What are some "must haves" for a efective polishing?

[y2kgtp]

I'm going to pick up a few items to make my life easier for polishing. Besides a compressor (which I have already) what else is good for a small "shop"? (i.e. garage)

I was thinking of a Craftsman 1.5hp buffer for 150$ & a small floor blast Cabinet from HF for about 199$ to start....

[jimcarry]

this page should help also ther is a book on polishing that can be downloaded for free here http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/index.html

[alabama_lowlife]

this flexible shaft grinder is great instead of using a dremel. it's more powerful and the handpiece is much smaller and easier to manuver than a dremel.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40432

[y2kgtp]

Originally Posted by alabama_lowlife

this flexible shaft grinder is great instead of using a dremel. it's more powerful and the handpiece is much smaller and easier to manuver than a dremel.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40432

Nice, I may just get that.....

[baz]

if you have compressor get yourself a die grinder , stronger then the flexible shat and a bigger chuck to fit 1/4 inch accessories. also get yourself a da sander

[y2kgtp]

I currently have in my "to get" list:

Buffing supplies:
Buffing machine 1 1/2 HP(Sears) $150.00
Buffer Stand $30.00
FLEXIBLE SHAFT GRINDER AND CARVER (HF) $69.99
Air Tools (Harbor Freight) $60.00
Buffing supplies (wheels, grinders) $100.00

Power coating gun 50KV System (Caswell) $229.00
Used Electric oven (Aprox) $200.00
Power coat supplies (power, filters, cups) $100.00
Materials to build Powercoat spray booth $100.00

Blast Cabinet (Harbor Freight) $199.00

Blast material $50.00


I am going to get into Powercoating as well, thought I would throw that in the mix as well.

I like the idea of the "Industrial Flexible Shafts"


but not for $353.57 for the cheapest one.....I'll use a drill or the "FLEXIBLE SHAFT GRINDER AND CARVER"
as recommended above.....for 70$....

http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/indflex_shaft.html

[sss620]

hey everyone,
i'm new here but i've been buffing as a hobby for myself and friends for awhile. i started off as a pro auto detailer and evolved into a metal polishing enthusiast. i noticed some members are getting into it by buying some expensive equipment but here's my experience over the years. the bench grinder and flexshaft is a great tool to have when doing small or medium handheld items but not flexible for bigger items like aluminum 16"-20" rims, fuel cells, etc., for which i specialize in. i personally use a modified 7" polisher/grinder with 6" buffing wheels. it's inexpensive and the all around flexibility of this tool is tremendous as i can get it into any angle of the rim i'm buffing. using only 2 compounds the results are mirrorlike. all this after first sanding with a 'mouse' sander and various grits.
what i'm trying to say is it's unnecessary to spend alot on equipment to get the same results with less. all of my stuff including wheels, compounds, sandpapers, are all from sears. i have a small shop but the results on the finished part looks like it was done in a big shop, just ask my customers(their reactions are priceless!).
the next thing i would like to pursue is chrome powdercoating but that's another story.......j