Review on ATD Tools 10511 Shop Polisher by Dan Buycks

About me/Credibility: I am a self-employed automotive technician. I have extensive experience of body/paint work including sheet metal replacement, patch panel welding, putty, sanding and paint/bare metal preparation, priming and painting, blocking, paint sanding and finally rotary and dual action polishing. polisher. Polisher: People complain that this polisher is heavy. They don't lie, but that's the way it should be. I found this polisher to do a great job from start to finish and it is very well made. I've even used it with a Velcro backing plate (which I highly recommend) to sand on bare metal (removes very quickly). This device is not lacking in power. I have resigned many times. Still works like new except the side handle is broken. On a scale of 1 to 5 I give this buffer a 4 star rating for the overall quality, especially when you are only paying about half the price of more well known brands. About rotary buffers: THIS IS NOT A TOY! The rotating buffer is mostly used at low speed, where simply the weight of the buffer and the polish will do the job. You should not attempt to punch a hole in the paint with this or any other buffer, which you can and probably will if you become overly aggressive and do not arm yourself with adequate training before attempting your project. The rotating buffer should only be used by someone who either has hands on experience with it or at least has extensive knowledge prior to use. It is not something that should be used without caution and absolutely without knowledge prior to working on your project. If that sounds like I'm harsh on newbies, that's because I am. But it's for your own good. I don't want anyone to hit the road thinking their brand new car is going to do a few whirlwinds only to end up needing a paint job because you overclocked that fender or another to top speed and made a poor choice of polishing paste. If you're nervous, STOP. Consider purchasing a Meguiar's Dual Action Buffer instead. It does almost as much as a rotary machine without the risk of the paint burning through, especially around the edges. To be honest like I said it's a great buffer and SOMETIMES just a rotary buffer can get the job done but I use a double action buffer on average about 19 times out of 20 on small standard work. Tips: - The surface must be clean. . If polishing leaves a gritty residue on your car, it will only make matters worse. There are many polishes and combinations of products that may be required to do a satisfactory job. There are pads of different sizes. and the types of support plates available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Consider swapping rotary and double-acting buffers to finish your job. You can start with a rotor, but you may get a better end result if you finish it off with a double-acting buffer. Stay away from plastic with this buffer. Plastic doesn't conduct heat nearly as well as metal, and you can burn off plastic very easily if you misuse it. various degrees of finish hardness - Meguiar's M105 and M205 polish and compound polish (they are safe for paint shops to apply fresh paint) - Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. This is a great one step system and does NOT require a finer polish afterwards but it can be done if desired and is a little more aggressive than the M205 finish. A recommended learning resource if you have absolutely no knowledge of using a rotary buffer and related products: Kevin Tetz's Paintucation, Colored Sanding and Polishing. It covers pretty much everything you need to know, and the price of the DVD is more than worth paying to have your mistake reworked. Detail Tips: Wash and dry your car from top to bottom. For heavily soiled vehicles such. B. Vehicles with paint stains, I strongly recommend that you purchase a set of clay sticks and use them prior to polishing your vehicle to ensure a proper prep job. Polish your car. Keep the pad "wet", prepare it before use by spraying at least a little water on the pad to prevent drying and scratching. Stop polishing when your polish turns cloudy. To prevent the cable from rubbing against the car, throw it over your shoulder. CLOSE PAINT. Buffing will remove existing wax on your car. FOLLOW WITH A FRESH COAT OF WAX. Unless of course your car is freshly painted and ready within 90 days. Hope this review helps, remember this is not a toy so it will be as hard as it should be.