Where do you buy a buffer quick in Portland, Maine?

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Roger Long

Roger Long

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Nov 22, 2008
3,562
Endeavour 32 Portland, Maine
I went into a couple of stores and got blank looks and can't turn up a Makita dealer with Google.

I'm racing for a May 6 launch date because the next available slot is mid June. I was going to bite the bullet and have the yard do the buffing so I could work on other things but they won't do less than the whole nine yards at the standard fixed price for which I could buy a new dinghy,(if I could afford it). Now that I'm in a yard, I can't bring in someone to do it more reasonably. If I don't find a buffer by mid day tomorrow (May 28), I'm probably going to miss a month of sailing unless I just throw the boat in as she is. I did that last year and it shows.

I'm off to the mall to see what I can turn up and posting this just in case I come up empty handed.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Roger Long said:
I went into a couple of stores and got blank looks and can't turn up a Makita dealer with Google.

I'm racing for a May 6 launch date because the next available slot is mid June. I was going to bite the bullet and have the yard do the buffing so I could work on other things but they won't do less than the whole nine yards at the standard fixed price for which I could buy a new dinghy,(if I could afford it). Now that I'm in a yard, I can't bring in someone to do it more reasonably. If I don't find a buffer by mid day tomorrow (May 28), I'm probably going to miss a month of sailing unless I just throw the boat in as she is. I did that last year and it shows.

I'm off to the mall to see what I can turn up and posting this just in case I come up empty handed.
Click to expand
Advantage Gas.. Your welcome to borrow mine but it is on loan. I'll call my friend and see if she is done with it. Perhaps I can get it back tonight. I have all the pads too..
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Roger, I second Mainesail. Advantage gases at the end of commercial st. or you could borrow mine. I will be needing it by this weekend.
 
MrUnix

MrUnix

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Mar 24, 2010
626
Hunter 23 Gainesville, FL
I tried to find one locally as well, and even called Makita directly to see if they could point me to a local supplier.. basically, they said that they doubt anyone would have it in stock as it is not exactly a high turnover item, and would have to order it online. If you can't borrow one from the offers above, Amazon has the Makita 9227CX3 kit on sale for $190.83 and they offer overnight delivery.

Here is the link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001GUE8Q/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=3893473195&ref=pd_sl_6xu55j0l7i_b

The 'CX3' kit comes with two handles (straight and wrap around), hook-n-loop backing pad, 2 wool pads (compounding and polishing) and a nice bag with pockets to put it all in. And for those who don't need it overnight, they are currently offering free shipping as well. I ordered one and got it 3 days later via FedEx Ground..

Cheers,
Brad
 
Roger Long

Roger Long

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Nov 22, 2008
3,562
Endeavour 32 Portland, Maine
Maine Sail said:
Advantage Gas..
Click to expand
Of course! I was just driving around with that "on the tip of the tongue" feeling in my head knowing I was missing something obvious.

I'll check with them in the morning because I should own one of these things. Otherwise, I greatly appreciate both yours and Tim's offers. If I'm not buffed by this weekend, I'm in trouble anyway.

A couple years ago, right after I hurt my back, I hired a girl who did a super buffing job that made the boat look like new in between the shrink wrap blisters and dings in about 3 hours. Why the yard thinks it will take 8 and will only do it if they also do the wax and everything else I don't quite get. Maybe I'll be looking for other accommodations next winter.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Are you seeking a pedistal mounted buffer or a two hand handheld portable?
 
chuckwayne

chuckwayne

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Mar 20, 2004
1,753
Hunter 356 and 216 Portland, ME
Roger,
I second advantage gas-at least a year or so ago, they stocked the maklita
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Harbor Freight Tools is good for disposable tools and supporting the Chinese economy.

Buy American and buy local when possible.
 
zeehag

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
Roger Long said:
I went into a couple of stores and got blank looks and can't turn up a Makita dealer with Google.

I'm racing for a May 6 launch date because the next available slot is mid June. I was going to bite the bullet and have the yard do the buffing so I could work on other things but they won't do less than the whole nine yards at the standard fixed price for which I could buy a new dinghy,(if I could afford it). Now that I'm in a yard, I can't bring in someone to do it more reasonably. If I don't find a buffer by mid day tomorrow (May 28), I'm probably going to miss a month of sailing unless I just throw the boat in as she is. I did that last year and it shows.

I'm off to the mall to see what I can turn up and posting this just in case I come up empty handed.
Click to expand
home depot, harbor freight and lowes have them--they may not be makita but they will lasdt at least 3 yrs lol..i know --bought a 25 dollar one and still have it------
 
caguy

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
There is also one on Seattle's Craig's list. A little over priced in my cheap ass opinion but may be negotiable.
 
caguy

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
Tim R. said:
Harbor Freight Tools is good for disposable tools and supporting the Chinese economy.

Buy American and buy local when possible.
Click to expand
Makita sounds very Japanese. Not to mention that the Chinese were our Alies in WWII. What ''made in America'' polisher would you recommend?
Harbor Frieght has a couple of them made by Chicago ( a Harbor Frieght brand made in China but at least it sounds American.) ;)
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
caguy said:
Makita sounds very Japanese. Not to mention that the Chinese were our Alies in WWII. What ''made in America'' polisher would you recommend?
Harbor Frieght has a couple of them made by Chicago ( a Harbor Frieght brand made in China but at least it sounds American.) ;)
Click to expand

I do not buy everything American. Some things are simply made better overseas but the Chinese knockoffs that HF sells are crap. I expect to get a lot more than 3 years out of any tool I buy. My business relies on reliable tools and telling a customer my tools are broken is not good for business.

Maktia is a good tool for the job that is not American(obviously).

BTW, the only reason the Chinese were our allies in WWII was because they needed us.

Little known fact. The only car on the Nascar circuit that is made in the US is the Toyota Camry.
 
MrUnix

MrUnix

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Mar 24, 2010
626
Hunter 23 Gainesville, FL
Just pulled out my polisher that was made by "Makita of America" headquartered in California.. label on it says "Assembled in U.S.A.".. and the manual that comes with it says "Printed in U.S.A.". Maybe not as "American" as a Milwaukee or Porter Cable, but a heck of a lot better than anything coming out of Harbor Freight!

Cheers,
Brad
 
C

CMM

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Jan 22, 2008
18
Catalina 30mkIII Falmouth, ME ME
borrow mine ?

It's not a Makita , but you can borrow mine. It did a great job on my boat with 3m compound. I'm in Falmouth (ME).

Let me know .

CMM
 
Roger Long

Roger Long

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Nov 22, 2008
3,562
Endeavour 32 Portland, Maine
CMM said:
t you can borrow mine.
Click to expand
Thanks very much. I got the last one at Advantage Gas and it's great. The difference between it and a 20 buck orbital is night and day. The orbital was much more tiring to use because you use a different muscle set every 1/16 second. It also didn't actually do anything.

Things that I though were through gel coat cracks or defects because the orbital didn't touch them just disappear. Expensive morning but worth it.
 
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