Harbor Freight DA Polisher - New

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louie said:
You can go smaller, but I have use the 6.5" pads for years without any issues, just a little slower in removing defects.
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Yeah, I have an enormous inventory of old pads, too, but if you're buying new it would seem logical to buy the smaller pads...and save the 6.5" for when he gets a Flex. Why wouldn't he just try one of these options--they are even cheaper.

Lake Country 5.5 Inch CCS Pads 6 Pack - Your Choice!

Lake Country 5 1/2 x 7/8 inch Beveled Edge Pads 6 Pack, foam pad kit, build a kit, buffing pads, curved edge pads
 
louie said:
New backing plate, four compounding pads, 4 polishing pads, plus a pad for your LSP? The OP just spent $60 on an orbital, so I think he needs a lower cost option. Lake Country 6.5 Inch CCS Pads 6 Pack - Your Choice!

I keep my cars in pretty good shape, so I use more white pads than anything else. If I had to pick 3, it would be an orange, a white, and a black. If I had to pick six, I would add a yellow, another white, and a red.

You can go smaller, but I have use the 6.5" pads for years without any issues, just a little slower in removing defects.
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I think most here would agree that 5.5" flat pads are the most effective with any polisher you choose and that it really takes more than one or two pads to do an entire car without stopping to wash, rinse and dry pads (even with cleaning on the fly frequently).

But for discussion sake let's say you want to start with just 6 pads: 3 orange, 2 white and 1 blue. Normal pricing on a 6 pack of 5.5" LC flat pads is $35 with $18 for a 5" backing plate--Total $53. Normal pricing for a 6 pack of 6.5" flat pads is $50--so you have saved $3, but in the future you will need/want more pads so by making the initial extra investment of $3 you will save $15 everytime you buy an additional 6 pack of pads. Seems to make sense to me.
 
I would go with 6.5" pads. If you start replacing backing plates and buying different pads you defeat the purpose of saving money
 
Flash Gordon said:
I would go with 6.5" pads. If you start replacing backing plates and buying different pads you defeat the purpose of saving money
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That's my point above--by spending $3 more now you save more in the future.
 
So has anyone purchased this unit?

Not that I want one but wanted to see if anyone has actually used the unit.

Ed
 
Eandras said:
So has anyone purchased this unit?

Not that I want one but wanted to see if anyone has actually used the unit.

Ed
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My neighbor had picked up one and honestly,it performs/sounds/and looks similar to my old PCXP.
Don't know about longevity but I asked him to let me know if he ever has any issue's with it?
 
I bough one , but I havent used it yet. I also paid 10.00 for the 2 year warrenty.
 
My Official Unofficial Review of the Harbor Freight DA polisher.

Disclaimer: I am a complete noob when it comes to DA machines. If you check my post history, you will see that I came to AG via an unprofessional paint correction on my daily driver. I am using the Meguiars Microfiber Correct Kit (5inch) and previously purchased a used PC7336? from a neighbor for 25$ wiith case. This is my first time using and DA and any detail product. I am amazed at the results...the swirls are disappearing! Just can't get to it all in one day and the weather here in Michigan is not going to be cooperating. Anyway...on to my unofficial review...

I too saw the HF DA polisher in their flyer and was curious. This was before I purchased the PC; but I purchased the PC first because, well, brand name albeit old technology. I purchased the HF DA polisher yesterday because I wanted to see if it would correct faster/better...or perform better....than my only experience again...PC7336. Sure I was expecting it to be more powerful because it claims to have a bigger engine...I'm not that into mechanics, but it seemed to be more powerful upon cautious startup (started at 1 and worked up to 6). It felt more powerful in my hands and that was awesome!

Here is what I noticed. After attaching the 6inch backing plate that came with the HFDA, I gave it a manual spin. It seemed to me that the backing plate did not spin completely flat. The hook-n-loop part seemed to "wobble" a bit. I double checked the install and it was fine. I went to my PC and gave the backing plate a manual spin (this was the backing plate that came with the Megs MF kit). It had a very small "wobble" but alot less than the HFDA. I flipped the switch on the HFDA and noticed the wobble. I flipped the switch on the PC and did not notice the wobble. I put the Megs kit backing plate on the HFDA and did not notice any wobble. I looked at the hook n loop plane of each and the HF one seemed a little kitty-wompus.

So in my opinion there seems to be a quality issue with the HFDA 6 inch backing plate. This was a selling point for me because then I would have two DAs and two backing plates (5 and 6 inch). My daiily driver is a Subaru WRX and using the 5 inch seems to be working good. However, my wife's daily driver is a Dodge Caravan and I want a 6 inch for that, but will not put a 6 inch on the PC due to power starving issues.

Since I am concerned about the quality of the HFDA backing plate, I would need to purchase a new one with my next AG order. That increases my costs of the HFDA which I paid 48$ after the 20%off and at that point, I think I'm getting closeer to a VIP deal for a Griots at AG (hint hint...again please).

It got too dark for me to try the HFDA for my detail tonight and am 95% sure I am going to return it....and wait for another DA VIP....hint hint hint

Again....just my official unofficial non-professional noob "detailer" opinion.
 
SubieMonte said:
So in my opinion there seems to be a quality issue with the HFDA 6 inch backing plate. This was a selling point for me because then I would have two DAs and two backing plates (5 and 6 inch). My daiily driver is a Subaru WRX and using the 5 inch seems to be working good. However, my wife's daily driver is a Dodge Caravan and I want a 6 inch for that, but will not put a 6 inch on the PC due to power starving issues.
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Was the spacer washer in place with the HF plate? If the spacer washer is not in place the backing plate MAY not be sitting flat and wobble causing sever vibration most noticable at higher speeds.
 
feslope said:
Was the spacer washer in place with the HF plate? If the spacer washer is not in place the backing plate MAY not be sitting flat and wobble causing sever vibration most noticable at higher speeds.
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Yes. The spacer was there and basically I just made sure it was on. Being a noob, is there anything elsie I need to make sure of with the spacer? Thanks!
 
SubieMonte said:
Yes. The spacer was there and basically I just made sure it was on. Being a noob, is there anything elsie I need to make sure of with the spacer? Thanks!
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No sir, good job you have it covered.
 
Well, since AG has allowed this thread to go 10 pages long I guess it's OK to post a few related photos. The fact that the HF that is local to me has these in stock, suggests to me that they will also carry the polisher. I have yet to see it there though.

I couldn't help but pick these up today when I was at HF buying the "Earthquake" impact wrenches. By the way, the 3/8" drive impact did what my 1/2" Craftsman couldn't do. Nice impacts.

I have yet to try these out but can only assume that they will be nice. There was no price posted where these were in the store and I didn't look at the receipts which are up at the shop.

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They look a lot like Lake Country pads but there are some slight differences.
 
Those look like Buff n Shines/Ubers. How much $ and what size are they Dave?
 
I know a guy who has been using an HD polisher and went to HF and bought this unit and he says everything other than the color is exactly the same. Performance and all. I can only assume that if you run it hard like I run my tools, it will be broken in a matter of about 10 paint corrections.
 
Flash Gordon said:
Those look like Buff n Shines/Ubers. How much $ and what size are they Dave?
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As I stated in the post above yours....There was no price posted where these were in the store and I didn't look at the receipts which are up at the shop.

They are 6":props:
 
tuscarora dave said:
As I stated in the post above yours....There was no price posted where these were in the store and I didn't look at the receipts which are up at the shop.

They are 6":props:
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Dang Dave, you shop like a baller!!! :props: I can tell you exactly how much I pay for everything I buy down to the last cent :o
 
Hey all, I know that I'm a noob AND this is my first post but I have been browsing and reading and educating myself on as much as I could. I decided to purchase a DA and practice my technique on my 97 Black and Silver Suburban, it has 150,000 miles and figured I could practice before tackling my Mustang and Passat. I ended up purchasing the HF DA as well as their foam pads in all three stages. Using Maguire's Ultimate compound I went to work. After a wash and claying of course. I know that I have nothing to compare it to, and very little knowledge/experience but the HF DA seems to be doing well. It pulled scratches and 1500 wet sanding marks out really well. We will see about longevity, I'll post picks when I get back in town next week.
 
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