Craftmens 10" Buffer/Polisher

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Hoytman

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My uncle gave me this...so I wasn't about to turn it down. I thought it simply jiggled and would only be good as a wax applicator, as that's all most of these are good for. I'm certain it'll never have great cutting power due to needing such large pads, but it will have some...to my surprise.

I decided to plug it in and see if it actually worked...wanted to make sure my uncle wasn't pawning his trash off on me ha ha. I plugged it in and it does work, so I decided to get me a black marker and mark the pad to see if it rotated.

When I first turned it on I couldn't see a black mark rotating, but only seen a black blurr. At first glance my thought was, "Yep, just as I thought...it doesn't rotate." I then decided to put some pressure on it. As I put more pressure on it I could see that the pad was rotating. I then put more and more pressure on it, and my mark slowed down where I could really see it. It was actually rotating and jiggling just like a DA.

I didn't try to put enough pressure on it to stop it, but enough to realize that it's worth modify for velcro pads. I need to test it again, but I think this thing can handle a fair amount of pressure. If it only could handle light polishing then it'll be worth it. I was actually a little bit amazed by it and am looking forward to further testing. I'll update this thread when I do get to test it more.

Does anyone know if AG sells glue and/or velcro pads that may fit it? I'd like to modify it, if it can be done cheaply, to accept velcro pads as well as being able to continue putting a bonnet over it if I wanted to.

This could get interesting...
 
I too have a similar one that my dad got for me from HongKong!

At first glance I knew it wont work and its been lying in the box ever since!

Since the one I have runs on 12V power socket from the car, I doubt it'll rotate under pressure! At least the BP is generic hook and loop!

It'll try it anyways and see what else can it be used for!

Good luck with the mod :xyxthumbs:
 
Craftman 10" Buffer/Polisher (Sorry for the incorrect spelling in the title.)

Follow up...

Here's what I decided to do:

I have a bathroom scale that is made of glass and gives a digital read-out. Unfortunately, I tried to get a reading of the pounds of pressure I was trying to impart on the polisher, but being a digital scale an error message occured from the vibrations. Pay close attention to the next part.

I placed the glass scale on our kitchen table. I then placed the buffer on the scale.

NOTE: With the buffer placed on top of the scale that was on the table I placed both hands on the polisher, as it's a a two handed polisher. Meaning the handle goes around the circumference of the polisher. My arms are in an almost horizontal state while holding the polisher on the scale, but relaxed to simply let the weight of my arms give me a weight measurement.

The average weight measurement of my arms on the polisher in a relaxed state with the machine turned off was 16.7lbs.

I had no real way to control measuring how much pressure I was applying to the polisher when it was turned on. All I could really do was guestimate.

The following comments and measurements are with the factory glued on foam pads (3 types of foam glued together) with no bonnet...placed on a glass scale.

I turned the polisher on and applied pressure until the pad quit rotating. I did this several times to try and get a good "feel" of how much pressure I was actually applying. Once this was done I turned the polisher off, placed on the scale, then applied pressure to the polisher to the amount I thought matched the amount of pressure used to stop the pad from rotating. Here are the numbers.

1-28.3lbs.
2-25.4
3-26.9

That said, I think I can safe say that I can easily apply 18-22 lbs. of pressure to this polisher before stoppint pad rotation. What remains to be seen is how much pressure could be applied with an actual cutting/polishing pad before stopping rotation. My guess is it would do fine, but it's only a guess.

Below is a link to show you the exact polisher I was given, and give you the model number. Since AG doesn't sell this item, in fact I don't think it's made currently, I shouldn't violate any forum rules...at least I hope not.

Sears Craftsman 10" Electric Buffer Polisher VGC Pad Included | eBay

I may have just aquired a little gem.

This could get some people by, who are in a strain financially, until they can afford a quality DA from the good folks here at AG.
 
sohail99 said:
I too have a similar one that my dad got for me from HongKong!

At first glance I knew it wont work and its been lying in the box ever since!

Since the one I have runs on 12V power socket from the car, I doubt it'll rotate under pressure! At least the BP is generic hook and loop!

It'll try it anyways and see what else can it be used for!

Good luck with the mod :xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...

I am thinking the unit you have may be newer than the one given to me. I actually used this same exact polisher in 1986 to polish my uncle's boat for him...not a copy...it's the same one he's had all these years just sitting around. I'd bet the newer models are made much cheaper if they're made at all.

NOTE:
I too thought that this was just another junk "wax applicator" and it may still be as noted in my second post. The proof will be in seeing it turn and actual polishing/cutting pad of this size. Knowing what I've seen from my little "flimsy" test I am still somewhat confident it would go fine. It seems to have real good power.

If my hunch is right, I will have hit the poorman's jack-pot. But, of course, it will only be good on large areas.

This unit will rotate under pressure while doing the Tennessee shuffle.Im the MAN:buffing:
 
They are indeed best for wax application only ...
 
Check this thread out...


The Traditional Orbital Buffer aka The Wax Spreader


WaxSpreader02.jpg





:)
 
you will also need to find pads that will fit it. Do they even make 10.5 inch velco pads?

May be useable for hood or trunk but definitely not as ergonomic as a DA. Don't think I'd want to do a roof with it either...
 
^ what should I do with my unit?

since dad gave it to me, I cant just throw it out! :)
 
use it to clean your counter tops or clean your stainless appliances or use it as a back massager? i dunno use creativity i bet you or your wife(if your married) could find a use for it...
 
Cool! I'll try polishing my laptop with it :D

Maybe with some plexus it can be used on tints to remove swirls from them! :)
 
I have a 10" Craftsman polisher similar to the one you posted, and I love it. I will NEVER hand wax a car again. I recently picked up a 6" polisher from Harbor Freight tools for only $15 and an beginning to like this one more than the 10" polisher. I found that the foam applicator bonnets work the best for both polishers.
 
I wouldn't give 2 dollars for it either. In fact, as I stated earlier, I didn't give anything for it ... it was given to me.

I'm also well aware that it isn't good except for large areas. I thought I made reference to that as earlier as well.

This post wasn't about claiming this "wax applicator" ... (as even I referred to it above) ... is as capable as any of the machines posted in the photo above. It certainly isn't and I thought I'd made that very clear, but that wasn't even close to being the point of his thread. (I agree 100% with Mr. Phillips's article ...which I've read several times before and enjoyed it.)

I've used the exact "wax applicator" in the photo above before, and like the one I posted about, neither is really good for what we forum folks like to do with our cars. However, I did find that, at least the particular polisher I tested, was more powerful that the one (In Mr. Phillips photo) I used before which is exactly like the one in Mr. Phillip's article. No where did I claim it would do the job of a GG6, a PC7424xp, or the G110v2, or polisher of the like. I did make a claim that it had at least some cutting power, even more than the one in Mr. Phillip's photo that I've used before, and I provided numbers as proof. I guess that isn't good enough.

With todays economy and some folks lives being what they are in this economy, some folks simply have to be frugal and/or "do the best they can with what they've got, where they are at." I myself am struggling at times to even keep this thing called internet service.

This post was about trying to help some young kid, or even an adult, who may be struggling in this economy, but may be lurking on this site dreaming about a PCxp, or 3401.

This post was about sharing what I'd been given and what I'd briefly tested, out of curiosity, in hopes that it may help someone get out there and do something they may be interested in, or enjoy ... even without the best of tools ... maybe even relieve a little stress from the bad economy blues.

This post is about inspiring people "to do the best they can, with what they've got, where they are at" and at least do something to enjoy their auto's.

If I spend $10 to modify, it'll certainly be more useful than it was and it'll be perfect for my little 5 year old to help his dad without hurting anything.

EDIT:

So much for sharing with folks what I discovered about this "wax applicator" (I too usually refer to them this way because that's usually all they are good for) ... but even when I produce a few numbers, that even surprised me ... it still isn't good enough for some. Oh well! Movin' on.
 
Dont let the other guys get you down. The tool is looked down upon because there others out there like the DA's to do paint correction faster and better but that doesnt mean an orbital is totally useless. I'll tell you what, its way better than using your bare hands.

Bare hands<Orbital<DA<Force Rotation DA's<Rotary.

There are different levels of tools and the industry standard is the PC, Megs G110v2, and Griots. Everything below that is seen as substandard but the will still get the job done.

A little testing/playing around!
 
didn't mean anything by my post only that something that heavy and awkward might cause damage if you tried to use it on a roof for instance -- the fact that you have to push down on it with 2 hands might cause you to lose your balance and bounce the unit off your car...
 
sohail99 said:
^ what should I do with my unit?

since dad gave it to me, I cant just throw it out! :)
Click to expand...

Have it out when Dad comes over and tell him how great it worked and thank him. Then store it away and only drag it out if he asks about it. Tell him you don't want to over use it as it was a gift from him.
 
Lasthope05 said:
Dont let the other guys get you down. The tool is looked down upon because there others out there like the DA's to do paint correction faster and better but that doesnt mean an orbital is totally useless. I'll tell you what, its way better than using your bare hands.

Bare hands<Orbital<DA<Force Rotation DA's<Rotary.

There are different levels of tools and the industry standard is the PC, Megs G110v2, and Griots. Everything below that is seen as substandard but the will still get the job done.

A little testing/playing around!
Click to expand...

I just had to reply to the link above.

That little fella in that picture in the link could pass for my little guy's twin brother. Cute for sure!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!
 
I bought one that's red in color in the 1980's. It's been sitting in my basement since about 1987. I think I'll give it to my son. Seriously, I don't use it because of the expense and hassle of obtaining pads and bonnets for a 10.5" buffer that feels like a jackhammer in my hands when I use it. It seems like a piece of equipment that is past it's time. I'd use it to apply waxes and sealants.
 
sohail99 said:
^ what should I do with my unit?

since dad gave it to me, I cant just throw it out! :)
Click to expand...

The one I had given to me I donated to a church rummage sale. You could do this, or place an ad on Craigslist and see if some sucker...urrrr...potential buyer may be intrested

I'm sure your father was only trying to do the right thing. Craftsman usually puts out a great product, but not this time ;)
 
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