Does anybody know of a reasonably priced yet decent motorized car wax/polisher machine and where one may be purchased?
I have a buffer/polisher from Sears. It uses Terri cloth buffer pad covers (washable) and works very well.
Porter Cable 7424XP Google it. Probably around $150 and pickup the pads via detailing site. You get what you pay for. It is dual-action.
Harbor Freight has them as do many auto stores. Just be careful that you don't burn your finish by running it too fast or holding it in one spot too long. If you haven't used them before practice on an old piece. Any dirt or grime will cause swirl marks in your finish. Keep the pads clean and covered in a plastic bag when not in use.
A polisher isn't a 90 deg. grinder with a pad on it. They turn much slower. Still, you can burn the finish and totally remove paint from edges in a flash with a polisher too.
Consider this polisher. Its the best polisher available I think. I got it to polish my Airstream then started using it to polish cars. It makes it easy.
http://www.cyclotoolmakers.com/polishers.php
I don't need professional quality tools because they get limited use so I use Harbor Freight.
Going to a Harbor Freight store is like going to a candy store for adults and browsing their on-line catalog fills my head with ideas and temps me to empty my wallet.
Search Harbor Freight for polishers and you'll see angle polishers and palm polishers from about $15 to $70 or so. Also good place to get pads...
I also shop CPO outlets or Amazon for deals on tools
At CPO The Porter Cable 7424xp polisher is $117.99 new with free shipping. Many times they list reconditioned tools at significantly less but it is currently out of stock so I can't tell you how much it is - but I would guess significantly less than $100
Amazon lists it at $118 with free shipping
I think Harbor Freight is okay for certain things. I have found that the customer product reviews are helpful in decision making.
Also - don't forget to use a coupon. They usually have a generic 20% off coupon as well as item specific item discount coupons.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=buffer
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=polisher
I got a palm polisher from PepBoys 30 bucks
I have had one of them there whirly bugs for years. It hasn't done a bit of good.
I s'pose you guys polish your shoes, too...
Go to a Pawn Shop or look on Craigslist and find a Makita adj.speed