Looking to buy a new polisher/buffer

[RedOwl]

Hello all,

I'm looking to pick up a buffer/polisher that can handle boats as well as cars. In the past I've always polished & waxed by hand, but am thinking it's time to upgrade AND my wife gave me permission to buy a new tool when running errands...

Does anyone have any recommendations/things to look for?

Thanks in advance!

~Red

[davemac]

At several Crewmembers advice, I very recently purchased the 7" polisher/sander from Harborfreight., along with some extra pads.

harborfreight polisher

I used it for a minute or two, then ended up waxing the Response the old fashioned way. It worked fine, but in hindsight, I really don't think it is something I will use. It wasn't on sale when I bought it, and I paid approx $50 incl shipping and extra pads. If you want to PM me a reasonable offer, I will send it your way...again, it is essentially new, one of the pads has some wax residue from the brief use.

Most of the other options (Porter Cable, etc) run a couple hundred bucks.

There is a pretty recent thread on this that a search might locate.

Dave

Edited June 1, 2009 by davemac

[obski]

At several Crewmembers advice, I very recently purchased the 7" polisher/sander from Harborfreight., along with some extra pads.

harborfreight polisher

I used it for a minute or two, then ended up waxing the Response the old fashioned way. It worked fine, but in hindsight, I really don't think it is something I will use. It wasn't on sale when I bought it, and I paid approx $50 incl shipping and extra pads. If you want to PM me a reasonable offer, I will send it your way...again, it is essentially new, one of the pads has some wax residue from the brief use.

Most of the other options (Porter Cable, etc) run a couple hundred bucks.

There is a pretty recent thread on this that a search might locate.

Dave

I have one of those from Harbor Freight Tools, but I use it only for gelcoat repairs. I wouldn't use it to buff or wax the entire boat. I also ordered a set of pads made by 3M, wool for cutting and foam for polishing.

I've never used one of those orbital buffers, so I don't know how well they work. I have always waxed by hand.

[Bobby Light]

At several Crewmembers advice, I very recently purchased the 7" polisher/sander from Harborfreight., along with some extra pads.

harborfreight polisher

I used it for a minute or two, then ended up waxing the Response the old fashioned way. It worked fine, but in hindsight, I really don't think it is something I will use. It wasn't on sale when I bought it, and I paid approx $50 incl shipping and extra pads. If you want to PM me a reasonable offer, I will send it your way...again, it is essentially new, one of the pads has some wax residue from the brief use.

Most of the other options (Porter Cable, etc) run a couple hundred bucks.

There is a pretty recent thread on this that a search might locate.

Dave

I have one of those from Harbor Freight Tools, but I use it only for gelcoat repairs. I wouldn't use it to buff or wax the entire boat. I also ordered a set of pads made by 3M, wool for cutting and foam for polishing.

I've never used one of those orbital buffers, so I don't know how well they work. I have always waxed by hand.

Why not they work great.

[BuBlue]

Griot's Garage makes a random orbital polisher that I use on my boat and my cars. I love it - I do everything by hand as well, and it saves me tons of work and time. Here's the link to Griot's (http://www.griotsgarage.com/) - I use most of their cleaning products as well, they all work great.

[bigD]

I bought a Harbor freight pneumatic polisher about 15 years ago, I never thought a $100 dollar polisher would last through two car wet sand and polishes numerous other polish jobs and loan outs. Nice ones are $300+

I use an electric orbital or the pneumatic DA from work to Wax.

[srab]

Hello all,

I'm looking to pick up a buffer/polisher that can handle boats as well as cars. In the past I've always polished & waxed by hand, but am thinking it's time to upgrade AND my wife gave me permission to buy a new tool when running errands...

Does anyone have any recommendations/things to look for?

Thanks in advance!

~Red

Porter Cable 7424 Orbital Polisher. It'll run about $130. You'll also need pads. Expensive, yes, but well

worth the investment, IMHO.

[99response]

I have a Makita and they are a very nice tool, but I still just wax by hand, the power cords and pads only come out for wetsanding, compounding and polishing.

[kiley]

Hello all,

I'm looking to pick up a buffer/polisher that can handle boats as well as cars. In the past I've always polished & waxed by hand, but am thinking it's time to upgrade AND my wife gave me permission to buy a new tool when running errands...

Does anyone have any recommendations/things to look for?

Thanks in advance!

~Red

Porter Cable 7424 Orbital Polisher. It'll run about $130. You'll also need pads. Expensive, yes, but well

worth the investment, IMHO.

I have the same PC, I bought it this spring. I love it. Used it this spring and the 'Bu turned out great.

[droptine]

I don't want to steal this thread, but what do most of you use to get those dreaded hard water spots off your bu... ? My last VLX had lots of Black on it, as well as my 09 VLX, and our lake has VERY hard water, so they are very hard to keep clean..

How often do most of you wax and what do you use in between to clean your bu's clean and shiny. ?

[68Slalom]

I own the Milwaukee 8" pro-polisher and I wouldn't recommend it only because it really heavy, it's very nice when doing a hood, truck etc. because the weight itself is all you need as far a pressure. But doing the sides like on a boat you would want something as light as possible, that's just my .02"

Oh and make sure that it has variable speed control, that is a must or you'll be fixing burn spots

[XTI04]

Hello all,

I'm looking to pick up a buffer/polisher that can handle boats as well as cars. In the past I've always polished & waxed by hand, but am thinking it's time to upgrade AND my wife gave me permission to buy a new tool when running errands...

Does anyone have any recommendations/things to look for?

Thanks in advance!

~Red

Porter Cable 7424 Orbital Polisher. It'll run about $130. You'll also need pads. Expensive, yes, but well

worth the investment, IMHO.

I have the same PC, I bought it this spring. I love it. Used it this spring and the 'Bu turned out great.

[DIE2SURF]

Hello all,

I'm looking to pick up a buffer/polisher that can handle boats as well as cars. In the past I've always polished & waxed by hand, but am thinking it's time to upgrade AND my wife gave me permission to buy a new tool when running errands...

Does anyone have any recommendations/things to look for?

Thanks in advance!

~Red

Porter Cable 7424 Orbital Polisher. It'll run about $130. You'll also need pads. Expensive, yes, but well

worth the investment, IMHO.

I have the same PC, I bought it this spring. I love it. Used it this spring and the 'Bu turned out great.

Porter Cable is great. Won't burn up your gelcoat.

[labrat1973]

It doesnt really matter what buffer or polisher you buy or use , if you dont know how to use it you will most likely screw your boat up. Just like anything, you get what you pay for. Spend the money and get a good tool like the PC, Dewalt or even the flex. Practice on something you dont care about, like a used fender from the junkyard. Also ask some one from your local bodyshop what supplies they use as they will be professional grade. Again if you have never buffed or polished anything I would have someone show you how before attemping it on your own, or it could cost you alot of time and money. Just a thought--have fun and good luck....

Dennis

[RedOwl]

It doesnt really matter what buffer or polisher you buy or use , if you dont know how to use it you will most likely screw your boat up. Just like anything, you get what you pay for. Spend the money and get a good tool like the PC, Dewalt or even the flex. Practice on something you dont care about, like a used fender from the junkyard. Also ask some one from your local bodyshop what supplies they use as they will be professional grade. Again if you have never buffed or polished anything I would have someone show you how before attemping it on your own, or it could cost you alot of time and money. Just a thought--have fun and good luck....

Dennis

Good advice Dennis, I'll definitely take a few practice runs before going after the cars and boats!

As of right now, it looks like I'll be picking up the Porter Cable, but there are a few others that I want to look at before making up my mind.

Thanks for all the replies!

~Red

[aaudii5150]

Personally I like the Dewalt buffer..... It's more $$$$ than most but works great! If your going to bite the bullet and buy one make sure to get one that has an adjustable speed. This will let you work with several different types of cutters. Just my two cents....

[Malibuzer]

I just bought the Porter Cable and redid the Fibreglass on my RV and it turned out awesome. Time to fire it up on the VTX!!!

[malibudog]

Porter Cable works great, even for a first timer.

Videos available on line showing you how to do it.

Orbital motion (instead of rotary) makes it harder to mess things up.

Had scratches which I couldn't get out by hand with polishing compound, and while rubbing compound got them out, it left discoloration and smaller scratches below.

PC buffer got it right out, and restored area to like new.

If all you were going to do was wax, it would only save you a little time and might not be worth it. However, it is worth every penny if you are restoring paint problems or getting out water spots (works great on water spots).

[wakeup]

I have just a basic random orbital polisher from Sears, Craftsman model. Had it for probably 6-7 years and for the average person it works great. No experience ever doing it before and never had any problems with gelcoats or cars. I think the key obviously is the "random" part of the orbital polisher so you do not get those swirl marks, plus use clean pads and let it do its work, don't force it or apply too much pressure.

But I'd say for our boats, 80% of the time I still do it by hand. I just prefer it.

[JohnDoe]

I've started to use a powerball...works great, is fast, and is much lighter than an electric polisher.

[DUKENO1]

+1 for the Porter Cable 7424....works great.

Lately though I have been spraying the boat with one of those detail spray waxes...eagle one...meguiars...whatever

and wiping off/polishing with a microfiber. Seems to keep it looking great. I usually will wax the boat with Starbrite with PTFE once in the spring and once in the fall using the PC to apply the stuff and removing by hand. I have a mostly black boat and it looks great with no water spots. I do swear by the vinegar/water solution (with a little imitation vanilla extract thrown in to make it smell better) after it comes out of the lake each time. I have had no water spotting problems so far....knocking on wood!

[Soon2BV]

I am bringing this thread back to life. I am ready to buy a polisher, and looking for recommendations.

Most of the links here are no longer working (product changes). Any updated advice?

[Michigan boarder]

I am bringing this thread back to life. I am ready to buy a polisher, and looking for recommendations.

Most of the links here are no longer working (product changes). Any updated advice?

Just this weekend I used the same cheap Harbor Freight one that I bought in 2009, it works flawlessly. My transom takes a beating from the sun and I run it at 1k, then 2k, then 3k RPM with polish and it comes out like glass. Good again for another season. I think I paid $70. Can't remember the brand.

[Jimmypooh]

This is the new version of the one from Harbor Freight. I have this one, but haven't used it yet. It seems like it's made very well. I get most of my tools from HF and like them a lot. They are good tools provided you don't use them for a living.

You can also look at this one but I don't think it's as powerful as the first one.

[Michigan boarder]

This is the new version of the one from Harbor Freight. I have this one, but haven't used it yet. It seems like it's made very well. I get most of my tools from HF and like them a lot. They are good tools provided you don't use them for a living.

You can also look at this one but I don't think it's as powerful as the first one.

Yep, that looks right (the first one). Mine goes up to 6k RPM, but I don't use it past 3k. 3k is a lot, and still enough to burn gelcoat if you are not moving it around fast enough or hit a corner. I've tried 4 and 5k when experimenting and it just feels ridiculous.