m5allen
12-09-2009, 09:38 AM
Would it be possible to use a variable speed angle grinder as a rotary polisher for detailing?
I just recently did a detail on my boat for the first time in 6 years. The gelcoat was really chalky and oxidized, so I needed something with a little more cutting power than my Porter Cable 7424. I borrowed my neighbors Milwaukee rotary and it did the job but that thing is a big, heavy beast and I wasn’t a big fan of using the 8” wool pad. I like my 5.5” pads I use on my PC much better because they can get into the tighter spaces and contours a lot easier.
The wife asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I do need an angle grinder anyway. So I thought I could kill two birds with one stone and get a variable speed angle grinder that I can use for detailing as well.
It looks like if I use the lower speed settings on the angle grinder (starts out at 2,800 RPM), I’ll be in the same speed range that the rotary polishers spin at (1K - 3K). The angle grinder has a 5/8” shaft and autogeek sells hook and loop backing plates that should fit this shaft. So I guess I could buy a backing plate and use the 5.5” or 6.5"pads. In addition, the variable speed angle grinder is smaller and lighter than the traditional rotary polishers. Seems to me like this should work – just wanted to get the experts’ opinions.
Below is the grinder I am looking at.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005Q7BE/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00002246L&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1RQ7ZKP0GHH7GPVXAZE8 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005Q7BE/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00002246L&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1RQ7ZKP0GHH7GPVXAZE8)
I just recently did a detail on my boat for the first time in 6 years. The gelcoat was really chalky and oxidized, so I needed something with a little more cutting power than my Porter Cable 7424. I borrowed my neighbors Milwaukee rotary and it did the job but that thing is a big, heavy beast and I wasn’t a big fan of using the 8” wool pad. I like my 5.5” pads I use on my PC much better because they can get into the tighter spaces and contours a lot easier.
The wife asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I do need an angle grinder anyway. So I thought I could kill two birds with one stone and get a variable speed angle grinder that I can use for detailing as well.
It looks like if I use the lower speed settings on the angle grinder (starts out at 2,800 RPM), I’ll be in the same speed range that the rotary polishers spin at (1K - 3K). The angle grinder has a 5/8” shaft and autogeek sells hook and loop backing plates that should fit this shaft. So I guess I could buy a backing plate and use the 5.5” or 6.5"pads. In addition, the variable speed angle grinder is smaller and lighter than the traditional rotary polishers. Seems to me like this should work – just wanted to get the experts’ opinions.
Below is the grinder I am looking at.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005Q7BE/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00002246L&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1RQ7ZKP0GHH7GPVXAZE8 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005Q7BE/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00002246L&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1RQ7ZKP0GHH7GPVXAZE8)