Buffing

[Clay]

Whats the best thing to use for buffing?

What tool is the thing to use to do the buffing?

Do they make a miniature electric buffer?

Edited March 25, 2008 by jones_clayton

[dub]

For polishing, I use Detail Master polishing cloths. They come in a set and go from 3200 to 12000 grits with about 5 intervals in between. They are what levels out the orange peel. Once you do the polishing, use a polshing compound and just manual buffing. Electric buffers like a dremel tool are usually too much. Very likely to burn through the paint. After the compound step, just pick your favorite wax and apply. I learned a trick from Cruz at the Feb. MAMA meeting, who got it from the man himself, Bill Geary. Go get a high quality auto drying chamois. Make sure you spend a bit on it, it has to be really soft. Cheap ones need not apply. When you wax, apply with your bare finger. Apply like usual, in swirling motion, doing only a section at a time. Then when dry, buff with the chamois, rotating as you go. The rotating is the important part. You don't want to spend too much time using the same spot of the chamois. I have used this trick twice now and it just plain works. Check out my deuce in progress for an example.

Edited March 25, 2008 by dub

[MrObsessive]

Jonathan's got it pretty much covered ..................I want to add this caveat though----------------Don't rub out directly onto metallics! They need to be clearcoated first. Not doing so will leave the metallic finish in a swirly, mottled appearance. This will be most noticeable on dark cars.

You might be able to get away with it on it subtle metallics such as Chrysler's Hemi Orange.................but on others it's best to clearcoat first.

Also with the chamois cloth, you can throw them in the washer once they get too dirty. They'll be mighty stiff when they're dry, but simply grab the chamois by both ends and rub back and forth across the edge of a table, and it'll be good as new.

[cruz]

I want to add and say thanks to Bill for showing me the Chamois trick, that's the reason we have him in the club, he just doesn't know it

[jeffb]

check any place that sells pottery supplies(micheals/hobby lobby). they have chamois that are about 5 inches square. theyre a bunch cheaper than the automotive size.

[CAL]

pretty much what has been said with a few adds.

I like to use micro mesh, and rubbing and polishing compounds from Turtle Wax and for those hard to reach spots wooden stick Q-tips chucked up in a cordless drill. I also like diper cloth.

[Andy Wyatt]

I really like the polishing pads from Micro Mark. They are 2" foam pads with grit on both sides...ranging from 2400 up to 12,000. I rarely use the 2400 except for sanding body work before paint. Use them wet with a drop of dish washing detergent and they will last a long time. After the pads I use Meguiars Show Car Glaze (in the tan bottle). It has no silicates in it so if you rub through the paint you can touch up over it. Once I'm happy (or tired of rubbing) I use Meguiars Yellow Carnuba wax.