I'm thinking about getting one of those Eastwood Contour surface conditioning tools. The videos and testimonials show an easy to use, almost miraculous bit of kit that looks a little too good to be true, if I'm honest. Before I shell out the bucks, I'd really like to hear from the "boots on the ground" folks out there that have actually used this tool and what their take is on it. What do you guys think of it? Is it really as good as they say? Please comment, share pics, videos... whatever. Happy New Year!!!
I use the hell out of mine. It works great. The drums last longer when you learn the trick of just allowing the tool to do the work. I have had people tell me that the drums don't last, but I managed to strip 2-1/2 cars with a single drum.
This has come up a number of times and the same thing happens every time. Guys that own them seem to love them. Then there will be a bunch of guys saying it's a waste of money that have never used one.
I use it. It’s ok, but doesn’t magically make you a body an or fabricator. I tore up one drum when it snagged on a sharp edge, so I don’t think it’s going to be cheap to run long term. Harbor Freight and Amazon are selling similar drum finishers and consumables for less money now. Have no experience with the alternatives. I got mine at the Iola car show, at the Eastwood booth, for a little cheaper than online. Best part is that I could see and feel it before I took the plunge. Bad part is I had to carry it around all morning.
never used one, I saw them in a commercial or video somewhere. I'm curious about any heat build up. are they like a scotch brite pad sort of material?
I didn’t notice any heat buildup to speak of, and, yes, the drums are a Skotchbrite like abrasive. There are several “grits “ available. It works better for paint removal than for conditioning rusty metal like the 36 Ford hood I was working on last. I never completed that hood… lots of dust. Enough that I decided I should bring it outside, then rain and winter happened. I have to make sure I pick up the most aggressive drum available for that project, if that’s not what I was already using.
There are numerous types of drums: https://www.eastwood.com/tools/power-tools/surface-conditioning-tools.html My aforementioned 2-1/2 car stripping run was on a single $23.99 80 Grit Interleaf Stripping Drum. Why people claim that this is not cost-effective is beyond me. You can generate heat, but that is true only if you just sit there with the tool in one place for a long time. Just don't do that.
looks like a good idea to me. wire drums, flap disc drums even polishing drums. looks like everything you can put on a 4" grinder.
I have the Harbor Freight version of it and it seems to work well and about 1/2 the cost. Kinda odd that it comes with an extra set of motor brushes as part of the package
I have one. Its ok. I have been stripping cars with a da for years, and honestly, I think Im faster with my da.
I bought the HF version; thought it worked pretty fast stripping the paint off a set of fenders. Thing's big like a 7" grinder tho; I think a smaller version about the size of a 4-1/2" angle grinder would be handy too.
When I worked for a local sheet metal shop we had one made by Fein Tool. I believe it was the first tool company to offer a tool like that. Was very expensive but worked awesome. Did a lot of brushed stainless steel, most of the corners had to be welded. After welding and knocking down the weld with a flap wheel, I would use the Fein Tool to "duplicate" the graining in the stainless. After I hit it with the Fein Tool, it looked like a factory molded piece! Was very impressed with it! The drums were kind of a plastic material mixed with a scotchbrite material and abrasive. The consumables were very expensive! Fein had all kinds of sanding attachments for it. I think the whole kit was like $3000!
I bought the HF version while it was on sale and like it so far. Just stripped the front fenders so far...
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