get time and do the whole car properly, it'll come up fantastic!



If you're looking for advice/tutorials get over to either DetailingWorld or AdamsPolishes.

They have loads of information about detailing and will answer any questions you have.

I used this company to buy all of my stuff and they were absolutely fantastic: http://autojoy.co.uk.

I bought the following stuff from them, it came the next day and the fellar chucked in a load of freebies too:

1 x Hex- Logic 5.5" Black Polishing
1 x Adams Polishes Machine Super Wax 16oz
1 x Adams Polishes Fine Machine Polish 16oz
1 x Adams Polishes Swirl & Haze Remover 16oz
1 x Hex- Logic 5.5" White Medium- Light Pad
1 x Hex- Logic 5.5" Orange Medium-Heavy ()
1 x 5/16" Thread DAS-6 Dual Action Kestrel Polisher


The Adams stuff is pretty much the best stuff you can get, it's one of the main detailing manufacturers in the US.


Good luck matey!

Cheers
Liam

 

[Scott™]

Thanks for that Liam, your a star.

 

[Camble]

No problem at all mate

Today I managed to get a couple of hours spare...

I used the "Swirl & Haze Remover" I mentioned from AdamsPolishes with the orange pad, worked in 12" x 12" areas passing over 3 times on speed of 3, then once on speed of 6. Used a bit of pressure throughout.

Then once the whole bonnet was done, moved onto the "Fine Machine Polish" passing over once on a speed rating of 5 with a bit of pressure, again working in 12" x 12" areas.

Finally I went over with Machine Super Wax with no pressure at all, just letting the wieght of the polisher do the magic. Passed over once on speed 5.


Here's a few pictures, the first is to show the roof that has not been done, to show the reflection of the tree:

Here are the results from the bonnet:

Reflection shot (excuse the chavvy t-shirt - it's used for scruffy jobs lol)

 

[Scott™]

Looks like a fantastic job mate, that US site you talk about, are the goods imported from the US? Including the machine polisher?

 

[Camble]

I've got more pics from when i did the rear today mate, I'll upload them in a sec.

The AdamsPolishes site supplies the best products, but they have a UK distributer here: http://www.autojoy.co.uk

They're who I used and the guy (Roger) was fantastic!

Only one thing I woud say is that the prices are excluding VAT, so when you're looking it appears cheaper, just remember that

 

[Camble]

Pics from today:

before:

After:

With the silver (booo) Clio badge back on and the dirty reg plate: