[Tim Corcoran]

For doing paint prep and body work which style do you prefer?

This

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-p...nt-customers-3

Or this

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-p...nt-customers-3

They both have great reviews but they are different styles. Which style do you prefer?

[MUSLCAH]

I’ve been running a 6 inch “ Finish “ DA from Dynabrade for years …quiet and smooth …palm sander. And I even put some micro fiber pads on it for polishing , after I buff with the rotary buffer. Gets rid of them swirl marks.

[HoovDaddy]

Both of your links are the same tool.

It's a very specific $100 dollar tool. All you need for prep is a good quality Dual Action air sander. You'll get very tired and frustrated using a cheap sander after a few hours. The palm sander has very limited use in my opinion, I don't see what I'd use it for. Once you are at bare metal, you're done with the sander. After that point on a restoration everything is done by hand if you want flat panels.

The DA sander allows you to use both hands for more control. Keep in mind that when sanding, you cut faster with the pad at an angle, slower when laying flat. Hard to do that with a one handed sander. A DA will allow you to switch from orbital to grind on the fly, so it's 2 tools in one. This palm sander has a 3/16" orbit, a DA such as National Detroit has a 3/8" orbit for faster sanding of large areas. National Detroit invented the DA sander back in the 30s, so in my opinion it's the best one there is and well worth the money. It will last for more than one project. They are now owned by Dynabrade. http://www.dynabrade.com/pdf/lit/D15.10.pdf I bought my National Detroit back in the early 80s when the quiet version came out and it still performs great after doing many restorations and repairs. 6" is easier to get sandpaper for. As with most air tools, especially sanders, dry air is essential.

You also mentioned buffer/polisher, that's a different tool(s).

[MUSLCAH]

Hovdaddy...you talking about one of these ancient relics ? Retired that in the early 90’s

[MUSLCAH]

Here’s my finish sander....that also sports a Micro Fiber polish pad....that removes those ugly swirl marks ...aftah compounding with the rotary buffer. It’s 2 tools in one.

[HoovDaddy]

Originally Posted by MUSLCAH

Attachment 586982

Hovdaddy...you talking about one of these ancient relics ? Retired that in the early 90’s

Yep. Mines in a little better shape. People still use them, they work great. It's the end result that counts. We all have different ways to get there.

[HoovDaddy]

Originally Posted by MUSLCAH

Attachment 586983

Here’s my finish sander....that also sports a Micro Fiber polish pad....that removes those ugly swirl marks ...aftah compounding with the rotary buffer. It’s 2 tools in one.

My finish work. Hand sand, no swirl marks.

[MUSLCAH]

Does that buffer with the foam pad,oscillat ,like a DA..?

[Tim Corcoran]

This is the other one I was supposed to include in my post

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-d...der-56580.html

[dataway]

Muslcah ... the one with the foam pad looks like the Porta Cable unit, if so, yes it does oscillate like a DA.

[HoovDaddy]

Originally Posted by MUSLCAH

Does that buffer with the foam pad,oscillat ,like a DA..?

Yes. Variable speed. I use all the different color pads with different grit compunds depending on how aggressive I want to be. I used to apply wax with it, but now I use ceramic.

[HoovDaddy]

Originally Posted by Tim Corcoran

This is the other one I was supposed to include in my post

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-d...der-56580.html

It's a third of the price of a good one. For one job, it might be worth the risk.

[78w72]

the harbor freight air tools will last a lot longer than "one job". of course they arent as good as the more expensive name brands but claiming they are only worth the risk for one job is just not true.

i have a friend that has owned a body shop for 40+ years & does only street rods, muscle cars & high dollar custom builds etc. he uses the cheaper tools & says he gets more use per dollar out of them than the more expensive brands, when one eventually stops working he buys another for a fraction of the cost of the name brands. im sure he's comparing the super expensive ones & there are better values of other brands, but in general the HF tools are a very good value. same for a lot of their tools like floor jacks, ratchets, wrenches etc.

i have painted 3 of my cars at my friends shop, he lets me do all the basic prep work for paint & i do final sanding & buffing since ive had some past experience doing that. he has had the same HF palm sanders, DA sanders & other tools like buffers etc in use for many years. HF has mini air buffers, & all the other air tools for very good prices & they last for years in a professional shop.

majority of members here are not pros running a business & these HF tools will usually last for a very very long time for personal use & do the job just as well. those sanders linked to are very good for the price.

[Tim Corcoran]

OK I'm going to ask a dumb question since I am new to this world. What the difference between a sander and a buffer, also is a buffer dual action or not?

[78w72]

Originally Posted by Tim Corcoran

OK I'm going to ask a dumb question since I am new to this world. What the difference between a sander and a buffer, also is a buffer dual action or not?

many buffers are considered sanders since you can just change what accessories you put on it, buffing pad or sanding pad for discs. the fancier buffers are DA but for basic buffing or the fist stage of buffing with a wool pad you dont need DA.

im sure everyone has their preferences & some will insist you need DA for buffing but in my experience & knowing & watching pros for decades, the sander/buffers are fine for dual purpose use, just be sure its a variable speed. & yes, the HF buffer/sanders are very good for their price. these are the dual purpose types. for finer polishing/buffing the DA buffers are better & usually use foam pads.

https://www.harborfreight.com/power-...der-62297.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/power-...der-56792.html

[MUSLCAH]

Originally Posted by Tim Corcoran

OK I'm going to ask a dumb question since I am new to this world. What the difference between a sander and a buffer, also is a buffer dual action or not?

This is a rotary buffer.....rotary ,means it spins ,like a grinder would. This tool is used for buffing out scratches in paint or a clear coat. Those dots on the wool pad ..are buffing compound...kinda like fine sand paper ,in a liquid form. This is the first tool used in buffing new and old paint. This compound will buff out 1500 grit scratches...which is made by 1500 grit sandpaper. 1500 grit sandpaper is used in new and old paint to remove dust nibs and other slight imperfections in the finish. Then when the scratches are buffed out.....the Oscillating polisher is used with another liquid call polish...designed to remove the finer scratches left behind from the rotary buffer

[MUSLCAH]

Originally Posted by MUSLCAH

Attachment 586983

Here’s my finish sander....that also sports a Micro Fiber polish pad....that removes those ugly swirl marks ...aftah compounding with the rotary buffer. It’s 2 tools in one.

This tool ...turns into a sander ..when you take off that polishing pad...and install a sanding disc / paper. Grits of paper that this tool can use ..goes from 36 grit- up to 8000 grit...

[MUSLCAH]

Hoovdaddy. You’d like that compound...its ceramic !

[MUSLCAH]

Originally Posted by Tim Corcoran

OK I'm going to ask a dumb question since I am new to this world. What the difference between a sander and a buffer, also is a buffer dual action or not?

Then when you get to body filler over epoxy....we can get into these items

[Entropy11]

The Porter Cable unit shown/referenced above is a great all in one unit that you can purchase as a buffer/polisher or as a buffer/polisher & sander depending on which offering you buy. Although, as mentioned, you can add your own sanding backing pad to many polishers.

A $120 quality branded, variable speed, dual action, 6” all in one that doesn’t have any high cfm compressor requirements comes in handy sometimes. I still use mine quite often on bigger jobs like boats where I don’t want to hear the compressor kick on/off for hours or log endless hours on my Dynabrade orbital.