Thoughts on this?

[The01Cav]

What is everyones thoughts on this? I figure for the do it at home person it's not a bad deal.

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-variable-speed-polisher-sander-92623.html

[FastFish71]

Re: Thoughts on this?

Several members own this rotary and seem to be pleased with it. It's a nice price for a beginner... But I would recommend a Meguiars W68 backing plate and soft buff 2.0 foam pads. I own a different machine, but use both the plate and the pads, and have been very pleased.

[Mary S]

Re: Thoughts on this?

I have one. It is nice you can buy it locally and return it if there's a problem with a year warranty. It has a good slow start speed, but it doesn't have the ability to gradually increase the speed to the next level like some models do. It will jump right up to 1200 or whatever that speed I is. Also, no soft start like some models have. It is actually quite light compared to some I believe around 6-1/2 pounds. It will slow down with pressure, which some of the other models have constant speed features to prevent that. But then, the price is good. At the time I bought mine anything more expensive was out of the question.

If you have never used a rotary it is a nice learner model.

[The01Cav]

Re: Thoughts on this?

Cool this will be my first time using one. I am trying to get my car all detailed for a show in Ocean City Maryland next weekend. I am showing my car in their convention center.

[Mary S]

Re: Thoughts on this?

Cool this will be my first time using one. I am trying to get my car all detailed for a show in Ocean City Maryland next weekend. I am showing my car in their convention center.

Beware it is easy to do damage with any rotary, especially if you aren't trained or used to using one. For the time frame you are looking at to do a whole car in a week, it would be much safer to use a dual action variable speed polisher like the Porter Cable 7434 or the Meguiars G110V2. It is hard to make a mistake and burn the paint, or cause holograms, with that kind of machine, much more forgiving for beginners.

I have only used my rotary so far for practice on a junk hood.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Thoughts on this?

A pretty good machine for a weekend warrior.

However, I strongly urge you to go to you local junk yard and get a practice panel. Very easy to do severe damage to your paint. Use the practice panel and you will see what I mean.

[The01Cav]

Re: Thoughts on this?

I was going to use it with meguiars #7 show car glaze at the slowest speed. Then apply Gold Class wax by hand afterwards.

[FastFish71]

Re: Thoughts on this?

I was going to use it with meguiars #7 show car glaze at the slowest speed. Then apply Gold Class wax by hand afterwards.

#7 Isn't meant for a rotary application. If that's what you're looking to use, I would recommend a DA, which is meant more for the consumer line of products. A DA is a great starting machine and can also offer a considerable amount of correction to paint finishes...

[Mary S]

Re: Thoughts on this?

I was going to use it with meguiars #7 show car glaze at the slowest speed. Then apply Gold Class wax by hand afterwards.

For that application, honestly, I would do it by hand. Also, an inexpensive random orbital buffer would work if you have one of those.

But using the Chicago Electric at min speed would work, even using the backing plate and pads and bonnets that come with it.

I don't regret buying mine for practice and testing on a junk hood, and I feel confident enough to use it on a car after practicing, but there are some tips for learning the rotary that you should follow. You can probably just do a search on MOL for pointers, or go to autogeek.net and properautocare.com and even google.

A 5-part video on wet sanding and rotary use

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f8EQNVxxbw

You should learn how to pick up a bead of product, by going right to left over a horizontal line of product at the 10 o'clock position and slightly raising the left side of the pad. And also keep the pad flat on the surface and keep it moving. You need to be cautious around the edges and high points in the contours of the car because paint can be thinner there.

But for applying glaze at 200-300 rpm, I don't think you are at much risk. The important thing is, don't let the product dry. Apply to a small maybe 2 ft x 2 ft area and work the product in, then immediately wipe it off without letting it dry, then go to the next section. Again, not something you couldn't do pretty easily by hand, and depending on the contours of your car, it might actually be easier by hand.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Thoughts on this?

#7 Isn't meant for a rotary application.

For that application, honestly, I would do it by hand.

As noted above.

You'll probably be happier applying M07 by hand or with a D/A. M07 does not require a real elbow grease kind of application so you won't be taxing yourself either applying or removing it. And since it's not really supposed to be applied with a rotary anyway, stick with hand application.