Polishing with the ETS EC 150/3 EQ? What pads to use?

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

Hi,
We started waxing and hand polishing the first project we finished since buying an ETS EC 150/3 EQ sander, and it occurs to me that the new sander may be a good buffing and wax polishing tool.

What do you think? Is this sander appropriate for polishing wax on flat wood surfaces that have been varnished, machine sanded to 400, wet sanded by hand to 600, and micro meshed by hand further into the 1000s. We sometimes buff with rubbing compounds as well. The wax is applied and polished by hand, and this seems like one of the most laborious parts of the job.

We use McCloskey "Man O' War" Spar Varnish as the base and Mylands Traditional Wax Polish as the final layer on our work.

All the work is done as a hobby for our personal use.

If the ETS sander is suitable, what Festool brand polishing pad products should I acquire to have a full range of capability?

Previously, the only power polishing tools I have used on applied finishes were low quality automotive style buffing appliances as used on automobiles.

I have never polished a varnished wood finish with a powered device, but the precision operation of the ETS EC 150/3 temps me to try.

If you have any experience and thoughts about this subject I would appreciate the opportunity to learn what you know.

Thank you.

 

[Svar]

Orbital sanders make poor polishers.

 

[Cheese]

Orbital sanders make poor polishers.

While that may be truthful... it’s still better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick ...

If the job was predicated on elbow power versus sander power...I’d go with the later and evaluate the results attained and then go forward and then make a decision.

 

[AlexThePalex]

There are dedicated polishers cheaper than a pad for the ETS 150, I agree with svar, a random orbit sander is a poor polisher.

 

[Svar]

Orbital sanders make poor polishers.

If the job was predicated on elbow power versus sander power...I’d go with the later and evaluate the results attained and then go forward and then make a decision.

It is actually faster by hand. Random orbit is nearly useless for this application. Soft and thick pad dumpens swirly motion and very little is ransferred to the surface. You need a polisher or Rotex.

 

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

OK. Thank you everyone.

A quick Google search set me on the right track. If I want to polish with a powered device, I should look at all the nice dedicated polishing tools that exist in today's marketplace.

Thank you.