Where do I start?

I bought a rotary polisher off ebay (its a makita) was pretty cheap

A good package of pads/products is the 3m perfect it range it's colour coded so you cant go wrong..

The general process is like this....

1.jet wash car
2.snow foam (if you want)
3.rinse
4.wash with a good quality shampoo (I use megs gold class).. make sure you use the 2 bucket method and NEVER use a sponge only a lambs wool wash mitt
5.clay bar
6.wash again
7.dry with a good quality drying towel
8.inspect your paint and decide what you need to do

Your paint looks like its been through a car wash every weekend and washed using a sponge!! Sponges act like sand paper on your cars paint as the dust/dirt sticks to the surface and becomes an abrasive layer.. this is why you need to use a deep pile mitt.

Go round the car and inspect any scratches.. anything you can feel with your thumb nail will not be able to be polished out completely BUT you will be able make a significant improvement.

You will be able to get a 60% (ish) improvement without using a polishing machine and just using something like poor boys black hole by hand... you might want to do this first before you get into machine polishing.. If you were to do this then I would go poor boys.. then a good quality wax... then a something like megs liquid wax to finish.

Now IF you want to machine it.....

1.get yourself a strong LED torch
2.pick a panel to start on and mask up shut lines, rubber trim etc
3.split the panel into 2-4 sections depending on the size
4.start with a soft pad and light polish first on a slow speed and give the area a pass. The important thing to remember is to give keep the rotary moving to stop heat build up which will knacker the paint. Make sure you work the polish out properly then wipe over with a microfiber cloth.
5.get your LED and inspect the area.. how does it look.. if it still looks **** work up to a harder polish/pad compound. Remember harder pads and more aggressive polishes WILL leave marks on your paint that will have to be refined out again by working back down to a light pad/polish

Pull away the tape between to section ... eventually you will get to a point like this



This shows a 90% reduction in defects which I was happy with..

There is a very good and very in depth guide here http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=detailing%20world%20machine%20polishing%20guide&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.detailingworld.co.uk%2Fforum%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D66024&ei=0CjYU_T4DK3H7AbF-oHwDw&usg=AFQjCNFSK_RPtMRWZxVbo8KyO2Rh89Zqmg&sig2=S7HtvSfozJh5aNpS4xwg9g

The R32oc also has a very good detailing section

My top tip is make sure you dont use too much compound on the pad and work it out properly or you will be left with buffer trails.

You have a black car I feel you pain


50/50 on the rear bumper


before


after

Im by no means very good with this stuff but im learning

A quick scan and it looks good to me fella

Nice mate. Make sure you get some pics up when your done

Good man sounds like you're on the right path

supersticky said:

I'm on my way peeps anything else I need here apart from a bleeding plug!

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Almost there indeed. Having a few options of pads and accompanying compounds gives you more flexibility/control.
Chemical Guys hex logic pads are kind of standard i think. And compounds 32 to 38. But that's preference.

I know it's expensive but trust me it will last ages and is spot on... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3M-Perfec...ssories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item1e6c92181a

zig said:

I know it's expensive but trust me it will last ages and is spot on... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3M-Perfec...ssories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item1e6c92181a

Click to expand...

I want that kit

shnazzle said:

I want that kit

Click to expand...

It's worth the money... There is a lot of compound in those bottles

supersticky said:

Wow that stuff must be the balls!! Ok guys I have an issue it polisher I've got has no plug just the pins

(I know I need to cut my nails lol) so could I just cut and pop a plug on? Cheers peeps.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

That looks like an American plug.
Might need a transformer. Make sure you check the voltage and get an adaptor for the plug

If it were me I'd either snip the lead and fit a new plug or use a travel adaptor. As long as it's 230-240v you'll be fine.

Looks a bit like the plug from a flymo?!?

Edit: beaten to it- could be American. Does it say 110v anywhere?