MK5 Golf GTI

General => Detailing => Topic started by: Tfsi_Mike on December 16, 2012, 06:01:48 pm

Title: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on December 16, 2012, 06:01:48 pm

Was just wonderin....

Discuss  :popcornsoda:
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: stealthwolf on December 16, 2012, 06:04:45 pm
Happy to machine but I need adequate time/space. I used DMR's unit earlier in the year and whilst it was great to use the unit, I didn't get round to polishing until ~11am.

In the past, I've done light correction at home with a detailer getting the car up to scratch for shows.
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: andrewparker on December 16, 2012, 06:11:24 pm
Happy to machine but I need adequate time/space. I used DMR's unit earlier in the year and whilst it was great to use the unit, I didn't get round to polishing until ~11am.

Do you mean 11pm?

I've only ever polished by hand. I'd like to get a DA but I don't really have the space and I am a bit concerned about doing more damage than harm.
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: Hedge on December 16, 2012, 06:12:33 pm
My concerns as well Andrew plus a lack of covered space.
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on December 16, 2012, 06:12:53 pm
I too would like to try by machine but am concerned I'd do more harm than good
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: andrewparker on December 16, 2012, 06:14:45 pm
Do any professional detailers do tuition? I guess it wouldn't make good business sense...
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: Lone_Par on December 16, 2012, 06:19:54 pm
Do any professional detailers do tuition? I guess it wouldn't make good business sense...

I suppose in a way it could. I'd probably not part with £1000 or whatever for a full correction detail but would consider a couple of hundred for a course perhaps.

The detailer could then make some cash potentially by selling products. I suppose it depends on whether the detailer sells gear or just does details. I'm thinking of my local detailer, polished bliss here as they offer full details and sell products.
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: MC71 on December 16, 2012, 06:21:49 pm
DA about once a year (spring time) and by hand the rest of the year. Not Machined this car yet though as the stone chips are shocking so haven't got the enthusiasm for it. After a respray, maybe let a pro have a go.
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: stealthwolf on December 16, 2012, 06:28:17 pm
Do you mean 11pm?
No. Started polishing at 11am and still hadn't properly finished by 7pm but had to head off. Hence there was probably some finishing that never got done. To do it properly, you really need the whole day.
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: Nodz on December 16, 2012, 07:39:17 pm
Do any professional detailers do tuition? I guess it wouldn't make good business sense...

Russ on here (owns midlands car care) did wet sanding course at KDS and did a write up somewhere. I know other detailers also have days, for limited numbers, to go along an try products and have tuition etc

Just found the links:
Russ's experience from KDS
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=39307

KDS training page
http://www.kdskeltec.co.uk/training
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: AndyED30 on December 16, 2012, 08:11:24 pm
By hand for me.............gently & carefully too so hopefully I won't have to visit a full-time detailer anytime soon!

I've thought about going for a DA quite a few times but i'd just spend more bloody time on the car so never gone ahead with it  :signLOL:
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: E30Dom on December 21, 2012, 11:33:42 am
Started with a DA on my R32... but have progress to a rotary...

Not likely to do much damage with a DA unless you're being really dumb, but a rotary you can easily burn paint if you're not careful i bet...

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fv108%2Fax_vts_dom%2Fphoto3.jpg&hash=5b78620644ced9c9bb7516e1bae882cac3c3b163)

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fv108%2Fax_vts_dom%2F2555E3CC-0A5F-4B71-A38A-DA5D0C51BA7A-1847-0000014955184740.jpg&hash=051edb462b6792255c310f7c9ecffbd20ae63569)
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: Jaywoo-GTI on December 21, 2012, 01:42:20 pm
Follow the basic steps and you shouldnt cause and damage with a DA or Rotary,
Rotarys are not the animals that they are made out to be.
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: maxload on December 21, 2012, 02:13:19 pm
Machine polising will always give far better results than by hand. But lets not forget polising by machine removes microns of paint and therefore should not be used everytime you wash your car for example. Machine it then keep it looking great by hand.
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: E30Dom on December 21, 2012, 02:38:38 pm
Also I use my da to apply Jeff Werkstat Acrylic prime with a finishing pad, gets a thin even coat across the surface...
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: Daffy on December 22, 2012, 09:25:01 pm
Follow the basic steps and you shouldnt cause and damage with a DA or Rotary,
Rotarys are not the animals that they are made out to be.

Sorry but it appears you have no idea what you are talking about. It is quite easy to damage paint with a DA if you have no idea, use the wrong pad, polish, lube, too much time. As for a rotary well that just ups the odds.
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on December 23, 2012, 09:10:10 am

Newbie question...

Whats the difference between rotary and DA?  :ashamed:
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: rich83 on December 23, 2012, 09:23:21 am
A rotary spins the pad like a drill, the DA also spins but not around a fixed axis (a bit like an orbital sander.

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mpolisher.com%2Fimages%2Fimage002.jpg&hash=5e930fc91c30ec53323e14eef5d8adc39ec649f6)
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: Daffy on December 23, 2012, 11:41:52 am
A rotary is able to spin a lot faster and generates more heat in the pad resulting in burnt paintwork. A rotary also has more 'torque' pull when it spins enabling it to work the polish quicker/ more effectively
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on December 23, 2012, 12:41:30 pm

Everydays a school day
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: plex on December 23, 2012, 03:56:53 pm
A rotary spins the pad like a drill, the DA also spins but not around a fixed axis (a bit like an orbital sander.

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mpolisher.com%2Fimages%2Fimage002.jpg&hash=5e930fc91c30ec53323e14eef5d8adc39ec649f6)

DA will be better if you just start ^^
Rotary is for skilled users
Title: Re: POLL: Man Vs. Machine
Post by: andrewparker on December 23, 2012, 04:45:24 pm

Everydays a school day

The more I learn about machine polishing the more it puts me off!