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Dual Action Machine Polishers
Dual action machine polishers are the safest way to correct paint, which is why they are the machine most detailers reach for first. The head spins and orbits at the same time, so heat stays down and the risk of burning through an edge or a panel line is far lower than on a rotary. Choose the throw to suit the work. An 8mm or 9mm throw gives you control on tight panels and mirror caps, 15mm is the all round size for most cars, and 21mm covers big flat bonnets and roofs in fewer passes. Forced rotation machines sit in the same family and add drive to the pad when you need more bite on hard clear coats. We stock Rupes, Flex, ShineMate, Liquid Elements, In2 and DAS-6, with mains and cordless options.
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Dual Action Polisher FAQs
Throw sizes, forced rotation and choosing your first DA.
What throw size dual action polisher should I buy?
Throw is how far the pad travels from its centre on each oscillation. 8mm and 9mm machines are the most controllable and the kindest to curved panels, badges and edges. 15mm is the all round size that suits most cars and is where most people should start. 21mm clears large flat bonnets and roofs in fewer passes, but it runs hotter, needs room to sit flat and can lift at panel edges, so it is not the one to learn on. Plenty of detailers settle on a 15mm as the main machine and add something smaller for the tight areas.
What is a forced rotation DA and do I need one?
A free spinning DA lets the pad stall when you push too hard, which is exactly what makes it forgiving. A forced rotation machine, also called a geared or gear driven DA, drives the pad so it keeps turning under pressure. That gives more consistent cut on hard clear coats and on heavily contoured panels where a free spinning pad tends to stop. It is less forgiving than a standard DA but far safer than a rotary. Most people do not need one to begin with. The In2 Forced Rotation and the Flex XCE 2 8 are the machines to look at when you do.
Is a dual action polisher safe for a beginner?
Yes, and it is the machine we recommend to anyone starting out. Because the pad stalls rather than digging in, the risk of burning through paint on an edge is very low compared with a rotary. The prep still matters. Wash, decontaminate and clay first, tape up trim and sharp edges, keep the pad flat and keep the machine moving. Work one small section at a time and spread the product on a low speed before you correct.
Can a DA polisher remove deep scratches?
It clears swirls, holograms, light oxidation and most wash marring comfortably. Deeper scratches come down to whether your fingernail catches in them. If it does, the scratch has almost certainly gone through the clear coat and no amount of polishing will safely remove it. A long throw DA with a microfibre or wool pad and a heavy cut compound takes out more than you would expect, but for serious defect removal a rotary, or wet sanding followed by refinement, is the proper route.
How many pads do I need, and which polish?
Pads do more of the work than people expect. Plan on three or four of each grade for a full car, because a loaded pad stops cutting and starts hazing. A cutting pad with a medium cut polish, then a finishing pad with a fine polish, covers most jobs. On softer paint a one step all in one on a finishing pad is often all it needs. Brush or blow the pad clean between sections and swap to a fresh one the moment it clogs.
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