Harbor Freight DA Owners Chime In

TuxedoTaurus

TuxedoTaurus

New member
Joined
May 17, 2014
Messages
554
Reaction score
0
So I am looking for a new DA and see a lot of talk on the HF(chicago electric) DA. I have read all (to my knowledge) the threads on it. I know it has more power than the PCXP but less than the GG6. The price just seems hard to beat, even with mods.

Question:

Will this machine be effective with 6.5" pads?


Yes I have read Mike's thread on maximizing your DA as well, but seems to focus on the lack of power of the PC.
 
The HF da will spin 6.5" pads but struggles with heavy compounds and moderate pressure. (This is also somewhat dependant on what gear grease you use when you mod)I have a GG6 with 6.5" pads for correction work (mf pads mostly) 1 HF da with mods 5.5" and 4" pads for applying aio and glaze/wax, and 1 HF da with mods that has brushes for interiors and tires. The HF should be fine unless you plan on doing heavy correction or using for hours on end. Even with the mods I found it does have more vibration with 6.5" vs 5" pads and after a couple hours your arms and hands will start to tingle. I personally switched to 5" because the larger pads aren't noticeably faster (because it takes more passes with lower pressure to keep the pad spinning) and the smaller pads are cheaper.

Sent from my handy dandy mobile device
 
I have hf da polisher. I haven't done any mods to it besides get a new 5" LC backing plate. Maybe it's just me, but mine does not sound loud at all. The original backing plate seemed straight too. I was surprised because I bought it expecting all these issues.
 
laclair24 said:
I have hf da polisher. I haven't done any mods to it besides get a new 5" LC backing plate. Maybe it's just me, but mine does not sound loud at all. The original backing plate seemed straight too. I was surprised because I bought it expecting all these issues.
Click to expand...

I do know th e QC(quality control) is not the greatest and products are hit in miss as far as that goes.

Thanks for the replies, looking forward to others.
 
I did a few of the mods (5" backing plate, new grease, switched on/off switch to top) and it's worked great. I would definitely suggest getting the backing plate for two reasons; first is that the pads are cheaper, second is that the HF DA has a much easier time keeping the 5.5" pads moving. The other mods make minor improvements but aren't really "game changers".
 
DAs should be used with 5.5 inch pads IMO.

As far as the HF DA, Garry Dean seems to really like it, comments he made about it includes: "It has more power and work better that other DAs and it costs only a fraction of the price".

I don't have one myself so I can't comment personally.
 
I've used my through two seasons so far on my personal vehicles.I like it and am able to get good results. As a hobbiest using it only a couple times a year on a few vehicles, I don't why I would spend the money on a more expensive machine. On sale and with a coupon I think I paid $55.

I did change out the backing plate to 5" and now use 5.5" LC pads. I have noticed it does work a little better with 5.5" pads vs the lousy HF pad you buy in their store.

My HF DA is unmodified and I've had no issues with it so far. It might be a little loud, but I always wear ear plugs when I'm operating machinery, so I don't really notice. Mine runs smoothly and have never had an fatigue issues from the vibrations.
 
I use 5.5" pads on mine.

And no matter what, change out the backing plate!
I bought an Uber vented backing plate :xyxthumbs:
 
I own a PCXP, HF DA, Flex DA & 849X RB.

I still use my PC and Flex more than anything else. Why? Mostly because the HF is uncomfortable to use. It's cheaply made handle is NOT ergonomic and gives no comfortable way to hold it. Also has noticeably more vibration than the PC or Flex and seems a bit louder as well.

Mine currently sits with a 3" BP and a carpet brush and still rarely gets used. Sure it has a larger motor than the PC, but that doesn't necessarily equate to a better user experience.
 
Nicholas@Autowerx said:
I own a PCXP, HF DA, Flex DA & 849X RB.

I still use my PC and Flex more than anything else. Why? Mostly because the HF is uncomfortable to use. It's cheaply made handle is NOT ergonomic and gives no comfortable way to hold it. Also has noticeably more vibration than the PC or Flex and seems a bit louder as well.

Mine currently sits with a 3" BP and a carpet brush and still rarely gets used. Sure it has a larger motor than the PC, but that doesn't necessarily equate to a better user experience.
Click to expand...

I agree with this 100%... the HF is louder and vibrates much more than my Flex and is harder to hold. My hands fatigue faster using it. Last time I was doing some paint correction I went with the Flex instead.
 
The HF DA only vibrates very bad if you run it on speed 6. speed 5 it does good. There return policy is pretty light so jut try it and bring it back if u cant handle it. :xyxthumbs:
 
I bought the HF DA a few years back, when I needed to sand down the paint on a car I was fixing up. It worked good, but vibrated like hell. I had to use gel-gloves to absorb the vibrations. Being a automotive technician by trade, I spend one December taking it apart, and cleaning out the grease. While I was in there, I called my friend who does very high end CNC machining for the oil industry. I have it to him, and he had the gears polished, and made me a piece of solid stainless steel counterweight that was perfectly balanced.

He repacked the grease with APO-1, I slapped on a new backing plate, and man-o-man...this is what a DA should be.

So, while I kinda went out in left field to do the mods on it, it's a great deal. With a little love and self-determination, it can be much more. It corrects good, has decent power, and is only half the cost of a PC.

A defiant "must buy" for anyone wanting a DA polisher.
 
I got one last year, did the grease mod and it quiets it down a lot. I only use 5.5" pads with mine so not sure how 6.5" would work. I used it with Megs UC to polish the wife's Pilot and partially on my little Altima--I have 0 complaints about it at this point
 
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG4r9mqo2M8]How to grease, or regrease, a Harbor Freight Tools 69924 dual action polisher, buffer - YouTube[/video]
 
Thanks for the info, and vid link, I actually have the md thread booked marked. I will pick it up the day after I get back to the states, going to visit some family that are next to a HF. If not my liking will return it for a GG6.
 
TuxedoTaurus said:
Thanks for the info, and vid link, I actually have the md thread booked marked. I will pick it up the day after I get back to the states, going to visit some family that are next to a HF. If not my liking will return it for a GG6.
Click to expand...

it's always good to have a spare DA and you can always delegate it to the 3"-4" pad set-up as well as carpet crush attachment. you can always teach a family member/friend on how to use it as well... :dblthumb2:
 
Sounds good as I have a 3.5"BP and some 4" pads in the cart(waiting to see what the 4th sale will be) to do my fathers two Harley's.
 
Buy the HF, do all the mods,, you will like it! I am pretty darn sure of it. The 5.5 BP is a must, stay away from HF pads except for non auto stuff and stay away form the orange all together.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top