Looking for a little one-handed polisher?

[Duncodin]

A while ago I bought my first ever polisher - mains powered, weighs a ton after using it for 15 minutes and it just seems like overkill. Bl**dy big thing that when you press the trigger just a tiny bit too far it flings all the rubbing compound over everything except the car. I guess it could burn through the paint in just a few seconds without trying.

So I've been looking online at cordless ones and even those have speeds over 5000 RPM. Is such speed really necessary?

You can see I have no experience in these things. What's wrong with elbow-grease I said.

But at my age I'm getting a bit lazy so looking for a hand. All I want is a little hand held one that trundles along slowly without chucking the stuff far and wide. So what if it takes longer. I've got all day.

Anyone got any recommendations?

Thanks y'all.

 

[andyglym]

A while ago I bought my first ever polisher - mains powered, weighs a ton after using it for 15 minutes and it just seems like overkill. Bl**dy big thing that when you press the trigger just a tiny bit too far it flings all the rubbing compound over everything except the car. I guess it could burn through the paint in just a few seconds.

So I've been looking online at cordless ones and even those have speeds over 5000 RPM. Is such speed really necessary?

You can see I have no experience in these things. What's wrong with elbow-grease.

All I want is a little hand held one that trundles along without chucking the stuff far and wide. So what if it takes longer.

Anyone got any recommendations?

Thanks y'all.

You're putting to much on the pad mate, several small spots on the pad then pat the pad in several places on each panel and you'll have little to no splatter.

 

[Zephyr]

Use the one you have. Once you get familiar with it you will do miracles.
the little one hand ones are good just for a quick buffing with the wool pad and pretty soon you will throw it away.

 

[Peter1450]

I’m with you Duncodin , the one I have feels like it should be cutting patio slabs rather than polishing paintwork!
Think the problem us beginners have is putting too much compound on the mop and running much too fast , spent that much time cleaning up the mess I’ve not attempted it again

 

[Zephyr]

Five dots the size of your thumbnail in an X pattern.
tap-tap-tap on an area of 20X20cm and the on very low revs start moving one direction back and forth.
when the area is hazy enough, increase speed by 1/3rd and move quicker.
do never press the buffer, just let it do its stuff.

 

[Duncodin]

Thanks guys.

But anyone have any recommendations for a little hand held one rather than an angle grinder on steroids.

Also, my body has a lot of small curves. Concave as well as convex. So maybe as small as 3" would be better for doing round those.

 

[Zephyr]

Nope. But whatever you pick, make it a cord one. Batteries will not last a whole car in once.

 

[ExMX5owner]

Thanks guys.

But anyone have any recommendations for a little hand held one rather than an angle grinder on steroids.

Also, my body has a lot of small curves. Concave as well as convex. So maybe as small as 3" would be better for doing round those.

I use a little 5" orbital sander with a wool hood on it for the fiddly bits, variable top speed dial , from slow as a wet week all the way to warp factor 6.. where the hood flies off and disappears to hide behind some immovable object. So I dont use that setting...

 

[Pond]

Also, my body has a lot of small curves.

I wish my wife did! She used to....now they are quite big curves.
Although I've never tried polishing her, so can't help.

 

[Nodzed]

Interested. No smart arse replies required @andyglym.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I wish my wife did! She used to....now they are quite big curves.
Although I've never tried polishing her, so can't help.

I knew it would come in handy again.

 

[John_B]

I would recommend this. It's a DA rather than a rotary, which I understand eliminates (or significantly reduces) the risk of burning through. It's lightweight and has a speed control out of 6. As recommended in an earlier post, put some spots of compound on the pad, dab it onto the panel with the machine off, and then use a low speed (1-2) to spread it around and then increase the speed (3-4) to buff.

This is cordless, but contrary to another comment here, a battery will absolutely last long enough to do a Z3-sized car, but regardless it comes with a second battery anyway. The minor inconvenience of making sure at least one is always charged is nothing compared to messing about with cables.

BATOCA - Cordless Car Buffer... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08SJXDZBZ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Obviously this is a 6"er but it's more than capable of handling the contours of a Z3. I have a 3"er too that I use for the headlights and mirrors and other jobs, but I'd not fancy doing a whole car with a 3" pad!

 

[ChrisD]

I would recommend this. It's a DA rather than a rotary, which I understand eliminates (or significantly reduces) the risk of burning through. It's lightweight and has a speed control out of 6. As recommended in an earlier post, put some spots of compound on the pad, dab it onto the panel with the machine off, and then use a low speed (1-2) to spread it around and then increase the speed (3-4) to buff.

This is cordless, but contrary to another comment here, a battery will absolutely last long enough to do a Z3-sized car, but regardless it comes with a second battery anyway. The minor inconvenience of making sure at least one is always charged is nothing compared to messing about with cables.

BATOCA - Cordless Car Buffer... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08SJXDZBZ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Obviously this is a 6"er but it's more than capable of handling the contours of a Z3. I have a 3"er too that I use for the headlights and mirrors and other jobs, but I'd not fancy doing a whole car with a 3" pad!

I also have this one and it suits my, albeit limited, use case. I’ve used it successfully on my lightly degraded headlights as well , just using regular SRP.

 

[Pingu]

I knew it would come in handy again.
View attachment 334543

I'm amazed at the sobriety in this thread.

Time for me to visit mumsnet. The lack of immaturity on here has crossed the line.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I'm amazed at the sobriety in this thread.

Time for me to visit mumsnet. The lack of immaturity on here has crossed the line.

Indeed. I'd have thought the comic possibilities of "little one handed polisher" would have brought them out in droves, but no. Too bl**din' woke, I reckon.

 

[Duncodin]

Indeed. I'd have thought the comic possibilities of "little one handed polisher" would have brought them out in droves, but no. Too bl**din' woke, I reckon.

I have no idea what you guys are sniggering about.

I was similarly confused when I asked about those pink cylindrical neck massagers on a different forum.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I have no idea what you guys are sniggering about.

I was similarly confused when I asked about those pink cylindrical neck massagers on a different forum.

Ah-ha. Back to mumsnet, then

 

[AntStark]

Indeed. I'd have thought the comic possibilities of "little one handed polisher" would have brought them out in droves, but no. Too bl**din' woke, I reckon.

I sniggered to myself but then thought better of it

 

[Stevo7682]

I would be looking for a DA ( dual action) rather than an orbital as they are so much safer to use and far less easy to buff through unless your being not very careful
Go watch some YouTube videos
If its never been done before ideally you'd be want to decontaminate the surface then washed and claybar before compounds, polish and top wax or you just polish the surface contaminants onto the surface.
Stephen.

mine is a VonHaus one which i found does what i would like from it .