I've never used a polisher before so keep that in mind.
Which should I get and why is it a better choice?

These are the two that have been recommended.
Delta Machinery|Porter Cable Product Details for 6" Variable-Speed Random Orbit Polisher - Model # 7424XP
or
7" Variable Speed Polisher/Sander - Polishers - Power Tools

I like the price of the polisher better obviously but it's not worth messing up my paint if that's a risk.

 

Get the porter cable if you dont know what your doing. You gonna **** **** up with the Rotary. Plus thats a Chicago electric rotory. I have one at the house and it blows. U probobly wont mess **** up with that since it doesnt have enough motor to continue turning the buffer the same speed you set it off the panel as on the panel. As soon as you set ur speed and put ur buffer on the panel it looses speed. It sucks. Get the porter cable, you cant do scratch repairs with it, but you can get the results im sure your looking for.

If you wanna go Rotary go Makita. What I use for work and its my favorite buffer. Id use 3M Purple Compounds and pads if I were you. 3M Rubbing Compound, Machine polish, and Ultra Fine machine polish. White Black and Blue pads. That is like $180 in compounds and pads right there. there expensive, but they work REALLY well.

 

I use the porter Cable. Its definitely no where near a bad tool for a beginner

 

Listen to Gestapo. He seems to do amazing work on outsides of cars.

 

Cool thanks guys

 

x2 on all this.. but I use a DEEEwalt rotary (i'm in the south.. so its not DeWalt.. its DEEEwalt) and i sell the **** out of the 3M compounds. 3M6085 Compound(with 3M05723 white pad), 3M6064 Polish(with 3M05725 black polish pad), and 3M6068 Ultrafina(with 3M05733 blue pad). Sell it all day every day.

 

Exactly. I hear Dewalt is good too. I heard its a little heavier than a makita though. If your not doing it as much as I am then its not a big deal. and 3m is what I use at home, at work we use some Rubbing compound from National Coatings, the paint supply store, its just a generic medium cut rubbing compound. Then we use Polish off the detailing truck that drives around, brand is Majestics. That combo works well on light colors, but dark colors always were a nightmare to get perfect untill the 3M Ultrafine and Bluepad came along. That thing is THE BEST finish ever. Removes any remaining polishing swirls from a rotary, and leaves an amazing shine. Super easy to work with and apply, stays wet long so its easy to remove, and leaves an absolutely swirl free finish every time. Wed use 3m for everything at work but the price is higher. for $35 a bottle and $30 for a single blue pad, its an investment. But it will last awhile and you just cant beat it. I used to spend twice as long polishing to try to get it perfect only to take it in direct sunlight and still see slight holograming. Id clean the pad out, and polish those areas again, take it outside and STILL slight holograming. It just wouldnt come out. Not with the pad and polish I was using. Then comes the Ultrafine, spin it slow and apply it, then wipe it off with a microfiber. take it outside. and its perfect.

 

lmao thank you, im guessing ur my friend on facebook

 

And how you know you need some buffing love:



^seen that sitting in a parking lot at toyota. how do u live with urself.

 

I really want to learn how to do that.

 

I'd recommend the PC 7424, at least to start out with. I bougth one 2 years ago and although I'm getting ready to move on to a better buffer (I'm thinking a Flex), the PC still works wonders.

The paint on my SS was pretty bad when I got it. This is the paint after being washed and claybarred:


Here it is after hitting it with my PC7424, a very mild polishing compund and a low-cut pad:

 

Really good info! Thank you to all who contributed.