runflat Posted October 2, 2005 Report Share Posted October 2, 2005 Does anyone know of a cheaper alternative to the PC. It doesn't have to be as powerful, but I want something in between this and a cheap polisher. Some other comments to help: I used a Woolworths Random Orbit that the father-in-law lent me and it did a surprisingly good job of polishing and waxing (removed very fine scratches and haze but not the more prominent ones). Saved a lot of time I would normally spend hand waxing. My car is only 2 weeks old, so don't need major renovation, just want a machine I can use decent pads on like the Sonus ones or Megs ones, rather than elasticated bonnets. Budget - under £100 if possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated as always Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveStar Posted October 2, 2005 Report Share Posted October 2, 2005 I have an 'Autosmart Smartool' that I may sell very soon. Let me know if you're interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazo Posted October 2, 2005 Report Share Posted October 2, 2005 Autosmart tool is a 'cyclo' type polisher and can even be more powerful than a pc - sounds like a good deal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanimage Posted October 2, 2005 Report Share Posted October 2, 2005 I have a lead on two types of machine... one is based around the Flex electric motors which is the German partner of Porter-cable, but these machines are twin heads and hand made in sweden and are going to cost around £300. The other is a Swedish company that sells a very similar model to the Smart Tool (possibly better)for about £18! Don't ask me why Sweden is the place for polishers at the moment, but this seems to be the case. I'm getting more info on it this week and hopefully will be able to point you in the right direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazo Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 ^^Dan do you mean the bitlema tool, If so I have one and its v good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanimage Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 [ QUOTE ] ^^Dan do you mean the bitlema tool, If so I have one and its v good! [/ QUOTE ] Yes, funny that somebody should notice it on a Danish web site... If you get them from Sweden (where that company is based) they are about two pound cheaper... You can post up the link if you can find it, as at the moment I'm waiting for a lead on the brush heads for them. The brush heads are superb for carpet cleaning... I don't know how we ever managed without them! Also the velcro goes on the normal heads after a 18 months of heavy use (ours get a lot of use). So I'm after normal heads too... so I have somebody contacting the company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazo Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 ^^There was a recent group buy on the megs website where some kind danish chap sent a load of them over for us. It has variable speed control, replacabel carbon brushes and will not bog down under pressure. The autosmart tool does not have the variable speed control so I think your right these are better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveStar Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Also the velcro goes on the normal heads after a 18 months of heavy use (ours get a lot of use). So I'm after normal heads too... so I have somebody contacting the company. [/ QUOTE ] The velcro heads for the Smartool are available over here - but as you're probably aware, the spindle thread is slightly different to the ones used on the Biltema polisher, they otherwise look identical. I have the Biltema polisher aswell as the Smartool, so I'd be more than interested in buying a spare set of the velcro heads for the Biltema if you manage to get hold of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanimage Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 I just looked it up on the Swedish web site (identical to the danish website excep it's in Swedish!), and it seems the price is a bit more expensive over the web. £21.70 http://www.biltema.se/products/product.asp?iItemId=98894 So you must get a different price when you walk into the shop. But still, at those prices, they are practically disposable, even though it would be nice to get replacement parts. I did try to track these machines back to the source a few years back - somebody I knew got offered 100 @ £15. But he lost the contact details and I only got as far as the Chinese trade commission before I gave up. I'd love to track down the manufacturer and get access to parts... I dare say AutoSmart have an exclsive deal in the UK, but I know somebody who might be interested in becomming a supplier and is fairly close to home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runflat Posted October 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 Cheers so far. Any UK based ones under £100? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntW Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 I can't find the post, but I am pretty sure someone had used one of these with some success DeWalt DW443 what are your thoughts on one of these or would pads be impossible to source? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rommel Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I can't find the post, but I am pretty sure someone had used one of these with some success DeWalt DW443 what are your thoughts on one of these or would pads be impossible to source? [/ QUOTE ] It was in this article... http://www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/1,2,12,15,22,25,26,27,3/Number/375610/page/1/fpart/1/vc/1 but the dewalt item is no cheaper than a Porter cable at the end of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runflat Posted October 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 OK, so I have pretty much decided to buy a Dewalt DW443 which is on offer at B&Q online for £95. Dewalt 443 linky Can anyone tell me what I need to convert it to a polisher and where to get the pads from? I want it for applying NXT wax and for occasionally removing light scratches and swirls. I have flat black paint that does pick up minor scratches in day-to-day use, but I don't want to make things worse with too abrasive a pad. what about: Pink polishing pad http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=21032&ts=06700 don't know wha size or fitment it will need? Please, any help would be appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHIZZER Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 get yourself a flexi velco backing plate and then order some lake county pads from john at cleanandshiny (cutting/polishing/finishing) applying wax you want a finishing pad to appply a polish you'll need a polishing / cutting pad these come in different density for more or less cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runflat Posted October 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Thanks very much whizzer. How would I know what size flexi velcro backing plate to use? Are those available from John? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHIZZER Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Flexi plate available at http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=102001&ts=15022&id=72981 Not sure if this is the correct thread (should be 150mm/6" or 125mm/5" depending on what size pads you are going to get) but i think it is right . Pads from john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyopolis Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 That plate should do the job Also I think there is one at machine mart you can use too..... I think the one I have on the Makitta is 5" from machine mart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runflat Posted October 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Cheers guys. After all that I have looked at the opm rate and the range is 8400-15200. The Porter Cable offers 2500-6000 so I wonder if the Dewalt may be a little too much? So....priced up the PC again and Autopia are doing it at 20% off at the moment. For anyone interested in full costing: Porter Cable $119 (£68). Shipping $42 (£24) Sub Total £92 Then add from Screwfix: 110v Transformer £34.99 Plug £1.75 extension lead £9.99 (if you want one) Total £139 ish So...after all that I am tempted. Just need to decide on whether to get the Sonus DAS pads or the lake country from John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apreading Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 My advice is dont get DAS unless you like regluing the velcro or throwing good pads away. Isnt the 20% when you buy a kit with the Sonus SFX pads? These are much better as they are bonded to the velcro properly, and are supposed to be very similar to the Lake Country ones. Even better would be Edge Pads which C&S might be stocking soon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runflat Posted October 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Isnt the 20% when you buy a kit with the Sonus SFX pads? [/ QUOTE ] No, it's on the PC, see linky here Will I get further discount with a code and does anyone know what code to use please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apreading Posted October 6, 2005 Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 I think the code was 'abc' or maylbe 'detailcity' - gave me 15%. Not sure if you will get both discounts together, but worth a try - there was a sale price of $139 I think when I bought mine and I got the discount off the sale price. That is a cracking deal if you do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveStar Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Type in SFX into the coupon code box and you'll get 20% taken off even though you haven't got any SFX products in your basket. If you have any trouble with that, then just type AUTOPIA for a 12% discount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveStar Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 ABC has expired BTW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Your Order Item Name SubTotal 1 Porter Cable 7424 Auto Polisher 119.95 Subtotal: 119.95 Coupon offer (20% savings): -23.99 Subtotal: 95.96 Shipping: 42.50 Tax: 0.00 Total: 138.46 [/ QUOTE ] Just don't tell the wife Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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