buffer

emilsr

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 16, 2010
Messages
774
Re: buffer

Harbor Freight...

image_11802.jpg

$30 bucks Variable Speed

Same here, and it was even cheaper with the coupon. I know lots of guys using them.

It does have an interesting feature that isn't in the brochures; after using it for about an hour it becomes at least 100 times heavier than it was when you started. How do they do that? :confused:
 

SDSeville

Lieutenant
Joined
Mar 19, 2010
Messages
1,481
Re: buffer

It does have an interesting feature that isn't in the brochures; after using it for about an hour it becomes at least 100 times heavier than it was when you started. How do they do that? :confused:

Funny, mine did the same thing.
 

carribbean soul

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 19, 2012
Messages
176
Re: buffer

HF the 7" buffer on sale mar 5 to mar 18th $33.99

and if your into grinding fiberglass mar8 to the 10th 4.5" angle grinders $9.99
 

Friscoboater

Captain
Joined
Jul 3, 2009
Messages
3,095
Re: buffer

Why did they replace them ? .. did they fail ?

YD.

My grinder did after 8 hours of hard use grinding my last boat. They replaced it for free. If I did this for a living I would invest in a very nice one, but for the home user, they work ok. For my real job we use dewalt and makita products. They get used hard every day and I cannot have them failing.
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,929
Re: buffer

^^^this is the key. For a DIY'er these work fine. I personally see no reason to have a $300 tool that gets used occasionally
 

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: buffer

When buffing correctly the buffer should never be forced to work very hard, so even a cheap buffer will hold up fairly well for DIY use. A higher quality tool will typically last longer, feel better and be quieter, which is nice if you do it for a living, but if I didn’t already have a bunch of pricy ones I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up a H/F buffer for occasional use.

I used to buy cases of small grinders at a time and I never found a brand that held up for a long time in commercial use, and each brand had its good and bad points. A H/F small grinder wouldn’t hold up for a whole day in this type of use, but I have one of the $9.99 models that has been on my bench for at least 6 or 7 years, maybe more, and it still works. This one is used for light F/G work, sharpening lawn mower blades, grinding the heads off of bolts and other things. It’s loud and rough (no different than when new), but it still works fine, so for the money it was a great buy.

H/F sells several different types of these small grinders at different price points, so I assume mine is the lowest quality one you can get. They also sell several different buffers, so your results may vary.
 

Yacht Dr.

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
5,581
Re: buffer

When buffing correctly the buffer should never be forced to work very hard

This is so wrong .. when buffing correctly the buffer is forced to work hard. It I guess would depend if you want to supply up to 2000 grit and buff/polish with a el'cheapo buffer on a 3" repair. But a full blown buff job needs a good tool. You would spend more in compound and polishes that a good buffer/pad would give you.

Again .. its depending on what your doing with a buffer.

YD.
 

MRS

Commander
Joined
Jul 10, 2005
Messages
2,579
Re: buffer

I use Porter Cable tools a lot, and they make good tools. I'd go with this one:
View attachment 181123
:
That is the one I bought and I love it do my boat once a year cannot burn the gel coat with this one. Plus is 6 inch pad so fits in to tight spots alittle better I did buy the harbour frieght one but now just use for grinding down stuff.
 

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: buffer

This is so wrong .. when buffing correctly the buffer is forced to work hard.

YD.

I will need to inform the folks from 3M and Farecla of this. When I do seminars on Patch & repair with these guys this is not what they teach, but what do they know.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
50,282
Re: buffer

I was taught to wetsand, then polish
 

pole position

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 14, 2008
Messages
156
Re: buffer

I have the HF and a Milwaukee.I use both but tend to use the HF more due to the handle design.I buff about 15-20 boats a year and so far the HF has held up.
 

Yacht Dr.

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
5,581
Re: buffer

I will need to inform the folks from 3M and Farecla of this. When I do seminars on Patch & repair with these guys this is not what they teach, but what do they know.

Like your in the loop for 3m or Farecla ? .. Yea You might want to suggest them to show how they do these Fine Fine jobs with a HF Buffer.

FYI .. Faracla is Paint man .. not gel.

Gel is something that 3m is considered some of the top finishes for ALL finishes.

Do your seminars on the patch and repair work .. but I doubt you will be slinging a $30 HF tool. .. Get my drift :) ... It cant do it.

This is so wrong .. when buffing correctly the buffer is forced to work hard. It I guess would depend if you want to supply up to 2000 grit and buff/polish with a el'cheapo buffer on a 3" repair. But a full blown buff job needs a good tool. You would spend more in compound and polishes that a good buffer/pad would give you.

Again .. its depending on what your doing with a buffer.

YD.

Unless you did not get this Post .. it depends on what your doing with a buffer.

Im sure one of the mods will come here soon breaking us up ..

YD.
 

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: buffer

I have done many repair classes with the guys from Farecla and we do a great deal of work with 3M, not only in the field but at our training center for composites. Farecla has a full line of compounds designed for gel coat.

There is an online gel coat class on Feb 12th that you can sign up for if you wish, most anyone can.

Here is a link to the registration. CCP Composites US - Class Registration

Gel Coat Troubleshooting
Webinar
February 12, 2013 2:00 pm CST


Are you spending too much time and money on repairs in your finishing department?

Do you have employees in your gel coat department that need some training?

If you?re thinking ?Yes!?, then register now for this online CCPU event.

This webinar will be presented by CCP Composites? Director of Technical Service, Linda Bergstrom and Sr.
Technical Service Rep. John Sawayda. The presentation is set-up to highlight three common trouble areas
in the gel coating process . These include gel coat mixing, properly setting up gel coat spray equipment,
and troubleshooting finish part quality issues. Linda and John will give some basic gel coat information,
discuss problems that can be caused by poor mixing and equipment set-up and then show proper mixing,
equipment set-up and simple troubleshooting techniques.

This webinar will last 60-90 minutes, including ample time for all your questions to be answered by these
composites industry experts.

To register; email CCPU@ccpcompositesus.com or call 800-821-3590 x6394
 
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