The further the backing plate and pad, which are "mass" is from the spindle, the more wild or exaggerated the mass will become.
This will wear out the bearings that hold the spindle in place as well as the spindle itself.
It will increase any previous vibrations and in all likelihood make the tool
unwieldy. (look that word up).
The above would mostly apply to normal size buffing pads, 5.5", 6.5" and 7" pads.
The smaller the pad diameter and the lower the mass of everything bolted to the spindle and the less problems you would encounter.
Besides all that, it's just the wrong too and idea for what a person is trying to do.
If you need to remove defects out of tight, intricate areas or buff out thin panels, get a Flex PE14 or a DeWALT 849X
Backing Plate Extensions
Another trend I see for the future is the use of what is currently sold as an adapter only used as an extension for locating the face of your buffing pad further away from the body of your rotary buffer.
This serves at least two functions:
1. Places the buffing pad further away from the body of the buffer so you can more easily SEE the buffing pad as you're buffing. This is important because it helps you to avoid making mistakes when using a powerful tool like the rotary buffer.
2. By moving the buffing pad away from the body of the tool this enables you in some applications, to more easily buff thin panels, small sections of paint or tight, hard to buff areas.
3. Works great to extend the buffing pad away from the body of the tool which makes cleaning your pad easier and more effective when using a pad washer as the body of the tool is out of the way.
Extensions for Pad Cleaning
When using the Grit Guard Universal Pad Washer part of the cleaning action comes from pumping the buffing pad up and down against the Grit Guard Insert. When you do this without an extension you don't have much of a throw because the body of the rotary buffer will hit the splatter lid on the pad washer.
When you add an extension to the spindle you gain about 2 extra inches of travel which makes it easier and more effective to clean your pads.
Surgical Precision Buffing with a Rotary Buffer
Here's a few examples of surgical precision buffing using a rotary buffer, it helps to have a compact, lightweight rotary buffer to start with like the Flex PE 14
The adapter acts as an extension which allows me to better see where the pads touching the paint as I buff and also works sometimes to give you enough clearance to buff into tight areas.
