I found myself running at about 1800-2000 RPM's over most of the boat but having the extra power when needed was definitely a time saver.

The only drawback I could mention is that this tool is not friendly about accepting generic polishing and cutting pads produced by "other" manufacturers. The Dewalt mounting bolt for the flex backplate leaves few options other than to use DeWalt pads unless you want to use the drawstring type, and I have been unable to find any drawstring pads worth purchasing.

30 of 31 found the following review helpful:

DeWalt Polisher  Jul 05, 2000
By Jarrad Krueger
This is the best polisher/buffer i have ever used. I own a detailing company and this is the only high speed buffer we use. Very well built. We have one that is over 4 years old, and still works like it is brand new. The variable speeds make this buffer great for beginning polishers and expert detailers. A must buy.

20 of 22 found the following review helpful:

foam & wool pads  Oct 09, 2001

To the person who has problems with , and refered to tie pads.
Any major paint wholesaler can sell you a kit that will replace
the pad with a velcro based plate to which you can place a foam
or wood pad with a touch and all work great.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:

Detailer's Choice  Nov 11, 2011
By somobeda
I have used this buffer almost daily in my mobile detailing business for the last four months and it has performed flawlessly. In fact, I use a 2000 watt power inverter to power it and it works perfectly (many variable speed tools don't work well with power inverters). This is a PROFESSIONAL grade buffer! It has the power and variable speed range to correct any imperfections that can be corrected with a high speed rotary buffer. Make sure you don't forget to purchase the velcro backing plate. Meguiar's W65 Self-Centering 8-Inch Rotary Buffer Backing Plate

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

Why did I wait so long to buy one?  Jun 07, 2011
By andy
I purchased this because my beloved '97 Nissan Maxima is closing in on the 1/4 million mile mark and the paint is...commensurate with its age. I was tired of using the old Sears random orbital buffer. And the clay bar, for all its wonders, did little to erase some of the water damage my wife (bless her soul) accumulated during her tenure as driver of this fine automobile.

Now I've tried other orbital polishers. Some of them were as feeble as the price I paid for them. Using the Mothers buffing ball/power drill combo was a disaster waiting to happen. So I took the plunge and spent about $150 for this Dewalt polisher.

Oh, my gosh. Right out of the box, this machine impressed me. Its substantial heft, combined with a feel that simply exudes "quality" left me almost(!) speechless. This machine is professional, folks. No doubt about it.

I got the wool polishing pad on quickly, and proceeded to try out a test area on my car. I began with the 1k RPM setting and let the machine do the work. Even at low speed, this polisher has the amps and the torque to quickly heat up your finish--so I proceeded with caution. By the other side of polishing my Max, I was up to around 1800 RPM and kicking rain etching/tree sap butt. The finish it left behind was better than glass. The rain spots were barely discernible in reflected sunlight. With a little more courage and a slightly more abrasive polishing compound (I was using Meguiar's wax/cleaner) I could easily see these remnants disappearing completely.

At the risk of sounding persnickity, I will say that this machine tends to run a little hot. I periodically gave it a rest between sections, but it builds up a bit of heat. I'm not at all worried about burning anything out, just more of a FYI to potential buyers.

The features of this DeWalt polisher are great. The variable speed and locking trigger are a godsend. I'm also left handed, so being able to mount the handle on either side was a big plus. It makes quick work of what would otherwise be a laborious and time consuming process. All in all, I'm wondering why I didn't get one of these things sooner.

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