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Complete newbie!

J

jle2k

New Member
hey, I just got a used mazda and it was kind of dirty, so I went to those automated car washes. It scratched up my car, and they won't pay for it to get detailed because I didn't have a receipt ( didn't get one because it was an automated one and I just put in some money ) so now I'm here. There are many scratches on my trunk and top of my car now. Most are very small while some I can feel with my fingernail. Can you recommend me what products I should get because just reading everything is confusing me because everyone suggests different things and a quick guide. Thanks -JLe2k

Also I'm just thinking of getting a really cheap buffer
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_g...field-keywords=+Wen+6"+orbital+buffer&x=0&y=0
would that work I don't want to spend that much and I'm pretty much broke. I have around 80 dollars to spend on this.
 
Young Roids

Young Roids

Banned
I have just been looking into this myself due to a similar story with my car. What I have learned is that cheap buffers are only good for waxing the car. Wax will only fill in scratches temporalily. You need to polish the car to permenently remove the scratches. And to polish you need a more powerfull buffer. So you need to get a porter cable 7424. They cost $99 new or you can try to find them used.
 
S

Slim

Guest
My advice would be to live with it for now, save up and buy the right tools rather than going the cheap route.

The Porter Cable 7424 random orbital polisher is a quality product great for the detailing novice. Best deal is here. $99 + shipping.

However, to get all the buffing pads, scratch remover/swirl remover, polish, and wash will cost you another $75 roughly.

You can see my work with the PC 7424 and a list of the products I used in this thread. I learned my skills from our resident detail pro Speed6Guy. In that thread you can see my old 6, the first car I ever polished, and my Dad's 442 which I did a few weeks later.

So you can definitely learn detailing and get great results, but it will take time and the right tools.
 
Big Nate

Big Nate

Chaos Engineer
If you go cheap you will be very dissatisfied with the result. Like Tim (SilverMS3) said you may want to just live with it for now and fix it when you can get the right tools for the job. Maybe this summer you can attend one of our detail days and then you can use a porter-cable for free. I will even let you use my products and pads.


Nate
 
J

jle2k

New Member
hey thanks for all the replies, but i guess i'll wait. So i need the porter 7424, but can you give me a list of all the products because I have a dark car can i use hte same products silverm3 used and would they get rid of minor scratches. Thanks once again appreciate the quick replies
 
Big Nate

Big Nate

Chaos Engineer
the car could be white or black and the product you use will not change. You will be polishing the clear coat not the paint.

As for pads there is a thread here that will help you understand what pads to get.
 
J

jle2k

New Member
hey, thanks again for all the replies. I just saw your detailing with nate guide and saw all the products you used to detail. Those products would remove scratches right? Also I was wondering where you would get all those products you used + a claybar, and how much all of that would cost. So far I've decided to get this http://www.autogeek.net/hk7424.html
seems like the cheapest with all the pads needed unless i'm missing something. Lastly, is there like a detailed guide on how to do this because I wouldn't know how much to apply and everything like that :D thanks again
 
S

Slim

Guest
I don't think you'd go wrong with either kit. The first kit is more complete as far as polisher, backing plate, and pads. You'd just need to buy polish, glaze, and wax.

The second kit is a package that would set you up with some polishes, glazes and a variety of pads. However, it does not include a backing plate which is a must. And of course the polisher itself.

I'd suggest buying the PC 7424 separately from Coastal Tool, or ToolsPlus online (and maybe the backing plate as well). Then, you can buy a kit or assemble your own at autogeek or autopia with all the pads, clay bar, and polishes/waxes you need. I've used Meguiars and I know Nate's a fan of 3M products.
 
Young Roids

Young Roids

Banned
Hey jle, Search ebay for Porter-Cable 7336. It looks exactly like the 7424 but the prices seem much lower in some of the auctions. To bad for me I just ordered a brandnew 7424.
 
S

Slim

Guest
Just a thought on that...

I'd be careful purchasing a tool like that on ebay as you get no recourse if it breaks like two weeks later. Through an online store you usually get some kind of return policy and a manufacturer's warranty for like a year.

I bought mine from tools-plus and when it arrived it wasn't working properly. So they took care of me and exchanged it for a new one for no additional charge.
 
Young Roids

Young Roids

Banned
Better safe than sorry I guess. Usally on ebay if it doesn't work you can dispute it and get your money back but it can be a big hassle.
 
Young Roids

Young Roids

Banned
On second thought ebay is pretty usless for getting a polisher. I just watched a used one end at $92. I will pay 7 more for a new one.
 
J

jle2k

New Member
hey speed6 guy, is there any type of pads you recommend and what polish is good for getting rid of light to medium scratches
 
J

jle2k

New Member
decided to get the xmt kit but don't know which one to get either the intermediate swirl remover found here
or the heavy swirl remover found here

so the question is what do i need to add to this kit like i see counter plates and all that stuff but do we really need those? Here are some pictures to help see which kit i need. please help and thanks so far :D with all the help







 
Big Nate

Big Nate

Chaos Engineer
You are going to need the heavy swirl remover. You may also want a rubbing compound like this here. That is a good product to cut those deep scratches and make it easier to finish polish with your XMT kit.
 
J

jle2k

New Member
Speed6 Guy said:
You are going to need the heavy swirl remover. You may also want a rubbing compound like this here. That is a good product to cut those deep scratches and make it easier to finish polish with your XMT kit.
Click to expand...
so if i'm using the xmt heavy duty set how would i go through the steps? would it just be wash heavy duty swirl remover ( for the problem spots) then rubbing compound for (for the problem spots also) then go through the whole car with the xmt fine polish #1. then glaze and wax? Also the counter weight thing aint necessary but would it make my life easier? thanks for the help again
 
Young Roids

Young Roids

Banned
The 7424 comes with a counter weight for 5" pads standard. THe extra counter weight is for 6" pads.

Some of that stuff I don't think you will be able to get rid of it looks like it went all the way down to the primer.
 
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