Recommend me a good electrical buffer/polisher?

SAWDOC

SAWDOC

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Lots of these on ebay but some posters would suggest that the cheapest models are not suitable for boat polishing - has anyone a recommendation for a model good on finish and on price? And while on the subject a good supplier of the various pads/sponges?

Thanks
 
+1 for the Silverline one.
£40 in Toolstation
Comes with a polishing bonnet and some sanding discs IIRC but they sell the foam mops too.

( not so happy with the v cheap Silverline angle grinder )
 
Thanks,

I will contact them tomorrow. Are the sponges for compounding and polishing worthwhile extras? Or let me rephrase that - for compounding and polishing topsides what pads/sponges combination should I go for?
 
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They claim that different coloured pads have specific uses but, to be honest, I've not been able to tell any difference.

I use one pad for compounding, one for polishing and a lambswool bonnet to finish with.
 
SAWDOC said:
Thanks,

I will contact them tomorrow. Are the sponges for compounding and polishing worthwhile extras? Or let me rephrase that - for compounding and polishing topsides what pads/sponges combination should I go for?
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I use a paste rubbing compound and a white foam mop. All kept moist with water from a trigger spray bottle.

Maybe the lambs wool bonnet for buffing up the final polish or maybe just by hand.

Don't park your car too close and protect your neighbours boat from spray
 
Long term investment in correct tools and consumables pays back the bigger the boat you own.
Not so good on pocket for initial price, but king on results, time spent working, ease of use etc.
A lighter machine, plenty around second hand money, how much will putting your back out cost you for next month? look for something under 2kilo.
A cheapy one will work fine, just cancel the gym membership and get a decent back specialists number.

Pads & backing:
3M backing pad, hook & loop, 14mm fit
Compounding pad white 3M
Polishing pad yellow 3M

These are the hook and loop versions, the other option is to have the double sided versions, you will need the adapter for these, but then you won't need the backing plate.

Wool pads will offer the best return on investment if used correctly.
A decent video on the process here.

Sponge pads are safer for the new user, but also have other benefits to a pro, when in the final finishing stages of refining clarity, or are dealing with hard to access areas with a 2" pad.

Using the same product (compounding /polish) different pads will work differently on the surface and will give different results, usually depending on how dense the sponge is, or its molecular structure.

The general rule is that the softer the sponge, the softer the process, so for example if using a compound (course) then the choice would be firm, but if you were in the finer stages of polishing, with finer polishes, you should use the softer pads, but there is a lot more to it than that and don't forget, this is geared towards the automotive paintwork aftercare industry.

Some pads will enable working the product for longer, cut fast or slow, remain cool working temperatures whilst working etc, but paintwork on a car is different to gel coat on a boat, also different to a lot of paint finishes on boats.

Coupled with the correct products 3M wool pads are the marine industry gel coat standard for good reason.

Wax by hand.
 
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SAWDOC said:
Lots of these on ebay but some posters would suggest that the cheapest models are not suitable for boat polishing - has anyone a recommendation for a model good on finish and on price? And while on the subject a good supplier of the various pads/sponges?

Thanks
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cleanyourcar do a good random orbital polisher, and that takes all the usual pads,backing plate options. I think this is pretty good for polishing,but its about £120+ all the bits. Very easy to use.
I also have the Silverline...still going strong after 7 years. Its pretty heavy, and alot less controlable, in that if it "bites" 3kg+ zooms off stage left, pretty pronto. However, its pretty good for serious compounding gel repairs etc, but remember it is simply a circular movement on the head, so alot easier to cock this up, as opposed to the random orbital.
The silverline polish heads are ok-ish for compounding, but get some decent maguires or 3m polishing/buffing sponges and a decent backing plat (3m).
Backing pads about £25, decent sponges £10-20.

Have a read here
http://www.powertoolsalesuk.com/media/productpdfs/sailing.pdf.

Just one opinion, of course, and they were reviewing specifically for a serious renovation job.
Of course, there are some pros on here.. this is just my DIY experience;)
 
SAWDOC said:
Lots of these on ebay but some posters would suggest that the cheapest models are not suitable for boat polishing - has anyone a recommendation for a model good on finish and on price? And while on the subject a good supplier of the various pads/sponges?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Not come across one yet. The Halford type dont work very well ( got one going cheap if anyone wants to buy it!) and the proper car bodywork type are too heavy for my feeble muscles to cope with covering the area there is on a boat.

Anyone found a compressed air powered one? That should be lighter
 
Bosun Higgs said:
Not come across one yet. The Halford type dont work very well ( got one going cheap if anyone wants to buy it!) and the proper car bodywork type are too heavy for my feeble muscles to cope with covering the area there is on a boat.

Anyone found a compressed air powered one? That should be lighter
Click to expand...

The Silverline polisher mentioned earlier is only 3.1 kg
 
Bosun Higgs said:
Not come across one yet. The Halford type dont work very well ( got one going cheap if anyone wants to buy it!) and the proper car bodywork type are too heavy for my feeble muscles to cope with covering the area there is on a boat.

Anyone found a compressed air powered one? That should be lighter
Click to expand...

Mirca do a range of palm polishers/sanders that are air & electric, very, very light, £300 last year, they have come down a bit now though perhaps second hand £200?

The selling point is.... it's 920 g 2.0lb the 5" version is 870 g :)

I prefer the electric as you don't need air feed, it is powered down to 18v yet still very powerful rotation & small orbit.
 
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