Air DA recommendations

[Speakrdude]

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Last year, Santa brought me a Large, 220v, twin cylinder, 60 gallon, air compressor.
I think I want to give the buffing business a go withj a (Light weight) DA intead of the 20lb elctric model I have been using in the past. (My shoulders are still sore)
Any recommendations for brands/models for a novice?
I could go the cheaper, Harbor tools route just to see if I like it as much as the electric or......

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Air DA recommendations

It all depends on how much the Harbor Freight Chinese built D/A costs. You might can go to Northern Tool and get an Ingersol Rand for a little bit more.

My Porter Cable D/A is no 20 lb. unit, and is not that bad to handle as you only run it 90 seconds at a time. I would suggest you study the products needed to buff boats so you can do it as fast as possible. There are two big websites on auto detailing that have sections on marine detailing. One is run by Meguiars.

 

[jimmy wise]

Re: Air DA recommendations

das come in different orbits. i have dynabrade, i swear by dynabrade. there are different orbits for different uses. i do have a hutchens also but they are loud. for finish try thier finish sander. get the warrenty. if its rough sanding do the research. hf is only a mile from my house. if its a long drive buy a good da. you will like the good one and it will last a long time. i have and old nd daq i have had for 30 years and it still works. just my 25 cents worth

 

[jimmy wise]

Re: Air DA recommendations

sorry set up for velcro paper from the start. you can pull it off and reuse it. psa tears and is useless

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Air DA recommendations

das come in different orbits. i have dynabrade, i swear by dynabrade. there are different orbits for different uses. i do have a hutchens also but they are loud. for finish try thier finish sander. get the warrenty. if its rough sanding do the research. hf is only a mile from my house. if its a long drive buy a good da. you will like the good one and it will last a long time. i have and old nd daq i have had for 30 years and it still works. just my 25 cents worth

Dynabrade is my favorite 5"-6" sander. PC is my choice for electric ..

sorry set up for velcro paper from the start. you can pull it off and reuse it. psa tears and is useless

I would agree to disagree .. Velcro is hardly the disc paper to reuse. It does not use well.

PSA is much more versitile when it comes down to it.

PSA ( pressure sensitive adhesives ) or sticky back sandpaper disks is much more responsive then the counterpart of Soft backed Velcro.

PSA is cheaper and lasts longer in the Boating realm of things.

If you want to fix Cars or Paint .. It might be better off if you use a velcro backed paper. You will fly through them like nothing else .. but you will not reuse them to sand your gel-paint on your boat ..

YD.

 

[Speakrdude]

Re: Air DA recommendations

Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate all the advise, but I only intend to use the air tool for compounding and waxing.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Air DA recommendations

Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate all the advise, but I only intend to use the air tool for compounding and waxing.

Then whatever you spend is a waste of money..

YD.

 

[dlngr]

Re: Air DA recommendations

Agreed-in my 45+years of doing auto body repair,I've never heard of anyone trying to compound and/or wax with a DA.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Air DA recommendations

It's funny, but polishing with compounds and sanding is what D/A's are designed for. And many, many detailing and body shops use them. They also use the standard polishers. Maguiars even makes products specifically designed for D/A's--and they sell a D/A under their brand. They also sell wool bonnets and foam applicators designed for D/A's. Mothers and other such companies also sell D/A products.

A professional detailer can obviously use the standard polishers for a quicker job, but D/A's have their place. They don't have to have as much swirl removers applied behind them as they do less damage to the finish.

I guess it's sometimes hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

 

[jimmy wise]

Re: Air DA recommendations

i have an electric porter cable for buffing but i would get an 8 inch bondo hawg. for air polishing. as for velcro paper it holds up great on everything and if you need to use a coarse disk for a second you can change it back. why you dont like it i have no idea. i also have a vaccum system that sucks up the dust. do you thing the velcro is a cushoin and it wastes paper? im lost if you by the proper wieght paper in velcro in the right grit it works the same. and i have had a polshing da for 30 years so yea it works for swirl marks and polish not compounding

 

[Speakrdude]

Re: Air DA recommendations

I was thinking I could get something lighter but sounds like the big electric is the way to go. It's a beast of a polisher.

 

[dlngr]

Re: Air DA recommendations

I do have a couple DA polishers-the 'steering wheel type-but I still prefer the buffer for final polishing.Speakr,usually the weight of the buffer can be used to HELP with the buffing,but I know it does get tiring. That's what beer breaks are for.
Bamaman,yep,hard to teach this old dog new tricks for sure! I just get better results from my buffer than any DA.-Usually usingMeguars swirl remover with their foam pad,or a 3m waffle pad.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Air DA recommendations

I do have a couple DA polishers-the 'steering wheel type-but I still prefer the buffer for final polishing.Speakr,usually the weight of the buffer can be used to HELP with the buffing,but I know it does get tiring. That's what beer breaks are for.
Bamaman,yep,hard to teach this old dog new tricks for sure! I just get better results from my buffer than any DA.-Usually usingMeguars swirl remover with their foam pad,or a 3m waffle pad.

Yup .. I can use this 5/8" arbor sander/polisher with variable speed both in the trigger and top end electronic speed dial into a buffers dream. .. I can put Foamy pad or basically anything on those things.

Sure you have those Hard to get places .. thats when the right angle drill with a 3" buffing pad comes out.

Nothing like something that goes 1/2 revolutions per second ( Yes I can make my Snap on go that slow ) comes in.

Tools mate.. tools ..

YD.