CivicsRdBest

I am ditching all my old crap so I stop scratching the car. I will buy a buffer and a lot of other stuff too. What do I need to buy? I need an entire list. I'm planning on buying a buffer from Home Depot and all the other car parts from a car shop, but I don't know what I'm looking for.

I want to clean the car, remove all the bug and tree sap, smooth out all the tiny little swirls, and make it as prestine as it were new. I'm willing to spend $60-75 on it.

CivicsRdBest

I guess, hmmm, after searching, what kind of buffer am I looking for?

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

your hand? don't need a buffer and actually you shouldn't use one unless you know how. get some clay bar, glaze/polish, and wax.

CivicsRdBest

but that is a lot of work... fine... I'll do it, but how often can I go without doing it?

What brands work/last the longest?

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

I haven't clayed but thats what you do first to clean the paint. Then apply a good glaze to really make the paint look shiny (meguiar's #7 show car glaze is great). You do the glaze after clay or just start with glaze. I would glaze once a year. then last you wax to protect the paint. i like KIT wax cause it lasts upto a year. I usually wax twice a year tho. otherwise just washing it every couple weeks will make it like new again or using some speed detailer instead of washing to get the dirt off. Buy lots of microfiber towels good kind not crap ones.

mogwai

iTrader: (4)

Porter Cable 7424. You won't have to worry about causing halograms with this thing. It's really effective and safe too.

http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/S...105+1131279101

You can get the 7336 version at Lowes for $109. I believe you have to buy the backing plate and 6" couterweight seperately though... I could be wrong.

The only thing, don't use the crappy pads it comes with. Get Lake Country Manufacturing Pads.

http://www.danase.com/7focuedvacop.html

soonercivic

I prefer to use Meguiars products only. They have the widest array and best quality that ive found. Just get the Porter Cable 7336 at lowes like Mogwai said. There is no need to get the 6" counter weight, it doesnt make enough difference to matter. The PC is easy to use and doesnt take much experience. Dont get an orbital or rotary buffer, make sure you get a dual action like the 7336 is, otherwise you will cause more damage than you fix. There are certain must haves like a quality soap, chamois or drying towel, sponges, brushes, microfiber towels, clay bar, quick detailer, and the list goes on and on. You could easily spend $300 bucks including the polisher if you want, 60- 75 isnt gonna cut it if you want to do it right. Let me know how far you wanna go, i can put a listing together of what i would suggest for a beginner, but unless you want to do everything by hand its gonna be pricey. When i first started many years ago, i spent 200 bucks on products aside from my DA polisher, and that was when i did it just for me and family. It adds up quickly, and when you run out you buy more, plus i bought a new DA and many many other things over the years.

CivicsRdBest

Ok, I'll try doing it by hand. I just wonder if I'll be able to get that pro look without using pro tools. A buffer makes things quicker so you can spend more time on the details that you would normally miss if you were in a hurry.

soonercivic

Well you can get great results by hand, but its alot easier and quicker with a DA polisher. But your right, while the results by hand will be very nice, they wont compare to using professional equipment.