Random Orbital Polisher/Waxer prefererence?

[Wacko]

For those of you that use random orbital polishers, which brand model do you prefer and why?

I'm thinking about one that Griot's Garage sells as well as the traditional Porter Cable one. Any others I should consider?

I currently have a Waxmaster WB9000 which is OK but it is neither easy to handle nor variable speed.

[Aurora40]

Porter Cable is the bang-for-the-buck by far. You can get them for $90 or less shopping at Lowe's on sale, coupon, etc.

I've read plus and minus reviews of Griots. It's a lot more money for something that works about as quickly, though.

The Cyclo is, IMO, the Cadillac of orbital polishers. I love mine. But it is pricey, about double the cost of a Porter Cable.

I'll write more later, very busy at work...

[Wacko]

There is also this one that Griot's puts their name on. It has a different handle and different specs from the Porter-Cable.

* Powerful 750W Motor
* Variable Speed Control
* Egronomic Design
* Soft-Start, Constant Speed
* 4000 - 7000 Orbits/Minute
* Flexible 6 1/2 Ft. Power Cord

www.griotsgarage.com/search.jsp?searchtext=10925

[Aurora40]

Yes, it has a smaller offset but higher speeds than the Porter Cable. I suspect it won't do as much work as the Porter Cable. Also, if you plan to use it to apply a wax, being able to set it to about 3,000 OPM would be nice. Some waxes will dry out sort of quick when at higher speeds.

You can tell that tool was designed as a sander (as was the Porter Cable) by the dust collector.

FYI, DeWalt also sells a random orbital that has a similar offset to the PC, but higher speeds and more wattage. I've heard nothing but good things about it.

I think bang for the buck, though, get the Porter Cable. What is it you plan to use it for?

[Wacko]

Thanks for the reply, Bob. By offset you are talking about the distance from the rotating axis that the pad varies, correct. I infer from that, that the greater the offset, the more polishing/buffing action that is created.

Now that I have three cars and a 41 year old body, polishing and waxing by hand is looking less desirable.

Plus, my mom has a 2001 740iL that has an intimidating hood to do by hand. Her car has maybe 11K miles but the paint rarely gets the attention it needs. So, I'm thinking I have to go 'yard' with her car. (Strip any wax, maybe clay it, polish and wax it.)

The Aurora paint is swirl and scratch city. I'm not looking to make it into a show car but I would like to improve upon the appearance if possible. Dark blue, like black, is nasty if you are not careful with the paint. And the previous owners must have used a broom to wash this car.

I've never used a machine on my 325i or my wife's RAV4 so I want to make sure I get a good appliance and good technique.

My intentions are to apply polish and wax on all the cars. With the Aurora, some finish 'repair' is necessary to cut the swirls and minor scratches. Also, I may do some sanding of exterior trim of my house in preparation for repainting. If I can get one tool for 2 jobs, that would be a bonus.

I've read that 'purists' claim you really can't repair the finish with a random orbital machine as you can with a true circular device. They say the heat is necessary to 'blend' the paint, if I can use such a word.

I realize that the orbital machines don't leave swirl marks and the circular ones can easily if you don't use it right. I've read that the orbital ones are safe because they really don't do much work on the paint, repairwise. What is your opinion on this?

[Aurora40]

Catalyzed paints don't re-liquify under heat, so heat won't blend modern paint. Really it will just ruin the paint. You try to avoid heat when using the rotary, though some degree of it is inevitable if you are doing significant correction.

More than a technical argument, though, there are many people who have corrected defects with an orbital, myself included. That said, the range of correction an orbital can do is less than a rotary. This also makes it safer, though not foolproof. They certainly can leave swirls and hazing if you get too aggressive, and they don't tend to break polishes down as well as a rotary will.

A lot of pros will use an orbital after the rotary to get that last bit of perfection out of the finish.

If you goal is mainly to make life easier, though, I'd suggest you take a look at the Cyclo. It is easier to use because the dual heads counteract each others vibration. A PC is jiggly, this bothers some people, while others hardly notice it. The Cyclo will also work faster due to the wider path it sweeps out. Though this also makes it harder to use in tight areas.

Both can be used as a sander, though I'm not sure I'd want to use it on a car once it's gotten sanding dust all in it.

The PC is the safest bet though, many people have it, many people like it, many people sell pads and such for it. And many products have instructions on them for use with it. If you were closer, you could stop by and try them out to see how you like them.

[Wacko]

Good advice, Bob. I was messing around with my Waxmaster today. This one retails for like $50 or $60 and does 3100 OPM. It did an OK job. With a 9" pad it covers a lot of area quickly but it's not very balanced. I don't like the one-speed thing.

Does the PC allow you to vary the speed as you go?

[Aurora40]

Yeah, the PC is variable speed. The Cyclo is not. A Cyclo runs about 3,500 OPM, but it will do way more work than your Waxmaster. The rated amps of the motor matters, just like with any power tools. Those bonnet type things have very little power and bog down very easily.

[BNICOV]

I've got a Dewalt random orbit sander, I never in a million years thought I could use it for waxing the cars.......hmmmmm........I'll have to see about getting the right attachments and trying it out on the wife's Honda.........(my baby isn't a guinea pig).

[Aurora40]

is it one of those little kind that fit in your hand? If so, they are much too fast for that. It should be a right-angle orbital polisher with around 4,000-7,000 OPM max.

[BNICOV]

WHEWWW!!! Good thing you told me that, thank god I did not try it out.

[Wacko]

My BMW dealer had a "service clinic" to promote different services that they offer. It's like a mini trade show with different vendors. You can talk to them and ask questions that they might not normally have the inclination to address.

Anyway, one vendor was a detailer and he was demonstrating how they "repair" paint that has been etched by bird droppings or what not. He took some 2000 grit sandpaper and wet sanded the area lightly. He then took a mild polish (or compound, not sure which) and a PC (not sure if it was rotary or orbital) and worked the area for maybe 20 seconds. It looked awesome. It was like crap before. And it was black paint. Maybe this is old hat to many but I thought it was magic.

[Aurora40]

I would not expect a PC to take out sanding marks. Could be the paint is soft enough, or the product had a lot of fillers temporarily masking it. In general a PC won't work well for that though.

Uniform grit sandpaper will sure help, though.

BNICOV, those little "mouse" kind of sanders are usually in the 10,000 OPM range I believe.

[Wacko]

It was definitely a Porter Cable. You're saying it was not an orbital but rather a rotary.

[Aurora40]

I'm saying that isn't the norm. Don't expect to remove sanding marks with an orbital.

[Wacko]

aurora40 said:

I'm saying that isn't the norm. Don't expect to remove sanding marks with an orbital.

That's what I'm learning. That the benefit an orbital provides in not creating swirl marks also prevents it from repairing paint damage such as surface scratches or etching.

A rotary can repair defects but it also allows you to damage the paint if you do not know what you are doing.

[flintoid]

aurora40 said:

is it one of those little kind that fit in your hand? If so, they are much too fast for that. It should be a right-angle orbital polisher with around 4,000-7,000 OPM max.

LOL I guess I'll not bother with the pneumatic one I have here . . .

UPDATE: Found a craftsman 6 inch random orbital buffer @ Sears for $20 on sale. Works for my needs, mainly at spreading the stuff out nice and thin. Was able to pull off the wax with a microfiber without much elbow grease for a change. Now that I've practiced on my wife's car, I'm using it on the Rora.