Harbor Freight 6" DA

**BigAl3** · 11-30-2012, 02:20 AM

Originally Posted by Joe@Superior Shine

This machine rocks. I have used it hard for about two months. I have grossed a good $7500 (easy) with this $49 DA. If it went out tomorrow I`d trade it in for another and keep on going. The more expensive ones say "made in china" just like the HF does so....

I don`t need it and I am not cheap. I like polishing. I collect polishers (DA and rotary) I thought it fun to play with the HF machine and I like it. It is unlike the HF rotary`s that are junk. A friend recently just purchased 12 HF DAs for his business.

joe, is this every bit as good as any other DA you`ve used (G110v2, PCXP, etc,)?

**BigAl3** · 11-30-2012, 02:34 AM

Originally Posted by danponjican

So I was up in Maryland visiting in -laws for Thanksgiving and decided to give my brother in law a free DA polishing lesson and Opti-Coat on his 2013 Ford Focus. I didn`t bring any of my gear so we had to go but everything I needed locally and on the cheap. So I picked up this Harbor Freight DA Polisher and the pads. On sale for $59.99 and hada 20% coupon and then purchased a 2 year replacement plan for about $10 so I was still out the door for less than $60. Prety good cconsidering I will have a better warranty now for this machine than most of the brand name polishers that have/had.

After using it for a day my initial impressions are that this is a good solid machine. Less power than the GG polisher but about the same as a PC 7424XP. It felt balanced and vibration was less thanthe GG machine. Pads definitely felt like Buff & Shine pads.

Here`s a short video I threw together on my phone (Sorry, don`t have my laptop with me).

dan, what speed were you using? thanks for the taking the time to make the video...

**pwaug** · 11-30-2012, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by deeman

what is the benefit of the Meg`s backing plate? I assume it`s compatible with thier pads. I looked around and found Meg`s has several backing plates (even in the 6" size). What specific BP and size do you prefer?Mike

The backing plate supplied with this polisher seems to be the weak link. The wobble of the backing plate (when spun manually) mentioned by others seems clearly to be the lack of quality of the backing plate itself (just from observation not from use-perhaps those who have tried it will comment) which shouldn`t be a problem since most users will replace it with a 5" plate anyhow so it can be used with 5.5" pads. This of course would eliminate the posssibility of using HF pads, but some good deals can be had on Buff & Shine and Lake Country 5 or 6 packs of pads. B & S, Megs and Lake Country all have good quality backing plates.

**deeman** · 12-01-2012, 09:05 PM

Just a follow-up to my experience. I have never used a DA before and tried the HF unit all day today on my Focus. Bottom line is that it is pretty good.

However, I felt lucky when I saw the local HF had all three foam pads for this unit in stock so I purchased one firm, one medium and two soft pads to try them.

The firm and medium pads ARE JUNK!!

I started at the passenger side front quarter panel. Worked well....did both doors, no problem. By the time I hit the rear quarter panel little stuff started flying out of the pad. I thought it was dried wax particles slinging. Used it some more and the particles got too bad to continue. I inspected the pad and the pad was disintegrating!!!!!!!!

The velcro from the backing plate was tearing up the backside of the pad and sending particles all over the car. When I went to pull the pad off the pad started to seperate pretty bad.

Since I did not have another firm (orange) I used the medium (blue) HF pad. Same thing within 4 body panels!!! The soft (black) pads held up okay since I was not putting any pressure on the DA. So, I will be returning the two pads.

As others have noticed, the power switch is junky. I personally found it hard to turn off on several occasions, but improved my technique. The DA is loud too! I ended up using some ear plugs it got so bad.

Overall it did the job. I will invest in some Meg`s or LC pads and try it on another car.

**BigAl3** · 12-01-2012, 09:47 PM

is it just me or when you turn it on/off, it sounds like a loose bearing inside or will it just eventually go away as the machine get broken in? :noidea:

**pwaug** · 12-01-2012, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by deeman

The firm and medium pads ARE JUNK!!

I started at the passenger side front quarter panel. Worked well....did both doors, no problem. By the time I hit the rear quarter panel little stuff started flying out of the pad. I thought it was dried wax particles slinging. Used it some more and the particles got too bad to continue. I inspected the pad and the pad was disintegrating!!!!!!!!

The velcro from the backing plate was tearing up the backside of the pad and sending particles all over the car. When I went to pull the pad off the pad started to seperate pretty bad.

Since I did not have another firm (orange) I used the medium (blue) HF pad. Same thing within 4 body panels!!! The soft (black) pads held up okay since I was not putting any pressure on the DA. So, I will be returning the two pads.

It may not be the pads causing the problem--you can`t use one pad to do an entire car, if the pad was overloaded with product it will over heat, if you didn`t clean it often it will over heat, if you used it at high speed for a lengthy period of time it will over heat. It sounds like your pads were destroyed by heat. On the other hand the pads could be junk, but first try to eliminate potential technique problems before you blame the pad because if you use the same technique with other pads you`ll have the same problem.

As long as you are going for different pads--go for a 5" quality backing plate which will allow you to use 5.5" pads.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 12-01-2012, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by deeman

Just a follow-up to my experience. I have never used a DA before and tried the HF unit all day today on my Focus. Bottom line is that it is pretty good.

However, I felt lucky when I saw the local HF had all three foam pads for this unit in stock so I purchased one firm, one medium and two soft pads to try them.

The firm and medium pads ARE JUNK!!

I started at the passenger side front quarter panel. Worked well....did both doors, no problem. By the time I hit the rear quarter panel little stuff started flying out of the pad. I thought it was dried wax particles slinging. Used it some more and the particles got too bad to continue. I inspected the pad and the pad was disintegrating!!!!!!!!

Kinda sounds like you may have overheated it. Not uncommon for a newbie, you`ll just have to learn when to clean and/or swap pads.

The velcro from the backing plate was tearing up the backside of the pad and sending particles all over the car. When I went to pull the pad off the pad started to seperate pretty bad.

Separation can be another sign of overheating.... and yes, HF is including a backing plate with its DA that is too large for the pads it sells to go with it. Pick up a smaller plate and adjust your technique and you likely won`t have that problem.

Originally Posted by BigAl3

is it just me or when you turn it on/off, it sounds like a loose bearing inside or will it just eventually go away as the machine get broken in? :noidea:

Take the head off and re-pack it with more and better grease... problem solved. It will make the machine run cooler, too. I wasn`t able to tear into the gear drive of my HD polisher, but the HF version of the same came apart with no trouble at all.

**bbak** · 12-02-2012, 12:31 AM

Charlie,

What type of grease would you suggest?

Thanks, Bruce

**C. Charles Hahn** · 12-02-2012, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by bbak

Charlie,

What type of grease would you suggest?

Thanks, Bruce

What I used was this stuff:

Sta-Lube Sta-Plexâ„¢ 3191 - Extreme Pressure Premium Red Grease | O`Reilly Auto Parts

Do take the time to clean all of the old grease off the parts though; different kinds sometimes don`t like to mix.

**bbak** · 12-04-2012, 01:38 PM

Could you tell me how you got the head separated? I removed it from the body of the polisher, but the 4 screws holding the head together don`t allow very much clearance. Using a regular phillips screwdriver was at an angle and with the lock washers on them I could not get enough bite to loosen them. I tried an offset screwdriver also with no success. Walk me through it Please, I appreciate it and Thank you for your help and time.

Bruce

**C. Charles Hahn** · 12-04-2012, 01:46 PM

You will need to remove the spindle assembly and shroud to get at those four screws; looking at the assembly diagram in the manual may help you to see how it has to come apart:

**Ron Ketcham** · 12-04-2012, 02:15 PM

OMG, Charlie, do you mean to tell me that all those printed papers that come with a tool or product are not just filler for the box????

(sorry, couldn`t resist-I have a large file drawer that every manual, etc are put in and kept for as long as I own the tool)

**bbak** · 12-04-2012, 02:45 PM

Thanks for the help, It looks like if I remove #41 the eccentric wheel I will be able to reach the shroud screws. How do I get the eccentric wheel assembly out.My apologies for not knowing, also I don`t want to mess anything up.

Thanks for your troubles.

Bruce

**danponjican** · 12-04-2012, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by BigAl3

dan, what speed were you using? thanks for the taking the time to make the video...

My "student" was running it at speed 4.

**BigAl3** · 12-04-2012, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by C. Charles Hahn

Take the head off and re-pack it with more and better grease... problem solved. It will make the machine run cooler, too. I wasn`t able to tear into the gear drive of my HD polisher, but the HF version of the same came apart with no trouble at all.

i was going to return it but i guess that`s how they all are being new and all or until it gets broken in. thanks for the info charlie (i`ll have to get some grease), you`re always a good source of info and one person who makes autopia.org the place that it is today...