buffing to remove swirls, machine vs hand application??

Hi all.

This is in regards to my 2004 R1(a bike).

The guy who had it before me never washed it, and just cleaned it off with some wash spray and a rag. Basically this left alot of scratches on some parts of the bike.

So, I cleaned her up, clayed the bike, and was left with a glass smooth serfuce with some swirls and fine scratches.

I took soom 3M swirl mark remover PN 39009, and started to buff the swirls out.

Let me tell you, after some back breaking labor I was able to get 70% of the swirls out by hand. Some areas had some deeper scratches and I couldn't remove the swirls.

Will I get better results just busting my ass by hand with another application, or should I get a buffer. I'm scared of using a buffer, never used one, and am afraid I might screw up the paint.

Is a buffer hard to use correctly?? Which buffer is good?? I'm looking for something with a SMALL head on the buffer because the bike has a small area to buff.

Thanks!

If you go with a Porter Cable 7424 or 7336, there is no chance of burning or damaging your paint. They are random orbital polishers, so they don't generate heat.

If you go with a Porter Cable 7424 or 7336, there is no chance of burning or damaging your paint. They are random orbital polishers, so they don't generate heat.

Although watchout when using abrasives products, although the buffer will not burn the paint, the abrasives can put some bad scratches and swirls in your paint. Make sure you use products with very mild abrasives.

I've heard alot about that buffer on autopia.org.

I'm going to give it one more go with some hand polishing. If I can't get it to my satisfaction, I'll pick up one of those PC buffers.

As far as the abrasive I'm using, I"m using swirl mark remover which is supposed to be on the mild side.

Thanks!