Decision Time: Buy a Buffer/Polisher -or- Pay Someone Who Knows What They're Doing
09-10-2012, 10:41 PM
#1
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Decision Time: Buy a Buffer/Polisher -or- Pay Someone Who Knows What They're Doing
Background: I recently purchased a 2008 TL. The car had been keyed (not too deep, not into the primer as far as I can tell), and the body has never been well take care of. Lots of small scratches and imperfections all over the body. I am not a "car guy" (I am a boring middle aged white guy with kids and too much work on my hands to have time for such hobbies...) and not particularly interested in spending every weekend detailing my car, but... I wouldn't mind investing 2-4 hours in learning how to make it look nice, which I would do 4-6 times a year.
My dilemma:
I see my options as either:
1) Buy the hardware and materials and try to spiff my car up myself. I am looking at a 7424XP and about $100 worth of pads and other materials, for a total of about $200.
Pros: I get new toys and tools, and can use them for future maintenance. I pick up a new skill that I can use in the future.
Cons: I don't know what I am doing and could potentially ruin the finish on my car, or at a minimum, not do as good of a job as someone who knows what they're doing. Although a new skill would be nice, the time spent learning it could be spent on other possibly more valuable pursuits.
2) The kid down the street offered to do it for me for $100 if I let him take pics when he's done. I've seen his car in its current state and when he bought it, and the transformation that he has made with it is any indication, he knows what he's doing.
Pros: Job gets done with no effort on my part, and at only $100 cost. It will probably look very nice when it's done.
Cons: No new toys, tools, or skills.
-------------------
I don't have a burning desire to learn how to use a buffer and fix up the outside of my car, but it's something I could do in a couple hours, at which point I would be capable of doing my own work, I think I'd be willing to bite the bullet.
Questions:
1) Assuming I do it myself, how easy would it be for me to ruin my finish or do something else stupid? I am not that mechanically inclined, although I can read and follow instructions when I have to.
2) How good of a job would I do as a beginner, versus somebody that knows what they're doing?
3) Your thoughts on my dilemma? Given what I've stated, should I buy the tools or pay somebody that knows what they're doing?
My dilemma:
I see my options as either:
1) Buy the hardware and materials and try to spiff my car up myself. I am looking at a 7424XP and about $100 worth of pads and other materials, for a total of about $200.
Pros: I get new toys and tools, and can use them for future maintenance. I pick up a new skill that I can use in the future.
Cons: I don't know what I am doing and could potentially ruin the finish on my car, or at a minimum, not do as good of a job as someone who knows what they're doing. Although a new skill would be nice, the time spent learning it could be spent on other possibly more valuable pursuits.
2) The kid down the street offered to do it for me for $100 if I let him take pics when he's done. I've seen his car in its current state and when he bought it, and the transformation that he has made with it is any indication, he knows what he's doing.
Pros: Job gets done with no effort on my part, and at only $100 cost. It will probably look very nice when it's done.
Cons: No new toys, tools, or skills.
-------------------
I don't have a burning desire to learn how to use a buffer and fix up the outside of my car, but it's something I could do in a couple hours, at which point I would be capable of doing my own work, I think I'd be willing to bite the bullet.
Questions:
1) Assuming I do it myself, how easy would it be for me to ruin my finish or do something else stupid? I am not that mechanically inclined, although I can read and follow instructions when I have to.
2) How good of a job would I do as a beginner, versus somebody that knows what they're doing?
3) Your thoughts on my dilemma? Given what I've stated, should I buy the tools or pay somebody that knows what they're doing?
09-11-2012, 09:12 AM
#3
Suzuka Master
X2 ... $100 is going to get you a glaze and a heavy wax to fill ( not remove ) the issues..
09-11-2012, 09:35 PM
#5
Team Owner
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Best of luck, welcome to Acurazine.
Be sure and post pictures.
Be sure and post pictures.
09-12-2012, 08:45 AM
#6
Suzuka Master
Good luck .. you will enjoy it.
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09-28-2012, 08:24 AM
#8
Intermediate
Ben, did you go thru with this? if so, i like to hear from you. i am on the same boat, i've been putting this off for awhile now since the kids' activities has occupied all my times. spent $100 on a local guy here but still not happy with it. since your threat here, i will do it myself, but would like to hear from you first :-) using you as a test bed.
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