derBayerische September/October 2021 - 33

M A C H I N E P O L I S H I N G P A I N T - D E C O D E D
rotates at high speeds. The polishing
head of a rotary polisher is not
designed to rotate off its axis. In
other words, the polishing head
does not " orbit " . Rotary polishers
generate friction and will heat up
the paint's clear coat. The elevated
paint temperatures caused by the
rotary polisher allow the abrasives
in a polish to cut the paint. Cutting
the paint is needed to remove sanding
scratches and light to moderate
scratches. A rotary polisher usually
will leave behind its own light
scratches or swirls in the paint,
depending on the product and pad
combination. I recommend a rotary
polisher only be used in rare
circumstances and by a very
experienced operator.
The orbital polisher is the
other type of machine polisher.
An orbital polisher's head rotates
and also " throws " to different
degrees off of its axis. Some
orbitals such as the Cyclo polisher
have fixed or forced orbits. Other
orbital polishers randomly orbit.
The orbiting action of an orbital
polisher generates less heat and
allows easier operator control. This
fact reduces the learning curve of an
orbital polisher and almost eliminates
the chance of damaging the
paint. When used properly, an
orbital polisher will produce great
results for professional detailers
and nonprofessionals.
Polishing products and materials
are produced by many manufacturers.
Within each brand, many
different polishing products are
typically offered. The availability of
so many polishing products can
make choosing the proper polish
and materials very confusing. This
article is not about which brand is
best. In my experience, the difference
between brands is marginal.
I suggest that the nonprofessional
continue to use products which
have worked well for him or her in
the past. Otherwise, stick with
products from the major brands
which make polishing products and
supplies. Focus on choosing the
September I October
correct product and materials, within
a product line. In general, it is
best to machine polish with a light
cut polish and a polishing pad
made for polishing or finishing.
Modern all-in-one polish and wax
products also work great, and will
save time too. Light cut polishes
and all-in-one products are
designed to remove or hide very
light paint defects, and to remove
contaminants from the paint. The
products generally do not dust
much and have a long working
time. I typically work a small
amount of polish for about a minute
per vehicle panel. Polishing and
finishing pads for a machine
polisher are less dense and allow
for smoother polishing and less of a
chance of introducing swirls to the
painted surfaces. Keep in mind that
you should not use too much
product when polishing. Work the
polish with light to moderate
pressure for about a minute. Use
no more than a quarter-sized
amount of polish per vehicle panel;
slightly more when using the pad
on the first panel. If the polish or
product is difficult to remove, too
much product is being used or the
product is not being worked long
enough.
Once the nonprofessional has
(Above) Both polishers utilize hook and loop vecro backing plates for easy
pad changes. (Below) The Cyclo dual-head orbital and the Metabo rotary
polishers.
a general understanding of the
concept of polishing a vehicle's
paint and has knowledge regarding
the types of equipment, products,
and supplies, the next step is to
practice with the machine, product(s),
and pad(s). Practice on a
large area of your BMW away from
edges and trim. The middle of the
hood or trunk are good panels to
practice on. Focus on the positioning
of the machine and angle of the
pad. It is important that the
machine is always under control
and the pad is parallel to the body
panel. Move the machine in a
smooth and linear manner, avoiding
edges and trim. If the machine
has an adjustable speed control,
practice on lower speeds until
proficient. It will take some time,
however, the machine should
become more comfortable to use
after several hours of practice.
A dedicated and clean microfiber
cloth should always be used to
remove polish and/or wax. There
are many different microfiber
weaves available, however, I use a
" sueded " microfiber cloth for this
purpose.
Machine polishing for the
weekend detailer does not need to
be an overly complicated process.
Remember, possessing a general
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