Playtime with a rotary polisher...

[M-R-P]

Yep - the kit arrived

A set of contoured sponges of various grades and velcro backing pad for 16 quid. Initially, only the sponges arrived but the seller (fleabay) sent the backing plate next day, after a bit of a prod from yours - truely

Now... being the cheapass that I am, I didn't buy a £200 rotary polishing machine with variable speed etc. Instead I got hold of this...



I won't say that this monster was any cheaper than a polisher but you know me and bargains

After a bit of research, I was a bit worried to find that rotary polishers work from about 800 rpm to 3000 rpm. The HILTI monstrocity runs at about 6500 rpm so I was gonna need to be careful lol.

Can we please ignore the fact that I'm polishing the starlet - you wouldn't want to see me practise on the Big Sweed now would you!

Here's how the paint looked when I started...



So, I taped off half of the bonnet for comparison and decided to kill 2 birds with one stone and mix Zymol cleaner wax (has a mild cutting compound in it) with water in a spray bottle. That way, I could apply the compound and cool the surface at the same time.

I sprayed some on, whizzed it over with the machine and didn't really notice much difference. A few more passes with increasing amounts of pressure, started to show some results. I then put some cheap Asda wax on a finer sponge and gave the area a good going - over (being careful not to get the paint too hot),

I removed the tape and washed the bonnet.

I taped from the left hand side of the badge and polished to the left of the tape - you can actually see the difference.





Most visible in this pic...







The missus then turned up in the Volvo and due to the detailing kit being in the back of the Sweed, a whole world of polishes and waxes opened up for me
Into the spray bottle went a fair dollop of T-cut and, filled with confidence, I went at the whole bonnet. I managed to cover the car with spray from the foam (wings, windscreen, roof lol, it was everywhere) but it came up very nicely.
I then smeared some hard-shell wax on it and went at it again with the fine foam.

The result...





A close-up on "super macro"...



I'm pretty pleased with the result, it's smooth as glass and only the deepest scratches are now visible (only slightly).

Time to buy up some more sponges and get busy with the rest of the car (it's former owner is coming down to see us this weekend so I'll make it look nice ) and then on with the Sweed.

Happy days!

[V70 Graham]

You can really see the difference, an excellent result. Just be sure and take your time.....not too much of your substantial weight pushing down on the rotary thank you !

[M-R-P]

You can really see the difference, an excellent result. Just be sure and take your time.....not too much of your substantial weight pushing down on the rotary thank you !

Cheeky git!

That grinder is heavy enough, I got backache from trying to hold it off the bloody paint lol.

[t5 pete]

I carnt see any difference go back and do it again until it come up like this lol


P.s good job dude but 6500rpm is way too much

[V70 Graham]

P.s good job dude but 6500rpm is way too much

.....my car don't even do 6500rpm !

[t5steve]

be careful martin...............it is very easy to overheat the panel and polish going at that speed...........its also easy to burn through the paint...............my advice would be .................buy a polisher and leave grinders for grinding

[M-R-P]

Fortunately, mine wasn't that bad lol.

Looks like it could have done with a serious clay-ing there before you polished it mate, those ferrous partacles need to be removed prior to cleaning or they'll just expand and knacker the surface

[M-R-P]

be careful martin...............it is very easy to overheat the panel and polish going at that speed...........its also easy to burn through the paint...............my advice would be .................buy a polisher and leave grinders for grinding

I was constantly checking the area for heat and dowsing it with spray while I was working. I'm well aware of the dangers ascociated with mopping at speed. Believe it or not, for my size, I can be quite gentle lol

[graemewelch]

job well done but polishes are going to be allowed to breakdown properly and you might struggle to get the results you want. not all polishes are meant to be used with water. can you not fit a variable speed switch.

[Tomcat]

I remember trying a foam cutting pad in my grinder once (before I bought a proper buffer), I only got it upto half speed and the pad exploded lmfao... Thankfully it was no where near the car at the time but there was bits of foam everywhere.

[t5 pete]

job well done but polishes are going to be allowed to breakdown properly and you might struggle to get the results you want. not all polishes are meant to be used with water. can you not fit a variable speed switch.

Martin is trying to find a new way to boil water

[M-R-P]

job well done but polishes are going to be allowed to breakdown properly and you might struggle to get the results you want. not all polishes are meant to be used with water. can you not fit a variable speed switch.

Not with these grinders mate - power corrective thingys - they adjust the voltage to maintain speed under load. I can however feather the trigger to maintain a lower speed but I found I did fine at full-chat

I remember trying a foam cutting pad in my grinder once (before I bought a proper buffer), I only got it upto half speed and the pad exploded lmfao... Thankfully it was no where near the car at the time but there was bits of foam everywhere.

I hit the washer jet on the sweed with a foam wheel last year and showered the garden with blue bits

[M-R-P]

Another pic anybody?

[JUDGENINJA]

Looks good..

[Kingsford G]

I`ve had my kit for about 2 years and using the rotary mashine as a cut off tool lol how useless am I?
Great results mate,very shiny

[M-R-P]

I`ve had my kit for about 2 years and using the rotary mashine as a cut off tool lol how useless am I?
Great results mate,very shiny

Wanna swap your machine for a proper angle grinder?

[Kingsford G]

Wanna swap your machine for a proper angle grinder?

Not really cos I might give it a go in the next 2 years lol

[M-R-P]

You sure? it's worth over £250 and has only been used once

Although, I'd like to see your saffy after a good machine session

[Kingsford G]

You sure? it's worth over £250 and has only been used once

Although, I'd like to see your saffy after a good machine session

You more than welcom to polish here mate,might sell quicker lol

[M-R-P]

Drag your ass down from bloody colchester and I'll do it