Autobrite Direct DA12 Dual Action Polisher Review

What We Say

What is it:

The new dual action polisher from Autobrite Direct with a 12mm throw and a new design. Autobrite themselves describe the product as; simply one of the best Dual Action Polishers on the market today and ideal for the car care enthusiast and professional alike. The ergonomic and sleek design of the DA12 gives you an easy to use machine and capable of removing swirls and defects from your paintwork.

How we tested it:

We put the DA12 through its paces on a range of paint finishes from soft paint to ultra tough Volvo and Audi paint to assess the cutting capability of the machine, finishing ability, overall build and usability of the machine and overall performance.

We Liked

• Very lightweight for its size making it very easy to hold and manoeuvre over the vehicle.
• Suprisingly 'torquey'. We found the machine very capable at ploughing on at awkward angles and not bogging down.
• Good results from our swirl and defect removal tests on our donor vehicles.
• Great overall kit in that you are provided with various backing plate sizes along with all equipment for maintenance of the machine.
• Very well priced. At £160 for the machine it is a very desirable purchase over rival machines.
• 12mm throw makes it a great compromise between covering a nice sized area on larger panels and being able to correct paint in tighter spaces.

We Didn't Like:

• Outright cutting capability not quite as strong as some rival machines such as the Flex VRG.
• Cable could do with being longer.

Overall:

We believe that this is possibly the best pick up and go Dual Action Polisher on the market today. Whether you are using a machine for the first time or an experienced professional, everyone will find a place for this machine and be able to easily get to grips with it. The machine whilst lacking the bite of the forced rotation DA from VRG, has plentiful cutting ability compared to other rivals and finishes down very well, responding well to user pressure on the machine. The DA12 feels well-built and refined, though the short cable proves frustrating, particularly when rival machines have as much as a 6 metre cable. A highly recommended, safe way to get your car looking fantastic.