Polisher FAQs

Is there a power box on the cords of the polishers?

We do not have any power boxes on our cord as everything has been engineered to be contained within the polisher.

What's the difference between a large and small pad? 7” compared to 6”?

A larger pad gives you a larger surface area to work with thereby achieving more within the same amount of time. The trade-off here is manoeuvrability.

What is the difference between a dual action random orbital and forced rotation machine?
Dual action technology has the plate both orbiting and spinning at the same time. Random Orbital allows the plate to freely spin when too much pressure is applied. This second feature here is the safety mechanism that prevents you from burning your paint. Forced rotation machines do not stop spinning regardless of force applied. Don't make the mistake of just getting any dual action polisher as there are forced rotation dual action polishers.

Can I mount other backing plate types and sizes to your polishers?
The thread sizing across all our polishers are standard M8. Therefore you can technically mount different backing plates, however this is not encouraged as our machines have not been engineered for anything except for that which accompanies the polisher. The counterbalance in the polisher is made precisely for the backing plate(s) included and the throw of the particular machine. Any other combination will unfortunately lead to a suboptimal user experience.

Are your polisher backing plates compatible with other brands?

Yes in short provided they have the same mounting groove. Do note however our polishers have been engineered to work most effectively with the backing plates included in our package.

Can I use a different handle types on your polishers?

The bail handle on the Karate Kid & Sensei Plus polishers are actually bridged across both sides of the polisher to facilitate ambidextrous use. Alternatively stick handles that can also be mounted on either side of the polisher with an M8 bolt. The Grasshopper mini DA on the other hand does not have specific mounting holes for handles.

Do you sell replacement parts for the machines?
We have all spare parts for all our polishers. Feel free to contact us directly for any queries. Repairs can be done by the user but no warranty can be issued for independent repairs. All repairs done at the Apex Customs come with a 3 month warranty.

How do I know what throw/orbit and model to select?

A quick rule of thumb is what is your budget. Money aside, we would encourage every customer to get the 21mm 7” Sensei and the 9mm 3” Grasshopper. The 21mm 7” allows you to plough throw significant surface area in minimal time, but the trade-off of this is manoeuvrability in smaller spots like door jambs and spoiler lips. Accompanied with the 9mm 3” however, this will enable you to get through to those tighter spots easily and extremely effectively. Budget limiting however, we would strongly recommend the 15mm Sensei. Engineered to be a real workhorse in, this polisher will enable you to tackle a vast majority of situations with minimal fuss.

How long does the foam pads last?

Our pads are very durable with proper care (i.e. no harsh soaps or chemicals and definitely no washing machine. Only hand wash with warm water). Expect between 3-5 uses per pad.

When do you use microfibre pads?

Our microfibre pads have been designed to cut. They are an aggressive cutting tool and get through most scratches in a significantly faster time. Note however that due to the nature and the heat retaining nature of these microfibre pads, it is important to check them intermittently to ensure that they are not running too hot.

Do you have any cleaning tools for the pads?

No we do not sell anything to clean our pads with as cleaning by hand is the safest and most effective way we’ve found. There are pad brushes out there but one needs to be wary about this method as sometimes the bristles can be really stiff and may damage the foam pad.

Can I use other backing pads on your machines?

Yes as long as the thread and adaptor matches it will be fine. But as mentioned, the ones supplied are designed for our machines and the weight of the backing plates can also affect the overall balance of the machine. Hence other combinations of backing plates and pad density / size may cause additional vibration/noise which would result in a subpar user experience.

Does the polisher come with a carry bag?
All our polishers come in a cardboard box. Carry bags will be sold separately as kits or individually. Refer to listing images of what is typically included.

My polisher is not switching on, how do I troubleshoot what is wrong?
Kindly refer to our troubleshooting guide here for further information before contacting us for further assistance or for a warranty / repairs service request.

One of the first things to check is to ensure that your power mains are connected properly and there are no visible damages to the power cable or connections to the machine. If there is, DO NOT switch the machine on and contact our support team directly for further instructions.

For any warranty claims, click here.