Good electric buffer?

Replacing a lot of vinyl graphics on our fleet at work, most of the old stuff is many years old and the paint has oxidized and faded around the vinyl. I want to buff out the area a bit around it before re-lettering. What are some good brands of hand held electric buffers out there and compounds?

 

...and input on wool vs. foam pads?

 

I'm a fan of the fom pads... They work great!.. Mcguiers(sp) is my choice of compounds. Any buffer will do. Makita is a good start

 

pic a buffer that is light weight thay get heavy after a while. i use some stuff called one-step as a compound than an duel action orbital polisher with some wax. done

 

I love my DeWalt variable speed. I use the wool pad first then switch to white foam then finish with blue foam pads. I like the ICE liquid compound but there are lots of choices depending on the desired finish.

 

I got a mikita and love it.

I prefer wool pads though. Maybe if I got used to a foam pad I would like them better.

 

Makita variable speed is the ticket. I'd use wool in your application- more aggressive w/ correct compounds. I use foam waffle for polish on finish paint.

 

I bought pads, etc for my Porter Cable 6" DA sander and it works great. Variable speed, etc and you can use it for sanding when not polishing.

I couldn't justify buying a dedicated polisher for as much as I would need it.

 

I second the Makita, especially like the feature where it slowly increases RPM when powering up. I use both foam and wool pads...I prefer the wool because I have been using them for over 40 years now. Wool can kick your butt if you are not careful but they work fast and clean when handled properly.

 

If you aren't planning on buffing a lot more, get a Harbor Freight, I have one and it work fine. Make sure which ever one you get is a variable speed. Wool pads are good for buffing fine scratches, or shining up the paint like you want. Foam pads are for final glazing and swirl removing. Also, the foam pads heat up a lot quicker, so you can burn factory finished a lot faster/easier.

 

Buy one that is first; light, variable speed and a long cord. I'd use a foam pad the wool pad may be too agressive on the old paint, use a white pad with 3M perfect-it II and then the black pad with a swirl remover then hand glaze it, it'll shine then.

 

Thanks everyone. Goodn input. THATS what the HAMB is about...

 

Wowcars your in St. Paul and your asking about Compound. For you there is only 1 choice 3M !!!!! They also recently introduced a very nice polisher. Wool pads to cut, foam to polish. Go to www.3mcollision.com for all kinds of information

 

We use DeWalt and Makita here in our testing and have had very good luck with both. As you might imagine we buff a ton. See sig for compounds, etc.

 

i have dewalt and just got a dyna bride.
both as mentioned before variable speed, that's the ticket, with cruise of throttle lock

 

we use the Harbor Freight model. But be certain to buy the extended warranty. it is cheap and well worth it when they crap out.

 

I had a buffer once.......

.......I found out that you can't polish a turd, but it never hurts to give one a coat of wax just in case !!!!

 

I've got a Makita...actually two, one of them is brand new, never used, would like to sell, don't know what it's worth?

 

We have both the Makita and Dewalt.

The Makita is much lighter, especially nice when you have been slinging it around for 4-5 hours....