GS4_Fiend

iTrader: (22)

And so I decided to get the PC from Chris. Great Guy! Great Customer Service! I received my order already! Thanks Chris! Can't wait to use it!

Habious

As a "detailing" newbie (complete and total newbie; let's be clear), I have a question.

First, if at all possible, please don't laugh...or slam...although you may feel it necessary to do one/both.

First, I own only one car that's worth keeping clean, shiny and nice.
Second, I'm NOT a professional car detailer. I anticipate using this once or twice a year.
Third, I live on the 10th floor of a Condo building, with underground parking. This is the most important point. There is NO OPTION for using a corded polisher. My car is parked 3 floors underground, 100 ft from the nearest wall...no outlets. There are no outlets anywhere near the back parking area that I am allowed to use to work on the car. And there's no way I can run an extension cord from my Condo (on the 10th) down to the car. I HAVE to go with a cordless model...simply no other option.

I give all of that information in an attempt to forstall the "You really should get a corded polisher"..."A corded polisher will give you much better results"..."If there's any way you can find to use a corded polisher..."

I get it... Amps...power...the whole thing. I get it. But I can't.

I have two choices; a cordless model, or polish the car by hand. That's it.


That being said, I found this Craftsman cordless polisher. It's fairly inexpensive but, it doesn't come with batteries or a charger (the polisher is about $35.00...the battery/charger setup is about $100.00...an additional battery is another $30.00)
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...+%26+Polishers

Is this a complete and utter waste of time/money?...or, given my situation, a usable option?

GS4_Fiend

iTrader: (22)

Wow. 10th FLOOR?! That SUCKS!

Habious

LOL...I knew I couldn't put enough disclaimers in my original post!

I park in an underground community parking garage. I don't have a "house", it's a condo (think high-rise apartment).

I can't even "go to a friend's house" easily. The only friend I have that has an actual 1-stall garage...is about an hour away.

GS4_Fiend

iTrader: (22)

Your only case is to borrow a friend's garage. Also ask him to help you out with the detailing while your at it.

jfelbab

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but a battery powered buffer will not be able to achieve paint correction. THey just don't have enough power. You can use one to apply wax but not remove swirls and other paint defects. You will probably be better off to pay a pro to detail your car once or twice a year. Sounds like you may have difficulty in properly washing your car as well.

eyezack87

iTrader: (4)

Habious, have you considered asking one of your friends to borrow their driveway for the day? You can pay them back by a wash/wax of their car or something. Its what I would do if I could...

OR

Just pick up a bottle of M105 and get ready to put some "passion" behind it. Expect a couple hours by hand with that stuff thats all

Chris@GlimmerGlass

iTrader: (3)

Thanks Enjoy everything!!

I agree! Call up a buddy and ask/beg to use his place for a day. Either that, or try to get a detail day going w/ some friends on the forum.. something along those lines.
105 is definitely an option.. but it'll feel like an eternity going by hand unfortunately. Maybe make a weekend out of it. If you decide to go this route, we do have 105 in stock and ready to go.. http://www.glimmerglassdetailing.com/migl1ulcutco.html

phongh

iTrader: (5)

I'm looking forward about your portable pc bro. I spend couple hours today using the scratch x 2.0 and quixx. let me know how it go so i can buy the DA polisher too man.

Chris@GlimmerGlass

iTrader: (3)

Let me know if you have any questions about the porter cable. Feel free to ask here, pm, email or call

phongh

iTrader: (5)

I have a few questions. How hard is it to use the DA polisher? I don't want to ruin my paint. I'm new to the detailing world

I spent two hours on applying the scratch x 2.0. I can still see the scratch. I know is not deep, but after all the scrubbing I gave up. You think after buying the portable cable willl it help me remove swirls, and other flaws?

Pearlpower

iTrader: (2)

On the serious car detailing forums, a vast majority take a liking to Porter Cable. Have one myself and seems to do the job well. Cannot comment on the others.
A DA is not meant for deep scratches and the compound and pad you select make a world of difference.

Chris@GlimmerGlass

iTrader: (3)

honestly, its really not too bad. As with anything new, theres a short learning curve, but I dont think I've ever heard of someone complaining that they couldnt do it, or figure it out, ... or anything like that. Usually after a couple of panels you have the hang of it. And the nice thing about the Porter Cable is that its really the safest of any of the machines worth using for polishing/detailing.
Now, as for the scratch and whether it'll remove it. If you can feel the scratch w/ your fingernail, chances are you wont be able to remove it, but can at a minimum, improve its appearance. Polishing by machine will certainly allow you to remove more defects than you can by hand though. For one, it generates more heat than you can by hand, allowing you to use stronger polishes. I recommend using the 5.5" pads w/ the porter cable as I believe they do a better job than the larger 6.5 pads.
I would say to start w/ an orange pad which is a light cut pad. Pair it w/ a good compound or heavy polish and then follow it up w/ a white polishing pad and polish. The poorboys products and optimum products are very popular and we do have them paired together w/ the porter cable. If you wanted to go w/ a little bit of a stronger compound, consider meguiars 105. This isnt necessarily new, but it is a very popular product that gets outstanding reviews for its ability to remove swirls and scratches on the porter cable. You could pick up the porter cable starter kit along w/ the 105 and an orange pad as well as a finishing polish (ie: optimum polish II) if you'd like to go that route.
poorboys and optimum:
Poorboys PC Kit
Optimum PC Kit

M105, starter kit, 5.5" pads and polishes:
M105
Porter Cable Starter Kit
5.5" CCS Pads
List of Polishes & Compounds