Im looking for ways to make detailing my car faster, with a outback wagon yo can imagine it takes quite a while. Today it took me 5 hours to detail my car, an i was wondering if i bought a orbital buffer to compound an wax it would be faster. I do not know what to look for though, i do not want one to burn the paint off my car, any recomendations? Thanks :)

I have always heard people recommend Random Orbital buffers because they ae less like to "burn the paint.

Regan-

w/o practice, cutting/ buffing your car will most likely lead to burning the paint, moldings, mirrors. I know it is expensive, but you should get a detail shop to do an exterioir detail every couple months. Just think of it as 5 hours of your own time doing something else. Detail shops are underrated. They do wonders for your car.

good luck.
Mike

I have a random orbital buffer. I was always afraid I'd mess up the paint so it took me a long time to buy one. I wish I got one a lot sooner. They work very well and it would be a lot harder than you think to screw up the paint. I can do the 3 step process in under 2 hr now. I say get one you'll like it.

Peaty

I agree with Peaty. I also waited a long time before buying one. Had a friend who burned his paint and scared me off them.

I can only say one thing "they are great" and you use less wax as well, so you save money in the long run. Got mine, a 6" random orbital buffer, from Walmart for 20 bucks. Best money I ever spent.

I've got an orbital buffer and it works great. I use the Meguirs three step with it and it takes me about 2 hours to do my Impreza.

Any good random orbital buffers out there? What should I expect to pay for a good one? Where?

Regan-

I got a 10" model at Sears for like $60. It's fairly light, doesn't spin too fast (translate: would be difficult to burn paint with it, but won't work with high-speed polishes). I haven't used it on the Impreza, but I have a 1987 Grand National that I do use it on. 3-step time went from 10-12 hours to 3, and my arms hurt a lot less now.

Just get a lot of extra pads if you do the 3 step. I have at least one to apply and one to remove so six at a minimum.

One of the best ones out there is the Porter Cable model 7424. The best price I've seen for this is:
http://www.toolmarts.com/product91.html for about $110 which is an excellent price since it sells for $150 at normal retail price.
This one was (?) sold under Meguair's brand name also, but at a much higher price.

It's not hard to use a orbital buffer, you just have to learn the basic rules. The random orbit makes it very very difficult to burn your paint. Just don't push down on it and let the weight of the machine do the work.

yeah, if your going to use an orbital your going to need a lot of Terry cloths. I have to buy like 7 for one job. But the outcome is wonderful! :D

If you follow a few basic rules, you don't have to worry about burns or buff-throughs.

Use a good machine type polish. Hand polishes are usually coarser "grit". Keep the buffer moving in circular (some prefer figure-8) sweeps. Keep the bonnet or buffer pad from caking-up. Don't polish on crowned areas ... polish up toward the crown to prevent buffing through the paint. Make sure everything is clean and free of dirt before you start. Remember, Subaru seems to have the thinnest clearcoat on the market, so use your random orbital buffer judiciously.