Machine Polishing on a Budget – A Modest Set Up Does Not Make You Inferior

by Rodney Tatum

Detailing is not necessarily a contest even if sometimes it seems like it on social media platforms.

When it comes to washing, the not so glamorous stuff is the most important. This includes purchasing wash mitts and towels, and also properly taking care of them. If you are doing the traditional wash system, I would encourage you to use two (not one) buckets with grit guards for your wash system. I would also have a separate system for wheels and tires. You would start first with wheels and tires and then proceed with the rest of the car. I would also suggest using detailing clay on your paint. More often than not, your paint will need a claybar treatment. What a claybar is removing (bonded contamination) does affect your polishing efforts.

When I started doing paint corrections, I had a somewhat no thrills assortment of pads and a entry level polisher setup.

I used a Porter Cable 7424XP and with, 3inch and 5inch backing plate options. This was like having two polishers in one. There is a 6inch backing plate option, but I would not recommend it.

The pads shown above are limiting in the sense that you can’t grow with them. They can not handle the power of my more advanced polishers. I wanted to recommend a compromise of budget friendly, yet compatible options in case you desire to invest in a stronger dual action polisher. I recommend getting at least three of the following in 5.5 inch and 3.5 inch, though more is better, the Lake Country SDO Orange Pads W/CCS and the Lake Country SDO Blue Pads W/CCS.

The one area in paint correction I would not compromise myself with our polishes. At the time I started out using the Menzerna line heavily which I enjoyed using. Over the years, I found Jescar and Sonax polishes to be my most commonly used polishes. As a startup, putting myself in your or my position starting out, I would suggest this combination.

Pair the Jescar Micro Finishing Polish with the orange pad listed above and the Jescar Performance Cut Compound with the blue pad.

I suggest starting out by making the compounding step optional. Get accustomed to being more particular about your car, before doing aggressive paint correction with long term protection. Be careful in terms of how you wash and maintain, but also where you park and how you deal with other businesses caring for your car. When you get into this realm, this is the Paint Depth Gauge I recommend. The Elcometer 311 as a minimum, from a reliable brand. Your paint is likely thinner than a post-it-note.

Panel Prep suggestion(s) for removing polishing lubricants and other remains from the surface. First off, this is not meant to offend anyone established and knowledgeable wiping off the surface with an IPA mix. I recommend panel preps in general for anyone, particularly if you are in doubt. If you are especially new and or feel overwhelmed by this article, knock off the homemade concoctions. Pay $15 more dollars, though I know decent quality at every turn adds up. The push back myself or those that resonate with me may receive here is also another indicator why one person charges $600 and another $1,100 for (allegedly) the same thing. It is not that it would not work an IPA mix. Aside from getting the right dilution ratio, the ease of use is not going to be the same. The great stories of others having no problems, might not be applicable in another at use scenario. The probability that you could re-micro scratch your paint goes up. I know professionals I respect who use IPA. If you are reading this article taking notes, you are likely not in that tier. I have only used IPA once in my 11 years of detailing.

Maintenance wise especially, there are very few reasons or situations why you should be using a thin microfiber towel on your paint. There are outliers. But for many tasks 500 GSM or higher, and all it should be 350 GSM or higher. Do not get one of those cheap wash mitts from a big box store. The Rag Company makes good microfiber towels (I.e. Eagle Edgeless 500) in general and wash mitts.