Recommendations on polisher/waxer

I’m looking into purchasing a polisher for my silver 2015 Tacoma. I’ve never owned one myself so I’d like to hear what you guys recommend for a beginner trying to restore paint to a fresher look. Looking to spend $100 or so, maybe more if necessary. As you can see in the pics there’s some white spots on the hood and the paint is oxidized on the rear panel. Also would like to know which brands of polish, wax, and preparation products you recommend. I already have my sights on

$40 collinite 915 marque D’ elegance wax-premium carnauba+polymer concours sealant. show car-deep shine & high gloss + durable, long-lasting paint protection for cars, trucks, & motorcycles (12 fl oz)

collinite 915 wax as it’s priced reasonable, lasts long, and leaves a great looking finish.

 

Try this first: Before you spend the $100+ dollars on a polisher or other mechanical tool, try this: Spend $7.00 on a bottle of Nu-Finish or other non-aggressive cleaner wax first. Buffers can do a lot of non-reversible damage very quickly. Doing it by hand this never happens unless you are Schwarzenegger. There are many micro-bead/chemical polishers/products out there now that break down as you apply them before they can ruin the finish. If you follow them up with the right Meguire's offerings, they come out good. They do not remove all of the flaws, but on a nine year old car, that's a lot to ask for.

 

I’m agreeing with this.

I own a Wen dual action polisher. It’s extremely powerful and since I really don’t know how to use it, I’ve only brought it out a few times.

One of the family youngsters did something silly like used a sos pad to wash a car. The buffer with some rubbing compound, then polishing compound, then wax. It took forever but it looked way better after.

 

I use one of these, watch a lot of youtube. It takes time to do it right, but it's hard to F' it up with modern polishes.

$300 Chemical Guys BUF_501X 10FX Random Orbital Polisher, Pads, Polishes & Compounds Kit (Safe for Cars, Trucks, SUVs, & More) Digital Display, 700W, Orbit 8mm - 9 Items

https://www.amazon.com/BUF501X-Random-Orbital-Polisher-Items/dp/B00PXZ919I/

Next use one of the cheap Amazon ($20-25) ceramic coatings. Again, watch youtube.

 

I’ll have to check Nu-finish out. Looks reasonably priced. Thanks

 

$216 Chemical Guys BUF_503X TORQX Random Orbital Polisher, Pads, Polishes & Compounds Kit (Safe for Cars, Trucks, SUVs, & More) 700W, Orbit 8mm - 9 Items

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BKT63XM?ie=UTF8&th=1
I have the cheaper chemical guys kit (although it was only like 100 bucks a few years ago), its a great package in my opinion to get everything you need to start out besides maybe microfibers. I've used it a handful of times detailing my truck, miata (wrap), and cut/buff some damages on various other friends and family members cars from scuffs and scrapes. It's pretty tough to damage your paint/clearcoat with a modern orbital, its not like a heavy rotary that will burn through it quickly. You also pay it off very quickly in terms of the time you save trying to do stuff by hand or having anything touched up by a shop. I'd recommend a ceramic coating or even something like adams graphene ceramic spray afterwards over traditional hand waxing but thats a different conversation.

 

Porter Cable. This one works and it's not expensive.

$139 PORTER-CABLE Car Polisher and Buffer, 6", Orbital, Variable Speed (7424XP)

Amazon.com: PORTER-CABLE Car Polisher and Buffer, 6-Inch, Orbital, Variable Speed (7424XP), Gray : Everything Else

 

Most average finishes do great with nu-finish, its a super ez to do often kind of quicky protectant. As weird as it sounds Costco wash with ceramic is a noticable fiinish.

 

Completely disagree on the buffer comment. Yes, a rotary will create damage but with modern polishes and a random orbital like a PC, you have to be a complete idiot to create damage. There are videos providing this. No product in a bottle is replacement for polishing paint.

OP I would recommend watching the videos from Adam’s Polishes. There are plenty of great brands out there for polishes. Adams is super user friendly. My preference is Shine Supply. I’ve messaged them on Instagram and they respond back with polish/pad combo for my machine.

 

So, i dont do this for a living anymore, however if you want a system that is dummy proof and WONT leave swirl marks or burn your paint, look at Griots Garage orbital buffer, pads, and chem’s. You CANNOT burn the paint and their products are amazing, simple to use. Ive used them for over 20 years on show cars to my daily Taco. For a truck you dont have to be BEST OF SHOW.. but i can tell you that every year i detail my trucks paint twice.. and for a 2014…. The paint is still like glass. Water/mud just run off etc etc. Also, keep in mind that ALL clay bars are made from the same 3 factories last i checked, so dont fall for gimmicks.

 

This is my advice as well. Using a high powered non-orbital buffer, with no training is just asking for damage.

 

I was going to say something like this re: machine random orbital but didn't want to start the storm. I do 100% agree with this. You'd be surprised what you can do with a one-step polish and the right pad.

I'm also a big Adam's fan boy. Not because it's better or worse than another brand, but because it seems to cut a good middle ground. Most of their products work great and don't cost much; especially when you sign up for their emails. They have sales constantly.

 

You’ll have $100 in cleaner, polish, and wax.

Maybe go old school and do a wax cleaner, followed by a clay car, then polish and a wax. It will take all day doing it by hand. 5-8 hours.

But it works.

 

There's an entire detailing forum available for your perusal as well.

But yes. A random orbital, good pads and good product should be no problem.

 

Great responses everyone! So many options and variables so I’m still deciding which route.

 

I second this one. You can find package deals on the machine, backing plate, pads usually around 200 or so. I've owned mine about 10-11 yrs and very happy, my truck is almost 15 yrs old and not garaged but the paint still looks beautiful. Not new, but that's unreasonable to expect.