Kestrel DAS-6 Owners

[EllD90]

Just wanted some advice...is it a worthwhile upgrade from hand polishing?

What sort of correction can I achieve from the machine with the right pads/polishes?

Any advice whatsoever would be great...just trying to justify the cost of buying one as I'd like to sort my paintwork but don't want to waste my money!

Regards,
Elliot

 

[JD]

Full correction is what you can achieve. Yes it is a worth upgrade as you will get rid of most major swirling.

However, and this is a big point; It is not just a case of buy and use. It takes experience to get use to it. Experience to use the right pads and polish combo. It doesn't take a genius to use it, but you can get fed up with the wrong results.

 

[The Boosh!]

a MASSIVE upgrade from hand polishing. It will get rid of the swirls for a start!

 

[Si]

why have i only just heard of these? links to well priced kits?

 

[JD]

http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ei4detailing%2eco%2euk%2f&WD=kestrel&PN=Kestrel_Products%2ehtml%23a3_21KDAS6SK#a3_21KDAS6SK

The kits there Si. Don't get the sonus polishes, they're pisch.

 

[RussZS]

why have i only just heard of these? links to well priced kits?

http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Kestrel_DAS-6_Menz_Kit_2_1.html

They are definitely worth investing in. Then, when you've done your car, you can turn pro a day later and start charging people to do theirs

 

[JD]

That's the one I was trying to find Russ.

 

[Si]

hi Russ

 

[EllD90]

How capable is the Menz polish provided in the kit?

 

[RussZS]

hi Russ

Hello!

 

[RussZS]

How capable is the Menz polish provided in the kit?

It's the easiest way to decent results via a DA machine. Anything else takes too long to break down.

Trust me, I've been machine polishing for a fair few years

 

[JD]

How capable is the Menz polish provided in the kit?

It's the easiest way to decent results via a DA machine. Anything else takes too long to break down.

Trust me, I've been machine polishing for a fair few years

Much better than most products. I started with the Megs 80/83 twins years back. They took forever to break down.

 

[EllD90]

The 250ml bottles, will there be enough to do a couple of cars? Will I need any other pads/backing plates? Will those polishes be suitable for RDS' too?

 

[RussZS]

Yep, 3.02 on the white pad will deal with pretty much anything.

Really bad RDS may need wet sanding though, but I wouldn't advise trying to correct those if you're new to machine polishing anyway...

 

[kev1]

the kestrel is a very nice machine to use - not too heavy and easy to control

 

[EllD90]

Might just take the plunge tomorrow!

 

[Liambo-235]

Just purchased one a few months ago! Don't regret it! Big turn around for my car!
Always taken care of my car but fu*k me this is great!

Also check of www.detailingworld.co.uk for advice and guides on how to machine polish!

Russ: Over the next few days im going to fire a PM your way about some detailing questions.

 

[RussZS]

No worries mate

Add me to MSN if you want

 

[.Simon]

Sorry to jump in on this ...


Russ, would you mind adding me to your MSN? I could really do with some help and advice!

Cheers
Simon

 

[kev1]

Might just take the plunge tomorrow!

you know it makes sense get a few scrap panels to practise on first as well

 

[RussZS]

Lol, add away...

russellaston @ hotmail.co.uk

 

[EllD90]

A mate of mine took a brillo pad to his P reg fiesta...so might start in his car lol. See what I can do to that! Maybe also a friends red corsa which has terrible paint. Don't wanna spend too much time on other cars lol.

Anyone recommend anything else I should order at the same time?

I need some new shampoo....

 

[kev1]

if you are ordering from I4detailing, then dodo supernatural (looks expensive for a small bottle but a little goes a very long way) or duragloss 901 shampoo's are both very good

 

[EllD90]

Any relatively cheap waxes for black?

 

[kev1]

Any relatively cheap waxes for black?

collinite 915 or 476 are both cheap and easy to use. around 95% of the results you get (the shine) will come from machine polishing so all a sealant and / or wax really does is protect the finish gained by machine polishing. it might add a little to the shine / depth / wetness but only a little. meguiars #16 is good too

 

[RussZS]

Colli 915 is always a good choice on darker colours, lasts well too, as Kev says

 

[kev1]

Colli 915 is always a good choice on darker colours, lasts well too, as Kev says

as several members do it on here, i'll do it as well:

awww thanks Russ x

 

[RussZS]

You're fitting right in xx

 

[kev1]

You're fitting right in xx

thanks x

(BTW, i think alex @ SP has got a new product in the pipe-line - he sent me sample of SP washer bottle concentrate with my order today, have you tried it)?..

 

[EllD90]

Purchased! I'll let you know how I get on with pics!

 

[JD]

as several members do it on here, i'll do it as well:

awww thanks Russ x

You're fitting right in xx

thanks x

(BTW, i think alex @ SP has got a new product in the pipe-line - he sent me sample of SP washer bottle concentrate with my order today, have you tried it)?..

Christ and I thought Paul and I were bad!!

 

[Paul.]

indeed.

 

[kev1]

Christ and I thought Paul and I were bad!!

lol

 

[EllD90]

Received the kit yesterday, will I get away with using the 135MM pads or do I need the 4" pads for the tighter spots? Matt did say to order some but I didn't!

 

[kev1]

Received the kit yesterday, will I get away with using the 135MM pads or do I need the 4" pads for the tighter spots? Matt did say to order some but I didn't!

smaller pads will certainly come in handy for the bumpers, pillars etc. 4" sonus pot pads are good as are 80mm serious performance ones

 

[EllD90]

smaller pads will certainly come in handy for the bumpers, pillars etc. 4" sonus pot pads are good as are 80mm serious performance ones

Could I get away with the 135mm pads in those areas?

 

[kev1]

Could I get away with the 135mm pads in those areas?

you could use them but you'll be making hard work for yourself imo

 

[EllD90]

Just ordered the following:

Lake Country 3.5" DA Backing Plate
Sonus SFX-1 Restore 4" Yellow Spot Pad
Sonus SFX-2 Enhance 4" White Spot Pad

Reckon that will do?

 

[kev1]

Just ordered the following:

Lake Country 3.5" DA Backing Plate
Sonus SFX-1 Restore 4" Yellow Spot Pad
Sonus SFX-2 Enhance 4" White Spot Pad

Reckon that will do?

yep

 

[EllD90]

Had a very quick blast on a mates banger.

He took a scouring pad to it to get rid of some glue residue...idiot, he knows lol.

So I cleaned the panel and took a white pad and some power finish to it.

Went over it very briefly and I need some smaller pads which are on order.

Here we go: