Buffer/Polisher
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Buffer/Polisher
I'm looking for a good rotary (NOT orbital) buffer to work out some paint issues in my Silverado. Anyone have a recommendation on one that has worked reliably for you?
Thanks in advance.
PS I have two orbitals, but need a rotary.
Thanks in advance.
PS I have two orbitals, but need a rotary.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
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From: Plantation Florida USAF(Retired) 1966-1990
U.S. Air Force
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Go to specialist and forum sponsor, called auto geek.
You want the best, they got it.
https://www.autogeek.net
You want the best, they got it.
https://www.autogeek.net
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Go to specialist and forum sponsor, called auto geek.
You want the best, they got it.
https://www.autogeek.net
You want the best, they got it.
https://www.autogeek.net
Still, thank you for the tip.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 53,711
Likes: 5,609
From: Plantation Florida USAF(Retired) 1966-1990
U.S. Air Force
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
https://www.autogeek.net
Team Owner
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I use Lake Country 5.5" CCB pads for compounding and polishing, you could also use Rupes which are great too. For heavy cut, MF pads from Meguiars are a good way to go.
For the rotary, I'd still point to Flex or maybe Rupes, if you can afford it, otherwise Milwaukee.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Le Mans Master
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From: New Jersey
I have both. Nothing cuts like a rotary. That being said that's generally why you never use it on paint unless you have to. The DA will get paint finished 80% of what a straight rotary will with the same effort and time. It will get it 100% with some extra time and not take off anymore than is required to get it the way you want it.
For the most part, the rotary is reserved for gelcoat now. But I did do my truck when it got overspray on it from the body shop that did the bedliner. Sometimes you just have to do a hard correction. But I digress. Both mine are very old and are no longer available. My DA is a porter cable unit from autogeek. I generally reach for the DA now. And as far as 105 and 205, yeah, they're a pretty good standby as far as anything I've had to fix.
For the most part, the rotary is reserved for gelcoat now. But I did do my truck when it got overspray on it from the body shop that did the bedliner. Sometimes you just have to do a hard correction. But I digress. Both mine are very old and are no longer available. My DA is a porter cable unit from autogeek. I generally reach for the DA now. And as far as 105 and 205, yeah, they're a pretty good standby as far as anything I've had to fix.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
I have two orbitals (DA's). One, a Porter-Cable, the other a Ryobi. For the task at hand, I need a rotary. I've done a good amount of body/paint work over the years and have a pretty good idea of what's going on.
Checked the Milwaukee's. They are pricey, especially considering that you have to buy the battery(s) and charger extra!
I am trying to avoid the Harbor Freight/Amazon Chinesium stuff, but.........
Checked the Milwaukee's. They are pricey, especially considering that you have to buy the battery(s) and charger extra!
I am trying to avoid the Harbor Freight/Amazon Chinesium stuff, but.........
Last edited by rocco16; Jun 16, 2021 at 09:40 AM.
Team Owner
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
And as far as 105 and 205, yeah, they're a pretty good standby as far as anything I've had to fix.
Compound or wetsand? dont meant to hijack
worst case I screw it up and respray it myself.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,192
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From: LeClaire Iowa
I am sure not qualified to use a rotary. I was scared of my orbital until I read a post here that said the only way you can hurt your paint with an orbital and polish is to take the orbital and smash it against the car. Since I am retired I look forward to polishing for 3-4 days (not long days) in March or so when it it still too snowy and cold to drive. I am lucky enough to have a nice heated Corvette garage. Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: New Jersey
Have a few fine scratches that almost catch the nail...I was spraying some clear and overspray set up...dummy me took a clay bar to remove it and hood looks like an etch a sketch. Clear was too soft.
Compound or wetsand? dont meant to hijack
worst case I screw it up and respray it myself.
Compound or wetsand? dont meant to hijack
worst case I screw it up and respray it myself.
Sorry for the hijack.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
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From: Ann Arbor Michigan
