Any thoughts on using vertical polishers?

Z

ZoranC

New member
Like subject says, what are the thoughts on using vertical polishers like one in link below as "rotary"?



http://www.makita.com/menu.php?pg=product_det&tag=PV7001C



PV7001_l.jpg
 
Looks like it'd be awkward IMO. I wouldn't like having to hold it in that manner, certainly not when working on horizontal panels. Yuck, makes me appreciate my Cyclos even more.



People have tried "polishing attachments" on electric drills and found them to be very user-unfriendly, this looks like a variation of that system.
 
It sure looks like a drill with polishing attachment :LOLOL



However, I would think it is still different enough, looking how they concentrated weight on plate and where center of the weight is, putting handles there to position/guide while drills are designed to apply pressure through handle.



I'm not sure would it be awkward or opposite of it though. For the vertical surfaces it would seem as more natural way than "regular" rotary, but then I didn't work with one so I could be easily way off. On the horizontal surfaces I definitely am not sure. I visualize it as not using thread-in handle, instead taking it out and using left hand around top of the body to guide it, while using main handle pointed toward right to also hold, guide, angle and turn power on/off.



Also, question is would this be "strong enough" and have appropriate "power band" to do same job as rotary? It's 7", but 600-1200RPM. When using rotary is more than 1200rpm needed and when? Is less than 600 needed and when?
 
I would think that it would be too easy to put pressure at an improper angle that could cause problems or do harm.
 
Grimm said:
I would think that it would be too easy to put pressure at an improper angle that could cause problems or do harm.
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I too was wondering about that. But then doesn't same hold true for "normal" rotaries?



Even more, wouldn't it be easier on "normal" rotaries to end up with improper angle than on this one because of how weight is distributed on them (center of weight farther away from spindle's axis, longer handle)?
 
I don't use a rotary, so I can't say. And I would have to see this thing next to a rotary to say for sure, but looking at the picture it looks like your hands would be further from the surface of the car than with a rotary. So that would make it a lot easier to tip the thing at an angle unintentionally. Plus it doesn't have as good of a surface to put your hand at the top like you can with a PC or rotary which makes it more awkward.
 
Grimm said:
And I would have to see this thing next to a rotary to say for sure, but looking at the picture it looks like your hands would be further from the surface of the car than with a rotary. So that would make it a lot easier to tip the thing at an angle unintentionally.
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Hmmmm, I see what you mean. Thank you :)
 
The side handle oughta help with how pressure is applied (I've done a fair bit of work with large drills with side handles) and yeah, I can see it being good for vertical panels. But I sure like the sense of control I have, with a conventional rotary, with my one hand on the top of the housing right above the spindle.



I bet this will be another of those personal preference things, where some people just love it and others think it's awful.
 
Accumulator said:
The side handle oughta help with how pressure is applied (I've done a fair bit of work with large drills with side handles) and yeah, I can see it being good for vertical panels. But I sure like the sense of control I have, with a conventional rotary, with my one hand on the top of the housing right above the spindle.
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I see your point about better sense of control if hand is held right above the spindle with conventional rotaries on horizontal panels. Do you think same would hold true even for vertical panels or that Makita's design might have an edge there (no pun intended)?
 
ZoranC- I dunno... I position myself so that things seem comfortable when I'm working the vertical panels and I'm used to using machines of the conventional configuration (and familiarity goes a *long* way). If the vertical model works better for those panels I guess it wouldn't surprise me, but without having actually tried it (and enough to get accustomed to it) I can't really say :nixweiss



My knee-jerk reaction is still that I probably wouldn't like it, but when it comes to vertical panels maybe I'll moderate that opinion a bit, with more of an emphasis on the "probably".



I guess it makes sense that one orientation is best for working horizontal panels and the other is better for working vertical ones. Heh heh, I might oughta watch that I don't get *too* open-minded about this thing or I'll end up getting one :o



I think PercynJapan is getting/has gotten one of the vertical polishers...I sure respect his opinion on things so maybe he'll enlighten us.
 
Accumulator said:
Heh heh, I might oughta watch that I don't get *too* open-minded about this thing or I'll end up getting one :o
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:rofl Well, that is also playing part in my curiosity. I guess part of me is in the toy getting mood.
 
EdLancer said:
These are true rotaries and are not a drill with a backplate attachment.



Look at this pic of it in action:



sc023-01.jpg


sc024.jpg
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What pics of action? All I see is little red crosses :chuckle: On the serious side, what I need to do to see them? And have you worked with it yourself? If yes, what are your impressions?



Thank you in advance!
 
I see them on eBay for like $19.99 ...LoL I know Porter Cable makes a version of it too and no I never used one, but I did consider buying one. :waxing:
 
Accumulator said:
I think PercynJapan is getting/has gotten one of the vertical polishers...I sure respect his opinion on things so maybe he'll enlighten us.
Click to expand...



:faint: Accumulator, thank you for your very kind compliment; I'm stunned, because I'M the one who always is enlightened by YOUR knowledge and experience!
 
Well, I'm not that experienced with rotaries, though I recently got a pretty intensive course from a friend of mine. (I haven't used the one I bought yet, though)



Concerning the vertical configuration, I can see how it looks awkward to those who have never used one, but it's what I first trained on. The interesting point (and the reason my friend first taught me on it) is that on horizontal surfaces, it is much easier to control and use rhythmically in a back-and-forth motion than the "flat" style. It's easier to keep it at the required angle, and (used by right-handers) it gives your left hand more control when it pulls, because your left hand is pulled in tighter toward your body (sorry if this explanation is hard to grasp).



On vertical surfaces, however, the standard (flat?)configuration is easier to use; the vertical polisher is harder to hold and more tiring for your right hand. Also, your right forearm ends up taking the brunt of the weight, and you get tired more quickly. With the other style, you get a more natural "sweep" and leverage, as you don't need to keep your arms held as tight to your body, and your shoulder muscles and left bicep hold up more of the weight, which makes it easier to control.



I'm sure my description is hard to imagine, but, be that as it may, in Japan the VERTICAL style is the standard (from what I've seen) for detailers and especially for body shops (all the body guys I've ever seen at work use it). Anyway, I suspect that once you get used to either style, the results will be the same. I actually bought the vertical style only because it was about $100 cheaper than the other configuration (could anyone please tell me what that set-up is called - "horizontal"?!), and I will continue to use my Cyclo as my main tool, with the rotary used only for severe paint correction.



Todd
 
percynjpn said:
...on horizontal surfaces, [the vertical polisher] is much easier to control and use rhythmically in a back-and-forth motion than the "flat" style. It's easier to keep it at the required angle, and (used by right-handers) it gives your left hand more control when it pulls, because your left hand is pulled in tighter toward your body (sorry if this explanation is hard to grasp).



On vertical surfaces, however, the standard (flat?)configuration is easier to use; the vertical polisher is harder to hold and more tiring for your right hand. Also, your right forearm ends up taking the brunt of the weight, and you get tired more quickly. With the other style, you get a more natural "sweep" and leverage, as you don't need to keep your arms held as tight to your body, and your shoulder muscles and left bicep hold up more of the weight, which makes it easier to control.



I'm sure my description is hard to imagine...
Click to expand...



It could be my misunderstanding (and I sympathize with how hard this stuff is to explain!) but I would've thought it the other way around with regard to what's awkward/not :confused I follow your explanation it just seem the reverse of what *seems to me* (at first blush) intuitively obvious. Note that I was thinking more about control of the machine than supporting its weight, maybe that's the problem..



Making sure I'm following your right: You're saying that the guy working on the side of the right front fender of the Maserati would have an easier time of it if he used the *other* polisher, the "flat" one, right? And that the guy doing the top of the left front fender of the Ferrari is having an *easier* time of it than the guy using the "flat" polisher on the roof, right?
 
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