D
Dave Pollard
Guest
Polishing the paintwork and buffing wax on your car can be hard work, so many drivers don’t bother. But a 240v polisher will take the grind out of the job. It can also be used with a suitable cutting compound or scratch remover to lift out swirl marks and light scratches from the surface of the paint.
Detailing enthusiasts may pay hundreds of pounds for a top-level, multi-speed polisher, but most of us don’t need to go to such extremes. We lined up three budget-priced examples to test on a variety of body panels. Despite their keen prices, all were DA (dual-action), which is better for cleaning and buffing.
• Best car wax and polish on sale
A little motor vibration was outweighed by a better price and similar performance to put the Silverline ahead of the Halfords. Those with smaller cars will be pleased with the Sakura, despite its price.
Silverline's DIY 110W Orbital Polisher takes the top spot thanks to its keen price.
Sakura 240v Car Polisher SS5340
Halfords 110W Polisher
Silverline DIY 110W Orbital Car Polisher 261362
Power polishers test
Price: Around £33
Rating: 5.0 Pad diameter (mm): 240 Motor: 110W
Silverline's polisher comes supplied with two pads: one terry cloth and one synthetic wool. The former was thinner than we would have liked, but it was tied with a cord, which made fitting much easier than the strongly elasticated pads.
We felt the 3.7m power cable length was mean, but the three-year warranty wasn’t stingy. The fixed handle nearly surrounded the motor and the on/off switch was sensibly placed for ease of use. And while the unit vibrated a bit in use, it’s a good price, and this gave it an edge over the Halfords product.
Buy now from eBay
Sakura 240v Car Polisher SS5340
Halfords 110W Polisher
Silverline DIY 110W Orbital Car Polisher 261362
Power polishers test
Price: £35
Rating: 4.0 Pad diameter (mm): 240 Motor: 110W
Despite being the priciest and the heaviest (2.5kg) choice, this was easy to use due to its large, twin handles, which move into three positions. The 240mm pad made light work of our bonnet, but was clumsier on smaller panels where there were odd angles or projections. The two pads were of good quality, if tricky to fit, and the motor pleasantly powerful and really smooth in action.
Buy now from Halfords
Sakura 240v Car Polisher SS5340
Halfords 110W Polisher
Silverline DIY 110W Orbital Car Polisher 261362
Power polishers test
Price: Around £30
Rating: 4.0Pad diameter (mm): 150Motor: 60W
We thought the Sakura’s kettle-like shape would make it harder to use, but it was as comfortable as its larger rivals. This was partly due to its lower weight of 1.6kg. To suit the reduced 60W power, the foam pad was a smaller 150mm and took slightly longer to complete the larger panels. Yet it was more manageable where things got tight.
Looking for the best products to keep your car clean? Then check out the winners of the Auto Express Product Awards, covering everything from wheel cleaner to bulbs.
Continue reading...
Detailing enthusiasts may pay hundreds of pounds for a top-level, multi-speed polisher, but most of us don’t need to go to such extremes. We lined up three budget-priced examples to test on a variety of body panels. Despite their keen prices, all were DA (dual-action), which is better for cleaning and buffing.
• Best car wax and polish on sale
A little motor vibration was outweighed by a better price and similar performance to put the Silverline ahead of the Halfords. Those with smaller cars will be pleased with the Sakura, despite its price.
Verdict
Silverline's DIY 110W Orbital Polisher takes the top spot thanks to its keen price.
- 1. Silverline DIY 110W Orbital Car Polisher 261362
Reviews
Silverline DIY 110W Orbital Car Polisher 261362
Sakura 240v Car Polisher SS5340
Halfords 110W Polisher
Silverline DIY 110W Orbital Car Polisher 261362
Power polishers test
Price: Around £33
Rating: 5.0 Pad diameter (mm): 240 Motor: 110W
Silverline's polisher comes supplied with two pads: one terry cloth and one synthetic wool. The former was thinner than we would have liked, but it was tied with a cord, which made fitting much easier than the strongly elasticated pads.
We felt the 3.7m power cable length was mean, but the three-year warranty wasn’t stingy. The fixed handle nearly surrounded the motor and the on/off switch was sensibly placed for ease of use. And while the unit vibrated a bit in use, it’s a good price, and this gave it an edge over the Halfords product.
Buy now from eBay
Halfords 110W Polisher
Sakura 240v Car Polisher SS5340
Halfords 110W Polisher
Silverline DIY 110W Orbital Car Polisher 261362
Power polishers test
Price: £35
Rating: 4.0 Pad diameter (mm): 240 Motor: 110W
Despite being the priciest and the heaviest (2.5kg) choice, this was easy to use due to its large, twin handles, which move into three positions. The 240mm pad made light work of our bonnet, but was clumsier on smaller panels where there were odd angles or projections. The two pads were of good quality, if tricky to fit, and the motor pleasantly powerful and really smooth in action.
Buy now from Halfords
Sakura 240v Car Polisher SS5340
Sakura 240v Car Polisher SS5340
Halfords 110W Polisher
Silverline DIY 110W Orbital Car Polisher 261362
Power polishers test
Price: Around £30
Rating: 4.0Pad diameter (mm): 150Motor: 60W
We thought the Sakura’s kettle-like shape would make it harder to use, but it was as comfortable as its larger rivals. This was partly due to its lower weight of 1.6kg. To suit the reduced 60W power, the foam pad was a smaller 150mm and took slightly longer to complete the larger panels. Yet it was more manageable where things got tight.
Looking for the best products to keep your car clean? Then check out the winners of the Auto Express Product Awards, covering everything from wheel cleaner to bulbs.
Continue reading...
