Rotary Buffer Question

['03 Ram 5.9]

I'm just getting started with this new hobby and I happen to already own a Craftsman 9 in rotary buffer. I do not know the specifics off hand such as speeds etc. I have some terry cloth bonnets and a lambs wool bonnet. Just reading some of the other threads I'm positive this buffer is far inferior to what most experienced guys are using. My question is will I do any harm to my truck using this until I can get a higher quality tool? My truck is silver and it's 10 years old so the paint is pretty beat up. My initial plan is to start claying, compound, polish, and wax.

 

[DaveT435]

You have to be extremely careful with a rotary. You can burn through the paint pretty easy. You might want to get a practice panel to work on first.

 

[BobbyG]

Instead of searching all over, Mike Phillips has written some great articles on rotary machines so I've simply copied them here..........rops:

Rotary Buffers
Rotary Buffers are the most powerful type of tool used to work on paint. These tools use a direct drive gear mechanism to rotate a pad under pressure in a single direction. This type of tool works fastest for removing sanding marks after wetsanding, serious paint defects and oxidation off both cars and boats. These types of tools will tend to leave holograms behind that are best removed using dual action type polishers for a swirl-free finish even after multiple washings.

New - How to buff off an edge when using a rotary buffer

New - How to use a Rotary Buffer

New - Hologram Free with a Rotary Buffer


DeWALT DWP849X vs Makita 9227C Rotary Buffers

Surgical Buffing

Edging - Buffing the paint around edges

Rotary Buffer Talk with Bob Eichelberg from Flex Tools

Bumblebee - Testing out the NEW DeWALT DWP849X

The New FLEX PE14-2-150 Rotary Buffer - Includes Video

The 10 @ 10 technique for picking up a bead of product with a rotary buffer

Rotary Buffers: Stick Handle - Hoop Handle - Or no handle at all

 

[ken tuep]

If it has an adjustable speed setting on it, then it might work. The lowest speed setting should be fairly slow, no more than 1000 rpm is what I like. 1300-2000 is where I normally Polish. Technique will also factor in.

Don't rule out Craigslist for maybe finding a used tool. I've found many there, as well as purchased many from here. The Griots garage 6 in is a bargain, and works really well.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using AG Online

 

[Robert8194]

I'm just getting started with this new hobby and I happen to already own a Craftsman 9 in rotary buffer. I do not know the specifics off hand such as speeds etc. I have some terry cloth bonnets and a lambs wool bonnet. Just reading some of the other threads I'm positive this buffer is far inferior to what most experienced guys are using. My question is will I do any harm to my truck using this until I can get a higher quality tool? My truck is silver and it's 10 years old so the paint is pretty beat up. My initial plan is to start claying, compound, polish, and wax.

Do you have a picture? Craftsman made a 9" orbital buffer. If they made a true rotary, I would love to see a picture. I have the orbital and it is good for applying waxes and buffing but not much on paint correction. Good news, it would be hard to harm your paint with it.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I'm just getting started with this new hobby and I happen to already own a Craftsman 9 in rotary buffer.

I have some terry cloth bonnets and a lambs wool bonnet.

Pitch the bonnets in the trash they'll cause more harm than do good, these things are very old school.

You want to get a good backing plate and some quality foam pads.

My initial plan is to start claying, compound, polish, and wax.

Here's a suggestion for some high quality pads and a backing plate. The below picture is from my article on the new 5" Hybrid pads for the Flex 3401 but these pads also work great on rotary buffers and their smaller size makes them very easy to control while buffing.


New 5" pads for 4" Backing Plate on Flex 3401

You'll need a 4" backing plate for a rotary buffer, some old, less costly rotary buffers used 3/8" spindle, these were usually very low power units and came with a rubber backing plate that you attached the above mentioned bonnets onto.

If this is the case then you might have a problem finding a backing plate because the standard for rotary buffers now days is 5/8" coarse thread. Like this,


Here's a Makita with a 5/8" spindle...

Another good option is to get the 6.5" Hybrid pads and a 5.5" Flexible Backing plate, these too are great pads and easy to control on the rotary buffer.


LOTS of pictures and information and links here,

Trend: Flexible Backing Plates for Rotary Buffers

On Autogeek.net

Lake Country Hybrid Power Finish 5 Inch Foam Pads


3 3/4" Backing Plate for Rotary Buffer



:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Here's an old Wen sander/polisher with the rubber backing plate that you attach bonnets too, this is really not a good set up for a swirls free finish on clear coats.

It is possible I think to get a Heli-Coil that fits your buffer's spindle and has a 5/8" outside NC thread but you would want to go to a machine shop and see if that's an option.

 

['03 Ram 5.9]

Do you have a picture? Craftsman made a 9" orbital buffer. If they made a true rotary, I would love to see a picture. I have the orbital and it is good for applying waxes and buffing but not much on paint correction. Good news, it would be hard to harm your paint with it.

is this rotary or orbital?

 

[Bamafire]

That my friend is a orbital, the only thing that's good for is applying wax and removing wax. Has no correction ability. You need a Dual action polisher Like Flex, PC, GG, and Meg's. All are good machines for starting off learning. I Have the PC and love how easy it is to use.

And Welcome to AGO

 

['03 Ram 5.9]

That my friend is a orbital, the only thing that's good for is applying wax and removing wax. Has no correction ability. You need a Dual action polisher Like Flex, PC, GG, and Meg's. All are good machines for starting off learning. I Have the PC and love how easy it is to use.

And Welcome to AGO

thanks for pointing me in the right direction. i would have wasted a lot of time and effort wondering why i wasnt getting results

 

[Bamafire]

thanks for pointing me in the right direction. i would have wasted a lot of time and effort wondering why i wasnt getting results

No problem, that's why we are here to help and learn. Watch Mikes how to articles and video's on the Dual action polishers. Plus great group on AGO that will help you out.

 

[tuscarora dave]

That's an orbital commonly referred to as a "Wax Spreader". I think a lot of folks work with these tools until they see what can really be done to correct paint. I started with a similar unit and quickly realized that to get any real swirl removal I'd need to upgrade to a better unit. As stubborn as I can be at times...I kept burning these units up, running them until the motors literally melted down (without achieving the results I desired). I kept on buying another wax spreader and misusing the tool to the point of meltdown. It simply is the wrong tool for doing anything more than applying a wax with.

Eventually I went online to see about a "throw money at it solution", looking for the world's most expensive car polisher... The thought process was that you typically get what you pay for. That is how I became familiar with the detailing discussion forums. The most expensive polisher at the time was a Cyclo polisher. I bought the "Mega Cyclo Kit" for something like $429 and there began my adventures in real auto detailing and paint correction.

Thinking back through my own experience, and attempting to put myself in your shoes, assuming money is an issue...I'd trash that wax spreader and run to my local Harbor Freight tools and pick up a "Chicago Electric Platinum" dual action sander/polisher and a few of the pads that they have in the abrasives isle. For less than $100 you can have a decent DA polisher and a half a dozen pads. Of course being that AGO is trying to sell as much as possible...I'd encourage you to purchase your detailing needs from the AutoGeek store but if times are real tough right now HF is a cheaper way, assuming that you keep in mind that you typically get what you pay for..

I've been working in a professional setting...running through it's paces from time to time, "the Chicago Platinum" DA sander/polisher and it's holding up surprisingly well. While not the best available unit, it will enable you to do some real paint correction with some learned technique, while being much safer than using a rotary polisher.

 

['03 Ram 5.9]

Thinking back through my own experience, and attempting to put myself in your shoes, assuming money is an issue...I'd trash that wax spreader and run to my local Harbor Freight tools and pick up a "Chicago Electric Platinum" dual action sander/polisher and a few of the pads that they have in the abrasives isle. For less than $100 you can have a decent DA polisher and a half a dozen pads.

so funny, i was just on their website and thy have it for $59 right now. i figured it was junk though. i think i'll do it and get the 2 yr warranty for another $10. do you know if i can use othert pads with it or am i committed to harbor freight pads?

 

[Robert8194]

is this rotary or orbital?

Orbital. That's what I suspected. The same machine I started out with many years ago. Sears used to sell a polishing compound with it that would help the shine (single stage paint) but it will do nothing to correct swirls in clear coat. Others are absolutely correct, you need a good dual action polisher like the Porter Cable or Griot's to safely correct your paint. Good luck and welcome to AG online.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

That my friend is a orbital, the only thing that's good for is applying wax and removing wax. Has no correction ability.

Correctamundo and I have an article on that...


The Traditional Orbital Buffer aka The Wax Spreader

I keep this around for all my classes because there's always a guy in the class that after going through the different tools and how they work plus their benefits, they'll say,

Can I just use the old polisher I have in the garage?


That's when I whip out the old wax spreader and explain how they used to work in the old days to remove oxidation off single stage paint but on modern clear coats they've been relegated to pretty much spreading out a coat of wax or removing a coat of wax. Even still, they really only work good on large flat panels, (like old cars have), as most new cars have multiple curves and body lines with thin panels.

 

[Xplosive Detail]

so funny, i was just on their website and thy have it for $59 right now. i figured it was junk though. i think i'll do it and get the 2 yr warranty for another $10. do you know if i can use othert pads with it or am i committed to harbor freight pads?

For the 100 bucks its going to cost you you might as well get the griots garage dual action polisher for 139 or something close to that and you will have one of the best DA on the market. start out slow with pads and learn good technique. from there buy more pads, from there you should have gotten thr hang of it and then dip into the rotary market if you like. But with some of te options out there for DA now adays and weekender like yourself or a novice can do great things with some of the technology out there.

Correct me if im wrong,

Any DA on the AG website + meguairs microfiber kit (pads and polish) very hard to beat for a novice/weekender.

 

[cartman57]

so funny, i was just on their website and thy have it for $59 right now. i figured it was junk though. i think i'll do it and get the 2 yr warranty for another $10. do you know if i can use othert pads with it or am i committed to harbor freight pads?

No you're not committed using Harbor Freight pads, any will work, don't know it has the capability to spin 6.5" effectively, 5.5" and smaller would be you best, just get the appropriate backing plate for whatever size pad you'll be using.
For $59 can't beat the price, sometimes they offer a discount coupon too.