Cheap random orbital polisher

[J-MAN]

I was reading over on the Autopia detailing web site that many posters have bought a DA polisher from Harbor Freight. It seems from the posts that it gets fairly high marks with the exception of the 6" backing plate that is included with the polisher. Most recommend replacing it with a 5" backing plate and using 5 1/2" pads. The lowest price I saw was where it was on sale and a 20% off coupon was used getting the price below $50.00. So for that cost and adding a quality 5" backing plate and some 5 1/2" pads along with Optimum polishes you could get in the game for around $100.00 or so if you watch for the sales. Some also bought a two year extended warranty for $10.00. With the Harbor Freight warranty you just return it to the store for a replacement.

If you do all your work by hand and would like to step up your game this is a cheap way to do so.

[fastblackmerc]

I was reading over on the Autopia detailing web site that many posters have bought a DA polisher from Harbor Freight. It seems from the posts that it gets fairly high marks with the exception of the 6" backing plate that is included with the polisher. Most recommend replacing it with a 5" backing plate and using 5 1/2" pads. The lowest price I saw was where it was on sale and a 20% off coupon was used getting the price below $50.00. So for that cost and adding a quality 5" backing plate and some 5 1/2" pads along with Optimum polishes you could get in the game for around $100.00 or so if you watch for the sales. Some also bought a two year extended warranty for $10.00. With the Harbor Freight warranty you just return it to the store for a replacement.

If you do all your work by hand and would like to step up your game this is a cheap way to do so.

I'd get a Porter Cable polisher. If you will using it a lot get a good quality tool. You can score them for less than $150.00. A tool that will last for a long time. There are some on eBay right now.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=porter+cable+orbital+poli sher&_sop=15

I have tools from Harbor Freight. Not bad if your only going to use them a few times a year.

[loud2004marquis]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_137715-70-7346SP_0__?zipCode=48026&masthead=true&firstReferURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .lowes.com%2Fpd_137715-70-7346SP_0__%3FproductId%3D32800 62%26Ntt%3Dporter%2Bcable%2Bpo lisher%26pl%3D1%26currentURL%3 D%253FNtt%253Dporter%252Bcable %252Bpolisher%26facetInfo%3D&catalogId=10051&catalogId=10051&productId=3280062&pl=1&findStoreErrorURL=StoreLocator DisplayView&selectedLocalStoreBeanArray=%5 Bcom.lowes.commerce.storelocat or.beans.LocatorStoreBean%405e da5eda%2C+com.lowes.commerce.s torelocator.beans.LocatorStore Bean%4061766176%2C+com.lowes.c ommerce.storelocator.beans.Loc atorStoreBean%4064126412%2C+co m.lowes.commerce.storelocator. beans.LocatorStoreBean%4066ae6 6ae%2C+com.lowes.commerce.stor elocator.beans.LocatorStoreBea n%40694a694a%5D&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dporter%2Bc able%2Bpolisher&Ntt=porter+cable+polisher&langId=-1&langId=-1&URL=TopCategoriesDisplayView&mastheadURL=TopCategoriesDispl ayView&storeId=10151&storeId=10151

I picked this up last year for the same place/price and still haven't used it. Doesn't seem like a bad price for a highly respected name, it's new and in stock locally. I try to avoid the risk/price of getting stuff shipped if I can.

I've noticed Harbor Freight's extensive line of pads and supplies for polishers. Hopefully they're pretty universal as they seem they are.

Can't wait to use it plenty this year!

[J-MAN]

I'd get a Porter Cable polisher. If you will using it a lot get a good quality tool. You can score them for less than $150.00. A tool that will last for a long time. There are some on eBay right now.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=porter+cable+orbital+poli sher&_sop=15

I have tools from Harbor Freight. Not bad if your only going to use them a few times a year.

Porter Cable is a good polisher, just a little on the weak side. I've got one myself among my seven polishers.

[fastblackmerc]

Porter Cable is a good polisher, just a little on the weak side. I've got one myself among my seven polishers.

What is "weak" about it?

Mine works well.

[J-MAN]

What is "weak" about it?

Mine works well.

Didn't say they don't work well, a PC was my first polisher. Currently mine is relegated to applying wax and using to clean some leather and carpeting with a brush attachment. It's one of the older models and not the XP. For polishing I prefer one of my Griots Garage or a FLEX DA polisher. Since I got the FLEX I only use a rotary on headlight restoration.Their just more powerful machines, kinda like why some prefer adding a supercharger to their Marauder. Oh, I got one of those too! :D

Not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers, my original post was meant for those who still try to polish by hand and was offering up where they could, with a sale or coupon, get into machine polishing for about $50.00 plus a quality backing plate and pads. If I was going to spend about $150.00, I would be looking at a Griots Garage or Maguires RO polisher. Walking around MVX I saw many cars that would benefit from ANY RO polisher.

[ctrlraven]

I get all my stuff from Autogeek

http://www.autogeek.net/po.html

They sell the Porter Cable with different pad and polishes in different combo packs.

[Accumulator]

One thing to watch out for on the PC XP models is the shaft that the backing plate attaches to. It's hollow, and in a few cases it's fractured, leaving a sharp metal "tube" that could really do some damage (also results in the backing plate/pad flying off with a jagged piece of metal sticking out of its back side).

Fortunately, it doesn't happen very often. Happened to a pal of mine though and that was enough for me.

PC fixed it for free and luckily it didn't do any damage.

Yeah, the new PC XP is a lot more powerful than the older ones (doesn't bog down or lose rotation as readily under applied pressure) and if somebody likes it better than the Griot's unit or the Meguiar's or the Harbor Freight or the [whatever], well, OK.

[Vortech347]

A friend let me use his PC XP with the Adams system on our Cobra last year and the results were amazing. I would love to get one for the MM. It needs love bad. There is only so much you can do by hand.

[J-MAN]

"Find something you like and use it often"

[RacerX]

"find something you like and use it often"
Twss!!! :D