Orbital Polishers

[JohnnyC]

Hi all. I was wondering who has orbital polishers/buffers. I have only been using "elbow grease" and I am beginning to run out... if you know what i mean. It takes me well over an hour to wax my car. and i usually start just before dusk, i sometimes run out of day light. Dont get me wrong, i LOVE the results, but just want a quicker and better way to polish/wax my Corvette. I am starting to look for buffers on-line, at sears, etc...

I am very interested to what model, price, experience, that anyone might have had to help out my decision. Thanks.

John

 

[78SilvAnniv]

I'll ask Kenny...

We have an orbital, but Kenny uses it. Myself I still use the elbow grease and carauba wax. Love that smell!

I do recall Kenny telling me that the orbital is very easy to use and I couldn't damage the paint by using it as I could if I used a spinning buffer.
Heidi

 

[Guy]

I use a Porter Cable 7424 ($125).


Guy

 

[c4ever]

There are numerous polishers that are on the market today which make the likelyhood of damage more unlikely. The below site sells some interesting stuff.
Enjoy

www.griotsgarage.com

Carlo

 

[les]

I'm going to look in to the Porter Cable. I'm just tired of taking my car back to be buffed or fixing a little spot. I need to be able to take care of little rock chips too. Hey, I drive mine.

 

[Guy]

Les,

Even I can run the Porter Cable without damaging the paint . The Meguiars guy who worked on my car demonstrated how you can grab hold of the pad while it's running and stop it with your hand. He did say, however, to be careful of the sharp edges on the 82 or some damage could happen.


Guy

 

[les]

Thanks Guy, I just ordered one on Amazon dot com.

 

[froggy47]

Re: www.griotsgarage.com

$389. for a 2 ton floor jack. You gotta be kidding!

 

[sothpaw]

be careful

...a co-worker of mine who has restored many a hot rod, paint
and all, told me that you should not use anything more than
1200 rpm or the heat will be too much. Also, like 82guy was
saying, be careful around any edges. I would still do all corners
by hand.

 

[Evolution1980]

I use a dual head Cyclo buffer. Best damn buffer I ever used! I don't know if they do or not, but they should guarantee you won't burn your car with it. People are fanatic about this buffer like people are fanatic about Zaino...

I recommend it highly! (It's all I'll use. I borrow mine from a friend.) It may be a lil' pricey for some people though...

http://www.topoftheline.com/cycorpol.html

 

[les]

Yeah Sothpaw, I've heard of that. I got the same advice from a friend that restores Corvettes. He runs tape on the opposing edge to keep from waring the paint through on the edge. I'm planning on starting on an old Camero my Son is putting together.( Going to paint it anyway). Then I'll step up to my Dodge P/U. 1998 and scratched. Then after a few Valum, I may start on my Vette. :BOW

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

My Porter Cable 7424 just came in !
I know what I will be doing this X-mas vacation

The best deal I found was thru www.coastaltools.com
$119 and they upgrade it to the 6" 6 hole hook and loop backing plate and 1 polishing pad. Great deal !

Plus I am into woodworking and this will also sand and with the 6 hole pad allows you to connect a dust collector.

Very versital

JMO

 

[les]

Thats great Pilot, I'm still waiting on mine. Hmm, I wonder if my wife wrapped it up for Christmas and didn't tell me it came in.:eyerole :SANTA

 

[AmosF16]

Coastal Tools is the best deal I've found. The have the Porter Cable 7424 for $107 plus shipping--you can have it within a week for $114, just in time for Christmas!:SANTA

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

Coastal Tools is the best deal I've found. The have the Porter Cable 7424 for $107 plus shipping--you can have it within a week for $114, just in time for Christmas!:SANTA

Coastal Tools is located in CT and I am in MA so I litteraly had it in a day !
If you order before noon eastern time they will ship it that day !

 

[rich95]

be careful
...a co-worker of mine who has restored many a hot rod, paint
and all, told me that you should not use anything more than
1200 rpm or the heat will be too much. Also, like 82guy was
saying, be careful around any edges. I would still do all corners
by hand.

I have been reading that the polisher from Porter Cable is very popular. Is overheating the paint a big concern with this polisher?
rich95

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

be careful
...a co-worker of mine who has restored many a hot rod, paint
and all, told me that you should not use anything more than
1200 rpm or the heat will be too much. Also, like 82guy was
saying, be careful around any edges. I would still do all corners
by hand.


I have been reading that the polisher from Porter Cable is very popular. Is overheating the paint a big concern with this polisher?
rich95 [/B]

I too have heard about burning thru the paint.
I have the Milwakee "orbital" buffer (not random, just spins) and this is what can hurt your paint in a hurry !
This is why I bought the PC to help avoid this.
I have used the cheap random orbit buffers like Sears to apply and remove wax for years with no problems.
You can press down as hard as you want and all that happens is the pad stops moving but now the part you are holding begins to move and will rattle your filling loose:gap

My second reason for the PC is I can also use it with the dust collection attachment for woodworking so I get a 2 for 1 out of this.

you will see my Milwakee on ebay soon !

 

[rich95]

Corvette-Pilot,
Thanks for the info. Yeah, I figure the Random-Orbital is the way to go. I think I'm going to give the PC a try. "Merry Christmas to ME!!!"
rich95

 

[Yoda]

Basic question..

My wife asked what I wanted for Christmas this year I said an orbital buffer. After a few weird looks I showed her this thread. Well today she shows me the Sunday paper with a sales flyer from.... Sears, a 10" buffer/polisher, 9 bonnets, 2400 rpm with case for $39.99 hmmm I says... I've never owned a buffer/polisher before so I don't know if it is good or not :confused

I figure I would ask everyone here for opinions..
Any thoughts on the Sears Buffer/Polisher??

BudD

 

[Eric]

Basic question..My wife asked what I wanted for Christmas this year I said an orbital buffer. After a few weird looks I showed her this thread. Well today she shows me the Sunday paper with a sales flyer from.... Sears, a 10" buffer/polisher, 9 bonnets, 2400 rpm with case for $39.99 hmmm I says... I've never owned a buffer/polisher before so I don't know if it is good or not :confused
I figure I would ask everyone here for opinions..
Any thoughts on the Sears Buffer/Polisher?? BudD

Bud,

That's the one I have, I think! I'm no pro so the high speed orbitals scare me. This one is random orbital so you would have a hard time screwing up your paint unless you just used sandpaper instead of a bonnet. I use it on all four cars and it's still going strong. I'm pretty tough on it too - dropped it a couple times while doing the ground effects on the junior rocket and it didn't even blink.

Enjoy!
- Eric