Best Polisher

[RedSN]

Last time I ever did any polishing, I borrowed a PC polisher. I now have a project where I need to polish/repair a slab of marble. Figured I might might just get myself a polisher and use it on the car as well (maybe LOL)

What is the go to recommended polisher for beginners that does a decent/good job?

And/or does anybody have a polisher they would like to sell?

[hammerhead]

Simonize at Canadian Tire works well on the cheap - for odd jobs here and there it has worked well for me.

[Scrape]

I would not recommend using a polisher for multi purposes especially since you don't want to have any sand or dried up slurry particulates that can potentially fall on the paint during your correction. This is presuming that you are using it for those reasons. If it is paint only then you can go with a Griots polisher something like this. https://www.prodetailingsupplies.ca/product-page/griot-s-garage-6-random-orbital-polisher-pad-kit


Last time I ever did any polishing, I borrowed a PC polisher. I now have a project where I need to polish/repair a slab of marble. Figured I might might just get myself a polisher and use it on the car as well (maybe LOL)

What is the go to recommended polisher for beginners that does a decent/good job?

And/or does anybody have a polisher they would like to sell?

[m_owing]

One of the big differences is rotary vs dual action vs random orbital. Rotary is like a drill, it just spins. These are more aggressive and create more heat faster. Dual action oscillates differently and so does random orbit, check this link for diagrams
https://itsbetterwaxed.com/blogs/detailing-tips/50694340-what-s-the-difference-with-dual-action-random-orbit-and-rotary-buffers#:~:text=Forced%20Rotation%20Dual%2DAction% 20Orbital%20Polishers&text=%5Bhighlight%5DThe%20difference%20between%20t his,force%20both%20orbit%20and%20rotation.

Rotary are usually the cheapest, but I've heard dual action is easier to control and harder to screw up (ie, burn through the finish, or create swirl marks) I've only used rotary for a few armature jobs but I want to get a dual action. The cheapest dual action that seems decent is the torqx that comes in a chemical guys kit at Canadian tire. It goes on sale sometimes for under $200. It says dual action and random orbital both on the same page so I'm not sure what it actually is!!

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/chemical-guys-scratch-swirl-remover-polishing-kit-8-pc-0396099p.html?rq=polisher#srp

[Scrape]

The term Dual action and random orbital are the same. Forced rotation is still a random orbital polisher but is built completely different than the others where it is gear driven. A standard random orbital polisher is ideal for a novice/home DIY guy. There is less chance of making a mistake with a random orbital polisher as you push down harder on the machine, it stops spinning, which will prevent burning of the paint. These units are a lot cheaper in price. The force rotation polisher on the other hand is a gear driven polisher, which if you were to press down on the machine it will continue to spin, no matter how hard you push down on it. I hope this makes sense.

[m_owing]

I understood that one is gear driven and the other is momentum driven but the words DA and random orbital are used interchangeably by companies. And the link I posted above has 2 different patterns for DA vs random orbital so I find it confusing.
Just to clarify: the kind you mentioned that stops spinning when you push down, are you referring to the big round polishers like this:
https://www.canac.ca/media/catalog/product/6/1/6170087_WH_A_cireuse_polisseuse_voiture_OU20210_67 66.jpg?quality=85&bg-color=255,255,255&fit=bounds&height=500&width=500&canvas=500:500

Those are cheap and not very aggressive
But this one:
https://store.chemicalguyscanada.ca/torqx-random-orbital-polisher.html
Says random orbital and dual action! It’s the one I had my eye on for a balance of cheap and quality.

[Scrape]

So the link you shared here is what they classify as a “Standard Orbit Polisher” This does ZERO correction. Basically all it is good for is applying waxes and sealants. Total waste of money IMO. The second link you provided from Chemical Guys is an entry level dual action (aka random orbital) which uses momentum to spin your pads. This machine is the one that stops spinning when you push down on it. Watch this video at around the 3:00 min mark to give you an idea.
https://youtu.be/Ja13RF1tMQ4


I understood that one is gear driven and the other is momentum driven but the words DA and random orbital are used interchangeably by companies. And the link I posted above has 2 different patterns for DA vs random orbital so I find it confusing.
Just to clarify: the kind you mentioned that stops spinning when you push down, are you referring to the big round polishers like this:
https://www.canac.ca/media/catalog/product/6/1/6170087_WH_A_cireuse_polisseuse_voiture_OU20210_67 66.jpg?quality=85&bg-color=255,255,255&fit=bounds&height=500&width=500&canvas=500:500

Those are cheap and not very aggressive
But this one:
https://store.chemicalguyscanada.ca/torqx-random-orbital-polisher.html
Says random orbital and dual action! It’s the one I had my eye on for a balance of cheap and quality.

[RedSN]

But this one:
https://store.chemicalguyscanada.ca/torqx-random-orbital-polisher.html
Says random orbital and dual action! It’s the one I had my eye on for a balance of cheap and quality.
I was looking at that one, and this one:
https://www.eshine.ca/products/griots-garage-6-g9-random-orbital-polisher

[m_owing]

Griot’s one looks great also.
And scrape, agree with you about the standard orbital polishers just wasn’t sure which you were referring to.

[Scrape]

If you go this route make sure you get the 5” backing plate as well. Pads wise go with Buff and Shine
I was looking at that one, and this one:
https://www.eshine.ca/products/griots-garage-6-g9-random-orbital-polisher

[m_owing]

Scrape, seeing how you seem experienced in all this I have a couple questions:
1. How do you wash your pads? No matter how much I rinse, mine always end up with flaky bits after the pad dries.
2. Do you dampen the pad with water before you start working on the car?

[Scrape]

1. How do you wash your pads? No matter how much I rinse, mine always end up with flaky bits after the pad dries. Answer is I use a pad cleaner. I usually buy in volume to make it more cost effective. A few light sprays and a foam pad conditioning brush works wonders. Rinse and repeat if necessary but usually it works first shot. Once the pad is rinsed place the pad back on the machine and spin it out to aid in the drying process. Here is a link for the cleaner.
https://www.autoobsessed.com/products/chemical-guys-pad-cleaner-16oz-buf_333_16?_pos=10&_sid=7c021b347&_ss=r

2. Do you dampen the pad with water before you start working on the car? From my experience I generally don’t use anything on the pad. What I do is cover a thin layer of the product on the entire pad. This helps do a better job in spreading out the product evenly on the paint.
There is a product that conditions the pad before use but i generally stay away from it personally.
https://www.autoobsessed.com/products/chemical-guys-pad-conditioner-buf_301_16?_pos=15&_sid=7c021b347&_ss=r

Just an FYI these are just examples of each product. I personally have not used Chemical Guys so use at your discretion.

[Snaketamer]

FYI... Canadian Tire is offering $100 of the Chemical Guys kit...

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/chemical-guys-scratch-swirl-remover-polishing-kit-8-pc-0396099p.html?rq=0396099P#srp

[Old Fart]

^^^Where did you see the sale price? Still listed at $274

[Snaketamer]

^^^Where did you see the sale price? Still listed at $274

It's in this week's coming Big Red Event flyer...starting Thursday.

[Old Fart]

Ok, thanks!

[RedSN]

It's in this week's coming Big Red Event flyer...starting Thursday.

Picked one up. Thanks for all the advice folks!