What buffer polisher is recommended

[adonh]

What buffer polisher is recomended?

[InsideOut]

Depends on who you ask ~

We use Nuvite and the Perfect Polish method.

Shari

[digger bear]

If you are talking polisher, rather than polish... We bought a cheapo right angle polisher at harbor freight and a used Cyclo (via Ebay) for the finish. We went cheap on the right angle since we didn’t think we would use it much beyond this project. It still is running like a champ BTW. We went with the Cyclo since we use it on our vehicles as well as the AS.

No doubt YMMV and I am sure there are better ways - this is simply what we did and were successful...

[Fyrzowt]

Yeah, me too - Harbor Freight angle polisher for initial polishing followed by a cyclo random orbital for the final polishing.
Dave

[InsideOut]

Okay...I misread the question.

We use a Milwaukee #5460Dial Speed Control Polisher and a Cyclo-Polisher. We didn't know about Harbor Freight when we bought the compounder.



Stripping & Polishing Maxwell

Shari

[byamcaravanner]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Okay...I misread the question.

Shari,

Your original post linking to the Perfect Polish site was a great answer to the question asked.

I have found the folks on this site to be a great resource for pointing me to the best info and vendors available.

[davidz71]

Makita Mod. # 9227C variable speed for compounding and Cyclo for mid and final polishing.

[Fyrzowt]

I use the polisher as noted above, but some folks have used a drill with polishing pad.

[robertbeavers]

a dewalt 849 is a good heavy duty polisher.

[Chizlam]

The sad thing about tools these days is "professional" basically means "home" and home tools aren't made to be run the 90 hrs it might take you to polish your trailer. You are going to have to keep your polisher clean of debris to keep it working, this means blowing it out with air and the occasional disassembly. Even keeping it clean may not be enough to keep your polisher in working order.

If you buy the dewalt you are buying a tool with replaceable parts that any reputable repair shop will be able to fix. Prices here were about 25 for new brusshes, 40 for a burnt out cord and 40 to replace a broken handle(whoops).

If you buy the Harbor Freight you could get lucky it might make it through your final coat or you might burn through two or three of them. Harbor freight has as i understand it' a ridiculously liberal insurance/return policy i know of a few folks who abuse it readily.

I got my Harbor Freight when my Dewalt cut out on Friday and i couldn't get it into hellgate tool untill monday. The one i bought is much louder than the dewalt and has a finicky 1-7 speed control (the dewalt has rmp values). I like the dewalt, it feels nicer in my hands. The Harbor Freight has worked for me every time...every time the dewalt was in the shop.

metabo makes a polisher for 260 it lasted a trailer and a half for me, but this was before i realized the importance of maintenance on these "professional" tools. Even though the thing died on me i would consider buying another because of the amazing ergonomics of the thing. Very easy to get your whole body into controlling the thing.

MOST importantly for all of your tools esp. one that gets run like a polisher use a good thick cord and make sure you have the (redundant) ground.

[Chizlam]

does anybody know of cheap hook backing pads for the large or small wool pads? I think they cost around 17.00 here at all the auto stores. I think they should be way less just a piece of foam, velcro and threaded aluminum, right? i don't know why but sometime i'll get on a hot streak of breaking them.


also i forgot to mention unlike the rotary polishers the cyclo is forever, although a slight issue with heat makes me happy to have access to two of them.

[bevman]

Just remember that you need to control the speed of the angle grinder. Getting one with a fast-slow dial is a must.

[purman]

I bought 2 harbor freight ones as a friend was helping me polish yesterday. On with a dial and one with an electronic readout. The digital readout was $10 more. $50 and worth the extra $10. we did the whole AS in about 10 hours. Not mirror but shiny. maybe more polishing next spring but it's good for now.

I didn't have a problem with either tool. Well I did wrap the cord around the buffer and yanked it out of the buffer. Had to take it apart and wire it back in, but that was my fault. I figure I may never use them again. So $90 bucks was worth it for me. The dewalt would have just been a waste of $$$$.

[garry]

I used the Harbor Freight on sale for $29 in 2004 and I can't seem to wear the thing out.
I also have a Craftsman duel random orbital polisher (Cyclo) I paid $18 for at a roadside flea market and had to replace the AC cord works great.

The expensive part was the 3M pads I could not find a good price on them anywhere.

[tkasten]

I used a Dewalt angle grinder and then a Cyclo polisher. The Dewalt was bomb proof.....Tim

[Archersfin]

Originally Posted by tkasten

I used a Dewalt angle grinder and then a Cyclo polisher. The Dewalt was bomb proof.....Tim

You must have bought a good one. I have had nothing but trouble with mine. After about 60hrs of use cleaning it daily it started hunting for rpm. Sent it to the Service shop for two weeks. Got it back in worse condition then when it left, now there is no torque, still hunts for rpm and overheats. Back to the shop. It is still in the shop and has been 4 wks and three days. I got tired of waiting and went to Northern Tool and bought a $59 one that has been filling in until I get my Dewalt 849 back. You can tell the difference between the cheap and a well built one. I miss my Dewalt

[Archersfin]

Finally got my Dewalt back yesterday. I think it is fixed properly this time. I will know for sure when I get back to the AS. The weather is getting cooler so I should be able to spend a little more time than just a couple hours in the morning before it gets too hot.
Dewalt 849 is still my first choice

[nti06]

Consider Zoop seal for protecting the polish work