Well, what can be said about a rotary buffer? IMO they are the best tool in all of auto detailing. But, they are not for the beginner. Make no mistake, these are very powerful machines that can get away from your very quickly.
For lack of anything better to do, I am reviewing my impressions of the DeWalt DW 849 Rotary. Let me start off by saying, I really like this machine! I feel the best asset of this machine is one that probably is not very noticeable. The speed dial of this machine has the speed clearly written on it (ex. 1000, 1200 RPM) where as most rotary buffers have speeds listed 1-5 so they leave you guess as to how fast you are really going. I feel this great feature DeWalt included is a critical one. Speed is one of the most important factors when using a rotary, so this feature certianly takes the guess work out of the process.
Using the machine is fairly easy once you get the feel for it. The first thing you will notice when you pick up a rotary is the weight. They DeWalt weighs in at over 8 pounds. But when coupled with the length of the tool the balance is fairly good and feels only slightly front heavy due to the motor shaft, backing plate etc. The standard side handle and hand grip make the machine fairly easy to control when operating but you can start to feel tired due to the weight of the machine.
The DeWalt 849 has a wide range of speeds at your disposal. The lowest being 1000RPM and going all the way up to 3000RPM. The perfect operating speed for this machine is between 1200-1500 RPM depending on the task that you are trying to complete. This machine is not short on power either. The motor in the 849 is a powerful 8 amps, more than enough for any rotary. Some other rotarys have motors that are 10 amps or higher. This extra amperage is not really needed, and the extra size of the motor will cause the brushes to run hotter and need replacement quicker. The trigger that controls it all is variable speed as well. This means you can "clutch" the machine yourself to help keep the splattering to a minimum. Think of it as a gas pedal, the more you let off the trigger the slower the machine runs.
As many of your tool freaks know, DeWalt means tough, reliable quality. This machine is built like a tank, this is the main reason why it's the "gold standard" for many body and detail shops across the country.
And now comes the part we all dread, price. This machine is not cheap by anyones standards. A DeWalt DW849 will cost you between $180-$220 depending on where you purchase it. Then you must add in the cost of a velcro backing plate and a large assortment of pads. A rotary is certianly an investment, but I feel it's one that will serve you well for many years.
This is a really great machine. But as I said, newbies to detailing should not be using it. For the trained professional or skilled expierenced "home" detailer the DeWalt is a dream to use. The results a rotary can produce are truly unequaled by any random orbital polisher. If you are in the market for a rotary give the DeWalt DW849 a serious look, I think you will be glad you did.
Linear Mode
