Varieties
There is a wide range of nozzles that are suitable for various surfaces, the most common are sponge-shaped, abrasive, having different degrees of grain size and felt with a soft surface. Conventionally, they are classified according to their design into flap and surface grinding types. The latter are made in the form of a rubber circle (partial use of this material is also possible) with an additional coating for processing.
They are usually made from dense foam rubber or felt of various diameters. The petal nozzle for polishing is characterized by greater productivity and, as a result, high cost. You can also find kits for body surface treatment, which consist of several elements that have different purposes and complexity of execution.
Form
Car polishing attachments are usually made in the form of a cone or a circle. They often come as an addition to polishes, along with polishing belts and sheets. There are many options that are used for both bodywork and jewelry or optics.
Thanks to such elements, the aesthetic and technical characteristics of the car are preserved, since any vehicle will look much better after a thorough washing and polishing.
What are the pros and cons of car polishing attachments?
Knowing what types of polishing equipment for car bodies are produced, it will be important to consider their advantages and disadvantages. First, let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of foam discs.
- Foam rubber wheels for cars have disadvantages such as heating the surface being treated and high paste consumption
- The advantages of such devices include a wide variety of choices and affordable prices.
For comparison, let's look at the pros and cons of sheepskin attachments for polishing a car:
- Pros: effective in removing scratches (even the largest ones), they do not consume a lot of paste, which means they have low consumption. In addition, such discs do not heat the surface, which is very important when polishing by beginners.
- Disadvantages - they do not allow for finishing, as they leave small scratches and holograms. In addition, their price is higher than foam rubber, and there is little choice
Based on the advantages and disadvantages of both types of polishing attachments, we can draw a conclusion about which types should be chosen in specific cases.
Rigidity
A regular drill often acts as a grinder. But it can ensure high-quality work only if it is supplemented with suitable components. A variety of materials are used for polishing wheels. The most common attachment for a drill for polishing a car is made of felt or foam rubber. The choice of one option or another is determined by the degree of softness of the polishing paste. Manufacturers produce wheels in various colors, depending on their hardness:
- The softest is the black polishing attachment;
- orange elements are suitable for all types of pastes;
- hard compounds are used with white circles.
DIY polishing attachments
Sometimes it is not possible to find a suitable option in the store, in this case, if you have a hard circle, you can make a soft, thick layer and place it between Velcro and a plastic base. Using a stationery knife, the Velcro is cut off, onto which a soft layer is glued, which is an ordinary bath sponge. It is worth noting that during the work, it is possible that individual elements may shift and, as a result, the overall symmetry may be disrupted.
Also, a convenient attachment for a drill for polishing a car is obtained from a felt disk used in polishing machines and machines. First you need to make a pin with a suitable diametrical size and apply a thread to one of its sides. A polishing disc is fixed to it, surrounded on both sides by a wide nut and a restrictive washer. The formation of such a device does not cause any particular difficulties, and it is suitable for processing many types of surfaces.
Features of use
Progress does not stand still, and drill attachments for polishing are now available in various designs. New compositions for production are constantly appearing, which are lower in cost, but at the same time their reliability and quality remain at a high level. The devices are sold in any stores that stock automotive products. You should be careful when choosing, as you can easily make a mistake, and in the end the purchase will turn out to be unsuitable.
Body parts of new cars are produced using the latest technologies. Anti-corrosion compounds and paints that are resistant to wear are applied to the metal surface. Their warranty period is about 15 years. But the paintwork retains its characteristics better with proper care. An attachment for polishing a car allows you to restore the original shine, remove imperfections on the surface, and together with specialized compounds they will cost much less than going to a workshop.
When is polishing needed?
Such processing, despite many positive aspects, can correct only a limited list of defects. It is impossible to do without major repairs of body elements if they have pockets of corrosion, chips or damage through which the steel frame is visible. Before starting work, you should carefully inspect the machine and make sure that any defects can be eliminated. A car polishing attachment for a drill will be effective in the following cases:
- slight difference in shades obtained after partial dyeing;
- the presence of graininess and streaks of the enamel composition;
- the surface has roughness, scratches and cloudy stains;
- the paint layer became less bright and shiny.
It is worth noting that it is undesirable to overuse polishing. Since during its implementation the paint layer becomes thinner by about 5 microns. From the moment the car leaves the factory, no more than 20 polishing cycles can be performed. In this case, it is advisable to use a thickness gauge, especially when working with a used vehicle.
What types of nozzles for polishing a car body are there?
Depending on the type of polishing work, it is necessary to use appropriate attachments. When using protective pastes, delicate nozzles are used, and if it is necessary to remove scratches and abrasions of the paintwork, you will need to use abrasive devices. The polishing procedure can be carried out using drills, screwdrivers and grinders. To do this, it is not at all necessary to buy special polishing machines. Only when using the power tools in question, one detail needs to be taken into account - they must have a speed control function.
Now let's look at the types of polishing attachments for cars. They are made from different materials, but the most popular are foam and sheepskin attachments.
What does the polishing attachment achieve?
Polishing makes it possible to give the body a renewed appearance. Carrying out such treatment is especially important when leveling small chips and in case of tarnishing of the surface. The work is being carried out in two stages. First, the surface layer of paint is removed, after which polishing compounds are applied.
There is also a protective treatment that is used to reduce the negative effects of various precipitation and ultraviolet radiation. Most often, it is included in the pre-sale preparation of the car. The protective coating is distributed over the entire surface and can have a different composition with the addition of components such as silicone or wax. They form a water-repellent, invisible film and provide a brilliant shine. The soft drill nozzle for polishing is suitable for used cars on the surface of which there is no damage to the paint layer. It is also used in gentle treatment with protective agents.
Using a polishing wheel
By using a polishing wheel on a drill, you can update the appearance of your car. This procedure is most effective if you need to smooth out small chips or remove tarnishing of the surface.
The work is carried out in 2 stages:
- removing paint from the body surface;
- applying polishing compound.
Protective treatment is also carried out to reduce the negative effects of various types of precipitation and ultraviolet radiation. It is mainly done when preparing a car for sale. A protective layer (it contains wax or silicone) is distributed over the surface of the body to form a film that is invisible to the eye, repels moisture, and makes the body shiny. You can polish a used car with a soft pad if there is no paint damage. It can also be used with careful treatment with a protective agent.
Polishing agents
Before you begin restoring the surface, you should make sure you have the necessary materials, such as:
- sandpaper;
- bike;
- foam;
- polishing compounds;
- polish.
Treatment products should be carefully selected. Pastes with abrasive particles are necessary to remove the top varnish layer. They are selected according to the type of cracks and chips on the surface. Preparations with a large number of particles are indispensable when eliminating noticeable defects. Compositions that add brightness to color are quite common.
Cloudy stains often appear on the protective coating of new cars; in this case, you can use a restoration paste that does not contain grinding additives.
A variety of polishes allows you to choose the right product for any task. Thick pastes are suitable for vertical surfaces. They can be used to treat any part of the car. Such products are often characterized by the presence of components that increase the brightness of the shade.
Liquid polishes are only suitable for horizontal surfaces, for example, the hood or roof. The main advantage is the absence of the possibility of damage to the enamel.
Aerosols are quite convenient to use. Such compositions are economical and effective in operation. But it is worth noting that the cans, despite their size, do not contain much material.
Grinding Methods
Before you start polishing, you must, of course, get rid of all the flaws on the discs, and this can only be done by grinding using abrasive materials.
The most popular among car enthusiasts is the diamond groove offered by tire services that use special high-precision equipment with program control that ensures high quality of work performed.
You can polish the discs yourself. Doing this manually is very labor-intensive, so everyone tries to use improvised tools that can rotate attachments with sandpaper: electric drills, pneumatic tools, etc.
To speed up the grinding process, some talented people assemble special machines that can rotate disks fixed in them and, during the rotation process, grind them using a drill. This speeds up the work significantly.
To impart rotation, many people use their own car - jack up the wheels, put the car on jacks, turn on the engine and grind the discs as they rotate.
