DPX Dual Action Polisher - Machine Polisher

Our full size DPX and compact MPX machine polishers are both Dual Action (DA) Polishers designed with safety in mind and as cost-effective solutions developed specifically to get professional results in the hands of any enthusiast. While modern DA polishers are capable of removing the same heavy defects as rotary polishers, there are a couple of key differences between the two and these are geared towards safety. Our DA (or random orbital) machines employ a free-floating spindle to promote pad rotation in two directions - both concentric circles from the head and a wider circulating motion from the spindle. This type of oscillation cuts down on premature heat build-up under the pad. A rotary polisher spins on a single axis, which builds up heat extremely quickly in a single spot. Furthermore, a rotary posher does not have a ‘stalling action’ like a DA. Modern dual action machines will stall – or stop spinning and simply vibrate – if the machine is on the edge of the pad, too much pressure is applied, or if the machine is held at an uneven angle. These safety measures make it almost imposable to burn through your paint using a DA polisher. For more on different machine polishers, and the lowdown on compounds, pads and techniques, see our full article – The Basic Guide To Machine Polishing.

As with many processes in detailing, it all depends on the situation. Tripple All-in-One Polish has been developed using advanced fine diminishing abrasives which are designed to be extremely easy to break down by hand. Unlike a traditional machine polish or a compound that requires a machine polisher to fully work through the abrasives until they’re broken down all the way, Tripple allows this process to be completed by hand quickly and simply using a Microfibre Applicator, Polish Pad or Microfibre Spot Pad (and Handi Puck Applicator), and you’ll always get great results. That said, for a quick and easy way to get a consistent, professional finish over a whole vehicle, using a DA machine, like our DPX or MPX Dual Action Polishers, takes away most of the elbow grease. Generally speaking, machine polishers don’t get tired, won’t be tempted to cut corners on the last panels and will apply the same mechanical action to every panel for the best constancy. They’re also fast and you can tailor the pad you use depending on the severity of any light defects you’re trying to remove. In most cases we’d recommend using a soft Revitalise No:3 Pad (or the equivalent Revitalise Spot Pad) with Tripple for the best refinement and finish during enhancement details, but you can utilise slightly more aggressive combo, by using a medium Revitalise No:2 Pad, for maximum polishing performance on slightly heavier defects. It is worth noting however, that there are also many situations where Tripple can enhance your detail on painted areas that can only be accessed by hand with an applicator or microfibre Work Cloth. Or on other areas where a machine polisher simply won’t be effective because they’re not flat, too small, or have other parts blocking the action of the machine. You should never be without a bottle of Tripple in your kit for tackling awkward areas like engine bays, inner door, shuts, under door handles and a multitude of other parts of the vehicle. To give you a few ideas, see our article – Push Your Detail To The Next Level With Tripple.

This will always depend on the aggressiveness of the ‘combo’ - the combination of pad and compound/polish – you use with your DPX or MPX machine. This is because a combo with more cut will take away more of the top layer to level it down to the bottom of the deepest defect, essentially making the defect disappear. As a general rule of thumb though, a heavy cutting combo will take away approximately 5-6 microns and a fine refining polish around 1-2 microns of the top layer of paint or lacquer. To put this into context a human hair is around 70 microns thick, and average two stage OEM paintwork around 100-140 microns thick, including a clearcoat layer (the bit you’re polishing away) of around 45-70 microns. Single stage paintwork (topcoat without lacquer) is a little thinner and often softer, but again you’re only taking away a tiny amount when polishing a panel. On the vast majority of cars there will be plenty of clearcoat to polish, strike through - or burning through the top layer - only really happens due to poor techniques, or on older vehicles which have been repeatedly machine polished over the course of decades. Although the key is only to polish when your vehicle really needs it for enhancement or defect removal, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be polishing through your paintwork. As for what combo to use for different types of defects including the dreaded swirl marks? Well, we’ve made that straightforward by developing our range of colour-coded compounds and pads specifically for use with our dual action polishers. These include our Revitalise System V2, (with all machine polishing compounds and pads available separately), and One Step All-in-One Compound. For more on those, and all the essential information about how polishes and compounds work, see our guide – All Car Polishes Explained.  

Yes, a machine polisher, such as our MPX and DPX Dual Action Polishers, will take out some of the elbow grease when using any hand polishing product, and you’ll always get consistent, professional results. Unlike products that are for machine polishing only, any polish that’s designed to be applied by hand will contain fine abrasives that can be broken down relatively easily without a polisher (as opposed to heavy compounds that rely on the machine to fully work through), making them suitable for hand polishing. But, for minimal effort, and increased consistency over multiple windows, especially when performing multiple treatments, machine polishing with Vision Glass Polish is a great way to give tired glass a new lease of life. With this product we’d recommend using a soft, Revitalise No:3 Refining Pad or the equivalent red 3-inch Revitalise Spot Pad, a low speed setting, and slow passes.      

This will always depend on the finish you’re looking for, the effort you’d like to put in and the time you have available because you can get great results using either method. Rejuvenate Paintwork Cleanser has been developed using advanced diminishing abrasives which are designed to be extremely easy to break down by hand, so it doesn’t require a machine polisher to work the compound all the way through. All you need to effectively clean away oxidation and hardy contaminants, along with lightly refining paintwork, is a Microfibre Applicator or a Polish Pad. But that said, when you’re looking for the most consistent, professional finish over a whole vehicle, using a DA machine (such as our DPX or MPX Dual Action Polishers) can be the easiest option. Machine polishers will apply the same mechanical action to every panel for the ultimate constancy, and they will certainly take out most of the elbow grease. When using a machine polisher with Rejuvenate we recommend utilising a suitably soft, Revitalise No:3 Refining Pad for 5-inch polishers, and the equivalent (red) Revitalise Spot Pad for 3-inch machines.