When I was young and spry, car washing, waxing, and brass-polishing
was fun, and I guess it still sort of is. -But I've concluded that it might
also be fun (especially when trying to get out of bed the next morning),
to use some kind of orbital polisher.
Now, the kinds of power-polishers you find at auto stores are just fine for
waxing slab-sided, modern cars, but of course, our Flivvers have more
nooks and crannies than a split Thomas' English muffin, so something maybe
a little bit smaller is needed for getting into those hard-to-reach places.
What should I be looking for?
Hey Bob, what is your paint job? More specifically, unless you have a modern, two stage paint, I'm not sure that I would take any kind of power tool to it anyway.
If you had some kind of buffing compound you wanted to use and doing it by hand is just too much work, I think your best bet would be an air operated random orbital unit with a sponge head. Ideally you'd want it to have an adjustment knob so that even if you have the trigger fully depressed it's still moving pretty slow and easy. You'll still have to move it all over the car but you won't have to do any actual rubbing, plus the sponge will get into the nooks and crannies like you want.
Someone with way more experience and expertise will probably be able to guide you better.
HFT sells this I find it useful in small places but they only sell a pneumatic version
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-inch-pneumatic-polisher-kit-99934.html
Seth,
I have no idea what kind of paint I have. It's black and laid on pretty thick and it's got some orange-peel. Looks like a do-it-yourself job.
G.R.,
I don't have a source of pneumatic power, so it'll have to be electric. Polishing the broad, painted surfaces with Turtle-Wax is easy enough, but the brass, of course, is tougher and again, the shape of that stuff requires something smallish with a deep reach. My Dremel is good for iddy-biddy details like brass Murphy-fasteners, but it's too small for the radiator and lamps.
So you want to be able to do stuff like brass also? Honestly Bob I think anything you do to polish any of your brass except elbow grease and good towel isn't going to work like you want (I like to finish it off with a microfiber cloth, really helps it shine). It'll either be too small for the big parts or too big for the small parts. Especially since any of the brass polish you don't really want to get on the paint much (especially not with an air tool or power tool).
What you really need to look into purchasing is the elbow grease of a local teenager! Maybe you have grandkids? Either just for straight up cash or in exchange for learning how to drive (and maybe taking a date to prom?). Then you can sit in a lawn chair with an umbrella, a fan, and a drink, while you read a book. Look up occasionally to make sure they're still working and haven't missed a spot. =)
G.R. / Anyone, I checked out HF polisher. iS THERE A PAD THAT GOES ON THE FOAM or does polish go directly on the foam?
Griots sell a 6" and 3", plus a bunch of different type and size pads. I bought one of the older porter cable electric polisher-buffer they sold and have been very happy with it. I like Griots everything I have ever bought from them I have been satisfied.
Here is link
http://www.griotsgarage.com/category/car+care/car+polishing/orbitals+and+car+pol ishing+tools.do?sortby=ourPicks&page=1
greg
Robert polish goes directly on the foam
Bob for brass polishing ever thought of visiting Camp LeJune? I hear the marines do a real good job (wink,wink)
While I will confess to applauding a well polished car (paint and brass, nickle, or chrome) I find that patina is very liberating and frees one from the shackles of "wax on, wax off".
Any self-respecting maggot can polish his brass, but in this case, why ? I am with Harper, it looks better left alone. Maybe that's why I like black-era trucks ... rust and old black paint. It's how and old truck is SUPPOSED to look !
Semper Fi, Do or Die !