Harbor Freight Orbital Polisher/Sander

[bncinwv]

Looking at a Harbor Freight Orbital Polisher Sander primarlily for use on the boat's gel-coat. Logical conclusion is if it works on the boat, why wouldn't it work on the Montana? Any experiences, pros or cons out there? Got a 20% coupon and the polisher is on sale for $29.99 so I can get it for less than $24.00. another one of those hard to beat Harbor Freight Chinese made special deals!!
Bingo

[bsmeaton]

Just be careful Bingo - You can go from pretty to permanent damage with one of those in a hurry. I watched a new lot boy at Ford destroy the paint on about 6 used pickups with one leaving permanent swirl marks.

I use a Wen version of this one at Harbor Freight random orbit polisher

The only rotate partially and have more of a buffing action than a high speed turn.

[HughM]

First thing I would check for is ortibal speed. The faster the worst choice it is. Slow and steady speed and it won't "burn" the paint/gelcoat.
Orbital is a must.
After looking at the ad for Harbor Freight the 3000 RPM seems way to fast.
Hugh

[TLightning]

I guess I'm old fashioned and don't really trust those polisher/sanders. I do it all by hand: truck, car, boat and Montana.

[bncinwv]

I bought it and have already had to try it out on the big blue stripe on the side of the boat. It is a variable speed so setting the speed to slow for buffing seemed to do the trick. The biggest drawback (at least for me) was the weight of the machine. The boat is on the trailer in the driveway so the stripe I was experimenting on varied from chest level at the stern to above my head at the bow of the boat. It definitely does a good job in conjunction with the paste wax that I was using (Maquiars - not sure how to spell that). I could not even begin to imagine holding that beast for the amount of time to do anything to the Montana, so I am back to my old philosophy, namely cleaning about once a year at the season beginning. And my arms hurt from the little that I did. Still have a bunch of white gelcoat on the boat that needs polished though.
Bingo

[Trailer Trash 2]

I believe the saying goes you get what you pay for.
I prefer the Porter Cable Orbit Sander 6" varuable speed, you start out on #3, then go #5.

http://www.deltaportercable.com/Prod...4272.4288.4296

You must be carful when using a standard buffer not to push to hard or leave it in one spot to long, if you do it will burn the paint or gel finish.