If one was to buy one polisher would it be an orbital or circular polisher for all detailing tasks?

 

Orbital, buy the Porter Cable model 7336 at Lowes for 109.00, its all you need. Rotary (circular) builds too much heat for the novice (you may not be, I dont know) to work with.

 

yeah what he said......except i bought the orbital at sears for 29 bucks.....they got all the applicators and stuff too.

 

I also have a 30 dollar orbital buffer, 10 inch head. But you just do not get the best out of your compounds and polishes unless you can adjust your speed, the PC has 6 speeds, hook and loop quick change pad capability, and smallers bonnet size. The 30 dollar buffers are always that I have seen one speed and do not have the serious power that the PC has.

 

The danger to any kind of electric buffer is the heat that is created can lead to paint damage. Heat can be created by using too much pressure or by using an RPM that is too high.

Don't save a few bucks only to mess up that nice pretty paint job...

 

Heat will only be a factor if you are using a rotary (circular) buffer.

Since the Porter Cable mainly uses foam pads (you can use wool or cotton, but even then since the head never makes a circle, not much heat will build up) heat build up is almost zero.

 

Fact is, paint will get heat damage when the surface reaches about 250 degrees F. A PC will never reach that kind of temperature. If you use a circular, keep the speed around 1000 - 1500 RPM. This will not create the kind of heat required to do damage. The PC is really the best for the weekend detailer.

You should really never have a need to use wool (unless working on your boat's gel coat). Wool is like sand paper. Use it ONLY to work out deep scratches. By itself, it will apply more swirls and scratches.

Use foam for applying polishes with both the PC or circular, and remove by hand with MF towels for best results.

 

Oddly enough, I have a 10" Sears orbital buffer and I've been looking at the Porter Cable models recently. Lots of good info.

Thanks guys!

Michael.