hand held drill...or 1/2 hp buffer?

[shine]

hello all. my first polishing task was a set of suzuki sportbike rims,not just
the smooth outer edges might i add.(great first choice )anyway i learned real fast that the rims would take some time to complete.i was despretley
trying to have them completed in time for the 03 riding season.i was able to get somewhat of a fair shine using a 3/8 drill at 1500rpm & 4 in wheels over the course of the summer i have progressed to a 1/2hp
electric motor with one of caswells long shaft adapters.(works great)
i would like hit the rims again in the off season with 1/2hp buffer but not sure if this is the way to go about it.or should i just go back to the drill?
has anyone other than the pro shops attempted something other than the drill?

[marsfrogie]

CamaroMike said he holds his wheels up to a stationary buffer, so I suppose it would work just fine if you have decent endurance. A lot of people, use a flex shaft. Flex shaft is my first choice.

[shine]

thanks for the tip,i did try a flex shaft on my 3/8 drill when i first started the rims.i had no luck,i don't know if it was poor technique or poor product
but all the flex shaft did was kink and break at the end you install into the drill chuck.that was at 1500 rpm,i don't know if i'm brave enough to try that at 3000 rpm. maybe someone has more insight thanks marsfroggie.

[marsfrogie]

I do agree that you probably had a very light duty flex shaft. They will kink up if they don't have enough of a shell. An angle grinder can be modified to work as well, you will be getting around 8000RPMS, but they tend to overheat.

[shine]

an angle grinder,you mean the little hand held ones that run off of compressed air?if so, i guess you would have to stop and oil them every 10-15 min.

[shine]

i don't want to mention the name of the supplier i purchased the flex shaft
from,but all the other products i've purchased have been up to par!!!

[spydersac]

rather a angle grinder you can also get a vari speed electric polisher , usually from 600 - 3000 rpm most comon in body shops and such for buffing paint , i dont think caswell has them that ive seen ?