Buffer/Polisher Tool

I'm looking for a standard automatic buffer or polisher that you would use on your car. Are there types that let you do sanding if you change out the buffing pad with some sandpaper? I don't mind wet-sanding by hand, I'd probably sand off too much anyway with a tool but I just don't have the energy afterwards to properly buff by hand.

What would be cheaper?

A) Buying a cordless - I see some for $30 - but they don't come with the battery or charger?
B) Buying a corded one - usually $25-30 - but I'd also have to find some cheap and really long extension cords because I live in an apartment complex and would have to run it all the way out to the parking lot.

Any help is appreciated as I did the 'rustoleum paint job' on my truck recently and need to finish it off by doing one last wetsand+buff job.

What exactly are you trying to solve with your paint? What exactly is wrong with it?

Quote from Brian1 : What exactly are you trying to solve with your paint? What exactly is wrong with it?

it has like ripples and also orange peel, a lot of it

i tried to wetsand the orange peel out between coats but because this is the first time i ever tackled a major paint job, and a thrifty version of it at that, i didn't really succeed. the paint has been settling for a week now and there's not much uniformity in the surface. it's not really smooth in most areas. any parts that you might be able to see a reflection (because its a gloss enamel) would be like a rough water reflection.

Quote from khanvict : it has like ripples and also orange peel, a lot of it i tried to wetsand the orange peel out between coats but because this is the first time i ever tackled a major paint job, and a thrifty version of it at that, i didn't really succeed. the paint has been settling for a week now and there's not much uniformity in the surface. it's not really smooth in most areas. any parts that you might be able to see a reflection (because its a gloss enamel) would be like a rough water reflection.

Is there any metallic or pearl in the color or is it a solid color?

Is the paint you used a single-stage paint (color and clear in one product)?

How much experience do you have with colorsanding (what you're calling "wetsanding") and using a high-speed buffer?

Quote from Brian1 : Is there any metallic or pearl in the color or is it a solid color? Is the paint you used a single-stage paint (color and clear in one product)? How much experience do you have with colorsanding (what you're calling "wetsanding") and using a high-speed buffer?

it's gloss black rustoleum enamel. no clear. it was applied with a roller. you actually get good results this way. here is an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2...redirect=1 but mine looks far from that nice smooth finish.

before this, i've zero experience wetsanding/colorsanding and using a high speed buffer.

Quote from khanvict : it's gloss black rustoleum enamel. no clear. it was applied with a roller. you actually get good results this way. here is an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2...redirect=1 but mine looks far from that nice smooth finish. before this, i've zero experience wetsanding/colorsanding and using a high speed buffer.

Unfortunately, I would strongly caution you against color sanding and buffing your truck. This is something that takes a lot of practice/experience to learn how to do properly without causing damage to the paint.

Quote from Brian1 : Unfortunately, I would strongly caution you against color sanding and buffing your truck. This is something that takes a lot of practice/experience to learn how to do properly without causing damage to the paint.

Especially since Rustoleum is not particularly hard paint and you could easily remove large amounts if it wirh your proposed wet sanding procedure. It's a lot like paint with a flex additive already built in, which is not good in places where you don't need that. I would have used more expensive paint from someplace like a boating store ($30/quart as opposed to $10/quart).

Having said that, I have repainted a car with gloss black Rustoleum, about 5 years ago. It's faded quite a bit, but way better then crappy MAACO paint jobs (and I used an air compressor and paint gun.

This is what the car looked like 5 years ago after repainting (I only repainted the front end):
http://forum.videohelp.com/images/gu...escort_001.jpg

Quote from Brian1 : Unfortunately, I would strongly caution you against color sanding and buffing your truck. This is something that takes a lot of practice/experience to learn how to do properly without causing damage to the paint.

Quote from zzyzzx : Especially since Rustoleum is not particularly hard paint and you could easily remove large amounts if it wirh your proposed wet sanding procedure. It's a lot like paint with a flex additive already built in, which is not good in places where you don't need that. I would have used more expensive paint from someplace like a boating store ($30/quart as opposed to $10/quart). Having said that, I have repainted a car with gloss black Rustoleum, about 5 years ago. It's faded quite a bit, but way better then crappy MAACO paint jobs (and I used an air compressor and paint gun. This is what the car looked like 5 years ago after repainting (I only repainted the front end): http://forum.videohelp.com/images/gu...escort_001.jpg

i did wet sand in between coats without taking any paint off except for one or two minor spots so that doesn't concern me as much. right now, i'd like to basically wetsand and buff the hood and see what happens, if it works out then i can continue and if i screw it up then the damage is limited and i can easily fix it

the truck itself is 17 years old and prior to this paint job it had a lot of oxidation and faded paint that i didn't like. i could live with the rustoleum problems i have now as its better than what i was working with before but again it's all part of a learning process where i want to gain experience. i was going for the cheap fix, i think i just rushed a little bit trying to get it all done in one weekend otherwise i think i would've come out a lot better.

nice job on your escort, it came out pretty clean.

now does anyone know where i can get a good deal on a buffer?

Quote from khanvict : now does anyone know where i can get a good deal on a buffer?

I think I got mine at Walmart.