Festool for Final Stage Polishing?

[Jakattack]

Hey all, so I'm gearing up to get some polishing done here in a few weeks and wanted to get some input, I own several Festool brand tools cause they're amazing, and I have among them a 6" Rotex, I was wondering if anyone in here has used this with success in polishing their trailer? Thanks for reading!

[thiel]

Originally Posted by Jakattack

Hey all, so I'm gearing up to get some polishing done here in a few weeks and wanted to get some input, I own several Festool brand tools cause they're amazing, and I have among them a 6" Rotex, I was wondering if anyone in here has used this with success in polishing their trailer? Thanks for reading!

I have a fair amount of festool stuff...but I can't imagine using a rotex to buff/polish a trailer....

[Jakattack]

Originally Posted by thiel

I have a fair amount of festool stuff...but I can't imagine using a rotex to buff/polish a trailer....

I've used it before on an airplane wing table I once made, also have read about a guy in the FOG using it to buff his trailer... it seemed to work fine for the buffing, but that was the only experience buffing aluminum I had, I guess I don't know what that would be like on a 26' trailer and I don't have anything else to base the results on, I've also seen the airplane drum buffers in action, those look appealing as well

[Ruscal]

I think that tool was designed to remove material faster while finish sanding, but you would have to test it in your application. Machines designed for polishing have well controlled speed dials. Detailers seem to use a straight rotary action for aggressive cutting with the risk of leaving swirl marks if handled improperly. Dual action machines are more forgiving on the swirls. Some of the larger more powerful ones can still handle corrections, but at a slower rate than a rotary. A Rupes Bigfoot would be an example of that type.
Russ

[craftsman]

Festool has great speed control. Don't see why it wouldn't work.

[ALANSD]

I use a cyclo and toolbox polish quite easy

[Pressdr]

good afternoon fellow Airstreamers..
I use the orbital action of festool sanders, including the Rotex 150 for final rub out of brush on finishes for wood, and it works fine.. same principal as for any other material.
To be certain, buy a sheet of aluminum from a big box store, and give it a "whirl".

I don't think the Rotex in dual action is a good idea, but try on the test piece. The test will tell the true story


Peace in our time
pressdr

[Jakattack]

Originally Posted by craftsman

Festool has great speed control. Don't see why it wouldn't work.

That's what I'm saying, just curious if anyone has tried both cyclo and rotex side by side

[Jakattack]

Originally Posted by ALANSD

I use a cyclo and toolbox polish quite easy

I'd like to avoid buying another tool to carry around, that's what I enjoy with festool, they are durable, and versatile... I was hoping to see if anyone has compared other tools to the cyclo

[Jakattack]

Originally Posted by Pressdr

good afternoon fellow Airstreamers..
I use the orbital action of festool sanders, including the Rotex 150 for final rub out of brush on finishes for wood, and it works fine.. same principal as for any other material.
To be certain, buy a sheet of aluminum from a big box store, and give it a "whirl".

I don't think the Rotex in dual action is a good idea, but try on the test piece. The test will tell the true story


Peace in our time
pressdr

That's good idea, I'll grab some aluminum and try it out... I've used it on wood slabs as well, and since I know how everyone likes pictures, here's one of a slab I did last year with the rotex... it's a slab from 200+ year old maple tree that was all burly and full of figure

[GailMac]

Originally Posted by Jakattack

Hey all, so I'm gearing up to get some polishing done here in a few weeks and wanted to get some input, I own several Festool brand tools cause they're amazing, and I have among them a 6" Rotex, I was wondering if anyone in here has used this with success in polishing their trailer? Thanks for reading!

You will need a Cyclo Dual Head Orbital Polisher. E-mail: swiftlychs@aol.com. The Swift Museum Foundation, Inc The aircraft co can send you a great DVD on polishing. Phone: 423-745-9547.

[Jakattack]

Originally Posted by GailMac

You will need a Cyclo Dual Head Orbital Polisher. E-mail: swiftlychs@aol.com. The Swift Museum Foundation, Inc The aircraft co can send you a great DVD on polishing. Phone: 423-745-9547.

Thanks GailMac!! I'll look into that!

[AIRHEDS]

I would contact the Festool USA help line and ask for advice on which pads to acquire. I would also contact 3M to find out what they suggest.

Please do report back on what you learn.

If you're polishing a clearcoat, I know these compounds and polishes do an extraordinary job. I brought my previous truck (a RAM 1500 in Maximum Steel) to a detailed who spent a couple of hours working through these 3 bottles and the results were SPECTACULAR ... on clearcoat, mind you.

I was contemplating using my Rotex on the Jeep's windshield to polish it up ... that's a distant project.

Please do get back!

[AIRHEDS]

By the way, Jakattack, that's a gorgeous slab! And a beautiful finish. I'm curious if you wouldn't mind describing the process/components you used to achieve those results... PM me if inappropriate to post here (since it would be grossly off-topic). Thanks, Rich

Originally Posted by Jakattack

That's good idea, I'll grab some aluminum and try it out... I've used it on wood slabs as well, and since I know how everyone likes pictures, here's one of a slab I did last year with the rotex... it's a slab from 200+ year old maple tree that was all burly and full of figure

Attachment 280581Attachment 280582

[Jakattack]

Originally Posted by AIRHEDS

I would contact the Festool USA help line and ask for advice on which pads to acquire. I would also contact 3M to find out what they suggest.



Please do report back on what you learn.



If you're polishing a clearcoat, I know these compounds and polishes do an extraordinary job. I brought my previous truck (a RAM 1500 in Maximum Steel) to a detailed who spent a couple of hours working through these 3 bottles and the results were SPECTACULAR ... on clearcoat, mind you.



I was contemplating using my Rotex on the Jeep's windshield to polish it up ... that's a distant project.



Please do get back!

Very informative! Thank you for the post! I've decided to grab some test metal and a few of the products everyone has mentioned and a few that I've read about elsewhere... I'll give it a go and post what I've learned with pictures

[Jakattack]

Originally Posted by AIRHEDS

By the way, Jakattack, that's a gorgeous slab! And a beautiful finish. I'm curious if you wouldn't mind describing the process/components you used to achieve those results... PM me if inappropriate to post here (since it would be grossly off-topic). Thanks, Rich

I'll send you a message, it's a process I developed after studying the entire process for over 4 months from chemistry experts in the field of finishing, and master woodworkers... my personality won't typically let me do something without knowing as much as I can or at least enough to feel comfortable