My GG6 did not have a washer between the backing plate that came with the polisher and the attachment nut. Should it have one? When I change to a 5" backing plate should it have a washer?
Yes. Treat the compression washer like gold. Don't lose it.
Keep the little rubber nut to lock it into place when not using that backing plate. It's probably more likely you'll own more backing plates into the future than less likely.
(The proof is you're a member of this forum.
Just sayin...)
I have scads of backing plates in drawer in the studio and it's nice reaching for a backing plate and
having the spacer washer intact with the backing plate.
So don't lose the rubber nut and don't lose the compression washer as it performs multiple functions.
Crushable Interface
The compression washer provides a
crushable or
malleable interface between
two pieces of metal that are going to see a lot of
pressure from being tightened together with a wrench
and my guess is a lot of punishment from the operator. I punish all my tools... so it's not a reach to think others are going to punish their's too. Add to the above mix, the violent oscillating action of the tool on the highest speed setting and add to that
t-i-m-e...
By time, I mean putting your polisher to work buffing out a car
section-by-section,
panel-after-panel. As Pros know and
anyone that wants to get the job in a decent amount of time, when you start buffing out a car you have to keep the tool running and buffing on paint. There's no breaks. That's
time of
endured punishment.
Point being is you
want and need the crushable interface between
two pieces of metal on an electric tool capable of running at high OPMs.
Spacer
They also act as an actual
spacer between the arbor or stud seat where there are the raised heads of a type of rivet or brad that anchors the arbor base to the the backing plate and the threaded portion of the
Free Rotating Spindle Bearing Assembly.
Free Rotating Spindle Bearing Assembly
From the below thread,
5 Inch Backing Plates for DA Polishers - Pictures and Links
Here you can see a compression washer seated at the base or seat of the 5/16" arbor or stud where it's attached into the backing plate surrounded by the raised heads of the rivets or attachment anchors.
So yeah... keep track of both the compression washer and the rubber nut.
:xyxthumbs: