variable speed polisher/sanders ???

[smrcalidiv]

i have been looking at buying one, from what i know 1500 is optimum speed for polishing, but what is the optimum disc size? i found one on harbor freight's site, thats inexpensive, ranges from 300-3000rpms, and has a 7" disc size. i don't want to buy one that i'll never be able to buy accessories for, and i can't afford a p/c right now. will a 7" be ok?

[Phil V]

7" is fine. Make sure that the buffer/sander has a standard spindle and spindle nut that holds the buffing pad on. A couple of Harbor Freights don't use a standard spindle nut but a couple of their do use the normal spindle nut.
If you get one thats not standard then you won't find any accessories that will work with that buffer/sander (like a velcro backing pad etc).

[smrcalidiv]

what about this one?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=92623

[Phil V]

It does have the right spindle/spindle nut. A buddy of mine bought and orange one one that was on sale for $29.00 It had a metal gear housing and in all honesty it was/is a good buffer/sander. I wheeled out a complete lacquer paint job on an el camino with that $29.00 buffer and I couldn't think of a bad thing to say about it, did an excellent job and I gave it a good work out. I have the Makita 9227C and I can justify the cost because I do tihis work for a living. In all honesty if that Harbor Freight $24 buffer last for only one or two cars then you will have certainly got your $24 worth of use out of it. If its anything like that $29 harbor freight buffer I used on the el camino then I suspect it will last quite a while.

I take that back - I did find one thing I didn't like about the HF buffer. When I put compound on the foam buffing pad then lay it on the hood/fender/door whatever and hit the trigger to start the buffer it wouldn't start with weight on the pad. What that means in real life terms is that with compound on the pad you have to start the buffing pad moving without touching the vehicle, that means any of the compound I just put on the pad would get flung off.
My Makita 9227C has whats called a Soft Start which means I can put compound on the pad lay the pad/buffer on a an area I want to buff and the pad will start slow and in a second or two will get up to operating RPM. So the moral to the story is the Makita won't flint all my compount off the pad while the Harbor Freight would fling it off. Another moral to the story is the Hf sells for 1/10 the list price of the Makita and for that kind of money a person on a tight budget can learn to live and work around the fact that $24 buffer isn't equipped with Soft Start like my Makita. I can't recommend that model of HF buffer because I've never used one.

Len sells a lesser priced buffer that I believe is made by Astro which in my book would be better made than the HF buffer.

[Len]

If you're on a tight budget you can get away with just about any buffer but when the price is low there are usually a lot of things the buffer won't have.

1. 5/8" X 11 thread so that you can use just about any good buffing pads.

2. Speed that can be controlled by a dial and by the pressure on the trigger.

3. Automatic speed control. This is a very important feature because it keeps the buffer rotating at the same speed even though the pressure on the pad may vary. Inexpensive buffer have no power at a low speed setting so the user usually sets the speed higher and applies pressure to slow the machine down. This is a recipe for disaster.

I sell the ATD kit for $69 which has everything but the automatic speed control. I also sell the DeWalt and the Makita kits that have everything including automatic speed control.

Hey, ask someone to get you one for Christmas. ;)


http://autobodystore.net/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/makita9227cx3.jpg

Buffer/Sander Link (http://autobodystore.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=T2)

[smrcalidiv]

thanks guys

[smrcalidiv]

another question...would you guys ever use one of these for sanding and if so what?

[Len]

We use our Makita at low RPM with our Strip Kit for stripping off old paint. You can see an example of it in the Classroom/Basics page or click here (http://www.autobodystore.com/strip_&_paint.htm).


http://www.autobodystore.com/lac3a.jpg

[smrcalidiv]

nothing that requires a little more finesse? like prep work or smoothing body filler?

[Len]

You can rough cut the filler but I usually use an orbital for that job or cut by hand using a cheese grater blade.

[smrcalidiv]

would i be using 180 when rough cutting?

[Len]

would i be using 180 when rough cutting?

No, 180 is too fine, you would be using anywhere between 36 to 80 grit.

[smrcalidiv]

buy it???

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/atd-10511.html

and thanks, after i typed that i meant 80, not 180, oh well...

[SamG]

You may not realize that you're asking the person who runs and owns this store (autobodystore.com) if you should buy that ATD polisher from another vendor.

As you shop around, you should keep in mind that service and advice before, during, and after the sale are all important. Looks like you've found that machine at a good price, but then are you going to come back here and ask for advice on how to use it?

Please take this into consideration when you make your purcahses and when you provide links.

No, I don't work for Len, but I have been an member of the board for quite a while (I guess I've been here for 3 generations {board formats} now). I've purchased from Len on several occasions and have always found the service and advice valuable.

SamG

[Restoguy]

Ah, what's the big deal. Folks ask about other vendors all the time. They still get the straight scoop here.