Got a cheapo random-orbit buffer, are terry pads okay for polish/wax?

[Raymond]

I ended up buying one of those $20 AutoZone random orbital buffers and they had a few different types of pads to buy along with it. I wanted to get the microfiber ones, but the pads were for 9-10" buffers and I got a 6" one - so I picked up some terry ones instead. They also had wool pads but I figured they would be too harsh on the paint for what I'm doing. I'm not looking for crazy results, mainly just something to cut down on time for applying cleaners, polishes, and waxes as opposed to doing it by hand like I do now.

Thanks in advance.

[Raymond]

Re: Got a cheapo random-orbit buffer, are terry pads okay for polish/wax?

Also, the buffer spins at 2500 RPM, if that matters.

[pwaug]

Re: Got a cheapo random-orbit buffer, are terry pads okay for polish/wax?

From what I've read on this and other forums the terry bonnets would be more aggressive while the MF and Foam would be more for just applying a LSP.

Not many folks have much faith in these units. If you haven't used it yet you may want to take it back and pick up one of these http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...bital+polisher only $5.00 more, 3800 OBM, 1 amp motor and I've read that the backing plate used for the PB 7424 will fit on this unit.

In either case let me know how it works out as I'm considering going this route.

[JohnMcD348]

Re: Got a cheapo random-orbit buffer, are terry pads okay for polish/wax?

I think I saw in last Sunday's sales ads, Sears had the larger 9-10" orbital buffer on sale for about $50. I've used one of these for years and if you take care of it, it'll get the job done. They're not as good as the high end units that cost 3-5 times as much but for home use it'll do pretty well.

[Poki]

Re: Got a cheapo random-orbit buffer, are terry pads okay for polish/wax?

I have gone thru 3 of these Sears 6" units and they are junk. The pads always come apart after some use and Sears has no replacements. Very little pressure is needed to STOP the movement. They are a disposable machine.

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Got a cheapo random-orbit buffer, are terry pads okay for polish/wax?

When I first started "Detailing for Dollars", the guy I worked for used these kind of buffers. They will cut down on work time and should be fine for you. They are not "professional grade". They would last us a few months (maybe 30-40 jobs). he never used his Rotory Buffer, that's when I knew he didn't know what he was doing. The terry cloth is ok. You shouldn't mess anything up.
Rotary buffers are the bomb! They will kick butt over any RO-buffer, so if you wanted to up grade someday, go rotary.

[retrofinisher]

Re: Got a cheapo random-orbit buffer, are terry pads okay for polish/wax?

Aside from repeated durability- here are my tales on the low cost orbitals_

1. underpowered particularly the bigger 10" sizes (.50 Amps) some do not even list motor power!
2. bonnets are cheap quality and hold poorly, expect to spend as much on a good set of bonnets as you did the polisher (I mean "buffer")
3. The smaller 6" machines are better than big ones since the bonnet size is smaller requiring less motor power.
4. orbital eccentric weight size and offset can be two big (more motor drag)

The user should not need to push the polisher down to the paint to hard- let the machine do the work.

If you get one it should have at least .75A motor power and free
speed of around 2500-3000 rpm.

I have a smaller 6" Ryobi I use for small areas and touch up but I threw away the Ryobi bonnets (less than junk) on day one.

Keep in mind that a PC or Meguiar unit is almost half the cost of many rotary's.

The expense of good bonnets and polish over a year or two can be close to the cost of a good orbital or rotary.

my $.02 worth. (pay for the shipping and I'll give you my Ryobi w/o 6" bonnets).