Buffer/Polisher TIME!!!

[sanders7981]

I finally gathered some money up and have some free time where I can get to this... So my question is; Does anyone have experience and pros/cons about the Porter Cable DA Polisher?  Lowes has them for  a decent price and am thinking about picking one up.

[Ghoste]

Never heard of them but like a lot of tools you get what you pay for.  What amperage is the motor, what rpm does it operate at, what is the warranty?

[Dino]

Porter cable is a pretty decent brand.  Which model are you looking at?  I bought the big HF polisher when it was on sale, paid less than $20 and it works absolutely fine.  Unless you plan on polishing cars for a living, don't go too nuts on these.  If it spins and doesn't smoke you've got a good one.

Do make sure you have variable speed though.  You need to be able to slow these things down.

[Patronus]

I finish buff using some of Adam's (Car Care products) and they love the Porter Cable for in-house use. I bought the new black and yellow one though. (it goes down to 600 RPM, has a soft-start motor, and a rubber boot over the front housing) I'm pretty close to owning every DeWalt tool ever made. 

[Silver R/T]

If you're on budget get one form Harbor Freight. At work I use DeWalt

[bill440rt]

A DA-type polisher is good for light polishing, waxing, etc.
If you're doing any kind of color sanding you'll need a regular rotary buffer.

I have a Porter Cable random orbital polisher (sold/renamed under Griot's Garage). LOVE it. Works great with foam pads.

[sanders7981]

I need one that will cut and buff out the wet sanding I did, 800-1500 grit, a couple months ago.  I dont know the model number, didnt think to look at it last week.  It has varible speed settings and comes with a counterweight and six-inch pad.

I thought about getting the HF polisher....  I may result to it to save some cash.

[bill440rt]

You'll need a rotary buffer for that. A random is great for polishing & upkeep.

Try to get one with a variable speed. DeWalt makes one I'm sure, I have a Snap-On. Crapsman also has one, Black & Decker based IIRC.
If you've never used one before, PRACTICE first on another vehicle. It's easy to screw up a nice paintjob with one of these if you've never done it before.

Also, just another tip. Finish it off with a grit finer than 1500. Go to 2000 or 3000. 
It will cut your buffing time way down. You'll spend less time trying to remove sand scratches, rather than polishing & bringing back the gloss.

[Indygenerallee]

I have a Dewalt variable I bought over 10 years ago and I have used the crap out of it and it's still ticking!! I will say this 3M compounds are ridiculous $$$!!!! 

[Ghoste]

The 3M stuff sure does work though.

[Indygenerallee]

Yes that's all I use!! 

[Patronus]

Wait till you buy a box of trizac. 

[Indygenerallee]

I have! 

[Patronus]

The 3M stuff sure does work though.

Yes, it does, I agree.. waiting to try a new product from Adam's though. Its a compound designed to break down as you use it getting finer and finer the more you buff.

[jaak]

I bought one of these, and was pretty impressed with it. I bought the kit that included a wool pad and 3 foam (red, blue and black). It isn't a DeWalt, but for the money it was pretty good and did the job.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Shop-POLISHER-BUFFER-w-3-Foam-POLISH-PADS-TOOL-BAG-Car-Detail-Polishing-/200823938110?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec20a1c3e&vxp=mtr

Jason

[Silver R/T]

The 3M stuff sure does work though.

Try some Meguiar's

[Silver R/T]

I bought one of these, and was pretty impressed with it. I bought the kit that included a wool pad and 3 foam (red, blue and black). It isn't a DeWalt, but for the money it was pretty good and did the job.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Shop-POLISHER-BUFFER-w-3-Foam-POLISH-PADS-TOOL-BAG-Car-Detail-Polishing-/200823938110?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec20a1c3e&vxp=mtr

Jason

That's a nice kit. It's recommended to use wool pads for cutting and foam for final polishing.

[Lord Warlock]

a six inch rotary buffer is what you really want to get the initial sanding scratches out, I use a variable speed Makita that i've owned for years and it has proven sturdy and dependable, it varies the speed from 600 to 3500 rpm, i use it at 600 to put the polish on, and 1000-1500 to get it off in most cases after wetsanding.

The Porter Cable is a well respected unit for final polish and wax duties, but it would be unwieldy with a 6 or 8 inch wool pad.