So I got a 6" craftsman sander/polisher for Christmas. 6" Sander/Polisher

Do I keep it or trade it up for a Porter?

I realize the main differece is the fact that the craftsman is no a random orbit but a pure circular motion.

Is this going to cause me big headaches or can I learn to use it?

Thanks for the feedback. I've read a lot about the random orbitals but don't see a lot about these.

 

I would trade up...you could burn the paint with that thing. Would make a great sander though

 

i would trade for porter cable. some ppl know how to finish with rotary, but its hell lot easier to do correction with porter cable and finishes better from my experience. does take longer but with size of your car it should be too long to do it

 

This makes me want to learn to use it...

http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polis...ss-testing.html

Anybody have any real experience using different machines care to comment?

 

Go with the PC its very user friendly and will handle just about anything with the right pad/polish combo.

 

Note that that sander/polisher has only two speeds. (1400 / 1650 rpm) That could be dangerous in inexperienced hands, and would limit its usefulness in skilled hands.

For comparison, the Makita 9227C (a common polisher for paint correction) has variable speeds from 600 to 3,000 rpm.

 

Flex 6" Variable Speed Orbital Polisher XC3401VRG - great polisher. It is better than the porters.

 

better is very arguable word in this situation.
here is why.
flex cant get into tight areas, you cant put 2 or 4" backing plates and work comfortably in small areas, its twice or even 3 times the price of porter cable.
flex is faster and forced rotation, good for high volume jobs to get job done faster, if you not doing that then no point of getting it for car such as s2k which is very small. its also easier to burn paint with flex if you dont know what you doing.
in end i would say i would get one if i could becouse we do a lot of cars and would be nice to have something faster then 7424xp. but i would not get just flex, xp is needed as well.
if you can get only one polisher then i would get 7424xp

Mikhael

 

rotary buffers are what the pros use, DA buffer is for everybody.

 

I started my hobby doing details by HAND... talk about a TON of work... upgraded with a 7424XP and it made a world of difference... Just started late last summer a detailing gig with a friend and we saved enough to pick up a FLEX... and it was worth every cent we paid... That being said we still use the 7424XP to do small areas and finish work. The flex is to big/powerful to really do a nice job in tighter areas, but makes 1st and 2nd pass work a breeze.

Stay away from a rotary if you can, they take a lot of experience, and I have corrected 3 or 4 cars now that went to a "experienced" detailer who used a rotary and left horrible buffer trails all over the car...

PC may take a bit longer but a safer tool. Compounds are just as important and I would recommend going with the Menzerna line, bit pricy but very very nice to work with.