Halfords 240v Car Polisher - Any Good?

[P_G]

I made my normal Sunday pilgrimage to Halfords to stock up on products and noticed the 240v polisher with 12v detail polisher for £29.99 at Halfords.

I know it's not a porter cable but TBH I'd probably take it to someone who knows how to detail properly rather than bodge myself.

But as a compromise would people buy this with Halfords own polishing pads / speciliast pads(don't know whether they would fit) or perhaps a standard DIY variable speed orbital sander with a polishing pad on it?

[Ska]

It looks to be the same stuff that B&Q stock and I can tell you its only of any use if your buffing of your polish/wax. Assuming the orbital mechanisim hasn't broken again. Way too much vibration and just too clumsy. You have to apply some force to keep it from flying out of your hands If your looking at buying something for that sort of money I'd much rather go a find orbital sander with the velcro attaching pads; you could get a decent variable speed Bosch unit for around £40+ thats what I did on my car and you can see it didn't feck it up. Just used Megs polishing pads as usual

[dogbucket]

I bought the 12V one not expecting too much, and although I used it with a bit of SSR2.5 to get some scratches out I found no other use for it. Removing wax etc was quicker by hand.

The 240V one looked too big to be any use, the pad is the size of a dinner plate.

[P_G]

That's my concern with it, however it would cover the larger panels ion no time at all. Plus you get the 12v detailing one with it now for 'hard to detail areas'

[johnss8]

PG they really are not much good get a PC instead then get an old panel from the scrappers to practise on.

[P_G]

See that's the bit with a PC that worries me. I can clean and polish like the rest of them, but to practise and then use a PC (althoguh I'm sure the results would be fantatsic if I got it right) sounds a bit OTT for my ability.

[steelwind101]

Hi

WIth regard the PC i just wanted to add that you cant "burn" through your paint which what alot of people fear.

Using and aggresive product on thin paintwork means you could go thru, but not really.

The worst thing that happens in most people cases is you get it and you dont break down the polishes and you end up with some mess or micro marring.

The next weekend you are back out there to try again, in 2 or 3 attempts on consecutive weekends you will good at it!!

ALso i see you have an Audi, VAG paint is very tough so i wouldent worry about going though it!!

Geoff

[P_G]

Geoff,

Thanks for the advice.

I'm not so convined about the thickness of VAG brilliant black paint at the mo, seems very thin compared to metallics.

I've bought polishing pads and bonnets from surprisingly, Bosch; that you put of the end of your drill. I have a variable speed drill so I am going to give this a whirl before anything else. Obviously not on hammer action of course!

[rich1068]

I bought a Halfords polisher a while ago but looking on their website it seems they've changed the model.

Anyhoo, I just use mine for a quick once over after I've waxed the car. Ten minutes if that and it seems to just bring everything up that bit better.

[MOSE]

PG....I would personally leave the Halfords polisher alone and consider either the PC or the DeWalt alternative.

Of course the Halfords thing can be a useful thing to keep in the car in case you need to polish ya shoes before a meeting

[P_G]

I'm not Mr Smitten you realise. 'ello 'ello 'ello!

[EssFour]

For roughly the same price as the halfrauds polisher you could pick up a biltema polisher. They are exactly the same as the cyclo but much cheaper. Variable speed, does not bog down like the pc, robust. Value for money.

[P_G]

Thanks for the advice EssFour , where does one procure such an item?

[EssFour]

Here is the bad news. The are only avaiable from the Nordic region Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. Their web address is Biltema and search for polermaskin. Try detailingworld as there was a group buy recently. A mate mailed me one and I think I paid around 50notes in total. Worth trying to locate.

[P_G]

I'll try that link later, thanks again.

[NeilScarrott]

The Biltema is a decent tool, similar power to a PC, but has two heads for two polishing pads.

If you are umming and arrring about a PC for your Audi then I would say you'd be better off paying somebody that knows what they are doing to detail your car and then maintain it by hand.

I have polished a fair few Audi's and the majority have had really hard paint which a PC takes along time to correct.

Indeed I once spent 5 hours removing scratches from an Audi bonnet.

I use a rotary polisher now which is a much more powerful machine polisher, but I wouldn't advise opting for this straight away as it takes practise and you can damage your paint using this tool.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for people getting PC's and the like and having a go, but if your just after a shiny car and won't use it much then I can recommend getting a detailer in.