Anyone use a DA polisher on your Taco ?

Think I'm going to step it up to a DA polisher. Wanted to know if anyone has used one on their Taco.

 

Typically a Dual Action polisher is a bit easier to use than a non-dual action polisher. It will create less swirling. Plus, they run at a lower RPM level than a conventional polisher, which can really help someone who's new to polishing stay out of trouble. Lessening the incidence of burn-throughs...

I think Porter Cable makes a good one, for a good price. I considered buying it myself a few years back to work on darker coloured vehicles.

 

Yeah, I've read up on all that. What I'm asking is if anyone has used one on their Taco.

 

Yes, I use a Porter Cable twice a year on my truck and it makes a difference. What products you use are also important.

I use Sonus SFX line of polishes. I use the SFX-1 (coarse) on scuffs, then SFX-2 (medium) and SFX-3 (fine), on the whole truck, once a year.

Once a year I use just the SFX-3, unless there is a scuff, and I use all three on just that localized area.

It keeps my paint beautiful and swirl free...pics here...

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/detailing/137201-who-says-you-cant-make-silver-streak-shine.html

 

All the time. Never polished without it. What do you want to know?

 

Why would using it on your Taco be any different than using it on any other vehicle?

 

got the porter xp from autogeek.. loving it..

 

cool.

Questions:

1. Do you use it on your fender flares ?
2. What about the body lines, do you make sure you 'dont' run over the lines ?
3. Do you tape everything off ?
4. How long does it take you ?

Thanks guys

 

1. yes.
2. just polish along the body lines, but you can go across as well, that's the point of a random orbit polisher.
3. I tape off the black trim otherwise it looks like ass and you will never get the white crap out, no matter how hard you try. I also debadged my truck to make polishing the whole panel easier.
4. Time depends on what you are doing. Touching up scuffs takes under an hour. One full pass on the body takes about an hour. Two full passes take under two hours, because once you get going and have a technique and are all setup and moving it goes faster. But seriously, plan on all day when you polish because you first have to wash, and really should use a clay bar on the paint before you polish, so look at the polishing as part of an all-day detailing process.

 

Thanks man for the info.

Detailed cars last year by hand, made some extra money. Started up again Thurs and realized exactly what I realized last year......"I've got to get a DA polisher." By hand is alot of work when you got to put 2 or 3 coats of whatever on.

 

I have a porter cable DA polisher I've had for years. I will never polish/wax again without it. Screw doing it by hand! Plus the DA polisher will give a way better finish than doing it by hand ever will. I have a rotary polisher too, however I only really use it when I need some serious cutting power. I use it on the truck every 2-3 months with some meguiars NXT. I usually clay bar twice a year.

 

yeah, I got 2 jobs on my days off this week that will pay for the DA. Still debating on a Portal Cable or a Griots.

 

If you are making money, get the Flex DA polisher. Blows the PC one away.

 

Rob, never worked with a DA before, why should I go with a Flex ? Remember, I'm a rookie and most importantly, most of my customers wouldnt know a swirl in the paint from a whole in the ground. They just want their car spic and span with a little wax slapped on it.
Talk to me man, tell me why I need a Flex. Is it safe in the hands of a novice.

Thanks bro

Dennis

 

The porter cable. Definitely.

I'd order through Autogeek. Probably the closest to you so you'll receive it quickly.

 

Its safe, but honestly, a bit over-rated. The PC will do everything the Flex can do, however, b/c the flex is more powerful, you'll be able to do it slightly faster. I dont think its worth 2x the cost and I've had just about all of them (Porter Cable, Ultimate Detailing Machine (PC rebrand), Flex DA and Makita Rotary. Sold them all except the PC and just use that now to maintain my own rides.

 

Oh yeah, I'll get it from Autogeek. I'm on that site all the time. For those of you who dont know, if you want to know how to clean something, remove something, what products to use to do ______ , you can definately find your answer
Awesome site.

 

Use my PC 2-4 times a year as well. Love it. Just used it last week when my roommate dumped his bike in the garage to work on the scuffs. Ended up where you couldn't really see them unless it was the right light and you were looking for them. I couldn't recommend the PC enough. IMO, you're not really polishing if you're doing it by hand...just can't get enough speed on the compound to do much.

 

I have found that with a yellow cutting pad and some 3M Compound, I get some pretty good cutting power for deep scuffs/scratches. I don't really need to use my rotary polisher very much. I use lake country pads for mine w/ a 3M flexible velcro backing plate.

I also use my PC quite a bit as a DA sander for my woodworking projects. My little 4" finish sander barely ever gets used anymore.

 

The number one reason to get the flex is for speed of work time. The pc is great, it is what I use. Then again, I detail for the peace and quiet. With the flex, you get to do more work in less time. Take out tougher defects with less passes. Use a green pad and polish with diminishing abrasives and you are one pass and done with the flex. On a pc, you are into 2 passes. So, is the flex worth thd cost for the backyard detailer, no. For someone who gets an income, I would say yes.