Product test

Rediscovering the hidden quality of dull paintwork isn’t difficult, says Gary Stretton

Gary Stretton tests electric polishers to help rediscover the hidden quality of dull paintwork

ULL PAINTWORK has its fans in our world of Land Rovers, but slippery, smooth and shiny paintwork helps repel dirt and ultimately corrosion. Getting through to that shine requires plenty of elbow grease unless you choose the best method – with a polisher. With the help of the correct polishing compounds, seemingly lost, tired paintwork can be rejuvenated and still retain a wonderful patina.

Older Land Rovers will have been originally painted using cellulose paint. Subsequent resprays or even handrollered paint might have used more resilient paints such as enamels or two-pack. Knowing the type of applied paint before you begin is important because polishers can cut through decades of oxidised layers in seconds but also tear through clear lacquer coats, creating unnecessary repairs.

The way to test is to use a cutting compound suitable for the paint you think has been used. With a cloth, apply the compound by hand to an inconspicuous area of a panel. If the paint is a solid paint, its colour will be seen on the cloth. If it has a clear coat (lacquer) no colour will transfer to the cloth. Don’t forget that previous owners may have mixed paint types out of choice, necessity or preference, so you might find newer two-pack paint with a lacquer on one panel but not on others.

DCheck each panel in turn and don’t jump to conclusions. Using an electric polisher is nothing to fear and, with practise, will achieve in minutes what a cloth and rubbing by hand can achieve in hours.

A polisher should be evenly weighted for wide, easy sweeps across panels while the compounds do the work, not the forced weight of the polisher upon the paint Such force is liable to burn the paint or wreck the sponge or polishing bonnet.

All but one of the polishers tested use 180 mm backing discs. These are all of the hook and loop type with one exception. This size is ideal for most tasks. For a pro finish I recommend removing any trim or light fittings that might prove difficult to work around or that may be damaged by the more abrasive compounds available.

An integral spindle lock makes it quick and easy to switch between backing disc types. Variable speeds are also preferable as they provide more control for the type of compounds being used on particular paint types and your personal style of working. The lower the speed the less heat is generated. The higher the speed, the more suitable for sanding purposes. Handle design is important for comfortably controlling the polisher and supporting it for extended working periods. Other worthy features include, soft start, renewable brushes for the motor and a good length electrical cable.