Cheaper end DA polisher

[Lelykins]

I know that everyone will say go for a decent brand and spend upwards of £100 but I really only want to spend around £50.
Bearing this in mind does anybody have any views or preferences on the machines at the lower end of the budget?
The design of the Argos one looks very similar to the Halfords one costing twice as much, I know internals could be different but....
Seems to be loads of different ones on Amazon, anybody have any experience of these?

 

[RS5 JON]

I know that everyone will say go for a decent brand and spend upwards of £100 but I really only want to spend around £50.
Bearing this in mind does anybody have any views or preferences on the machines at the lower end of the budget?
The design of the Argos one looks very similar to the Halfords one costing twice as much, I know internals could be different but....
Seems to be loads of different ones on Amazon, anybody have any experience of these?

My son had the one from Argos when he first started detailing, seemed to do the job, although I didn't let him near my car with it

JG

 

[Paulbean]

I've got Von Haus DA from Amazon, yet to use it in anger on the car though.

 

[Lelykins]

Give a go this weekend and let me know ;-) haha

 

[Paulbean]

Give a go this weekend and let me know ;-) haha

I'm waiting for my son-in-law to bring me an old panel to practise on....

 

[Jassyo06]

Keep saving ye get what you pay for to be honest...Cheap Dual action polishing machines use inferior internal plastic components or cheap aluminium ones and are extremely noisey and cumbersome to use...and dont have the right wattage to correct paint in the way the More expensive cheaper Chinese models do and they wont last.... will break down,same goes for cheap pads....

 

[Jassyo06]

I've got Von Haus DA from Amazon, yet to use it in anger on the car though.

You've a black painted RS3..and bought a of bit junk...........really mate

 

[Daveotto]

Got a basic Challenge Xtreme that does the job for me, even on the Porker, only downside is it is a bit on the heavy side but as I only use it 3-4 times a year its fine. For @jassyo06 style regular use I would go for something lighter

EDIT: Dont think you can get a a Challenge Polisher now but the Argos GUILD brand looks pretty much identical

 

[Lelykins]

Yeah cheers mate.
That's my quandary would love the das6 or similar but can't justify it for 2 or 3 times a year.
Do the collective think that the Argos ones the best for the money?

 

[Jassyo06]

Got a basic Challenge Xtreme that does the job for me, even on the Porker, only downside is it is a bit on the heavy side but as I only use it 3-4 times a year its fine. For @jassyo06 style regular use I would go for something lighter

EDIT: Dont think you can get a a Challenge Polisher now but the Argos GUILD brand looks pretty much identical

Alright Stranger...lol

 

[Jassyo06]

Yeah cheers mate.
That's my quandary would love the das6 or similar but can't justify it for 2 or 3 times a year.
Do the collective think that the Argos ones the best for the money?

Ok so buy a £50 machine fair enough but pads and compounds will cost far more than £50 machine polishing is the most expensive part of car detailing...with good quality pads and a das6 machine you'll polish a car quicker and get better results machine polishing is physically strenuous than you'd get with cheap machine and cheap pads mate....l think you can get a das6 for £89...

 

[NevMan]

You've a black painted RS3..and bought a of bit junk...........really mate

PMSL

 

[Daveotto]

Alright Stranger...lol

kickin my heels today...builders in and its raining so not really driving or car cleaning weather

 

[Kayobong]

Keep saving ye get what you pay for to be honest...Cheap Dual action polishing machines use inferior internal plastic components or cheap aluminium ones and are extremely noisey and cumbersome to use...and dont have the right wattage to correct paint in the way the More expensive cheaper Chinese models do and they wont last.... will break down,same goes for cheap pads....

This, I am glad jassy convinced me to buy a good DA, I've had a go with cheaper ones now and they feel far inferior and less capable, I wouldn't use a cheap one on my car.

 

[Paulbean]

You've a black painted RS3..and bought a of bit junk...........really mate

To be honest it wasn't bought to polish the car, but for other uses. That's why I'm waiting on an old panel to see what it is like as a polisher, if it's any good then it'll be used, if it aint, then it'll get binned...

 

[makelja]

I sold my expensive 21mm DA and bought a 50€ el-cheapo instead.
It does the job just as well as the "better" one. Takes a little more work since this is only a 9mm machine, but don't need more for one car only.
The 21mm machine was there for possible customer jobs, but I ended up doing them only three, so there was no need for a better machine.
It is always important to think the need and cost. Just saying it is not worth it is kinda short sighted, since every ones needs are different.

 

[Lelykins]

Das 6 pro on its way as we speak. Decided to sell a couple of bits to fund purchase. Decided to go with the detailing kingdom kit.
Will let you know how I get on when I find the time!!

 

[AndrewW]

I got a cheapy Katsu DA off Amazon (£72 at time time I believe, closer to £50 now) I originally bought it because I was doing a bit of DIY repair on my self-build camper van and wanted to remove some overspray / blend some newly hardened paint in and never really intended to use it on the cars.

My confidence has since grown and I’ve tried it on a few cars, results wise I get pretty much the same as a DAS6 I borrowed but its actually using it that’s different, it’s a lot heavier and more cumbersome and does take a little longer, however for the 3-4 times a year I’ll be using it I’ll just stick with it for now. I haven’t tried anything more “premium” to compare it to.

Can’t comment on longevity after less than a handful of uses but I’ve got it now so I’ll just keep it until it breaks.

 

[Kingfisher]

I'm thinking of getting a battery powered version ( to replace a Megs I have had for quite a few years) - no electric in garage and do not wish to keep trailing extension leads across the front garden and footpath in front of the house !
Any suggestions there? I'm usually driven by quality...….

 

[CHEZ]

I'm thinking of getting a battery powered version ( to replace a Megs I have had for quite a few years) - no electric in garage and do not wish to keep trailing extension leads across the front garden and footpath in front of the house !
Any suggestions there? I'm usually driven by quality...….

I can't really suggest any to be honest but I can give you a scenario. Which is similar
I was sick of using extension cords to use with my grass cutter for similar reasons you mentioned.
So I bought a flymo battery grass cutter.
Great machine, does the job until it conks out then you have to recharge.
Do you really want your machine polisher to conk out mid panel?
Grass is easy, just redo the lot.
Polishing a car, different story.
Ya get me?

 

[Jassyo06]

I'm thinking of getting a battery powered version ( to replace a Megs I have had for quite a few years) - no electric in garage and do not wish to keep trailing extension leads across the front garden and footpath in front of the house !
Any suggestions there? I'm usually driven by quality...….

The Flex Cordless xfe 150-15

 

[Kingfisher]

CHEZ
understand but I always recharge my strimmer after use ! As I haven't got a huge garden it's not too much of a problem.

JASSY thanks I'll take a look

 

[AnthonyNoel1945]

I know that everyone will say go for a decent brand and spend upwards of £100 but I really only want to spend around £50.
Bearing this in mind does anybody have any views or preferences on the machines at the lower end of the budget?
The design of the Argos one looks very similar to the Halfords one costing twice as much, I know internals could be different but....
Seems to be loads of different ones on Amazon, anybody have any experience of these?

I am a full time professional detailer and when it comes to purchasing a new machine polisher it is a bit of a mine field. A few things to consider, if you are going to use it a lot then yes, a more expensive machine will last longer as a general rule of thumb than one at £50 as they are better built. Also there are two types rotary and dual action. Rotary it is very easy to burn through paint, dual action pretty much you cant burn the paint due to the dual action motion.

It is viewed in the professional detailing world that the Rupes Big Foot is the best in the business, but at over £400 is a lot of cash. Around six months ago I found the Vertool das-21e polisher which gives the exact same performace as the Bigfoot but is only £129 and will be far better than any polisher out of halfords or argos. I use the Vertool daily with no issues and it has a big 21mm throw so fantastic at correcting swirls quickly.

View the pictures on my site to see the results you can achieve with the Vertool https://www.cardetailingbelfast.co.uk/ also due to the large throw most pads rip apart quite easily, Rupes Big Foot is also a 21mm throw and there pads are the best and cost less than £10 each which you can order online from Slims Detailing.

So my advice spend a bit more and get the Vertool das-21e it will last you years and get the Rupes pads for it also.

Would like to hear what you end up with, hope this helps!

 

[AnthonyNoel1945]

I'm thinking of getting a battery powered version ( to replace a Megs I have had for quite a few years) - no electric in garage and do not wish to keep trailing extension leads across the front garden and footpath in front of the house !
Any suggestions there? I'm usually driven by quality...….

You are wanting to go cordless for a DA polisher, Flex is the one, its super light, but expect to pay around £600

 

[SPIKE_]

The Flex Cordless xfe 150-15

Did you get one of these @jassyo06? Interested to hear what machines you have now

 

[Jassyo06]

Did you get one of these @jassyo06? Interested to hear what machines you have now

No mate l didnt l got another corded Flex xfe-15-150

 

[DanZ]

Ok so buy a £50 machine fair enough but pads and compounds will cost far more than £50 machine polishing is the most expensive part of car detailing...with good quality pads and a das6 machine you'll polish a car quicker and get better results machine polishing is physically strenuous than you'd get with cheap machine and cheap pads mate....l think you can get a das6 for £89...

I want to buy a das6 but I'm new to polishing. I know the pads and compounds are important but not quite sure what to get. Can you or someone else recommend a package with decent accessories that go with it?
Cheers

 

[AndrewW]

I want to buy a das6 but I'm new to polishing. I know the pads and compounds are important but not quite sure what to get. Can you or someone else recommend a package with decent accessories that go with it?
Cheers

https://www.slimsdetailing.co.uk/ac...as6-power-with-koch-chemie-polishing-kit.html

is a decent all round kit.

Koch chemie compounds are highly regarded, or something like Menzerna

 

[Jassyo06]

I want to buy a das6 but I'm new to polishing. I know the pads and compounds are important but not quite sure what to get. Can you or someone else recommend a package with decent accessories that go with it?
Cheers

A das6 pro plus is what you want...its far better to use and will give better results faster and easier to use than a basic das6...you'll get a full kit for £199 and some places are doing 10% off for cyber Monday

 

[tcardio]

I want to buy a das6 but I'm new to polishing. I know the pads and compounds are important but not quite sure what to get. Can you or someone else recommend a package with decent accessories that go with it?
Cheers

agree with the das6 pro. griots has alot of how to videos which can point you in the right direction for paint correction. after viewing the videos, you will understand the basics and that should help you on purchasing products from any site. I would stick with foam pads at first and save the microfiber when you get the hang of it. start with 2 step correction and do it over time. You wont be able to do an entire car in a day. The later panels will suffer. Finish off with the wax sacrificial layer and admire your work.

 

[Bristle Hound]

@Lelykins - If you want to go 1/2 way I would recommend one of these
https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=207877

Not as expensive as a Flex but if you have a budget & don't want to go silly

As always, just my opinion of course ...