[AzDusty]

Ok well, I think I have a handle on the wax and process to protect my baby on it's first hunt.. Now comes the real problem, I am partially disabled and to stand and hand polish I think would spell disaster besides I think the majority agree's that a machine provides a better more even coat of wax.

My issue is I do not have a ton of money and I am looking at tools in the 100-200 dollar range which honestly will not happen in the near future, so I have been beating google.com up heavily and have found there are a ton of different machines out there, almost as many as types of clouds in the sky at any given time. Some use Bonnets and some use pads. The least expensive use the bonnet system.

Question: is a bonnet system good to start or is it a waste of money and will it likely hurt the paint easier than one of the pad kinds.

Oh and I know I had another thread going, but I didnt want folks to think it wasnt worth them reading anymore. Besides I was told I get .5 cents for every post

Again, thank you all for your help and advice, I have found it all valuable even if I start the my wax is better wars all over again. This time I found the search and found 2 threads that really didnt answer my question.

Thanks again:doh:

 

[GTyankee]

Check out
http://www.autogeek.net/

they are a good reference for vehicle owners & businesses

the body shop that I have done business with has 2 buffers, 1 for each of the detail guys
They use a different buffer pad for each compound

 

[PaulMys]

Agree with Tom on the Autogeek recommendation. That place is full of great advice & tutorial videos.

If you'd like to stick with the Z, try PMing primo spagehtti. He can direct you to the very best machine to fit your needs & budget as he has used and or tried just about every product out there regarding care care.

 

[CdnoilRAM]

I recently retired my PC 7424 and just picked up a Cyclo from Adam's, everybody's been talking about how there's almost zero vibration with this thing so I'm looking forward to trying it out. I loved the 7424, it was an amazing RO polisher that you could never do any damage with.

If you're looking for a kit in the $1-200 range then I would highly recommend the PC 7424xp, most user friendly one out there and most places have a kit with pads and polish in the $200 range. I like the deal from Chemical Guys that comes with the hexlogic pads, I was using them for a while and I loved them, literally to pieces.

 

[RansRAM]

^^^^ x2. Love the PC 7424.

 

[primo spaghetti]

in your price range, the PC is good, but the Griots machine has a tad more power is usually a tad cheaper, and the best part, it has a lifetime warranty.

IMO, dont even waste your money on a machine that uses the bonnets.

 

[TheShortyRam]

As a detailer I would also recommend the porter cable 7424xp it's probably the easiest and safest to use

 

[spoiler]

I have the PC 7472xp- Love it.
However… the other day I was at Harbor Freight Tools and they sell a 6" DA polisher for $67. I picked it up (it had good weight) - plugged it in and it felt the same as my PC in terms of vibration.
Nope it is not a Porter Cable - Yes it is made in China but the last time I checked the PC 7472xp is also made in China. I don't want to turn this thread into a made in America tangent. I'm just throwing it out there that for a tool you use 4-6 times per year. This one might be worth a look for some guys who are not looking to spend bank on a polisher.

 

[rcmpvet]

^^^^ I 2nd the Harbor Freight RO (Dual Action), for the price you really cannot go wrong. The $67.00 sale price (flyer) is not the lowest price. I received mine for even less; if you subscribe to their email notices they will send out coupons every month that you can print off. That is how mine was cheaper.

 

[AzDusty]

awesome and as I figured the bonnets are good for bee's not wax :O

 

[chuck2417]

I detail part time, not professionaly so take this for what it's worth. The griots garage 6 inch polisher is great, it will keep up with any DA out there when used correctly. However that being said to apply wax a DA doesn't offer much. At least in terms of protection. Now if you want a cleaner wax which will apply some protection and cleans the paint a bit then a DA will benefit.

The bonnet things, the one thing that comes to mind is Simoniz... save your money. If your just after protection I would say save your money and just do it by hand. I know you mentioned your disabled, but using a machine won't make applying a wax any easier. I find I use more product, spend more time using a DA machine than just doing it by hand. To avoid standing buy a cheap rolling stool to sit on. I have no excuse other than standing the whole time gets tiring. I found one for $20 new at Homedepot.

A DA will benefit the most if you want to polish or correct paint. Harbor freight has a very cheap one, which I have heard is as good as a Porter cable. The griot garage will have the most power and is in your price range (but if your only waxing and not correcting you don't need power). Also like Primo mentioned lifetime warranty! The pads you will be looking for will be anywhere from 3inches to 6.5 inches. They will say hook and loop backing which is the same as velcro.

The polisher itself is only one step remember, you need a backing plate (most include a 5 or 6 inch) then pads on top of it. Red is a very soft pad meant for wax (depending on size will cost anywhere from $7 to $12). Also just something to note, holding a DA machine to wax an entire truck doesn't make it any easier... They all vibrate and weight around 5 pounds. For a coating of wax, spend $20-$30 on some wax and $3 on a foam applicator. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Hermes1]

in your price range, the PC is good, but the Griots machine has a tad more power is usually a tad cheaper, and the best part, it has a lifetime warranty.

IMO, dont even waste your money on a machine that uses the bonnets.

Agree with Jeff on the Griots Garage machine. It is very good and serves me well.