Tod,

Even if you could get a buffing pad attached,  the  angle grinder runs too
fast and will create too much heat on the surface.  Although not an expert,
I gained a lot of experience polishing Airstream aluminum.

When getting equipped up for the aluminum polishing project, I considered
the many options available.  For polishing (as opposed to compounding) I
bought a Cyclo two head random orbital polisher ($200).  I bought this
because the experts recommended it,  but I now think I could have done just
as good a job at much less expense if I just bought a polishing pad for my
Porter-Cable RO sander.

For compounding I bought an 8" compounding pad that chucks into a Milwaukee
1/2" drill (850 RPMs).  The key to compounding is low RPMs and high
horsepower.  The HP does the work, but the surface must not get hot.  I
don't know what happens to fiberglass when it heats up, but aluminum will
turn blue and stay that way forever.

I polished my boat with the RO polisher, so I have no experience with
straight spin  method, but many on this list have had good results with this
method.  If I were starting over and just doing the boat I would start with
the $25 compounding pad and the 1/2" drill.  Second, I would try the
polishing pad for the RO sander.

Rick Langer
M15 #337

> Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 19:13:37 -0400
> From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: RE: M_Boats: Penetrol
> To: "'For and about Montgomery Sailboats'"
> <[email protected]>
> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> The closest thing I have is a Dewalt high-speed angle grinder, but I don't
> see any sort of reference to the ability to put a buffing bonnet on it.
>
> http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=145
>
> I'm sure I'll be doing a lot of serious buffing, so if it's not too much
> trouble, if you could point me in the right direction I'd be grateful.
>
> Tod
>
> M17 #408
> BuscaBrisas



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