Cheap orbital polishers

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Are these sort of thing any good?

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191727227211

 

I really don't want to fork out for a proper DA polishing machine as I'm probably only going to use it for a few small jobs on the XM. Mostly applying SRP because I'm far too lazy to do it by hand, but also to do a spot of compound polishing when I fix the lacquer peel.

 

The rotary polishers can be had for not much more but the Internet tells me I'll burn through all my paint using one....

 

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[DVee8]

Mrs V8 bought me one from Aldi around 10 years ago,it always worked well came with a lambs wool bonnet and a couple of other's.

[Kiltox]

Never used one

Argos do a DA for £59.99 if that's a bit more palatable?

[cort1977]

I've got one similar, seems OK for polishing back old paint but I'm not a dodo-licker detailing type.

[dave21478]

I had one like that on loan for a while and found it to be piss-weak. Pressing a little on it would stop it altogether. Maybe it was just a shit one?

I eventually bought myself a cheap rotary one from ebay....looks like a big 9" grinder, with a variable speed control....came with about a million foam pads and wooly bonnets and stuff. I dont use it much but am glad of it when I do although its pretty heavy to hold for long periods.

Yeah, you could burn through the paint with it, but being sensible with it will be fine. I Mine is never above the second-lowest speed setting anyway.

[Robson3022]

These aren't great. Where are you based? Could you possibly borrow one if its only for a few small jobs?

 

You can get them second hand cheap enough now?

[DSdriver]

Having once used a borrowed pro jobby to polish the boat hull (imagine polishing the side of a truck that is leaning over towards you), the next time it needed polishing I bought a nice lightweight polisher from Halfords and didn't need to take a week off work to recover from muscle injuries.

The heavy ones will do the cutting for you on bonnets and rooves but you have to be careful not to rub right through the paint especially on corners and edges where the paint is thinner. Keep it moving with a figure of eight motion.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Is the polisher in the original photo an adjustable speed one? If not, it'll be useless. I've got a Silverline one like this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231296268021

Fifty notes so it's cheap compared to a professional one, it's nice and light to use, adjustable speed and a decent 'keeper' tool. I bought mine a few years back and only use it occasionally, but it does the job perfectly. Completely coincidently, I used mine this afternoon to polish my back bumper as it's covered in scratches, and I'm trying to sell the car. Polisher along with cutting paste did a pretty damn good job, and way easier than a hand job (fnar).

[Timewaster]

I hate to be the one to ask but......

 

When was anything "Cheap" any good?

[fatharris]

I hate to be the one to ask but......

 

When was anything "Cheap" any good?

Er, most of our cars?

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I hate to be the one to ask but......

When was anything "Cheap" any good?

As noted on here on a few threads, some Aldi tools are pretty good value for money.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

So as long as you are careful, the rotary ones aren't that scary?

 

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[Dick Cheeseburger]

So as long as you are careful, the rotary ones aren't that scary?

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Careful is key. Low speed at first, use figure of eight motion and keep it moving. Press very, very lightly until you're used to it. Quite satisfying tbh!

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Careful is key. Low speed at first, use figure of eight motion and keep it moving. Press very, very lightly until you're used to it. Quite satisfying tbh!

Well for the sake of an extra couple of quid that's what I'll go for then, cheers

 

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[Timewaster]

Er, most of our cars?

That would be a second hand Sealey polisher.

 

These things are more like a new Cherry QQ

[trigger]

This is the one I've got, it's perfect really for anyone whos a hobbiest, I've had mine 6 years now, done loads with it and touch wood it's still perfectly fine.

 

Silverline 264569 Sander Polisher 1200 W https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002QS1LZ2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_z1f4xb94ASPKX

[Honey Badger]

Well for the sake of an extra couple of quid that's what I'll go for then, cheers

 

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Id spend the extra cash on a DA over a rotary to be honest, they are a lot less agressive and easier to use, the big rotaries can be hard work after a while.

[matty879]

i borrowed one once to polish a van and can honestly say it was the most useless piece of shit i ever used.i got put back in its box and i did it by hand,probably quicker too.

i would spend the extra on a d/a or that little tykes thingy pictured above

[Six-cylinder]

I started a with low cost polisher but it is not that good, so a bought a rotary Silverline it is good but I don't have enough skill to use it. It frighted me every time I used it so in the end I spent a fortune on a secondhand Maguire orbital polisher, which is fantastic bit of kit.

[overrun]

Get a cheap rotary, stay away from edges, keep it slow and keep it wet.

[MikeKnight]

Speaking as someone who does detailing; yeah get a rotary.

 

The type in the original post is shit. Avoid like the plague.

[oldcars]

The one posted is fine for applying srp and other filler heavy polish. Its no good for cutting polish. I have one lying around that i dont use shame your not nearer.

[mrcitroen]

I have the one in the original post too. It's great for applying srp, sealants etc. However it will not carry out any form of paint correction. That's when the rotaries and DA jobs with their myriad of pads come in. It is best used on cars that are already pretty good with very little swirls etc.

 

I use it as a labour saving device to apply srp. It is only any use for that really and when used for that it is OK and in my opinion worth a buy.