Bought a DeWALT DW443 Dual Action Sander/Polisher! Help...

sohail99

sohail99

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Bought a DeWALT DW443 Dual Action Sander/Polisher! Help...



Hey guys! :D

I had bought a DeWALT DW443 dual action sander to use as a polisher, a couple of days back.

Actually, I went for it since it was the closest thing to a DA polisher available here!(No DA polishers are available here locally!)

Also the specs were quite close to that of the Porter Cable 7424XP except for the fixed backing plate.

Here's a quick product description from Amazon.com
Amazon.com said:
The DEWALT DW443 right angle orbit sander is easy to use and delivers superior finish with 4.3 amp motor which sands at the speed between 4,300 and 6,800 orbits per minute.

Ergonomically designed with counter-balanced dual plane and gear case with rubber overlay for low vibration, the DW443 is comfortable to use for longer periods of time. It features a built in side handle, high capacity dust bag, and 10- percent ball-bearing construction for increased durability and longer life. Use it 6-inch, simple to replace hook and loop paper.
Click to expand...

I've ordered 6(nos.) 6.5" LC pads(2 orange, 2 white, 1 gray and 1 red) for it.

I just wanted to confirm/ rather, I wanted opinions of all you guys on how this unit is?

It feels really sturdy, has excellent build quality and has 5mm pad throw.

I had an old 8" pad meant for my rotary that I attached to it and kinda pressed it down on the back of my hand with the unit running. It didn't hurt a bit(though it was vibrating!)

So I guess it shouldn't hurt the paint!? :confused:

Here are a few pictures :-

Dewalt5.JPG


Dewalt6.JPG


Dewalt_unit.JPG


Speed_selector.JPG


Dewalt1.JPG


Dewalt3.jpg


Dewalt4.JPG



Dewalt_backing_plate.jpg



Sorry for the image heavy post!

I really have no idea how this will be as compared to PC7424XP or G110v2.

How are the specs?
Will this prove to be a worthy polisher?Feed back please


Thanks :)
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

I have not used one of these personally but I posted something about this recently as it relates to the old Griot's Garage DA Polisher, let me see if I can find my post and copy what I wrote there so I don't have to retype the same reply...

Hang tight... super search in progress....


:)
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

The pertinent part is on page 5, I suggest reading through the thread or at least pages 4 and 5, here's the link to page 5

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...t-getting-griot-s-6-how-does-plan-look-5.html


And here's my comments, a portion from post 48, be sure to read about the history of the PC i the included link as it too will explain what the deal is...

Mike Phillips said:
There's a lot of "orbital wood sanders" in the wood sanding industry and a lot of people think that because it's the same "type" of tool it will work to polish paint, but the fact is the only orbital wood sander, (that I know of), that's ever been successfully moved from the wood sanding industry to the paint polishing industry is the Porter Cable 7 series and their relatively new kissing cousins, the "New" Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital Polisher and the Meguiar's G110 series... which are both patterned after the Porter Cable Unit.

So you need to give that tool to someone you know that sands wood and transition over to one of the new models or a PC or a Meguiar's unit.

I think I cover more of the history of the PC here,

The Free Floating Spindle Assembly - The Story Behind The Story...
Click to expand...



Now what I wrote about "Wood Sanders" in general either applies to your DeWalt or it doesn't, the only way you can find out is to place a foam buffing pad on it, add some chemical to the face of the pad, (lubrication), place the face of the pad onto the surface of some clean pad, turn the polisher on at the highest setting and then apply some firm pressure, 10 to 15 pounds and see if the pad rotates under pressure.

If it will rotate a pad under pressure... then it will remove swirsl...

If it won't rotate a pad under pressure... this it won't remove swirls...

It was designed to oscillate a thin piece of paper... (sandpaper), huge difference between a thin piece of paper and a foam buffing pad that's going to get wet with product.


:)
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

6 minutes in 3 replies to search, find, copy and paste all the related information...


Let us know how your pad rotation under pressure test goes...

Be sure to somehow mark you pad or backing plate to be able to see if the pad is in fact rotating.



:D
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

Here's one way of marking a backing plate to be able to monitor pad rotation...


5.5" Hydro-Tech pads
5inchbackingplateon5_5inchpadHT.jpg






Under pressure, pad rotation won't be fast but it does have to rotate...



:)
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

sohail99 said:
It feels really sturdy, has excellent build quality and has 5mm pad throw.
Click to expand...

5mm = Finishing Sander, very tiny orbit. The Porter Cable, Meguiar's and Griot's have an 8mm or 5/16" throw or orbit if I remember correctly.


sohail99 said:
I had an old 8" pad meant for my rotary that I attached to it and kinda pressed it down on the back of my hand with the unit running. It didn't hurt a bit(though it was vibrating!)

So I guess it shouldn't hurt the paint!? :confused:
Click to expand...

Vibrating is the problem. Vibrating won't remove swirls but if you have a friend hold the pad against your back you can get a great massage out of the polisher.

Chances are that even smaller pads are just going to vibrate, it has to do with the design of the tool...

This design works...

Close-ups...
FreeRotatingSpindleAssemblies002.jpg
FreeRotatingSpindleAssemblies003.jpg

FreeRotatingSpindleAssemblies004.jpg
FreeRotatingSpindleAssemblies005.jpg
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

Wow!! Thanks for the super fast replies Mike! :D

It was designed to oscillate a thin piece of paper... (sandpaper), huge difference between a thin piece of paper and a foam buffing pad that's going to get wet with product.
Click to expand...

Now this is worrying!
I'll definitely test it out with the pads! I hope it passes the pressure test.

And since it has a black backing plate I've already marked a line on one side(with a gold marker) that will enable me to see whether its rotating or not!

While I was doing that test with 8" pad on the back of my hand, I applied quite a bit of pressure and the unit didn't seem to bog down!!
(will check it with the pads anyways!)

Thanks a lot.

I'll try to polish my refrigerator door with it along with a 8" pad I already have.

Lets see what happens!:buffing:
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

I noticed it says 230V, 50hz on the DeWalt. I hope that means you're not in the United States...
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

^Yup, am not!
Thats why I couldn't import most of the DA's like PC/G110/GG.

Though Flex comes in 230v but its totally out of my budget!

btw here's a reassuring comment I found on Amazon.com
Polisher use, August 4, 2005
By product user "dealer" (Nevada) -
This review is from: DEWALT DW443 6 Inch Heavy Duty Electronic Variable Speed Right-Angle Random Orbit Sander (Tools & Hardware)

We use this DeWalt Random Orbital as a polisher for vehicles. The unit comes with the velcro fastener required for professional polishing pads. The unit is balanced and easy to use for a long period. The results have been outstanding. It is recommended by our supplier of professional polishing products.
Click to expand...

I really hope it works!:buffing:

@Mike - :urtheman:
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

I tried it on with a big 8" pad and it did seem to stop rotating under pressure!! :(

I also saw a few videos of PC7424XP pad rotations and I feel that DW443's rotations are quite less!

I've dug up a few articles claiming that this can do a great polishing job

For example - http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/questions-about-porter-cable-7424xp-7424-7336-griot-s-meguiar-s-dual-action-polishers/2419-dewalt-443-ok.html

And these
Is the Dual-Action Polisher Safe? - Page 5 - Car Care Forums: Meguiar's Online

3rd post from the top - DA rotating speed - Car Care Forums: Meguiar's Online

Swirl pics before/after
Click to expand...

I think it needs some oiling as its backing plate is no rotating as freely as it does in a PorterCable!

I cant wait for my pads to arrive so that I can get down to doing a test spot with it!:buffing:
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

Hi Sohail !

Looking at the various links you've posted , i guess the DW 443 should do the job to a fairly acceptable extent !

Regarding the throw of 5mm, which would result in :

- Smaller orbit resulting in a jiggling motion - more vibration
- Larger orbit helps to cover more area faster

Above is my understanding, request Mike & other experts to share their view too :xyxthumbs:

Another question for the experts, can it remove the deeper scratches too ?
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

nirmaljusdoit said:
Another question for the experts, can it remove the deeper scratches too ?
Click to expand...

To remove deeper scratches you will be more effective to work by hand than a DA Polisher like the Porter Cable, Meguiar's or Griot's Garage DA Polishers, here's why, I posted this in another thread yesterday...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/28624-below-surface-contaminants.html

Mike Phillips said:
Ultimate Compound by hand is the best hand applied scratch remover at this time that I've tested. Here's how to use it...

How to use a hand applied abrasive polish or paint cleaner by hand


For deeper defects it more effective to remove them by hand because you can exert a lot of pressure to the affected area with a couple of fingers. With a polisher all the pressure is spread out over the entire face of the buffing pad.
Click to expand...



RIDS - The Definition of RIDS and the story behind the term...



:)
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

I opened up the backing plate and removed the sanding seal!

That seems to have solved the problem!

Now it rotates at a really high speed!!(before removing that, you could see the white mark while it was rotating at the highest speed)

Now its like super fast. Also, the plate continues to freely rotate after the unit has been switched off!(Just as in the PC video)

I'll do a pressure test next and report back!:buffing:

The sanding seal that I took out
Sanding_seal.JPG


Backing plate and fan/counterweight assembly without the sanding seal
Without_seal1.JPG


The sanding seal was actually pressing on the backing plate, which in turn was rotating way slower than it should've been.

Check out the pics before sanding seal removal here
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

RIGHT ON!!!

I still have mine apart from when I took the pics in the MOL thread.

I will also leave out the white ring... to juice 'er up, so to speak.

Way to be creative !! :props:
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

So I got my pads and Menz PO85RD and I got down to doing a test spot on my hood!

(My hood is already in impeccable condition with very slight micromarring!)

First I stripped the sealant/wax off the paint with IPA(50/50) and then when it stopped beading, I got down to polishing!

I used 6.5" LC white polishing pad with the DW443 and Menzerna PO85RD.
I misted the pad with a lil' UQD and then applied PO85rd in a circular pattern on the outer part of the pad.

Then I spread it around on the panel with the polisher turned off and then with the polisher turned on at 2 setting.

After spreading, I increased the speed to 4(equivalent to 5 in PC) and started doing multiple section passes slowly and with slight pressure(I was impressed as the rotations weren't stopping on moderate to heavy pressure, even on heavy it was moving! :D)

after 6-7 section passes, I decreased the speed and pressure, and tried to jewel the paint.

Stopped the polisher and then lifted it. Wiped off all the residue and did a IPA wipedown.

There was a definite improvement in the test spot. I kinda tried to show the difference to my mom but to her it all appeared the same!

All the micro-marring had gone! I did a super close surface inspection and it was perfectly smooth!! :D ( I love Menzerna!!!)

One Con regarding DW443 is, it make a hell lot of noise!!!
though I was lost in polishing, a few of my neighbors came out to see what was making such a noise!!
(DW443 was also vibrating the bonnet leading to that amplified sound!!)

and my hands hurt from the vibration!!! (any remedies to prevent vibration damage?)

As soon as I was finished with the test spot, loads of clouds appeared and blocked the sunlight! :(

useless pics!:(
ABCD0005.JPG


Are these reflections ok??

Do I need to polish more?
ABCD0007.JPG


The status of the pad after doing 3/4th of the hood!

ABCD0010.JPG


currently the pad is soaked in a bucket with snappy clean.

Please I need advise on the technique I used + any other tips and tricks that may help!

Thanks! :buffing:
 
Re: Bought a DeWALT dual action sander/polisher! Help...

The sun came out and I took some pics!!

Damn! I think Menzerna PO85RD is the best!!:dblthumb2:

Check these out!!

ABCD0011.jpg


ABCD0012.jpg


ABCD0013.jpg


ABCD0014.jpg


ABCD0015.jpg


ABCD0016.jpg


ABCD00171.jpg


ABCD0018.jpg




This is a untested spot (you can see light swirls)
ABCD0019.jpg


Similar swirls after 1-2 passes
ABCD0020.jpg


All I can say is, I'm highly impressed!!!:props:

But my hands hurt! :(
 
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