rotary polisher under $100

skennelly

Looking to buy a new buffer / polisher.  Trying to keep it under or around $100.

What does everyone use?

reneechris14

I use the cheap one from harbor frieght this way when I put to much pressure on it it slows down. I use my brother's makita once and I think I could burn right though the gel coat with enough pressure. That being said I paid more for the pads then I did the buffer. Cutting cream, polish and wax is about $30 a bottle but labor is free.😎

skennelly

I have a HF one and it's truly garbage.

Ian

I have 2 Ryobi units - the 10" and 8" units. Both are the 18V units that complement my other 18V tools. Very happy with them and can do spot buffing as needed if not near mains power - and safer.

Cableguy Greg

I had the HF one and I now use it as a wheel chock. I used it one spring and it slowed down like what was stated above. I ended up with a nice DeWalt one and it is great.

aero3113

I have the Harbor Freight one and haven’t had any issues yet..... I only used it once on the boat and once on my Healey. 

LaRea

Don't forget to consider weight.  Your shoulders will thank you.

diggin2day1

Porta-Cable variable speed... upgraded from my Harbor Freight last year and it was worth it. 

Liberty44140

Love my Mikita variable, but for under $100 I’ve used a wen variable from Home Depot and it was more than fine. Agree on harbor freight. 

mattie

Dewalt DWP849X 7-in polisher.
I went through 3-4 regular polishers before I wised up and got a good one. As Cableguy said......at some point you don’t need more wheelchocks.

GMSLITHO

I have a Milwaukee Works great but I think it was a few more than $100 

Willhound

Porter Cable variable. Love it. Bought it from a car guy that sold off his cars. Got it and a whole big box of different pads for $80 CDN.

skennelly

This one?

https://www.ebay.com/p/Porter-Cable-7346SP-6-Inch-Random-Orbit-Sander-with-Polishing-Pad/691288766?iid=303076089538

Willhound

@skennelly that sort of looks like it. I think mine's a bit bulkier looking but maybe they just changed the design a bit. In Florida for a couple of weeks so can't go and check.

Dude_Himself

Can't beat the Makita. I paid almost $500 for 4G of various compounds, polishes, waxes, pads, and the Makita buffer in 2012. I still have 2G+ of the Presto products and the boat looks great every year. When I'm out I'm going to by a HVLP sprayer and Awlgrip the hull pretty again - then I won't have as much gelcoat to buff.

F1100

Get a Makita... I got one used at auction.... It will literally rip your arm off with the torque!!