Polisher grinder question - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

yungd83 · 03-14-2012, 01:44 PM

so today i was at autozone getting some tire wet. ended up talking to the clerk for awhile my camaro is black and like most has a mess load of swirls on it. i was telling the clerk i was gonna get a porter cable 6" polisher with one of the adams kit. he said that i should just goto lowes and get the 4" porter cable grinder or and i quote "hell goto harbor freight and get a 7 or 9 inch grinder throw a polishing wheel on it and some meguiars swirl remover" has anyone used a grinder other than a porter cable and if so how was the out come.

BigCarrot · 03-14-2012, 02:05 PM

Sounds like a rotary which in the hands of a novice = paint suicide. If you're skilled in that sort of thing it can be beneficial but if you aren't it's very expensive to fix your mistakes.

Adam's Polishes · 03-14-2012, 02:10 PM

WOW... I've heard some bad advice before at autozone, but this might be the new leader in the clubhouse. Long story short - hes wrong.

The first issue is the fact that hes recommending you use a 'grinder' which by all methods is going to be a rotary tool. If you don't have any experience with a rotary you can easily do far more damage than good. Thats if you could even adapt it to use with polishing pads which I'm not sure is possible with most angle grinders. The tool at harbor freight hes recommending is also a rotary tool.

For an example of what bad technique/inexperienced users and a rotary polisher can do take a look at this pic:

yungd83 · 03-14-2012, 02:35 PM

Thanks guys! Yea I usually get horrible advice from them

BullF-16 · 03-14-2012, 02:41 PM

Worst advice ever, get the PC

garcmol · 03-14-2012, 03:25 PM

Someone should be shot over that mess!

Mick · 03-14-2012, 03:36 PM

The Porter Cable is designed to be fool proof. Checking around on-line, it is STRONGLY recommended for the non-professional because you can't mess it up. With the the $37K I spent for my Camaro, I'm not going to try to save a few bucks and buy a cheap polisher that could totally mess up the paint...$120 for the PC is a small investment to take care of the Camaro. Even if you can a buy non-PC polisher for half that, is it worth even taking the chance of screwing up your car for $60? The Porter Cable works awesome! Don't sell yourself short.

yungd83 · 03-14-2012, 03:43 PM

Agreed mick thanks!

LOOT310 · 03-14-2012, 04:08 PM

Detailing advice from AutoZone employees = fail. Rotaries are for professional detailers only. Way too easy to seriously damage your paint. On the flip side, they are necessary for some situations.

I recommend the Griot's DA - it comes with a lifetime warranty and is of the highest quality. You can't go wrong with the PC either. Almost impossible to damage your paint with either.

chevy 3 · 03-14-2012, 07:02 PM

Is there a temperature that's better or not when I polish? Like is it ok at 60 or is it better when it's hotter?

Chris82xx · 03-14-2012, 07:23 PM

With a black car, you need to remember that the dark color absorbs heat. So when the surface of the car gets hot, it's harder to work on. If you don't have a garage with a good reflective light, and you do want to work in the sun then about 60 degrees I would say is suitable. From what I hear, Adam's has some good products, so consult with them about a good polish or swirl remover. Invest in an orbital, they're relatively easy and safe to use. I use a rotary because that's what I learned on. I can say that if you've never used one, don't start unless you can get some practice in on a junk car. Also, buy a spray wax. I find that when you do get a little hazing, a spray wax helps to remove it and provides a shine. With towels, use microfiber or bath towels They softer. Don't buy microfibers from wal-mart. They are rough on cars and will likely cause more spider scratches that you're refering to. To understand about microfibers, go to wal-mart, feel there generic microfiber clothes and then open one of meguiar's clay kits. They provide a microfiber with it, you can feel the difference. How softer the kit clothes are. Hope this helps.

Dznts · 03-14-2012, 11:37 PM

wow someone screwed the pooch on that corvette

=Stephens= · 03-14-2012, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan@Adams

For an example of what bad technique/inexperienced users and a rotary polisher can do take a look at this pic:

Hahaha, hey Dylan, that will buff out. LOL

One thing that I like about the porter cable it comes with a DVD on how to use it, and has the control of the rpms.

OBSSEST · 03-15-2012, 12:13 AM

That mess should most likely buff out with a PC.

03-14-2012, 01:44 PM	#1
yungd83 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Flint Michigan and Kansas City Posts: 79	Polisher grinder question so today i was at autozone getting some tire wet. ended up talking to the clerk for awhile my camaro is black and like most has a mess load of swirls on it. i was telling the clerk i was gonna get a porter cable 6" polisher with one of the adams kit. he said that i should just goto lowes and get the 4" porter cable grinder or and i quote "hell goto harbor freight and get a 7 or 9 inch grinder throw a polishing wheel on it and some meguiars swirl remover" has anyone used a grinder other than a porter cable and if so how was the out come.

03-14-2012, 02:41 PM	#5
BullF-16 USAF retired! Thank God! Drives: 2011 1SS, 1LT red,1LT/RS SGM 98Z28 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: North Texas Posts: 2,799	Worst advice ever, get the PC __________________ HKE LSX427(Mast blk lbl 305 6bolt LS7heads, PatG231/246 blower cam, RWHP/TQ: 1281/1133 SNL Performance Custom Twin PT6766 BB turbos 4 to 25psi selectable on the Boost Leash controller, Squash dual 400LPH/ID2000s, ALKY 4 gal meth, Autometer AFR/Bst/oilpres/oiltemp/fuelpress gauges, Pedders Justice road crs pkg: All HD bushes, supercar 12kg coil overs, supercar ZL1 sways, camber plates all setup by JusticePete! :Gforce 9" 35spline S-Trac, 1500hp Outlaw axles, 3.5"alum DS, Monster Triple disc; 4xForgeline 19x10.5 4xBridgestone 305/30R19 RE-11, CTS-v calipers/rotors/Cobalt friction XR1/3 pads

03-14-2012, 03:25 PM	#6
garcmol Drives: 10 1LT SIM; 91 B4C sleeper Z Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ft. Mitchell, Alabama Posts: 7,199	Someone should be shot over that mess! __________________ Pedders Pace Car Package, Injen CAI, Flowmaster AT, AAC Lighting, ZL1 fascia/skirts, RKSport Ram Air hood, vented fenders, painted stripes (Gary's Customz), Honor and Valor badged (Thank you, John)

03-14-2012, 03:36 PM	#7
Mick Drives: 2011 2LT/RS M6 VR Convertible Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Southeast NH Posts: 207	The Porter Cable is designed to be fool proof. Checking around on-line, it is STRONGLY recommended for the non-professional because you can't mess it up. With the the $37K I spent for my Camaro, I'm not going to try to save a few bucks and buy a cheap polisher that could totally mess up the paint...$120 for the PC is a small investment to take care of the Camaro. Even if you can a buy non-PC polisher for half that, is it worth even taking the chance of screwing up your car for $60? The Porter Cable works awesome! Don't sell yourself short. __________________ 11/20/2010 - (1100) 03/07/2011 - (2000) 03/22/2011 - (3300) (TPW 3/28) 04/01/2011 - (3800) It is ALIVE! 04/06/2011 - (4200) 4/23/2011 - (6000) Delivered!!!

03-14-2012, 11:37 PM	#12
Dznts Anabolic Connoisseur Drives: Sold - Blown Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 22,094	wow someone screwed the pooch on that corvette __________________

03-14-2012, 02:10 PM	#3
Adam's Polishes Drives: The shiny ones. Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: In the detail shop! Posts: 5,979	WOW... I've heard some bad advice before at autozone, but this might be the new leader in the clubhouse. Long story short - hes wrong. The first issue is the fact that hes recommending you use a 'grinder' which by all methods is going to be a rotary tool. If you don't have any experience with a rotary you can easily do far more damage than good. Thats if you could even adapt it to use with polishing pads which I'm not sure is possible with most angle grinders. The tool at harbor freight hes recommending is also a rotary tool. For an example of what bad technique/inexperienced users and a rotary polisher can do take a look at this pic:

03-14-2012, 02:35 PM	#4
yungd83 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Flint Michigan and Kansas City Posts: 79	Thanks guys! Yea I usually get horrible advice from them

03-14-2012, 03:43 PM	#8
yungd83 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Flint Michigan and Kansas City Posts: 79	Agreed mick thanks!

03-14-2012, 04:08 PM	#9
LOOT310 Drives: 2011 2SS Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 93	Detailing advice from AutoZone employees = fail. Rotaries are for professional detailers only. Way too easy to seriously damage your paint. On the flip side, they are necessary for some situations. I recommend the Griot's DA - it comes with a lifetime warranty and is of the highest quality. You can't go wrong with the PC either. Almost impossible to damage your paint with either.

03-14-2012, 07:02 PM	#10
chevy 3 NEcamaro5 Drives: Black 2ss rs 1LE Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: mass Posts: 4,328 View My Garage	Is there a temperature that's better or not when I polish? Like is it ok at 60 or is it better when it's hotter?

03-14-2012, 07:23 PM	#11
Chris82xx Make your peace with God! Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS M6 Convertible Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dirty Jersey Posts: 1,595	With a black car, you need to remember that the dark color absorbs heat. So when the surface of the car gets hot, it's harder to work on. If you don't have a garage with a good reflective light, and you do want to work in the sun then about 60 degrees I would say is suitable. From what I hear, Adam's has some good products, so consult with them about a good polish or swirl remover. Invest in an orbital, they're relatively easy and safe to use. I use a rotary because that's what I learned on. I can say that if you've never used one, don't start unless you can get some practice in on a junk car. Also, buy a spray wax. I find that when you do get a little hazing, a spray wax helps to remove it and provides a shine. With towels, use microfiber or bath towels They softer. Don't buy microfibers from wal-mart. They are rough on cars and will likely cause more spider scratches that you're refering to. To understand about microfibers, go to wal-mart, feel there generic microfiber clothes and then open one of meguiar's clay kits. They provide a microfiber with it, you can feel the difference. How softer the kit clothes are. Hope this helps.

03-15-2012, 12:13 AM	#14
OBSSEST Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS RS, Black Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sacramento Posts: 413	That mess should most likely buff out with a PC.

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