will a random orbit sander work as a buffer?

[cantspell]

Hello, for my birthday, my GF was nice enough to get me a 5" random orbit sander, now it works great on wood, but what i really wanted it for was to use as a buffer, or should I say also as a buffer. But, much to our surprise, it does not spin, it just sort of vibrates....so i presume that this won't work as a buffer - correct?

 

[reichhartkg]

Most random orbital sanders just vibrate when they're idle but once you put pressure on them, they spin in addition to vibrating. They should work quite well as a buffer if you can find a buffing pad.

 

[cantspell]

OK, well i tried it, and it didn't seem to spin...is this possible, or is it just that i didn't do it right?

 

[reichhartkg]

What brand is it?

 

[rocket 5979]

Yeah all the randoms i used spun. I think the one i used last was a Milwaukee but dont quote me on that.

 

[cantspell]

It's a black and Decker, but not a cordless, a little more heavy duty than that. It even says 0/12,000 opm, but i swear, i don't see the dam thing spinning, even when i sand somehing with it, it just seems to vibrate? And you would think you might see swirl marks or something?

Also, if indeed it would/does work, the sand paper pad that it has is velcro'd on, do they have polisher/buffer pad that attach the same way?

 

[reichhartkg]

The pad should vibrate and spin. It shouldn't leave swirl marks. The point of the random (vibrating) part is to eliminate swirl marks, which is why it would make such a good buffer.

Try sanding a piece of scrap wood. The vibrating alone isn't enough to do any actual sanding. If it's not working, take it back.

They don't make velcro buffer pads that i know of but you should be able to get a generic one that has a string around the edge and just tie it on.

 

[Tommy98016]

I used to work in a detailing shop and we used this kind of a buffer all the time. We called it a orbiter buffer, different from a high speed buffer. The orbital style buffer is good for finishing work. For example we would use a high speed buffer to get out scratches and do the 1st round of compounding or waxing. When this was complete we would hand wax the car and remove the wax w/ the orbiter. It work's very well using it this way. The orbital buffer does not spin like a high speed buffer and will not get out scuffs and scratches like a high speed. Also I have seen buffer pads for these kind of buffers at Home Depot or Sears. Hope This is helpful.

Tom