The DAS-6 PRO is the classic first machine and remains hard to go wrong with: it is a free-spinning dual action, so it stalls rather than burning through paint if you press too hard, which is exactly the safety net a beginner needs. The DAS-6 V2 is the entry point below it. The PRO Plus steps up to a 15mm throw, which covers panels faster but is slightly less forgiving on edges and contours.

Throw is how far the pad travels from its centre on each oscillation. An 8 to 9mm throw is the most controllable and the safest place to start, 15mm is the standard all-round size that covers ground faster, and 21mm is a correction size that runs hotter and is harder to keep flat at panel edges. For a first machine, stay at 15mm or below. A 15mm machine also copes better with curved panels than a long-throw.

Yes, and that is the point of the design. A dual action spins the pad while also orbiting it, and it stalls under too much pressure instead of generating the heat that burns through clear coat, unlike a rotary. Wash, decontaminate and clay first, since polishing over trapped grit inflicts fresh swirls. Tape sharp edges and trim, work small sections, spread the compound at low speed, then correct at speed four to five keeping the pad flat.

Not to start with, but it is the most useful second machine. A five inch DA handles most panels, while a three inch mini earns its place on mirrors, pillars, bumpers, badges and tight curves where a full-size pad stalls or cannot sit flat. Professionals normally run both. If you are detailing at home, buy the full-size machine first, use it for a season, then add a mini when you find the areas it cannot reach.