Polisher vs angle grinder ref. Jan PBO

Zippysigma

Zippysigma

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After reading the gelcoat polishing article in Jan's PBO, I wondered if I can use an angle grinder as an electric polisher?

I have one from B&Q that I use for cutting tiles etc. Does anyone know if this will do the job?

Thanks
 
I don't think so, polishers go at about 1/4-1/10 the speed. It may or may not work or burn the paintwork or whatever, but there is a serious danger from backing plate/polisher head exploding due to the centrifugal force. Better to go halves on a polisher with someone!
Chris
 
Absolutely not. Buy a polisher, Sealy do a reasonably priced one that most of the bodyshops use. Consider an air powered one if the yard has a compressor, safer too.
 
You can use a variable speed powerdrill as long as you can set it to a max (slow) speed. A bugger to hold though. Polisher is definitely best.
Nicki
 
Ditto the polisher. I use both every day at work. The polisher is also half the weight and much easier to use and most have adjustable speed. Makita are, in my opinion the best but expensive for occasional work.
The grinder will break your back.
I did my hull last year with a compounding sponge on the polisher. I used 3M Finesse-it and plenty of water. It was an easy job and fast.
Great shine too.
 
Re: Polisher vs angle grinder - Polishing stainless

Being a woodworker I am not well up on metal but I am going to be building some stainless fittings (stern arch and spray hood) which will be welded, what's the best bet for fetling and polishing these. I have the polisher (Makita v.speed) and a grinder but normally metal is posihed on a rag wheel on a bench grinder - not really practical on and 8' x 5' frame so I wonder if there is a mop/head that will work on polisher or grinder.
 
A small angle grinder runs at about 13000 RPM. At this speed any wheel or buff that is bigger than the 3 inch or so grinding wheel will dismantle itself catastrophically before you get near the job.
The load provided by a larger pad will probably overload and burn out the grinder however as suggested you will probably overheat the gel coat.
So really it is no to angry grinders for polishing olewill
 
Re: Polisher vs angle grinder - Polishing stainless

I have done a lot of stainless polishing and for small stuff I use a 3000 rpm motor with a polishing mop. For big stuff I use a 2Kw big angle grinder with a 150 mm polishing mop.

If your angle grinder is a small one you will burn it out very quicikly (I have 4 in my scrap bin, cheaper to buy new than repair).

I found an attachment in the Flex power catalogue that screws on the 14 mm did angle grinder mounting that will take polishing mope.

DO NOT use this technique on plastic or GRP. TI WILL BURN IT VERY QUICK.
 
Re: Polisher vs angle grinder - Polishing stainless

I use a rag wheel mop mounted on an arbour and used in a standard 2600rpm electric drill using compound. This is what a professional SS worker used when he built our gantry. It gives perfect results.

However, when polishing gelcoat, you will get swirls if you use ANY sort of rotating device. Use a random orbital polisher ONLY for GRP gelcoat.

Steve cronin
 
Re: Polisher vs angle grinder - Polishing stainless

Linishers (a trade name by the way) are very good for stuff you can take to them, but no use at all for cleaning up welds because they cannot get into all the corners. To clean welds I use an angle grinder to remove any lumps left by my bad welding technique, a wire brush to get rid of any small spatter, and welding flux, followed by polishing (if needed) with a small cotton mop in a power drill, and a stick of buffing compound applied to the mop.
 
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