Nozzles for car polishing. Result of application

Attachments for drills, screwdrivers and grinders for polishing cars - types and their choice

All car owners value their vehicle. Some even associate a car with their second home. All car enthusiasts are especially sensitive to the appearance and condition of the car. Even minor scratches and damage can ruin the mood of the car owner.

We select a tool for polishing a car body with our own hands

The appearance of your four-wheeled friend primarily depends on the condition of the body paint, which, as a result of exposure to external factors, can acquire defects such as scratches, abrasions, chips, etc. It is to eliminate the above defects that polishing is used. However, anyone who decides to carry out this operation on their own needs to know that this process is quite labor-intensive and requires not only theoretical, but also practical skills.

List of tools and components for polishing

A car body polishing tool is a fairly simple and inexpensive set of tools and materials that can be purchased at almost any hardware store. That is why many decide to purchase and further use everything they need for its intended purpose.

So, to implement our plan we will need the following:

1. Car polishing machine. This specialized device is the most convenient and practical for work, but in order to save money, the availability of additional devices, as well as small amounts of work, it can be replaced with an ordinary drill.
2. An adapter for a drill is a specialized device onto which a polishing wheel or attachment is safely and securely attached, if the choice nevertheless fell on the above tool.
3. Wheels and attachments for car polishing.
4. Adapters used when it is necessary to replace a wheel or attachment on a disk.
5. Applicator for uniform application of polish, wax or abrasive.

If you have acquired practical skills and decided to make money by polishing cars, then you definitely need to have a grinder in your arsenal of tools, which is ahead of a drill in many respects (ergonomics, power, safety in operation).

Practice shows that it is best to purchase tools for polishing a car body in specialized stores, where you can get professional advice on application. Also, when purchasing, you need to pay attention to the presence of instructions included with high-quality equipment and devices, which describe in detail the procedure and scope of application, which will help you save nerves and money.

Choosing a car polishing machine

Choosing the right car body polishing machine will help greatly simplify the work process, as well as save money when purchasing.

Main technical characteristics of the grinder:

- Power. This parameter is the starting point when choosing equipment. The more powerful the machine, and the average power is 1200 - 1400 W, the more universal its use will be.

— The ability to adjust the disk rotation speed is a very important function, which is necessary at different stages of work, and is also indispensable when polishing surfaces made of various materials.

— Power compensation. This function is implemented by the presence of a compensator in the machine, which maintains the same number of revolutions when the load level changes. It is not so much dangerous to reduce the number of revolutions when pressing hard on the machine, but to sharply increase them when releasing them, which can cause overheating of the temperature-sensitive varnish or the polish itself.

— The soft start function of the engine allows for protection against significant starting currents, the occurrence of which affects the longevity of the equipment. Thanks to this feature, you can turn on the machine, already leaning it against the surface to be treated, without fear of scorch formation due to a sharp increase in speed.

- Weight. The optimal weight of the machine, in order to avoid discomfort during operation, should be no more than 3 kg.

— Possibility of autonomous operation. In principle, the function is of little use and expensive due to the short operating time of the device on battery power.

— Size and ergonomics. The minimal dimensions of the device will help to carry out polishing in less accessible places, and how well the tool fits in the hand will affect the comfort and productivity of work.

Wheels and attachments for car polishing

In any store or market, the range of these devices is presented very widely, but when choosing, you need to take into account the following nuances:

• the purchase should be made taking into account the specifics of the abrasive used and the desired surface roughness of the material being processed;
• design differences depending on the equipment used (grinder or drill);
• Poor quality body polishing equipment, or equipment not technically designed for this type of work, can lead to significant damage, which will only aggravate the problem.

Stiffness is the main difference between the circles. The harder the wheel, the coarser the polishing paste can be used together. Polishing wheels can be of the following types:

1. Solid. Used to remove dust, scratches or shagreen.
2. Medium and soft. Used to add shine and gloss to the surface.
3. With a relief surface. Used for large volumes of work to enhance shine.

Nozzle hardness

Wheels for polishing cars differ from each other not only in the material from which they are made, but also in the degree of hardness. Drill attachments (circles) can be of the following types:

• Solid. They are used to remove scratches and small chips from the car body.
• Soft and medium. Used to give the surface a beautiful glossy shine.
• With a relief surface. They are used if there is a large amount of work to be done to make the car body shine.

Experts recommend using several attachments when working - from harder ones at the initial stage of surface treatment to soft ones, which will be required at the final stage of polishing.

What will help maintain the shine of the body:

• Rubbing Compound is a polish with an abrasive for car bodywork. This polish perfectly copes with problems such as scratches and minor damage to the body, and also easily cleans the car body from traces of rain or snow, removes tar residues and other persistent contaminants. Polish with Rubbing Compound abrasive will restore the lost shine to the body surface and help prepare the body for painting.
• Higlo Wax is an express polish for car bodies. An effective and easy-to-use polish suitable for cars with any body color. The product has an excellent water-repellent effect, prevents rapid contamination and damage to the paintwork and adds shine to the body.
• Cosmic – body polish. This durable protector contains carnauba wax. Thanks to this, the polish not only forms a durable water-repellent shell that protects the paintwork from harmful influences, but also gives the body a beautiful shine. The product is easy to apply and suitable for cars of all colors. Does not contain abrasive substances.
• Easy Tex Multi-Polishing Glove – microfiber mitten. The microfiber polishing mitt makes polishing your car or dashboard an easy and enjoyable task. Due to their structure, microfiber fibers have a large surface area, which allows EasyTexMulti-PolishingGlove to effectively absorb water, small dirt, and excess polish.
• Portable car wash or bucket with clean water.
• Rubber gloves – it’s better to stock up on 2-3 pairs
• A drill or screwdriver is not necessary, but it will make polishing much easier and faster.
• Polishing attachments (polishing wheels) - sold in car dealerships. For the drill, you can buy a special polishing attachment with Velcro - it will be convenient to attach and change it.

How to choose a car polishing attachment

We figured out what kind of polishing attachments there are in principle. Now it’s worth summing up and deciding which attachments you should buy for polishing your car at home.

Much depends, of course, on what type of polishing work you plan to carry out. If we are talking about soft polishing, then the nozzles should have a more delicate effect. In the case of deep polishing, it is necessary to use coarser polishing discs. In addition, do not forget that special discs are needed for different types of surfaces. There are no universal discs that are suitable for everything, so it is better to buy several attachments separately that will satisfy all your needs.

Each auto mechanic has his own personal set of discs that he uses in his work. There is no generally accepted set, so everything is determined by trial and error.

However, there are a number of things to consider when purchasing polishing pads.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the rotation speed at which the disks work more efficiently. Manufacturers often indicate this speed directly on the polishing discs. Remember, when working at the wrong speed, the likelihood of damaging the surface of the body increases.

In addition, pay attention to the types of mounting so that the disc will definitely fit your tool and the size of the disc. With a smaller disk size, the convenience of work increases, but the area to be processed decreases, which is why the work time increases. The situation is the opposite when working with a large disk - it is more difficult to process paintwork with it, but the speed of work increases.

And of course you should pay attention to the manufacturer and price. It is better to buy discs from trusted brands. If you choose equipment from little-known or unverified manufacturers, there is a high probability that you will get a defective product that will ruin your paintwork. Don't take risks and buy a nozzle from a reputable manufacturer.

Equipment for circles

A polishing machine suitable for work should operate at no more than 1500 rpm. This is not enough for professional purposes, but it is enough to carry out the procedure at home. In addition to a drill and a disk, performing the work requires the following:

• drill attachments;

• applicator. He is responsible for applying polish or wax;
• polishing sponge;
• body cleaning agent;
• pastes containing abrasive substances;
• finishing polish.

Equipment types

Several types of equipment are used in polishing. Firstly, these are rotary polishers. They come in different types, sizes, capacities, etc. However, by and large, they are all the same. All modern rotary polishers have several speed levels and replaceable polishing plates. They constantly maintain the same speed, the nozzles rotate in a circle.

In addition, eccentric sanders can be found in auto repair shops. This type of grinder has several types. In fact, they differ only in the rotation of the disk.

This equipment is professional. If you decide to polish the car yourself, then a drill, screwdriver or grinder may be enough for you.

When polishing, what matters most is not so much the tool you use, but the polishing attachment and, of course, a certain skill in polishing.

Let's sum it up

There are many modern materials for performing complex restoration and protective work on a car. You can treat the body parts in advance to prevent scratches. After damage to the body, you will have to restore the coating and remove the damage. You can perform the necessary procedures using a drill. But all work must be carried out carefully and only after gaining certain experience.

With such a tool at high speeds you can easily burn the paint on the body, which will require repainting in the future. All you have to do is watch the video and determine if your power tool has the necessary settings. If such opportunities exist, you can save money without difficulty. But another important condition will be the purchase of good consumables.

Primary processing (preparation for main polishing)

It is necessary to remove small inclusions of dirt in the paintwork

For this you will need:
• Synthetic clay Detailing clay C2000 / C2100 or others. We choose the appropriate one depending on the type of contamination.
• Cleaner Final inspectionM34. A universal surface cleaner, a quick way to remove residual working product (including polishing paste) from the surface.
• Cleaner Last touch spray detailerD155. Can be used instead of Final inspection (simpler and cheaper alternative).

Polishing without thickness gauge

Only an experienced and very short-sighted polisher can afford to determine the thickness of the varnish by eye. If you do not measure the thickness of the varnish on all elements, it is easy to make a mistake, especially in places with a thin layer of varnish: at the corners and joints of panels. In some cases, if the car has been polished several times before, body polishing is contraindicated.

If the car is not accepted correctly, all responsibility falls on the polisher. Therefore, the use of a thickness gauge is also protection against consequences.

How correct . Before polishing, measure the thickness of the varnish on each body element. Inform the customer if the varnish layer is too thin.

Method of cleaning the body by abrasive polishing

To remove faded color and scratches on your car, use an abrasive polish. It is important to remember that this type of polishing is used for severe damage to the varnish layer, but it will not help with chips in the paint. Thanks to the action of abrasive substances in the product, you can thoroughly treat the surface by removing the top layer of varnish. Ultimately, abrasive polishing will add shine and refresh the car, giving it a neat, well-groomed look.

For home application, it is recommended to use semi-professional products. For example, Turtle or Runway are excellent polishes for abrasive cleaning and polishing. You can take American products from Amway, they are available in concentrated form. With careful use, one bottle lasts for more than a year.

How to apply:

1. Thoroughly clean the body of dirt using car shampoo and dry thoroughly.
2. Use special tape to carefully cover the rubber elements and uneven parts of the body. This should be done to easily remove the polishing agent at the end.
3. It is necessary to visually divide the surface of the car into sections (hood, roof, etc.). You should not try to treat the entire area at once - this will only increase the risk of stains.
4. You can start applying. Hands must be protected with gloves. If you have a polishing machine, that’s great; it does the job perfectly and quickly distributes the product over the surface. If not, we work with a drill. It is necessary to apply a small amount of polish to the sponge that is attached to the instrument.

After carefully and carefully working the entire surface, it is necessary to remove any remaining product.

Abrasive cleaning is the most time-consuming step in the process, so be patient. But if you have such handy assistants as a drill or a grinder, completing the task will be much faster.

Types of car polishing

There are two ways to polish a car:

• protective (delicate);
• abrasive (restorative).

The protective method of polishing is a kind of prevention that allows you to maintain the paintwork of the body in its original form. For this treatment, a non-abrasive polish (wax, Teflon) is used, which refreshes the color and smoothes out microcracks.

The abrasive method is relevant for eliminating small defects: plaque, small cracks and chips. For such polishing, abrasive agents are used, the use of which is carried out as follows:

• Existing defects or the oxide layer are removed using sandpaper or abrasive polish.
• The final surface treatment is carried out using non-abrasive products and special attachments for a polishing machine or drill.

Experts do not recommend using grinders for polishing cars, since most models of grinders do not have a speed controller, while on a drill this indicator can easily be set in the required range. If you still plan to use an angle grinder, you should not process the bumper, headlights and moldings with this tool to avoid damage to them.

Why do you need to polish a car body?

But how can you make your car look more attractive and presentable? One way to maintain a presentable form of transport is by polishing. Polishing removes scratches, small chips and other subtle defects. The basic concept of polishing is that car mechanics remove a thin layer of paintwork. This allows you to get rid of scratches and chips, as well as return the car to a fresh, presentable look without damaging the paintwork.

Types of polishing work

Restorative polishing is divided into soft and deep. They differ only in the degree of varnish removal. Soft polishing removes a relatively small layer of paintwork. This is enough to hide the “spider web” effect or save the car from minor scratches. For deeper defects, it is better to use deep polishing, which will cope with scratches, small chips, etc.