Originally Posted by
Ron Ketcham
1. Turn your speed down when doing a clearcoat or modern finish to 1,000 rpm. (see item 3)
2. No need to apply pressure if you are using the right pad for the needed job-IE, cutting, use a cutting compound and a cutting pad, polishing, use a polishing product with a polishing pad. Foams are good, I usually use a geniune lambs wool pelt pad for polishing and follow that with more polish and a polishing foam pad. Then a quick once over with a dual action to remove any minor swirls.
3. While it is ok to go a bit higher on speed, no more than 1800 is needed, as newer products will "break down the abrasives very quickly" when higher speeds are used and heavy pressure is applied to the buffer. Higher speeds also "heat the paint film and on clearcoats, a SAE study and paper published a few years back found that if the paint surface`s temp exceeds 105F or there about, it thermo stresses (damages) the all important film former/binder of the paint film (IE resin system).
I have a HF buffer as well as Dewalt and a Milwaukee buffers, all variable speed rotaries.
I often go to the HF (it`s going on 4 years old and is used several times a week) when doing small buff jobs.
The Dewalt when doing a compete vehicle and the Milwaukee is basically reserved for gel coat finishes. over large surfaces.
That said, the same applies as pointed out in items 1 thru 3.
Been running rotary buffers for over 55 years and these are the keys to success when using modern buffing products.
And-of course, practice, practice, practice on old junk panels.
A rotary buffer is just a smaller version of a "floor buffer", so a small degree of tilt is what moves it from one direction to another, just do NOT ever go completely on the edge of the pad and apply pressure. That will get you in trouble in a big hurry, if you HAVE to, due to an edge or such, "feather it" lightly, keeping the pressure to a minimum and do not hold it in once place, do several light passes instead.
Grumpy
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