Festool Polishes - Which Ones to Use?

[mike_aa]

There are four different polishes in grits 5,000; 8,000; 9,000; and 11,000.

Besides grit level what are the differences between the 8,000 and 9,000?  Which of the four are recommended for different uses such as unfinished and finished wood, paint, and plastics?

Is there a general guide somewhere on their uses?

Thanks, Mike A.

 

[Chubby]

Is this any good to you Mike:

https://www.festool.co.uk/Service/Downloads/Documents/Catalogue_12-13_PDF/11_Surface_finishing.pdf

 

[mike_aa]

Is this any good to you Mike:

https://www.festool.co.uk/Service/Downloads/Documents/Catalogue_12-13_PDF/11_Surface_finishing.pdf

Thanks, Chubby!  That really answers a lot of questions.  I like that it also has information on the various pads and some on the SurFix, too.

To answer my own question, from what I read so far, it appears that the 9,000 compound is one-step, in that it also includes a sealant, whereas the 8,000 is just a polishing compound.  Good to know.

Thanks, again! [big grin]

 

[guitar_ed]

I use the 11000 on finished wood, nitro & poly.  I find it works quite well.

edg

 

[FOGNewbie]

Is this any good to you Mike:

https://www.festool.co.uk/Service/Downloads/Documents/Catalogue_12-13_PDF/11_Surface_finishing.pdf

Thanks, Chubby!  That really answers a lot of questions.  I like that it also has information on the various pads and some on the SurFix, too.

To answer my own question, from what I read so far, it appears that the 9,000 compound is one-step, in that it also includes a sealant, whereas the 8,000 is just a polishing compound.  Good to know.

Thanks, again! [big grin]

+1 on the thank you!

Can't get the MPA 9000, nor the Finish cleaner in North America. Yes the ole NAIA  bug bites again. If you look hard, you can get 11000, sealant, and the Micro fiber cloth set though.

 

[tbellemare]

Can't get the MPA 9000

I sell all of these...

MPA 9000

Finish cleaner in North America

493066

If you look hard, you can get 11000, sealant

492427

and the Micro fiber cloth set

493068

They are all readily available in North America as are other things that relate.

Tom

 

[FOGNewbie]

Thanks Tom. Obviously I need to become more familiar with your website! :-[ [embarassed] I am glad to be wrong. Expect an order soon! I just assumed that by looking at the few places I'm familiar with, that it wasn't available.

BTW Do you sell sample packs/ individual abrasives for the RO90. I would like to order some of the lower grit platin pads, but not sure I need 15 of each.

Again, Thanks for correcting me!

 

[mike_aa]

FogNewbie,
Tom is the go to guy for smaller assortments of abrasives.  He has a Platin assortment for the RO90 (and RO150) as well as other assortments of granat for various sanders.

Mike A.

 

[tbellemare]

I have all sorts of sanding assortments that are already defined. The WOW assortments have become popular as starter sets. To find them, just put wow in the search tool.

If you don't see what you want, send me an email defining what you'd like and I'll reply with a quote if I can accommodate.

Tom

 

[FOGNewbie]

Thanks Tom. Just placed an order! Will most likely be back for the RO 90 Granat assortment. Wish I had paid asked about this earlier. Just bought some Platin for my RO 150. Now I know!

Thanks again!

 

[AlexThePalex]

What's so good about the expensive micro fiber cloths over standard cotton cloths?

 

[leakyroof]

What's so good about the expensive micro fiber cloths over standard cotton cloths?

  For me, I find that they remove waxes and polishes much better than plain cotton. Also, with the right cleaner, they clean up better and lose what ever material you were working with out of the fibers much easier than cotton so you end up with a fairly fresh, un-contaminated Micro-Fiber cloth after cleaning.

 

[Nat X]

I've found no reason to even bother tracking down Festool branded polishing compounds. The Meguiar's Mirror Glaze line you can pick up at any Auto Zone performs every bit as well, if not better, on all manner of plastics and polyurethanes. Menzerna's good, too, but suffers from the same problem of not being available anywhere.

And good microfiber cloths don't have to be expensive at all. These guys resell some really amazing ones from Korea that are better than anything I've ever paid three times as much for at Woodcraft: http://theragcompany.com/

 

[Vondawg]

Rag Company is great....compare two micro fiber cloth =$30 to 10 for $20
Good quality polish is key and the 9000 is exactly that......my$.02

 

[Billedis]

Costco has micro fiber cloths 30 for $16.99.  I think Sam's has them for the same price as well.  Bill

 

[waho6o9]

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=microfiber+cloth

4 for around 2.50 USD
[attachthumb=1]

 

[Laminator]

I like knowing the grit # as it seems to satisfy a curiosity I always have with other polishes, even though they (Meguiar's) always seem to work fine.

 

[sae]

Costco has micro fiber cloths 30 for $16.99.  I think Sam's has them for the same price as well.  Bill

Costco switched to their own Kirkland branded stuff in the past year or two, I'm not too pleased w/ the new offering. They're wayyy more dusty than the old ones.

 

[Kev]

I'm quite fussy with microfibre cloths ... they vary greatly in quality and purpose. Certainly buy the cheapest by volume if you notice little difference yourself.

just be aware that many cheap microfibre cloths have the edges overlocked with not so soft nylon (and other) thread that can scratch your fine finish.