Anyone use an electric polisher when valeting their cars ? ( cue loads of responses that I don’t even wash my car ....)
Similar in idea to something like this
www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/tools/power-tools/electric-power-tools/electric-polishers/?SEAMS900PS&0&t5_358
I quite fancy getting one that will help with putting wax onto car and then polishing it offf. Used to have one of these huge two-handed things but that was crap.
Now got four cars in driveway that seem to fall to dad for washing!
Any feedback on these types of products?
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I wouldn't know how to use one, but I know it's very easy to damage your car if you haven't the necessary knowledge and experience.
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>>it's very easy to damage your car if you haven't the necessary knowledge and experience.
I know that for a fact. Particularly with a black Citroen.
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I'd wait for Stuu to reply.
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I have one but not used in a long time.
Last time I did use it was on a red Sapphire that had dulled a bit. I used it primarily for cutting compound to get the paint back to where it should be and then finishing with polish/wax.
To say it was messy is an understatement as when you spin it up the compound spins off all over the place and you. Apparently you should spread the compound thinly around the panel and then run the polisher over it. :O The pad should be kept damp as well.
You have to be very careful around folds in the bodywork and edges as it is easy to spend too much time and the paint is thinner in those areas. Keep the thing moving.
Paint is now water based and is much softer than of old so take care.
I think you can get them a lot cheaper than the one you've shown as an example.
So yes if you know what you are doing you can get a good finish but if you are a novice it can end in tears.
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This chap brings a piece of crap back to some semblance of life.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O81FbQC1xLE
I would strongly advocate the use of Bilt Hamber products - super quality and not too pricey.
Their clay bars are excellent at getting crud/fall-out off the paint before waxing - their alloy wheel cleaner is like witchcraft also.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=baD8cx-SGdc
Double speed wax is easy to apply and beads water waaay better than Autoglym stuff.
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If anyone is after an opinion and advice then surely Stuu is the one to ask
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I have a Sealey polisher, although mine must be 17 years old now and still works great.
For the most part I never use an electric polisher to polish a car simply because it is a very blunt instrument that is best used as a shortcut for certain labour intensive jobs rather than a go to tool.
I use mine for faded paintwork jobs and the occasional scratch that is a bit beyond hand polishing, but never just to apply polish as the potential for damaging the paint is pretty high - it generates a lot of heat on the surface.
I also like to apply polish by hand because it allows you to feel the paint beneath your hand so you can adjust the pressure, not something you can do with a polisher really.
When I do use mine, I go panel by panel and use a spray bottle of water to keep the paint cool, although the resulting mess means in most cases doing it by hand is quicker unless the paint is faded and will really benefit from something with a bit of punch.
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Appreciate the reply and advice Stuu
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I’ll try that then Lygonos.
I normally clean my car then use Autoglym super resin polish, followed ( every 6 months, Spring and Autumn) by autoglym High Definition Wax. The entire process takes about 3 hours but it keeps me out of the pub and is good exercise. My driving instructor pal always has an immaculate car, and being ex military likes things spick and span. He’s tried many waxes and polishes over the years and uses the same method as myself to keep the car looking good and water beading for 6 months between applications.
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I find Car Plan No1 an effective paint sealant, remember that polish is an abrasive. The No1 can be used on any surface except windscreens and is also a good drying aid when used on a wet car.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Wed 26 Sep 18 at 09:14
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'Naviwax' has been recommended to me recently by someone who had previously been using Autoglym's super resin polish and high gloss protector (as I do). Use Snap Seal first to remove contamination. His car certainly looked good.
A bit pricey, is it worth it Stuu? nubawax.com/collections/bodywork
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Whilst this threads running, best way to clean nylon-type headlining on foam base Please!
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legacylad, I am pretty much the same except I also do a full clay bar treatment before hand.
I did this on Mon and after I had applied my HD wax, it started raining before I had time to buff it up. Had to work very hard to get it done and thats what made me think it would maybe have been easier and quicker with a machine!
Ii am now left with half a car HD waxed, shiny and beading and the other half not quite as much. Its like one of these comparison adverts with a clear dividing line down the roof!
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When I ran my cars for 100,000 miles they got a wash about once a month and a polish a couple of times a year. Paint sealant technology has moved on, my cars now get a coat of sealant once a year and the Eastern European guys nearby wash it about once a month. The inside gets vaccumed as required. My cars don't seem to have suffered any damage or have their trade in values reduced. Extreme valeting is a waste of money and effort.
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I might wash my car once in a year . I do wash the alloy wheels more often.
I do recall using my local brushless car wash twice and I have never used bucket and scrape folks.
I have never bothered with anything like wax.
All my cars except one have been light colours.
Current one silver blue. previous was silver and the others white.
Last one was 19 years old and current one is 10 years old.
I have fitted splash guards (mud flaps?) and they seem to deflect crud.
Am I alone on this forum not wasting time on such car preening ?
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For a car valeter I don't clean mine often, maybe every 3-6 weeks unless I do a lot of miles as my car being metallic grey means it doesn't really show the dirt much.
I polish it once or twice a year, although I use a high wax car shampoo so the water never really stops beading up.
One advantage of the Prius is that there is barely any brake dust so the wheels don't go black quickly like most cars, saves a lot of work!
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I enjoy doing it, bit of pride, headphones on, music on, and some relaxing time.
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No you're not the only one, I probably wash it once or twice a year. I can't be bothered with anything more, sometimes I'll take down to the local eastern european car wash or we've a patio pressure washer thing.
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I think saying that people ‘wasting time on car preening’ is a bit much henry. Equally I could say that anyone who spends an hour a week watching some carp of a tv show ( IMO) is wasting their time. But it’s their time to spend as they see fit.
I look after my stuff. Especially high value goods. And 3 hours every 6 months polishing then waxing my ‘white goods’ something I actually enjoy, being outside, chatting to passing neighbours whilst enjoying the local magnificent limestone scenery, certainly isn’t a waste of time. Nor is cleaning my tent after a backpacking trip, or washing the mud off my trail shoes etc
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I haven't washed the cars for 4 or 5 years. They go to the car wash at Esher Rugby club every few months.
I am far more likely to Hoover the inside, I get some satisfaction from that.
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Goes for a service once a year. The dealer usually chucks some sort of water at it. That's it, always has been. My cars don't seem to look horrendous to me, but maybe that's tidy blindness, as in when Mrs C is outraged I haven't noticed there's a vase needs moving an inch to the left or something.
Last edited by: Crankcase on Thu 27 Sep 18 at 07:49
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Sometimes my car is cleaned externally on a weekly basis .....by that I mean using my pressure washer to clean the slurry off the bodywork and alloys. I live off a very minor road, and travel it weekly to take my old mum for lunch at Knight Stainforth. At this time of year the local farmers are up and down with their slurry trailers, cattle are moved field to field using the road and I don’t know if slurry has a detrimental effect on paintwork as ingrained bird lime is supposed to.
I’m not going to risk it though. What would Barbie say?
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>>I think saying that people 'wasting time on car preening' is a bit much henry.
I was talking about what I do. I regularly see, close up, many at the extreme end of car "preparation" at car club meets at Brooklands and am astounded but each to his own.
Of course I clean things that are stored away.
I am now a low mileage motorist with mainly urban trips so farm crud is avoided.
When I have to resort to main dealers working on my car they wash the outside but told to leave the inside alone. I do not want nasty "perfume" or a sticky steering wheel.
In days of yore when I was commuting I did keep my cars a bit cleaner as I believed that a dirty car was a " copper magnet " .
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It all depends on if you have a transport tool or a status symbol driveway ornament, (which no one else cares a toss about).
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No, it all depends on what you like doing and how you choose to spend your time. Some pompous people like to spend their time in judgement of others. Others prefer cleaning their car.
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>> Some pompous people like to spend their time in judgement of others.
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There must be a word for that?
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>> it all depends on what you like doing and how you choose to spend your time.
Agree with that.
Not really car washing, but similarly I've always envied people who love gardening. What a great activity to enjoy, with results to see.
It is a matter of regret that it bores me within 30 seconds when actually doing it.
These days I class washing the car along with mowing the lawn. It is a pain in the butt that sadly needs doing periodically, if I can get someone else to do it for me, then I will.
Good luck to those who get satisfaction from it. But not me.
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My status symbol driveway ornament only sits on the aforementioned when I’m wasting my time cleaning it. Otherwise it’s in the garage safe behind a 15’ sectional door.
Which reminds me. I must get one of those signs to afix to the door. ‘Porsche Parking Only’
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I cannot recall the last time I saw anyone in my area pampering a car on their drive.
I cannot recall seeing more than a couple of cars queuing at the local filling station's car wash.
It seems to be out of fashion :-)
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The hand wash people in our local ASDA car park seem to be busy enough most times I am there, price comparable to most car wash machines.
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Electric polisher - Manatee
