Polishing Machines

[DougH]

There was an article in MBM several months ago where a specialist Company carried out a full exterior polishing using 3M products.

What I am attempting to find is the small variable speed polishing machine that looked like a small hand grinder.

Can anyone help please?

 

[[2068]]

Selection HERE

but not cheap /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[DavidJ]

I bought a quite expensive one from Machine Mart but unless your arms are tuned to hard labour you may (like me) find it too heavy to use. My recommendation would be to look for the lightest one you can which does the job.

 

[mlthomas]

Yeap. got ours from MM too, agree with david it is a bit heavy, however if you get a light polisher (e.g. halfords polisher) it won't have the muscle to use a cutting paste and make a difference as the head will keep stalling. Likewise, with a powerful polisher if you hold it still on a spot you are likely to burn the gel coat.

 

[dellquay]

You could try one of these, its alot more compact than a rotary polisher and wont burn through the gel coat.
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/Store...CFcse3godVTQwCw

 

[sarabande]

i've got a Metabo 175, which is the nutts de mutt.

 

[oceandrive]

I use the machine mart polisher which although heavy dose the job well. I have polished 72 foot hulls without any great problems. and with the pads running at about £4 each is very economical against brands like Festoon which are light but that benefit is offset by the cost of the pads and the velcro mounts. I have had my Machine mart polisher for the last four seasons and it hasn't let me down.

A chap who works in our yard uses an aro band from his machine fastened to the boat rail which takes the machines weight for him it seems to work well, as he polishes a section and then moves the aro band along pulling down rather than holding the weight. I have tried this and it worked well but I would sugest wearing a good pair of overalls and gogles just incase of a wrap.

Also a good tip is to keep the work area wetted with a fine spray this tends to get the best from the compound such as 3M Fast cut and stops drag again a help to the arms.

Hope I've helped

 

[PCUK]

Rupes professional polisher. Light, powerful and about £250.

 

[DougH]

Thanks folks for all suggestions and advice.

I will going to look at the Rupes and Meguiars ranges as they do look small in size and lighter in weight.

Certainly I agree that whilst the Machinary Mart machines are great value and certainly very good value they are heavy and at my age would prove impractical.

When I have tried both machines I will come back to the forum with my findings.

This really a great forum. My thanks to all.

 

[poltergeist]

I have the Meguiars DA polisher, and it is just
the job!