Question to those that use power buffers to wax their cars

[bernse]

I've always waxed my car by hand. Do it once every few months and I don't mind doing it.. I found it kind of relaxes me.

ANYHOO, being the stereotypical Alpha Male, I like my power tools. So, I was given as a gift a 6" diameter power buffer for waxing my vehicles. It came with a wax applicator bonnet and 2 or 3 "buffing" bonnets... basically, a fluffy terry-cloth thing. If you've seen them you know what I'm talking about.

The problem is this: After applying the wax to the vehicle, I've found that the foam "backing" on the applicator gets wet with the wax. This is foam on the machine itself that contacts the back of either the wax applicator or buffing pad. The problem is, after I am done putting the wax on the car, let it dry and go to put on a buffing pad, the "wax" or "wetness" works through to the buffing pad and makes that wet... which is obviously not good when your trying to buff off the applied wax on the car. I've found that it only really dries after leaving it out overnight, which isn't an option obviously.

How do you get around this problem? Put some plastic (a small bag?) or something between the applicator bonnet and the buffer?

 

[bernse]

Holy crap the topics fall quickly!

<bump>

 

[Descartes]

I never had that problem, but I use pads to apply wax. I have a Porter Cable orbital sander/polisher. Which one are you using?

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Don't those generally cause swirling in the paint?

 

[vi edit]

I used to use an orbital buffer. Didn't care for it much, and now have since gone back to the "powered by elbow grease" method.

 

[Vortex22]

I tried a buffer oen time and found that it was more work than just doing it by hand.

I think I made a little dent on the side of the car with it too :|

 

[PaNsyBoy8]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Don't those generally cause swirling in the paint?

not really, that's a myth, it actually works a lot better, espically if you have a porter, just go over the car with a nice polish to remove any kinda scratches that may have been accumulated, then a nice wax, ur car will look very very nice. if youreally have time, a clay bar before the polish...okay now i'm rambling

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: PaNsyBoy8

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Don't those generally cause swirling in the paint?

not really, that's a myth, it actually works a lot better, espically if you have a porter, just go over the car with a nice polish to remove any kinda scratches that may have been accumulated, then a nice wax, ur car will look very very nice. if youreally have time, a clay bar before the polish...okay now i'm rambling

A lot of buffers WILL cause more problems than they solve... the only buffer/polisher I'd recommend is the Porter Cable 7336SP (7224). It's an orbital polisher w/6" backing plate. You get that and some velcro backed pads and go at it. I only use my PC for applying polishes/swirl mark removers since it's almost impossible to get good results by hand unless you really kill yourself. As for wax I always apply that by hand. Kinda hard to get the PC pad in the P21S tub.
Plus if you can't put melted butter on your paint by hand... you should be paying someone else to do the detail for you anyway.
As usual I'll throw in a link to Autopia.


To answer your question bernse you're supposed to change backing pads so that doesn't happen. You probably have a screw in backing instead of a velcro one... if you've got a PC then get the PC Kit from Properautocare.com

 

[bernse]

Thanks for the replies people!