Daviddear30
Well-known member
- May 7, 2011
- 1,424
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I just picked up on today. $65 for polisher and 3 pads
Harbor Freight DA Polisher - New
- Thread starter Viper6
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beamerstrumpet
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- Jun 14, 2013
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Reading all this has sold me. I will be buying this. Will that cupon in the middle of this thread work still? It is online for 60 bucks. There are 3 stores I can go to, so I guess calling them to see if in stock is a good idea? Or do I just need to google HF great deal cupon or something? I was wondering about the HF pads, I had planed on a 5 in flex pad from CG's and the Hex pad sample kit Or maybe a LC 6 pack. not sure what chemical system to go with. its a bit overwhelming for a noob. Right now Im on the fence over Poor Boys, Megs, 3M, or Mothers. Feed back please
This is a heck of a start up since ill basically be a weekend warrior. guess Ill get a rotary too. I plan on doing some painting and since ill be wet sanding, will need it. Or will I? wont a yellow pad and some aggressive compound get rid of wet sand marks if they are around a 2500 or 3000 grit wet sand? ok you can tell im just getting this since all my questions run together. thanks in advance.
This is a heck of a start up since ill basically be a weekend warrior. guess Ill get a rotary too. I plan on doing some painting and since ill be wet sanding, will need it. Or will I? wont a yellow pad and some aggressive compound get rid of wet sand marks if they are around a 2500 or 3000 grit wet sand? ok you can tell im just getting this since all my questions run together. thanks in advance.
dlc95
Well-known member
- May 18, 2013
- 6,062
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The LC pads are a better deal, but I slightly prefer the hex pads - just slightly. Starting out, it's hard to beat Megs Ultimate Compound / Ultimate Polish.
Nick E
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- Mar 3, 2013
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I second that - Meg's Ultimate compound is the only one I've used, but worked great, and was pretty dang easy to use my very first time.
Just picked up Ultimate polish to finish up a few spots that my technique left a little hazy from the UC/yellow LC combo I used.
onthespotbg
New member
- Feb 19, 2013
- 19
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The guys at CG's are very helpful and should be able to get you in the proper direction on what you need as far as pad/lotion combo. As far as the rotary, if you haven't used one before please use it with caution and practice with your DA first. Bad things can happen especially if you don't have anyone to fix it afterwards. A DA can get out 2500-3000 sand scratches if done properly with the right patience. +1 with the Meg's Ultimate polish and compound too! Some of the best stuff on the market for the consumer to get their hands on. I use a lot of Meg's stuff in my business. Make sure you get a different backing plate other than the one that come with the machine.
exoticshine
New member
- Mar 8, 2013
- 9
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The backing plate that comes with the machine is horrible. Replace it soon as possible. The only downside to the DA is the noise level, works great for the price.
c8n
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- Mar 4, 2013
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For anyone that is just starting, I think you should start with polishes with SMAT as in my opinion, they are easy to work with. I don't know about the others but Meg's UC is SMAT
PokeFan
New member
- May 6, 2013
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David, A word of advice. If you haven't opened the pads yet return them now and get your money back. I made the same mistake when I picked up my HF DA and the pads started to fall about before I finished my car for the first time. The backing plate is too big for the pads and eats the foam and since the BP is crap and you'll be getting rid of it anyway the pads are just a waste of money. Save yourself the trouble and frustration of thinking you're doing something wrong and just wait until you get a new BP and pads to use the DA.
That said, I agree with everyone else here. When properly equipped the Harbor Freight DA is a very capable machine.
beamerstrumpet
New member
- Jun 14, 2013
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So since Im planning on hand wet sanding, do I start with an orange pad or start with the yellow (yellow being most aggressive for the hex) Or an I stop at 1000grit and use teh yellow and bump down to teh orange and white?
onthespotbg
New member
- Feb 19, 2013
- 19
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A high speed rotary buffer with the strongest pad/lotion combo on the market cannot get out 1000 grit scratch marks. For beginners I would never sudgest using any lower than 1500 and be super cautious with that. You can sand right through paint or clear coat very easy. Also practice on something you don't care about. Step up till you get to 2500/3000. There lots of YouTube on wet sanding. Of course nothing is better hands on experience. It's taken me years and over 10,000 hours to know what I know. Sadly, it also came with some very costly and hard learned lessons.
Calendyr
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- Jun 9, 2013
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If you check youtube do a search for Junkman2000. He has a video on wetsanding that is really interesting. He is using 3000 grit and it only takes him about 5 minutes of VERY CAREFULL sanding to get a big scratch off his corvette. 2500 and 2000 might be overkill for a lot of scratches. 1000 is just asking for trouble imo 
beamerstrumpet
New member
- Jun 14, 2013
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If you check youtube do a search for Junkman2000. He has a video on wetsanding that is really interesting. He is using 3000 grit and it only takes him about 5 minutes of VERY CAREFULL sanding to get a big scratch off his corvette. 2500 and 2000 might be overkill for a lot of scratches. 1000 is just asking for trouble imo
Yea He is actually the guy who got me motivated to end up here! LOLOL
I can not remember If I have watched that particular vid or not. So ok Ill start with 1500 on any orange peel. Thanks for the info everyone.
DeviousDetail
New member
- Apr 16, 2013
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My buddy just picked up one of these not to long ago along with the pad. I personally looked into the HF DA when I was first starting out but decided in the long run to just purchase a GG6. Since I wasn't going to use the GG pads on my GF moms car I picked up the HF pads and I was impressed. They worked great at getting out any oxidation and swirls. I had also used the 105-205 combo with the pads and it was just amazing. I had gotten a job to do a Jeep Wrangler that was just a total mess with swirls and trail scratches. I like to use new pads on every vehicle so getting the HF pads seemed logical to me.
After seeing the work that my buddy did on his moms jeep with the HF DA I am considering buying one as a back up to my GG6. While he said that the machine bogged down a lot, that seems to be an issue with the backing plate. Overall I was impressed with the results that he was able to get with it. (He is a noob)
After seeing the work that my buddy did on his moms jeep with the HF DA I am considering buying one as a back up to my GG6. While he said that the machine bogged down a lot, that seems to be an issue with the backing plate. Overall I was impressed with the results that he was able to get with it. (He is a noob)
Purple87SS
New member
- Jul 24, 2012
- 15
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Link to carpet brush attachment?
Jaddie
New member
- Oct 30, 2011
- 454
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Dear Friends
I think I'm going to buy one for wax removal. I have the Griot's 6" (v2) and like it, but when I get done machine-applying wax, I don't want to change pads and put a bonnet over the pad. It'd be more convenient to have a machine ready for this task as soon as I am.
If it works it's quite a bargain, especially with a 20- or 25-percent-off coupon.
I think I'm going to buy one for wax removal. I have the Griot's 6" (v2) and like it, but when I get done machine-applying wax, I don't want to change pads and put a bonnet over the pad. It'd be more convenient to have a machine ready for this task as soon as I am.
If it works it's quite a bargain, especially with a 20- or 25-percent-off coupon.
I did the same but mine was on sale and THEN I used the coupon. Total price was around $43. Picked up the interior brush attachment and the aqua carpet brush from AG so I wouldn't have to keep swapping brushes/backing plates on my GG6.
Has anyone else rotated the motor housing on the HF DA so the on/off switch is on top? After I did it not only made it easier to operate the switch but it also rotated the speed dial and kept it from vibrating over to a higher speed like it was doing the first couple times I used it.
Carpet attachments
Porter Cable 7424 Carpet & Upholstery Brushes
feslope
Active member
- Jul 1, 2009
- 1,153
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I paid about $50.00 with two year replacement policy. I also rotated the switch to the top.
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