Buffer/Polisher advice

I'm a fan of buying the "real version" of tools whenever possible for anything I do remotely often. However, I did buy the HF 7" polisher a few years ago. It's done 4 boats now (working for hours with multiple rounds of compounds and variable speeds) and I'm pretty amazed at how nice it is. The variable speed works really well and it just keeps chugging along. On sale you can usually get these for 25 bones. For something as infrequent as boat polishing I think it's a valid purchase as I wouldn't use it for anything else.

HF 7" Polisher

TX Foilhead wrote: You need a big rotary polisher to bring gel coat back from the dead not a small orbital.   The ones at HF are OK if you don't expect to do more than 1 boat. Mine has done the boat 2 times along with 2 full size trucks, I consider everything after the 1st full boat detail to be a bonus.

Well, the gel coats not dead. It's in good shape besides the bottom from the trailer bunker falling off while trying to pull the boat out of the water. It got scratched up bad.... I mean baaaaad. I just wanted to get under the boat and clean that up, also just shine the whole boat up. I'm not looking to make it a show room looking boat. Just want to make the boat shiny for my dad. That's why I thought a small polisher would be just fine. But back to the bottom. It's not destroyed, just scratched pretty bad. Our friend said I'd be able to get under and buff the scratches out. Is that true or is more work required?

DrCC wrote: Have we seen pics of this Orange '72? Don't waist your money on a cheap buffer. I burned-up 4 cheap polishers on a 66 Mustang.

http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=5963&sort=&pagenum=1

Can someone teach me how to name the link something like My mustang? I looked and couldn't find how to. Also how to paste and name a YouTube video something like Boat launch.

Gary S wrote: No your not going to want to go that route. You might have to wet sand first,600,800,1000 etct then polish with 3m products. I'll try to find the old post on how to do it. Going to get her cleaned up for Green Lake

Thanks Gary, sadly no I'm not. Don't think I'm going to Green Lake .

I'm looking to buy a polisher from harbor freight. It's a 6 inch compact palm polisher. I'm trying to keep it in the low price range. Is this a good buffer, does any one have knowledge about this? Also what are some good compounds to use for my boat? I want to get the best results possible.