I'm looking to see what buffer the GS community uses on their cars. Not looking to go into the Automotive Detailing section at CL. The top 3 I was able to come to a conclusion were the following:

1) Porter Cable 7424XP - 6" - Random Orbital

2) Griot's Garage 10813 - 6" - Random Orbital

3) DeWALT DWP849X 7"/9" - Variable Speed Polisher

 

I considered the Griot's Garage polisher you mentioned, but a coworker convinced me I wouldn't like it. So, I use the Ryobi 6" cordless buffer from Home Depot. I removed the foam backer that came on the buffer, replaced with a hook-and-loop backer pad and use Griot's polishing and correction pads. Works like a charm getting in and around some (but not all) of the tight spaces.

 

It seems that people are saying the PC was great and still is, but the Griot's just packs more 'umph. It's supposed to be a bit better than PC. I was thinking about pulling the trigger on the Griot's with the 25 foot extension cord that comes with the backing plate. The PC is 10 ft and the backing plate is seperate. I am really conflicted though lol.

EDIT: I already bought the DeWalt but will return that. Too much power, too dangerous lol.

 

I have a porter cable 7424 (I think) polisher. Got it at least 10 years ago. It does great but of course you need the right pads and polish to match the paint condition and goals.

Honestly I don't want to use it on my new GS. Hand polishing and sealing seems a lot safer and cleaner, especially around body edge lines and panel edges (lights, glass, rockers, etc). I'll use it on my boat, on my wife's car that needs way more restoration than my GS, and have used it on older cars that needed to be polished out several times.

With a good polish you really don't need the machine polishers unless the finish is pretty poor, or if you have a lot of cars to polish and really need the extra elbow grease of the polisher.

P.S. Remember to claybar your finish before polishing. It makes a HUGE difference and will allow the polish to work so much better as you're not grinding in stubborn dirt, bug cuts and metallic particles into the finish.

 

Your in the range of $100 to $250 and they'll probably work but if you can swing just a little more these are the best I know of. You'll love'em so much you'll ask your neighbors to theirs too hahaha

http://www.rupes.com/

 

I have the PC and it's been great, but if I were to do it over again I'd get the Rupes.

 

Rupes and Flex are the best polishers hands down.

 

The Porter cable works fine for me.

 

I did look at the BIGFOOT Mille LK 900E, but honestly, I don't fully understand what advantage it has over the PC and Griots. More torque? Comfort? What makes the Rupes or Flex stand out in the crowd of polishers?

 

Just be careful. If you don't know what you're doing with a polisher that spins regardless of pressure and angle, you can seriously damage your paint. The DA polishers are pretty much idiot proof. "Junkman" did a YouTube video showing how impossible it is to damage your paint with a PC 7424xp. The more professional guys (Larry Kosilla) swear by Rupes...but they know what they are doing.

 

Rupes is the way to go. I recommend checking out reviews of their different products depending which one you prefer on youtube specially channels like Ammonyc, Obsessed Garage, Esoteric, Forensic detailing, and Pan the organizer.

 

I got the PC ages ago, and I more recently got a multipad kit to dedicate pads to grits (cleaner, swirl remover, polish, wax, etc.).

It's working great.

 

 

Wow I clearly underestimated the popularity of the Rupes