I'm going to the Annapolis Boat Show and am looking for a buffer to clean/wax my boat.
Any suggestions as to which brands I might consider?
Thanks
Any suggestions as to which brands I might consider?
Thanks
Which Brand Of Buffer Should I Buy?
- Thread starter Ducati
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Makita 9227CX3, 7" Electronic Sander-Polisher Kit Includes:
Makita 9227CX3, 7" Electronic Sander-Polisher Kit
Makita Hook & Loop Pad,
Hex Wrench,
21-inch Makita tool bag,
7-inch Makita Wool compound pad,
7-inch Makita polishing pad
List Price: $348.00
Our Price: $189.00
You save $159.00!
Makita 9227CX3, 7" Electronic Sander-Polisher Kit
Makita Hook & Loop Pad,
Hex Wrench,
21-inch Makita tool bag,
7-inch Makita Wool compound pad,
7-inch Makita polishing pad
List Price: $348.00
Our Price: $189.00
You save $159.00!
Read Maine Sail's post (link) on the subject for what to look for in a buffer and how to go about buffing/waxing. Don't go too cheap on the buffer or you'll get poor results.
Have you ever compared prices of the same product at different stores? Walmart and Harbor Freight are notorious for selling items for less. There's a reason for it. The same (name brand) drill your supply house sells for $125., Walmart sells for $85.
Why? Volume would be your answer. You'd be wrong. Walmart orders so many drills the manufacturer makes them with plastic internal parts you can't see to cut the cost specially made for Walmart.
I learned this and then it was confirmed when I talked to a Wonder Bread big wig. Walmart sells the bread for less than your local supermarket because Wonder bread makes their product to Walmarts specifications. They use less of certain products (sugar, I think) so it costs less to make. It goes stale much faster,and most consumers don't even notice. So they can sell for less. Just like electrical products are made with plastic gears inside as opposed to metal gears from the better supply houses. That's the old adage of ... You get what you pay for.... It rings true. Buy from a quality supply house and you'll never regret it. Ever try returning a broken drill back to Walmart? JMO.
Keep it up,
Ctskip
Why? Volume would be your answer. You'd be wrong. Walmart orders so many drills the manufacturer makes them with plastic internal parts you can't see to cut the cost specially made for Walmart.
I learned this and then it was confirmed when I talked to a Wonder Bread big wig. Walmart sells the bread for less than your local supermarket because Wonder bread makes their product to Walmarts specifications. They use less of certain products (sugar, I think) so it costs less to make. It goes stale much faster,and most consumers don't even notice. So they can sell for less. Just like electrical products are made with plastic gears inside as opposed to metal gears from the better supply houses. That's the old adage of ... You get what you pay for.... It rings true. Buy from a quality supply house and you'll never regret it. Ever try returning a broken drill back to Walmart? JMO.
Keep it up,
Ctskip
I bought an off brand from a local hardware store called "Vapor" and it's been performing as well or better than my big Milwaukee buffer ever since. I actually like it better with it's soft start feature.
All i know is i bought the Makita to prep my J24 and 19' powerboats for sale and everybody was blow away by the shine
I know use it with and 8" sanding disk on my refit and it is a hall of fame quality tool
I know use it with and 8" sanding disk on my refit and it is a hall of fame quality tool
I would not buy any kind of power tool from harbor freight... period.
Sears..... Home Depot... Loews.. any place that sells NAME brand products with proven warranty service... Polishers don't have to cost hundreds of dollars... but the cheap stuff you find at Harbor freight is simply a waste of money.
I find it absurd that Harbor Freight actually advertises in the sailng magazines.
The HF buffer I bought was the Makita "knock off". Unfortunately it did not knock much off of the Makita except price, performance and durability. I think I paid $49.00 for it and it never made it through my 10 foot Whitehall sailing dinghy.
It is not, a no load design and if run at anything but higher speeds it will eventually burn up. Mine was literally smoking and smelling of melted electronics in 15 minutes. From the experience I had with mine I could not recommend anyone waste their money on this unit unless you go in, up front, with the mind set that it may be disposable.
If you look on the wall in the background of the photo below you can see it hanging on the wall next to the green drill and just above my Makita 9227C..
I know some others who have also burned these units up and also some who claim it works ok. Buyer beware with HF and electronics. To me buying electronic tools at HF is much like going to Vegas. Occasionally you may win but more often you lose. I have lost so far on all but one HF electronic device and that one I have only used three times thus far..
I also got a DOA oscillating tool from HF which I wrote about here: HF Multi-Tool
Oh and if you do buy the HF tool buy this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-variable-speed-polisher-sander-92623.html
Oh an it is now $20.00 less than what I paid for it at $29.99. Heck if it takes you two units to do your boat you're still only at $60.00... You'll spend more in pads, compounds and waxes than you will on the buffer. It may do the job but just don't expect great results from it..
It is not, a no load design and if run at anything but higher speeds it will eventually burn up. Mine was literally smoking and smelling of melted electronics in 15 minutes. From the experience I had with mine I could not recommend anyone waste their money on this unit unless you go in, up front, with the mind set that it may be disposable.
If you look on the wall in the background of the photo below you can see it hanging on the wall next to the green drill and just above my Makita 9227C..
I know some others who have also burned these units up and also some who claim it works ok. Buyer beware with HF and electronics. To me buying electronic tools at HF is much like going to Vegas. Occasionally you may win but more often you lose. I have lost so far on all but one HF electronic device and that one I have only used three times thus far..
I also got a DOA oscillating tool from HF which I wrote about here: HF Multi-Tool
Oh and if you do buy the HF tool buy this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-variable-speed-polisher-sander-92623.html
Oh an it is now $20.00 less than what I paid for it at $29.99. Heck if it takes you two units to do your boat you're still only at $60.00... You'll spend more in pads, compounds and waxes than you will on the buffer. It may do the job but just don't expect great results from it..
Harborfreight electric tools is an oxymoron
Reading this board for the past few years, it is clear that the title of this is true.
Why waste your $$$?
Reading this board for the past few years, it is clear that the title of this is true.
Why waste your $$$?
I love my Hitachi electronic-speed controlled sander. I've had it for about 6 years now and have put it through hell and it runs like a champ. I lend it out and it keeps coming back to me ready for more. When I bought it the price was something like 169$. Something tells me that the prices for good variable speed sanders/polishers have gone up. Stay away from the crap sanders made in China. Chicago Electric crap is made in China not Chicago.
Well now, silly boy,
if you want a real buffer buy the Makita. Got it, love it. Does WAY more than buff. If you need to cover a lot of acreage it's the way to go.
Having said that, I gotta tell you Stu, I've got a HF air-compressor, drill press and an 800 watt generator that's about the size of a bowling ball that runs everything. A portable machine shop. For $200. Yep, it's cheap Chinese crap, the generator is louder'n hell (don't even think about running it in an anchorage), but I'll be damned, nothing has failed.
I got nothing bad to say about Harbor Freight.
if you want a real buffer buy the Makita. Got it, love it. Does WAY more than buff. If you need to cover a lot of acreage it's the way to go.
Having said that, I gotta tell you Stu, I've got a HF air-compressor, drill press and an 800 watt generator that's about the size of a bowling ball that runs everything. A portable machine shop. For $200. Yep, it's cheap Chinese crap, the generator is louder'n hell (don't even think about running it in an anchorage), but I'll be damned, nothing has failed.
I got nothing bad to say about Harbor Freight.
Like Rick says, my experience with HF is better.. I have the same sander/buffer that Maine has. Bought mine when stranded waiting for a new propeller/skeg and decided to do a bottom job. It ran, sanding the bottom for about 8 hours; lots of dust and heat in Pensacola .. no problems.. The thing has run at home doing sanding/grinding for some more hours with no trouble. I paid $29 for it.. It certainly has been worth that.. No, it is not a commercial production tool, but for my occasional use it has been OK.. I wouldn't buy their cordless drills.. The Ryobi I have makes a lot more torque and is two speed.. but I gave one of the HF drills to a girlfriend for use around the house, hanging pictures and drilling in wood and stuff.. It has been fine for that use.. I have several of their $2 digital voltmeters around .. they are fine for general electrical troubleshooting.. Yes, I have a real Omega for serious electronic work, but it is overkill on general 12 V stuff. And I don’t like risking it out on the boat. I have a Dremel knock off that HF sells .. $20 .. I broke it after cutting the PVC thru wall extension for a new portlight. I stalled it many times as the PVC would accumulate on the blade..Yes, I had to stop occasionally to let it cool off.. It stopped the next time I tried to use it after the port job.. The failure was a little rubber coupling inside.. Bought three couplings from HF for $3 very fast service.. 4 days from phone call to parts in my hand.. The tool is 5 years old and has several hours on it.. Basically their stuff is not really for heavy duty work.. I agree.. but I have found the stuff fine for light home/ hobby use.. Hey, I have had Fiats and Jaguars.. HF tools seem very reliable compared to some of those!!!.
It is tempting to buy HF's Fein MultiMaster knock off. I own a Dremmel Mulit-whatever and it is OK, however, the blades are over priced and are of sh*t quality. It seems to me that the HF blades (much cheaper) can't be any worse. The HF knock-off is only 39$ (roughtly the cost of 3 Dremmel blades).
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