What brand of polisher?

ammoaddict · January 25, 2019

For those of you that wax/polish/ detail your own trucks. What brand of polisher/ pads/wax etc. do you use?

Thanks in advance

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TRKLGND · January 25, 2019

I use an adjustable speed random orbit polisher from harbor freight. It's louder and a little heavier than some of the others but it's also 1/3 the price. It has been working fine for 3 years now.

I use Meguiar's microfiber cutting and polishing pads and the DA microfiber compounds and waxes. I also use their Ultimate Quick Detailer (UQD) after every wash.

Great stuff. Hard to beat Meguiar's.

L86 All Terrain · January 25, 2019

I have the Dewalt polisher, but I have not used it on my personal truck. If you wash your vehicle properly you should never have to use it. My truck is a Onyx black 2015, I have washed it at least 30 times. It has never been polished or corrected anywhere.

Makita, Dewalt, Milwakee, Torq. Stay away from Mastercraft, Simonize, Harbour Freight, Black and Decker crap. If you aren't spending at least $150, you are buying a low end orbital polisher.

If you are getting lots of swirl marks or straight light scratches, you are probably doing something sketchy in your wash/dry/wax process. I like to watch AMMO NYC's YouTube videos on certain areas where I need additional direction. My last truck was full of swirl marks so I vowed not to do it anymore and learned how to avoid them in the first place. Grit Guards and the 3 bucket method, leaf blower dry, then wax in straight lines, NO CIRCLES. In time everything with need some correction work done, but my truck is almost 5 years old now and gets compliments from the public and dealer alike about it looking "like glass or a mirror".

tbarn · January 25, 2019

^^^^^^ That about sums it up.. I have a Porter Cable random orbital polisher and an Adams Polishes small random orbital polisher. 3" I believe. Combination of Adams pads, Chemical Guys pads. Meguiar's and Adams polishes. No complaints on any of it except the Meguiar's 105 polish. It can be hard to get off after polishing. Add a spritz of baby oil to the pad helps a lot. They are coming out with replacements the the 105 and 205 polishes that I have used. New ones are 110 and 210 and are supposed to address that issue. If you do a little research find a LOT of brands out there. They are all probably pretty good for your average Joe.

Edited January 25, 2019 by tbarn

ammoaddict · January 25, 2019

I have the Dewalt polisher, but I have not used it on my personal truck. If you wash your vehicle properly you should never have to use it. My truck is a Onyx black 2015, I have washed it at least 30 times. It has never been polished or corrected anywhere.

Makita, Dewalt, Milwakee, Torq. Stay away from Mastercraft, Simonize, Harbour Freight, Black and Decker crap. If you aren't spending at least $150, you are buying a low end orbital polisher.

If you are getting lots of swirl marks or straight light scratches, you are probably doing something sketchy in your wash/dry/wax process. I like to watch AMMO NYC's YouTube videos on certain areas where I need additional direction. My last truck was full of swirl marks so I vowed not to do it anymore and learned how to avoid them in the first place. Grit Guards and the 3 bucket method, leaf blower dry, then wax in straight lines, NO CIRCLES. In time everything with need some correction work done, but my truck is almost 5 years old now and gets compliments from the public and dealer alike about it looking "like glass or a mirror".

Thanks, I just got my truck end of last year. 2018 Sierra in onyx black. It hasn't been weather fit to clean it up properly. I just want to take care of it and keep it looking good. What kinds of products do you use? Thanks.

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Jaychevy81 · January 26, 2019

If it’s black you will def need to polish it. I would a 10000% compound polish and wax it. I use a griots garage buffer with chemical guys pads. I use chemical guys compound polish. I use griots garage best of show wax. It looks like glass when your done. Nice protective finish Def a must esp on black.

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ajb39oh · January 27, 2019

I have a Griots garage 6” and a Meguiar’s MT300. On the Griots I use Griots pads. On the Meguiar’s, I use Meguiar’s polishing discs. My Silverado was polished with Wolfgang polishes from Autogeek and is wearing Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant.

L86 All Terrain · January 28, 2019

On ‎2019‎-‎01‎-‎25 at 3:58 PM, ammoaddict said:

I just want to take care of it and keep it looking good. What kinds of products do you use? Thanks.

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I use different products for different tasks, mainly a blend of Adams, Chemical Guys and Maguires. Maguires is my go-to generic brand for detailer and wheel/tire products, but I use Adams waxes and Chemical Guys clay system and towels.

Since your truck is new, review some videos on YT on how to prevent scratches, this will save you the need to buy a polisher. I have one because my work trucks get all scratched up in the bush and every couple years I try to correct it is best I can. If you don't have deep scratches, polishing is an unneeded step that will only reduce paint life as you are removing clear coat every time you polish. This is why it is very important to prevent them in the first place to keep your paint and clear as level and even as possible.

Black is by far the highest maintenance colour, and the easiest to scratch, and easiest to get dirty looking. I always say never black again, yet I always order a black one lol. Nothing looks quite as good as a shiny deep black paint imo.

ammoaddict · January 29, 2019

I use different products for different tasks, mainly a blend of Adams, Chemical Guys and Maguires. Maguires is my go-to generic brand for detailer and wheel/tire products, but I use Adams waxes and Chemical Guys clay system and towels.

Since your truck is new, review some videos on YT on how to prevent scratches, this will save you the need to buy a polisher. I have one because my work trucks get all scratched up in the bush and every couple years I try to correct it is best I can. If you don't have deep scratches, polishing is an unneeded step that will only reduce paint life as you are removing clear coat every time you polish. This is why it is very important to prevent them in the first place to keep your paint and clear as level and even as possible.

Black is by far the highest maintenance colour, and the easiest to scratch, and easiest to get dirty looking. I always say never black again, yet I always order a black one lol. Nothing looks quite as good as a shiny deep black paint imo.

Thanks for the good info. I was just thinking about using the polisher for faster and easier waxing. I guess I just need to do it by hand.

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Nasty · January 29, 2019

If youre a weekend warrior. Rupes 15es. I just sold mine as im stepping up to the rupes Mk3

Even griots is very good. I own a griots 3" for small areas and corner work

Edited January 29, 2019 by Nasty

Lgetz · January 29, 2019

Use a Griot's 6 inch polisher with the 25 foot cord. Meguiars 105/205 combination with Lake County pads. Only needed to use on hood of my AT once to remove scratches from neighbors cat. With 2 bucket method and proper washing/drying techniques swirls are minimal. Best way to keep swirl free is to not let the dealership wash your truck when it goes in for service or repairs and avoid automatic car washes.