The DA looks like it’s winning.
So what are the recommendations for:
- Suitable DA unit
- Good polish to use with
Not trying to derail the thread but a pertinent point here is paint wear. I would imagine a good automatic polisher will lift less paint than hand polishing.
We have a red 1991 Eunos that is a nightmare. The paint blooms very quickly and any hand polishing takes off paint. I guess the way forward with this car would be a good polish followed by a clear wrap? Fitted a piece of helicopter tape to protect a small patch over the rear wheel arch a couple of years ago and still as good as first fitted.
I too started down this path a few months back. Spent a fair while reading about machine polishing, the pads to use, the polish, the wax, buffing towels etc etc.
We have 2 cars, the mx5 and a Lexus. From what I’ve read these are regarded as ‘soft’ paint finishes. Seems to apply to all Japan sourced vehicles.
I ended up getting a DAS 6 pro machine along with Lake Country pads of CCS type. This means it’s a closed cell structure foam so should prevent excessive soak in and clogging. The 3 grades I got were Orange, White and Black.
I also got some fallout remover and a clay bar. Fallout remover was an eye opener in terms of how much iron contaminants were removed from the paint. The claying removes a heck of a lot and leaves the car silky smooth prior to starting the polishing.
For the polish I settled on Sonax perfect finish. I didn’t want to get anything to cut too much. My only problems with the paint finish were swirls … the usual kind of thing … there were no areas that needed excessive treatment.
For the wax I chose Fusso soft 99 Light. I should mention the mx5 is metallic aluminium and the Lexus is arctic pearl (pearlescent white).
Having done both cars I am extremely pleased with the results…it’s well nigh astonishing how good they look and the beading is superb. The sonax was very easy to use and the fusso wax I apply by hand and wipe off. The fusso buffs up really easily and looks great.
That’s my tuppence worth … but I am no expert and don’t profess to be. I’d gladly hear what any professional detailers suggest.
I used to be a hand polisher and waxer … not any more!
When i picked up my other car 3-4 months ago someone had had a go at machine polishing it and made a right bog of it, the offside door and rear panel (2 door car) had that hologram effect that looks awful when the sun light hits it.
Anyway with nothing pressing this afternoon i spent an hour (if that) with the DA, result no hologram effect.
Inspired by this thread and in spite of years of hand polishing & the mx5 being only about the size of a shoe have ordered a da polisher today to see how it goes.
DA polisher is also great for removing UV damage to headlights.
I used a touch of T Cut to cut through the damage and then used Meguiar’s wax with carnauba to protect.
Lights came up a treat on my 2.5 Icon
This has been an expensive but productive thread to follow…
Having read the info in here, this weekend I put the club Halfords discount to use and purchased;
Went to town on my wife’s 59-plate 2.0 PRHT. I was nervous using the DA at first, but encountered no real issues. I neat and helpful idea is that the DA disc onto which you place the pads has a line on it. You need to keep that line moving; if it isn’t then you are applying too much pressure.
Very pleased with the results. So is my wife, although I have been told that I now have to do the same on her Citigo
Bought a da polisher but I think I will stick with the good old hand polishing. Damn thing makes enough noise to wake up the whole street & the 5 is only about the size of a shoe so no great effort by hand really.
Did you purchase a two stroke dual action polisher?
Has anybody got a DA in the Bristol area I can try out to see if I should take the plunge and get one.
Ben
Good luck. You won’t look back. VW (VAG) paint is hard as nails.
Cheers and that’s why I’m testing on her car first 
my dual action arrive a few weeks ago but I’ve been waiting for an overcast weekend so that I can get my old test panel out (car door from a old car I had) as apparantly its best not to do in direct hot sunshine which we seem to be quite fortunate with atm.
Ben.
well I took the plunge anyway as nobody had one. Have to say it does a great job!
only done about a third of the car so far, but I’m impressed.