Polisher for my boat

[Atom Ant 0]

Well yesterday I finally bit the bullet and dragged out my Ryobi, grinder/polisher. It's one that goes from 1500 - 6000 rpm. I got the boat all set up and started working 4 years of oxidation off. It was bloody hard work but the oxidation is coming off and the paint underneath ain't too bad! After 45 minutes and approx 700mm x 400mm later, I heard a strange sound coming out of the Ryobi and then saw some small bits come flying out. They were a whitish colour & looked like they were supposed to still be inside it somewhere. It kept going but started to get hot so I gave up. I took it to the powertool centre to repair it and they said to not waste my time or money fixing it. They said that as a grinder it was ok but that it would never stand up to hard polishing like I was doing even though it supposedly was made to do it. Instead buy a new Makita 9227CB polisher for $479. (Ironically they have another branch selling the exact same thing on Trademe for $439 on a buy now) They said the pro's use this model. That would still leave me without a grinder and occasionally it would be good to have one. They said to go to the Warehouse and get a small Bosch 5" for a hundy for the small amount of DIY work I need it to do.

 

So a few questions:

1. Are they right and should I throw it away?

2. Should I have it repaired and keep it for grinding only. Or is the cost of repair not worth it?

3. If the answer to 1 is Yes, what should I get as a replacement? Is what they're offering me the right thing? It's gonna have to work bloody hard.

[Guest]

1 - Can you suss or do you know exactly what went flying out? Sometimes it's worth the effort to fix it, ask how much?

2 - Again run a cost benefit analysis and get your people to fax someone while you have lunch discussing moving forward and who gets full credit.

3 - I run a twin quality power tool programme. Buy at the cheaper end for occasional low duty gear (and keep this in mind while using the gear) but spend the coin on real good sh*t for stuff I use a lot and/or hard. So have a combo of med duty B&D (mostly) and at the top end german made (they do china and germany made and there is a difference, not so much in price though) Bosch and Festool. The Festool is the duck knuts but it'd wanna be at the price.

[rigger 47]

Went thru 2 orbital sanders on a job, they warranty them for 2 years and were happy to replace the 2 that failed (Bunnings), the 3rd on is still going strong and has had more abuse than I expected, I only piad for one of them the 2nd and 3rd were warranty replacements.

You could try super cheap auto for a polisher and just return it when it burns out for another one, if it cannot polish one small yacht it is not fit for purpose.

 

I have found some of the cheap gear can take the abuse but it is not accurate, so for drilling / cutting I will spend more coin on better gear.

[Guest]

Yeah, work that warranty!

Just take it to a different store each if multiple blow ups are occuring.

I took a cheap electric chainsaw back under warranty that I was using to cut up lead from my old keel. The clutch burned out. They did mention when it got repaired that maybe I should sharpen the chain more often!

The chainsaw was the most effective powertool by a factor of 100 at least.

Scary at first but hot knife through butter springs to mind.

Slowing the cut was the hardest part to preserve the clutch!!

[MrWolf 0]

Well yesterday I finally bit the bullet and dragged out my Ryobi, grinder/polisher. It's one that goes from 1500 - 6000 rpm. I got the boat all set up and started working 4 years of oxidation off. It was bloody hard work but the oxidation is coming off and the paint underneath ain't too bad! After 45 minutes and approx 700mm x 400mm later, I heard a strange sound coming out of the Ryobi and then saw some small bits come flying out. They were a whitish colour & looked like they were supposed to still be inside it somewhere. It kept going but started to get hot so I gave up. I took it to the powertool centre to repair it and they said to not waste my time or money fixing it. They said that as a grinder it was ok but that it would never stand up to hard polishing like I was doing even though it supposedly was made to do it. Instead buy a new Makita 9227CB polisher for $479. (Ironically they have another branch selling the exact same thing on Trademe for $439 on a buy now) They said the pro's use this model. That would still leave me without a grinder and occasionally it would be good to have one. They said to go to the Warehouse and get a small Bosch 5" for a hundy for the small amount of DIY work I need it to do.

 

So a few questions:

1. Are they right and should I throw it away?

2. Should I have it repaired and keep it for grinding only. Or is the cost of repair not worth it?

3. If the answer to 1 is Yes, what should I get as a replacement? Is what they're offering me the right thing? It's gonna have to work bloody hard.

 

I read this and went straight out to the workshop. We recently had a bunch of Bosch polishers that were just useless, we recently upgraded to new ones which are just brilliant.

 

they are Makita 9227CB and knock the socks off any others we had tried.

The polishing speed is critical, and these things are saving us hours !

 

As a heads up I get these off the Power tool Supa centre in Glenfield, ring them for a price, ask for Murray !

 

I presume you know to use Farecla G3

 

We also use ours with a soft pad on it, can sand with 40g Stick n sand discs

[Atom Ant 0]

Wow Mr Wolf cheers for that! I was using Farecla G3 which I bought from Wairau Paint Centre. Quite good stuff I must say. I also tried using Kleenashine Oxidation Remover, which isn't quite as good but alot cheaper. The Farecla stuff is the go, although I think I'll need at least 4 tubes of the stuff to do the whole boat. The Power Tool Supa Centre is where I went and they quoted me the $479. I see online that the same thing can be bought from them online for $399 so perhaps that's the go. Good to have local recommendation. Cheers!

[Guest]

I read this and went straight out to the workshop. We recently had a bunch of Bosch polishers that were just useless,

Had the same with some Bosch grinders. Had one that got thrashed and lasted years but finally blew up. Got another and it died fast. Sussed and the 1st one was made in Germany, the second in China. Hunted around and found another german made one, in a pile at M10 which were mostly chinese made. That last german one is being thrash and going sweeeeeeet.

 

All 3 are the same model and look identical bar the 'made in' bit. The german made ones are heavier though.

[Atom Ant 0]

Well I've bitten the bullet (twice in two days!) and bought a Makita 9227C from the Power Tool Centre online and saved myself over $100 and it'll be delivered to me! Sounds like a 25% discount to me and that's great!

[Guest Dry Reach]

Went thru 2 orbital sanders on a job, they warranty them for 2 years and were happy to replace the 2 that failed (Bunnings), the 3rd on is still going strong and has had more abuse than I expected, I only piad for one of them the 2nd and 3rd were warranty replacements.

You could try super cheap auto for a polisher and just return it when it burns out for another one, if it cannot polish one small yacht it is not fit for purpose.

 

I have found some of the cheap gear can take the abuse but it is not accurate, so for drilling / cutting I will spend more coin on better gear.

 

 

18 years ago i brought my Rupes random orbital for a "not so" lazy $500. and its still going strong with only i pad replacement.

 

My makita Router was the best money could by 20 years ago and has cost me zero since.

 

Buy quality.

[wheels 544]

NOOOOOooooooooooo, don't buy a Makita!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nah just kidding

Makita is OK. I don't think there gear is as good as years ago. I like DeWalt. I have had a great run with all their gear and I hammer tools. Makita have never lasted for me. Although there are two ranges of Makita, the Weekender and the pro range. So make sure you get the Blue Pro range.

Bosch has never lasted for me either, except a very old Drill that just doesn't seem to want to die no matter how much I abuse it.

The white bits that came out, I wouldn't mind betting are the fan blades. If it runs OK, then keep using it till it dies.

To late now seeing as you got the Makita, but if you use the polisher part once in say five years, then I would have thought trying to ge the job done with the bosh would have been better. Or buying a cheapy piece a crap you keep taking back to M10 etc when it burns out. If you polish lots like Mr Wolf, then a decent machine is a no brainer.

Oh and Feestool is reaaal nice. Expensive, but will last a life time.

[MrWolf 0]

Bit more info for you.

 

We use a blob of Farecla G3 then spread it out with water by brush to about 300 x 300 at a time.

 

Use a waffle head polishing mop, they are black polishing mops made of black foam rubber stuff with kind of bumps and hollows on them.

 

You will not spend 45 minutes doing 700 x 400, that is for sure.

 

If you aren't sure what I'm talking about drop in to work (Hall Spars on Foundry Rd and I'll show you)

[Atom Ant 0]

Cheers Mr Wolf will gladly accept all advice and will drop in. I bought velcro backed flat surfaced foam pads from Wairau Paint Centre. About 2 - 3 inches thick I think. They velcro on to yellow plastic thingies that screw onto the spindle. I think I saw the type of pads you're talking about on the Festool site.

 

Wheels the 9227C is a blue one and the pro's use it apparently.

 

Cheers everyone, this stuff is what makes this online community just tops!

[Atom Ant 0]

First off, thank you Mr Wolf for giving me a quick "how to" tutorial. It worked a treat. The new Makita is great. Very grunty and far easier to use than the old machine.

 

Actually I've worked out the most cost effective way to get the results I want. First off I use Grunt Kleenashine as it gets rid of the "top layers" of the oxidation & then I use the Farecla G3 to work off the "embedded" oxidation. (The Kleenashine is much cheaper than the G3) It's getting absolutely all of it off that takes forever. The photos below show the result of around 3 hours work. It's killing me as I'm seriously out of condition but it'll be worth it in the end...

[Guest]

OUI, STOP THAT SH*T NOW!!!!!

 

I don't need you going any faster, Thank you

 

Is looking good though. When your done just tinkle and I'll give you my berth number, just do the topsides please

[wheels 544]

It's not just the faster you have to worry about, it's the blinding flash as he passes. Arrrgh my eyes my eyes, I can't see the mark.

[Atom Ant 0]

5 hours elapsed polishing time with my flash Makita. It's killing me!

 

A well meaning elderly gent came up to me while I was doing this and told me that I was making it hard on myself. A mate of his had the same problem and just wiped it all off with Simple Green. I tell you I'd sh*t myself if I found out it was that easy!

[smithy09 50]

You're going to be the reddest red boat on the harbour AA. Nice work! Simple green huh?? Too easy!!

[wheels 544]

I doubt it. Sounds to Simple. I can't see how a detergent could remove the oxidation when it takes a cutting compound to normally do so. But OK, lets say it does. The other issue would be that you do not get a shine. It is the Polishing with the very fine cutting compound that creates the high lustre on the surface. Removing the oxide might allow more red to come through, but it ain't going to make it shine.

[smithy09 50]

I said that VERY tongue in cheek Wheels.. Nothing could be that easy!! I don't believe it for a minute!

[wheels 544]

Yeah and I was actually going to reply very tongue in cheek about those that just went through all that hard work, finding out the same info you heard was true, jumping over the side with the anchor wrapped around their ankles. But I thought maybe that would be poor taste.