Using orbital sander for polishing?

Using orbital sander for polishing?

Author
Discussion

gmaz

Original Poster:

4,615 posts

217 months

Saturday 17th February
quotequote all
I usually hand-polish my car after a wash, with Autoglym super resin, but I was wondering if there is any good reason not to use an orbital sander and I picked up a cheap parkside unit from Lidl, the one below, but I paid £25.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parkside-Cordless-Comfort...

And ordered polishing pads

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09WJX64MW?psc=1&r...

Will this work OK? Any tips to ensure a decent job?

jfdi

1,137 posts

182 months

Saturday 17th February
quotequote all
Even the low speed is far to fast for polishing. You'll end up burning your paint.

Forester1965

2,781 posts

10 months

Saturday 17th February
quotequote all
"Darling, I'm just going to try the new orbital sander to polish the car"



20 minutes later...


gmaz

Original Poster:

4,615 posts

217 months

Sunday 18th February
quotequote all
jfdi said:
Even the low speed is far to fast for polishing. You'll end up burning your paint.
Yeah, low speed is 3000, which seems to be at the high end for a polisher. I guess I'll have to try it on the wife's car first.

Novexx

353 posts

81 months

Tuesday 20th February
quotequote all
gmaz said:
I guess I'll have to try it on the wife's car first.
Quality!!

drmotorsport

812 posts

250 months

Thursday 22nd February
quotequote all
A DA unit is the usual place to start if you want to try machine polishing and waxing, about £90+ for the unit and then you can go nuts on backing pads etc

Bluevanman

7,858 posts

200 months

Thursday 22nd February
quotequote all
gmaz said:
Yeah, low speed is 3000, which seems to be at the high end for a polisher. I guess I'll have to try it on the wife's car first.
It's the orbit you need to worry about as much as the rpm .
A DA polisher generally has a much wider orbit than a DA sander so you're not in the same spot for as long.
Personally I wouldn't use a DA sander for polishing ever