Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-02-2019, 10:12 AM   #1
Colonel
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 251
Default Equipment to polish car paint

I am interesting in purchasing the equipment and product to lightly polish my car paint. I have seen some folks use a small --3-4 inch type wheel on a small rechargeable drill. Any comments, sources, etc... as well as cautions are much appreciated.
Colonel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 11:10 AM   #2
1931 flamingo
Senior Member
 
1931 flamingo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: new britain,ct 06052
Posts: 9,389
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

Arm power..........................
Paul in CT
1931 flamingo is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 09-02-2019, 11:17 AM   #3
Mulletwagon
Senior Member
 
Mulletwagon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 585
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

Probably better to drop the $$ and get a low speed polisher. After a little practice and burning the paint a few times, you will find they do the job fast and effectively.
Mulletwagon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 11:25 AM   #4
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Senior Member
 
BRENT in 10-uh-C's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Posts: 11,486
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

Polishing is typically done by hand, but there are a few alternatives if you need more than just polishing. Look for a small electric dual action buffer that you can use foam on. If the paint is old, consider using clay bars to remove impurities first, then look at color-sanding heavier 'orange-peeled' areas with 2500 paper, and then using ultra-fine compounds. Hand polish with specific paint polishes followed by a good quality carnauba-based wax.


Look for a Porta-Cable 7424XP buffer
__________________
.

BRENT in 10-uh-C
.
www.model-a-ford.com
...(...Finally Updated!! )

.
BRENT in 10-uh-C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 01:35 PM   #5
CHuDWah
Senior Member
 
CHuDWah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Kritter Krick, Flaw-duh
Posts: 1,158
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

I've found that a buffer with 180-degree handles gives me more control than those with 90-degree handles, but YMMV. This is a WEN but there are several similar brands.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg buffer.jpg (5.8 KB, 4 views)
CHuDWah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 03:32 PM   #6
30 Closed Cab PU
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,332
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHuDWah View Post
I've found that a buffer with 180-degree handles gives me more control than those with 90-degree handles, but YMMV. This is a WEN but there are several similar brands.
Guess I am not abbreviation literate.
What does "YMMV" stand for?
30 Closed Cab PU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 03:41 PM   #7
TerryH
Senior Member
 
TerryH's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fountain Valley, Calif.
Posts: 937
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

“Your method might vary”?????
TerryH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 03:52 PM   #8
holdover
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SW Virginia near the Blue ridge Parkway
Posts: 674
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

as Brent says.... There is no fast and easy way to a correct job. Follow the steps, stay away from high speed and heavy cutting compound. If not familiar with the process I would try a small spot, in a less visible place. Depending on the paint sometimes the results will be good, sometimes not so. Good Luck
holdover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 05:01 PM   #9
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,371
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

Most sources of video or TV series programming show folks color sanding and buffing finishes they they put on themselves so they know how far they can go. If you don't know how thick the surface finish is then you will have to be very careful. Rubbing or buffing through is not something you want to do. You have to be especially careful around any area like belt lines or the pin striping that may be there. Narrow areas, tight curves, and protruding edges buff through real fast. I still use the armstrong elbow grease method if I don't know how thick the finish is.

Any rotating device can buff but be careful what kind of pad you use. Experiment on something else for a bit before you go for broke.
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 05:02 PM   #10
Gary WA
Senior Member
 
Gary WA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island
Posts: 4,088
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

www.griots.com for all your needs and u can't burn paint with their buffers air cooled!
__________________
www.whidbeymodelaclub.com
Gary WA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 05:52 PM   #11
CHuDWah
Senior Member
 
CHuDWah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Kritter Krick, Flaw-duh
Posts: 1,158
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

Quote:
Originally Posted by 30 Closed Cab PU View Post
Guess I am not abbreviation literate.
What does "YMMV" stand for?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TerryH View Post
“Your method might vary”?????

^Close^:

Quote:
Literally, "Your Mileage May Vary," coming from the small print in (American?) automobile commercials in the 70's and 80's. It has come to mean an acknowledgement that the opinion of the poster may not be shared by everyone.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ymmv
CHuDWah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 06:26 PM   #12
jb-ob
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 631
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

Learn polishing the wife's car first......
jb-ob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 08:15 PM   #13
California Travieso
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Moreno Valley, CA
Posts: 940
Send a message via Yahoo to California Travieso
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

Quote:
Originally Posted by jb-ob View Post
Learn polishing the wife's car first......
Do that if you want to get into major trouble! My wife would use that as an excuse to get a new car.

David Serrano
California Travieso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 09:02 PM   #14
jm29henry
Senior Member
 
jm29henry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: michigan
Posts: 1,126
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

Gary. Is right!!! griots garage best!! , products and great results with 3 “ buffer and pads I just finished my car for the old car festival this weekend the car was restored 21 years ago and it looks better than words can say
jm29henry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2019, 07:17 AM   #15
77Birdman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: North Eastern MD
Posts: 486
Default Re: Equipment to polish car paint

Griots is really good stuff, I have one of their dual action polishers and it works great with the right products. If you need to get more than that out of it then you need to go the buffing compound route. This may be a bit more trickier for the novice and you should be able to find a good detail guy to do the job. If you do it yourself the paint first needs to be wet sanded in finer increments. Do not stop at 2500 gr. They have paper up to something like 6000 or more now. The higher you sand the easier and better buff. I have seen on another forum a fellow using polish with a brand of "wizard" something that he swore by. I used 3m stuff when I did my car and was pretty happy with the results.
Keep in mind, IF you want it buffed, it may be cost effective to have a pro do it right the first time. By the time I bought a mid level buffer, buffing pads and compounds I was close to $400.
77Birdman is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:34 AM.