DA polisher recommendations

[ramonesfreak]

never owned one. any suggestions in the $200 range?

i’m thinking maybe the Griot's Garage 10813STDCRD 6" Dual Action

[herr_oberst]

This is the one I have. It works pretty well, and I'm pretty sure the Griots pads will interchange.

[Por_sha911]

IIRC, I looked at Griots years ago and found their polishers would only take their pads.

[WPOZZZ]

I have 2 Porter Cables and one is over 15 years old and still kicking. I bought a no name DA off Amazon on Prime Day and it works great, too.

https://www.amazon.com/Polisher-Variable-Detachable-Polishing-CHANTPOWER/dp/B07ZTGLG4P/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=chantpower+buffer&qid=1620526218&sr=8-1

[mattdavis11]

I heard a good way is to make a cash payment, campaign contribution are frowned on in NY

I had a Milwaukee with 3M attachments. Variable speed, can also be used for other projects. It was basically an angle grinder.

My brother borrowed it and never gave it back, although I did tell him I was pissed, he won't give it back.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

I heard a good way is to make a cash payment, campaign contribution are frowned on in NY

I had a Milwaukee with 3M attachments. Variable speed, can also be used for other projects. It was basically an angle grinder.

My brother borrowed it and never gave it back, although I did tell him I was pissed, he won't give it back.

One of my friends borrowed my Craftsman compound miter saw many years ago. Same fate as your Milwaukee.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Another PC owner here, it’s at least 10 years old and still going strong. Using it tomorrow to polish my boat in fact. I bought pads from Autogeek.

[Bill Douglas]

I bought a cheap (shop's own brand Supercheapauto - Rockwell) polisher and it's brilliant.

I bought a few pads and very good quality coarse and also fine cutting compounds. I'm getting some really good results..

In doing research I found lots of 3M stuff. Both their polisher and their polishing system. My cheaper system is working very well for me.

I wet sand 1,000 grit paper, then 1,500 paper, then coarse cut then fine cut.

[look 171]

We have a couple of PC and an old Bosch at the shop. All are still kicking and doing well. I want a cordless Milwaukee polisher. Not the high speed grinder, but the lower speed polisher.

[speeder]

Porter Cable. Choice of the pros.

[WPOZZZ]

I thought the pros used Rupes and Flex?

[cabmandone]

I'm in the market for one myself. I'm looking for something with a soft start feature.

[cabmandone]

Most of the bodywork and detailing guys I know use a rotary polisher. I have a Dewalt rotary with soft start. I'm looking for the random orbital for my son because I don't want him burning through the paint and the random orbitals reduce the chances of burning.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I'm in the market for one myself. I'm looking for something with a soft start feature.

Nick, the one that Ramones is looking at (Griot's Garage 10813STDCRD 6" Dual Action) I think it's the same as mine. Mass produced in China and the retailers put their own sticker on them. It is random orbital and has the soft start feature. Mine has a Velcro sort of pad attachment, so any ole pad can fit. I think mine is something like 180mm pad size.

[cabmandone]

My son and I have been kicking around the one from Griots and the TorqX. I haven't read that either has soft start where you could be operating the tool at speed setting 5 (for example), let off the trigger, pull the trigger and the tool slowly ramps up to speed rather than having to dial the speed back down to restart.

[Bill Douglas]

Oh. Mine is pretty simple and cheap. The instruction's kept on and on about putting the compound on. Put the polisher on the surface, then switch on. And it does do the soft start.

I use the soft start to spread the cutting compound around.

[berettafan]

I’m new to this but in the past two years my wife and I have acquired two vehicles with Toyota non metallic single stage paint and I felt forced to learn a bit. After much reading I spent a few $$ with griots and got their regular sized and small sized polishers. Just used the small yesterday to get a dark mark in a ding out of my wife’s truck.

They are shaped nice, variable speed and the triggers are progressive (am I saying that right?). Very happy with my purchase. Best part is the removable cords with click in feature. Just a well thought out tool.

Edit: just checked and I have the G9 and G8 polishers and the perfection and correction creams. Stuck with griots for the pads as well.

[Cooper911SC]

Hello friends, something I can help with.

I’m a “pro” and here’s my current line up.


The Rupes 21 is my bread and butter. Both the Rupes and Flex RO polishers are used/preferred by pros. They offer a blend of high torque and RO to cut quickly but not leave behind swirls. It’s slightly slower than a direct drive machine, but offers much more control.

I use the Rupes 21 and Griots 3” machine almost daily.

The next machine in my pic. is the last generation (2019ish) Griots 6” RO polisher. I used one of these professionally for over a decade for finish polishing work. At that time it was a rebranded Porter Cable.

Finally is the good old direct drive Porter Cable buffer. Heavy and ready to cut heavy oxidation FAST! I rarely use it now unless I’m cutting on extreme heavy oxidation or gel coated fiberglass. This machine has had one rebuild in 20+ years! (It’s also the machine DIYers should FEAR, or at least be pretty careful with. Sucker cuts quick)

To Ramonesfreak’s question, I would steer you to the Griot’s G9 polisher. It’s DIY user friendly. It will cut light “spider web” toweling scratches and halos easily. It will also handle moderate fingernail and “use” scratches.
The backing plate will accept any 5.5” or 6” Velcro backed polishing pad. Whether Griots or a generic.

My go to for general moderate/severe polishing is a foam backed microfiber pad. Cutting is controlled but fairly quick. I use Griots BOSS system of polishes as well as 3M and some boutique brands depending on what I’m working on.

The Griots G15 and G21 are rebranded Rupes machines as far as I can tell. Perhaps some tweaked internals or different cord options?
Undoubtedly robust polishers.
Not really necessary for DIY detailing though.

As others have said here, Porter Cable or other RO polishers are a great option!

Pad and polish selection can also make a difference in your speed and overall results.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I would find a lightly used Rupes vs. new most anything else.

[ramonesfreak]

thanks!

usually when i buy things, i try to buy the best or something known to last a long time. here, i think what i’m looking for is a polisher that doesn’t depend on my skill level to keep from ruining my paint, is comfortable in hand, light weight, and doesn’t require specific pads

i’ll probably only use this a few times per year so i don’t think durability will be an issue

i’ll digest all the above and try to narrow it down