Need Opinions - How Safe is an Orbital Buffer?

[Davexxxx]

I asked about this, when I first got the truck.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/favorite-tar-remover.18337/

But then forgot all that fine advice and did this instead.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/got-into-some-tar.39277/

Sponsored

 

[Porpoise Hork]

You'd be surprised at just how effective melamine foam (Magic Eraser) is for cleaning automotive paint. My wife's last car had a huge build-up of light sap and dirt and what not over the entire roof of her SUV from being parked under the tree during Covid. I went to try to clean it up one day and spent close to an hour scrubbing with car wash soap and one of those soft hand mitt things and barely made a dent in it. I had a pack of melamine foam I had for another project and figured why not give it a try.

To my amazement it began stripping all the build up off the paint with ease and left the paint in perfect condition. I managed to clear the entire roof in under 20 minutes where an hour of soaking and scrubbing barely removed anything. I keep a pack of this stuff around because it does an incredible job at removing stubborn organic buildup off all sorts of finished surfaces without scratching or damaging anything. Even those Green Pans with the ceramic coating.

 

[Magician]

You've got iron contamination on your paint. Very visible on white vehicles(ask me how I know) Find any of the top rated Iron Removers and follow the directions and that should remove most of what you have on the truck. Don’t allow the product to dry on the surface either. A clay bar will take any remaining iron spots off.
A random orbital or any other rotary type buffer/polishers should only be used after all surface contamination is removed to prevent scratching. Good Luck

 

[Saturnfire]

I used to always go through the carwash places...Then in 2023 I got my TRX...too big for most carwash places and the soft wash places tended to rip the grills off. I read a lot and watched a lot of video, and bought a lot of stuff. I did the whole process to get Adam's Graphene Ceramic coating on that vehicle. I am a believer. My car washes with a foam cannon and leaf blower are 30 minutes tops. I did the same process for my JL 392 and F150. I also keep a bottle of Turtlewash wax and dry as a waterless cleaner between washes.

To do the polishing and paint correction, I used a DeWalt random orbital polisher....I already had a ton of batteries.

 

[HOTRODTIM]

For your questions about paint correction try the " Chemical Guy " web site for good advise and products to use. Good Black Friday sales going on now also. I used the clay bar and then R1 Ceramic coated entirely, a little time and exercise gets it done.

 

[OnceAnEagle]

1). Before spending too much money on anything, I have had GREAT success with WD-40 and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. This might not solve the carpal tunnel thing, but if it comes off easy, maybe just do a section at a time, and knock it out over a few days. Then wash the truck to get the WD40 off as it will attract dirt.

2). Alternatively, you could just tell folks it’s a new color by Ford called Vanilla Bean!!!


Good luck.

Gray Organic Biodegradable Sustainable Vanilla Bean, in keeping with Ford's stewards of the environment color designers and marketers.

 

[nitrobass24]

I feel like an idiot even saying this, but I don’t even know how to use a clay bar Any tips or advice? I plan on buying one soon.

Yea so it’s really easy.

buy a clay bar and some lube. You can buy a chemical guys set on Amazon prime. But any brand will do.

Just work in small sections. Spray on some lube and work the clay on the car. I like to use vertical back and forth motion so as to not create any swirl marks. Firm but forgiving pressure.

you want the clay to pick up contaminates, not push them into the paint.

Looking at your photo closer it also looks like you have iron contamination. Clay bar will pick this up but I’d probably do a decontamination wash before doing the clay bar exercise.

here’s a quick video on using a clay bar.


I’m not advocating for Chem guys, but they have good content and their products are really accessible. If you want the best products you can really go down the rabbit hole. CarPro makes a really great iron remover. If you can get that I’d highly recommend it for your Decon wash before clay barring the car.

 

[Old Hat]

Many years ago my car was spotted at work when they were re-tarring the buildings roof. WD-40 on a microfiber towel picked it up easily and quickly. Followed up with hand car wash and wax job. Today I would go with clay bar.

 

[Bobbert]

Forget the polisher….too much work. Use WD-4O on your micro fiber cloth.

 

[513Mugsy]

I might try this first before a clay bar.

https://www.chemicalguys.com/products/clean-slate-wax-stripping-wash

Use this with a one time use only wash mit. It will be loaded with this crap when finished washing. Then follow with the clay to get the bigger spots that don't dissolve.

This will strip anything on the paint without much effort. A clay bar is great for spots like that. But you have a couple thousand. Remember that those spots build up in the bar as you go rubbing them off. Just because you knead the clay, doesn't mean that you have dropped the containments from the clay. It has just been pushed into the clay.

 

[EcoB259]

I had the black spots and looked like small chips but I used Prep-Sol first on the truck then clay barred it. Then used Chem Guys Butter-Wet

 

[RAYJAY]

mineral spirits will work or even used gas on a micro fiber towel, as for a clay bar loo at gertting a good quality clay towel towel i switched years a go when they first came out and would never go back to a clay bar ..

 

[Rossi6998]

I know a lot of information has been thrown at you. There is a lot to consider when using a dual action polisher (also known as a DA polisher). Do your research. Plenty of YouTube videos out there on how to properly detail your vehicle with a DA polisher. I personally would start with Chemical Guys Bug and Tar Remover. It's a car wash soap. You don't want to hard scrub your vehicle because you will create scratches in the finish. After the car wash, If the debris is still there, I would look into using a clay bar. There are different types of clay bars in regard to aggressiveness. You always want to start with the least aggressive and work your way up if necessary. When using a clay bar, you have to use some type of lubricant. You never want to use a clay bar on a dry vehicle finish. They make lubricant specifically for clay barring or you can use a quick detail spray. If the debris is still there after trying the clay bar, than I would use a dual action polisher (DA polisher) and some compound to see if it removes the debris. DA polishers are similar to an orbital buffer, but operate at a slower speed and will move the polishing pad in an oval pattern (instead of a circle) which will help prevent scratching or damaging your finish. It is ALMOST impossible to damage the finish of your vehicle with a DA polisher. Having said that, there is a technique to using a DA polisher, such as preparing the finish of your vehicle, which colored pad to use (the color of the pad determines how aggressive it is), which compound to use, etc. It is normal to be hesitant, but once you watch a couple YouTube video, you will realize the process is not that complicated.

 

[johnd900]

They have clay pads for orbitals now as well. I wouldn't use it tar removal but just a note for future claying.

 

[Evolvd]

1). Before spending too much money on anything, I have had GREAT success with WD-40 and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. This might not solve the carpal tunnel thing, but if it comes off easy, maybe just do a section at a time, and knock it out over a few days. Then wash the truck to get the WD40 off as it will attract dirt.

2). Alternatively, you could just tell folks it’s a new color by Ford called Vanilla Bean!!!


Good luck.

NEVER EVER use a magic eraser on a car...period. It is super aggressive and you will absolutely mar the paint.

Sponsored