Which is the best rotary buffer?

[Jeff Brown]

Re: Which is the best rotary buffer?

Having rotary polished for 20 years and used virtually every tool on the market, my current rotary of choice is the FLEX L3403 VRG Lightweight Circular Polisher . Although the tool gets hotter than heck....~190F at the head of the tool!!!!!
Instant on power
Smooth
Quiet relative to Dewalt
Plenty of torque....enough to drive a W5000 Professional Double Sided Wool Pad
Lightweight- only 4.8 lbs!!!compared to 8.25lbs of Dewalt
Compact and easy to control

Aside from the old original Dynabrade- since discontinued....this is all I use. Recently sanded and polished a Monte Carlo- BIG CAR and a 56 Chevy-BIG CAR, the Flex was used exclusively aside from the CP Mini Polisher when cutting in the dash and tight areas.

[Alexandre]

Re: Which is the best rotary buffer?

Is Black & Decker Rotary Buffer any good?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Which is the best rotary buffer?

If you're referring to the Black & Decker WP107B then yes, it should be a decent tool. Just try to confirm that it has the 5/8" arbor on it so you can mount a proper hook & loop backing plate to it and you should be good to go.

[Alexandre]

Re: Which is the best rotary buffer?

If you're referring to the Black & Decker WP107B then yes, it should be a decent tool. Just try to confirm that it has the 5/8" arbor on it so you can mount a proper hook & loop backing plate to it and you should be good to go.

No, it is the WP1300K, is it still good? this is it:

http://www.bdferramentas.com.br/prod/cata/listProdDeta.asp?prodId=WP1300K

I am asking because it is half the price of the Dewalt DW849

http://www.dewalt.com.br/products/prod/listProdDeta.asp?prodId=DW849

I am thinking about getting a Rotary Buffer and a hood to play with! I need to get experience so I may better understand this amazing tool. Is it very noisy? Also, no sign of my G110v2. The distributor said it ' d try to get me one in the importer but still nothing (maybe I should have kept the G110).

Whatever.

Do you think I am going to deep into this hobby? I mean, Rotary Buffer would not be very useful since I am not a professional, but, I don' t know why I feel curious about learning all about detail. It is so nice and gratifying to see the before and after of a car.

I bet you feel like Dr. Hollywood of cars! eh?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Which is the best rotary buffer?

No, it is the WP1300K, is it still good? this is it:

http://www.bdferramentas.com.br/prod...prodId=WP1300K

That tool looks to be perfectly fine.

I am thinking about getting a Rotary Buffer and a hood to play with! I need to get experience so I may better understand this amazing tool. Is it very noisy? Also, no sign of my G110v2. The distributor said it ' d try to get me one in the importer but still nothing (maybe I should have kept the G110).

Whatever.

Do you think I am going to deep into this hobby? I mean, Rotary Buffer would not be very useful since I am not a professional, but, I don' t know why I feel curious about learning all about detail. It is so nice and gratifying to see the before and after of a car.

Getting too deep into the hobby? Is there such a thing? If this is something you love doing, are interested in, and have the time and money to support your passion, then go for it! You've been asking a ton of questions, and making a lot of progress - we think that's great! Your plan to pick up a used hood to practice on is the smart way to go. Who knows, you could turn this into a real business, or at least a hobby that pays for itself by doing some work for a fee every now and then.

[Alexandre]

Re: Which is the best rotary buffer?

My own business? I' d like that, maybe I could start by doing this, making it "a hobby that pays for itself", this would be a great start, but how do I know when I am read to take other people's cars to work with? I' d like to give people the best possible results, but as a consequence of not having that much experience, I get a little scared. Also, how much do I charge for a service? How much do you charge for a "simple" detail that includes: Wash, clay, Cleaner Wax, and NXT 2.0?

Oh, changing the subject. Today dad got his new car. Guess what, Michael? There is a hell lot of swirls all over the paint and a few, very few buffer holograms. It is amazing how most of the professionals here in Brazil don' t know anything about what they are doing for living. Whatever. Dad wants me to do a complete detail for him, he trusts me now, after he saw what I did with my civic last week.

My third subject: Is the G110v2 much better than the G110?

[the other pc]

Re: Which is the best rotary buffer?

I've only used my Metabo, but there was a time when that was considered top of the line. Nobody seems to be selling them anymore, so the issue may be moot. Another name to throw out is Festool. Not common either, though.

The Metabo is still a readily available and highly regarded tool.

But it is a bit pricey and not everybody's willing to pay the extra for the light weight. It also lacks a trigger speed control, which a lot of people want.

Festool doesn't sell a rotary buffer in the US. I wish they would. They're rotary looks way cool.


pc.

[beautechnique-scott]

Re: Which is the best rotary buffer?

I use both a flex L1503VR Variable Speed and milwaukie, both excellent machines.
The flex gives that better workability for awkward areas and the milwaukie is so well built and excellent torque from the motor.

[DetailFreak517]

Re: Which is the best rotary buffer?

I've only used my Metabo, but there was a time when that was considered top of the line. Nobody seems to be selling them anymore, so the issue may be moot. Another name to throw out is Festool. Not common either, though.

I think the Flex 3403 is kind of the current equivalent of the Metabo rotary.... lightweight, somewhat different grip style, plenty of power, etc.

Plus being a smaller form factor tool, it can better get into tight spots where the larger bodied rotaries can't.

[Final Touch]

Re: Which is the best rotary buffer?

I like Makita's but IME they're not that strong, especially if I'm using a wool pad a lot. They tend to just heat up and wear out. They would be my rotary of choice but I can't use one all of the time.
I usually use a Rupes LH32, they make a bit more noise and they don't have the same top speed (we're not grinding anyway eh!!) plus they weigh a bit more but you get used to that. They're a good strong tool with a great lifespan. They're Italian so they're not inexpensive but they're not ridiculous compared to the Makitas either.
Amongst out team we tend to find there's a pretty even spread of guys who prefer either of the two. The guys who work on the heavily damaged ex lease vehicles especially seem to prefer the Rupes.

Festool's are good but expensive to repair, I also don't like the feature that they have where they just stop working when their brushes get low. Not helpful at all when you're in the middle of a job and might not have a spare set on board. There is just no warning signs.
A guy I know uses an Hitachi and he loves it.
I hated the DeWalt I had. We keep it as a spare now and no-one ever uses it. It was horribly noisy (had this high pitched whine that would pierce doubled up sets of earplugs and drive our customers crazy) and the variable speed is knotchy and awkward as is the trigger motion. Maybe we just had a bad one? or we've been spoiled by the Makita's and Rupes.
Flex is available here but they were so expensive I couldn't bring myself to try one.

[DETAIL DAN]

Re: Which is the best rotary buffer?

I have the milwaukie and for the last 12yrs its just been bullit proof , it has to be around 9lbs , but you get great forearms using it ..... Lol

[nicknameless]

Re: Which is the best rotary buffer?

I use a Festool rotary, the SHINEX RAP 150 FE.

Me like it al lot



Specs:

Power : 1200 W
Speed : 400-2100 min-1
Pad : Ø max. 150 mm M14
Weight : 2,1 kg

I've payed €474,94 euros, it's about $605,86 US dollar