rotary buffer help

[BFT]

I am about to undertake the task of waxing my badly neglected red paint. I am using the meguiars system and the fine and med cut cleaner say to use a rotary buffer. Is this necessary or will an orbital work.

Is there anywhere I can find info on the proper technique on using a rotary?

[Dubyagee]

Variable speed rotary (max 3000 rpms) will buff it right up with the right pad/compound. follow the instructions on the meguiars bottle/website and stay away from the corners where the paint is the thinest

[Chet Morton]

#2 Fine Cut Cleaner used with an orbital buffer is one of my favorites for removing swirl marks (wash marring, spider webbing, or whatever you like to call it). I use a Porter Cable orbital with a white polishing pad and then go right to a sealant or wax. Some people get hazing with #2 and have to follow it up with a lighter polish, but I've never experienced this. The Porter Cable is has a lot of torque, and I'm not sure you would get the same results if you are using a "Waxmaster" type of buffer.

Be careful using a rotary if you've never used one before. I've never used one, but I've heard that you can make a mess out of your paint in a hurry using a rotary wrong. An orbital is very safe, though.

[Joe]

:word: You can burn paint off of corners and edges faster then CKTA untarps his Bucket :D

You may want to use the blue painters tape around your moldings and other trim you don't want to hit with the buffer. Also. pop your hood but don't unlatch it. That will give you a little defense form burning those edges as well.

Good Luck!

[AntiBling]

If you tape off the edges of the hood, you dont have to worry so much about burning the paint off of them, then go back and do the edges by hand.

[BC Rod and Custom]

Originally posted by AntiBling
If you tape off the edges of the hood, you dont have to worry so much about burning the paint off of them, then go back and do the edges by hand.

Even after several years experience of buffing cars I still tape off the edges!

[IronMan2003]

What about if you buy a Random Orbitor like the one meguirs sells... The guy on trucks Did a show on this and I was gona buy one since he said it wont hold a corner and will not burn through.....

[BigBlkZ71]

I saw that one on Trucks, seems pretty good if you ask me. Just be careful around the edges...

[IronMan2003]

Cool when I get around to it and get the funds to keep my truck CLEAN I'm defiently gona check that out .. Gota get some Zaino! :D

[Snafudilligad]

Originally posted by IronMan2003
.. Gota get some Zaino! :D

then you wont need the buffer.

[CKTA]

Originally posted by Snafudilligad
then you wont need the buffer.

Correct, my orbital won't even "touch" dried Zaino. Weird, the only thing that takes it off is doing it by hand.

[IronMan2003]

nono,l Im gona need to use some compound on atleast the hood..

[Suareezay]

Get yourself a nice variable speed random orbital if youve never used a rotary. Ive never used one, but even expereienced detailers/body shops can mess up paint with them. A factory body shop once f*cked up one of my quarter panels trying to remove a scratch.
If your using the 3-step meguiars system, that stuff is trash. Try something along these lines:
PorterCable dual action polisher:
http://www.premiumautocare.com/po.html
with Megs #83 Dual action cleaner polish:
http://www.premiumautocare.com/meduacclpo.html
followed by Poorboys SSR1:
http://www.premiumautocare.com/posuswre.html
Then follow it up with a nice sealant/glaze and carnuba (my favorite at the moment being Vanilla Moose wax hand glaze and carnuba wax from http://www.clearkote.com/products.htm)

[IronMan2003]

Im scared to burn threw the paint... why I wanted the meguirs one because its a random orbiter that wont lock on so it wont burn the paint... They didnt say theres is a random orbitor just variable speed on their site.....:think:

[Suareezay]

Electronic variable speed control adjust from 2,500 to 6,000 orbits per minute.
Orbits per minute, not revolutions.

[c30]

If you're not experience with a rotary just start off at 1000rpm or so until you get used to coming off the edges, basically you want the pad spinning off the edge, once you get used to it up the rpm until you feel comfortable and when it pretty much becomes second nature with the edges, I like to buff at roughly 1400rpm, with certain clears up to 1700rpm but I never really felt the need to go much over that. When doing finishing with the foam pad, 1000-1200rpm works out great.

I guess if you have the patience and time, those orbital buffers are ok. I couldn't imagine trying to do a color/sand and buff job with one of those but they'll be ok for light stuff and waxing etc. but I definitely choose rotary in a heartbeat, if you use one, you'll never be happy with an orbital, much quicker results though they do take a little more practice and it is possible to mess things up with one, primarily on edges but it's not rocket science and it's not nearly as scary or bad as you may think. Out of all the buffing jobs from complete color/sand buff to spot buffing and detail buffing in the last 4 years or so since I been doing it I burnt maybe a handful of edges, most wouldn't even be noticeable unless it was pointed out. Try the rotary man, it's a miracle worker. :D

[Atreyu]

i use a rotary with 3M products and an orbital buffer at 2200. couldnt be any happier. paint looksl ike brand new.

[Citizen Rider]

Whats the difference between a rotary and an orbital?