Can I polish at 12,000 OPMs?

I have this dual action dewalt orbital sander/polisher that my pops hasnt used, its a D421 one speed 12,000 OPMs. I know this is a little too fast for polishing but would it hurt the paint in any way? I dont want to have to buy a new DA when I have a perfectly good one in my garage. Has anyone had any expirience with this or heard anything about polishing with a da at such high speed?

 

I.... I would say no, don't do it lol

 

Hurt the paint? I think that would hurt the sheet metal.

 

This guy used a 12,000opm air sander and said it worked, http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-air-powered-da-sander-used-polish-paint.html

I wonder what the difference would be between electric and air at that speed

 

If you don't have experience with a low opm machine then I wouldn't even begin to try that one. Those are usually used for sand the body down so you could easily burn through the paint.

 

isnt the Flex 3401 like 9600 opm? so its not THAT much more powerful...

 

The flex has speed settings though...

 

Well so does some of those da's but they are set up differently then the flex. I'm sure it can be done but with someone inexperienced it should not be tried IMO.

 

sure does, but most of the time guys are running them at full power anyway for any correction work... best thing to do is try it on a junk panel first or an old car that nobody cares about and see if you like it.

 

i'd be using it for paint correction, moderate swirls and RDS.
I would hit it with M105, M205, Glaze, wax.

 

Do you guys actually use 9600 opm on the Flex 3401?

 

9600 opm is with no load. But I use speed 5 and sometimes 6 which is max I believe.

 

even with experience it is still sketchy.............

 

Sketchier than never having expirience polishing with a Dewalt DW849 rotary? Because I got one of those too.

 

rotos are sketchy period IMO........ even with the most skill its not hard to create a mess, we all have done it.

 

The more the speed the more the heat on paint, pad and backing plate. If you polish a plastic panel you could melt and deform it.

 

Pretty sure the OPs machine is 12000 no load either... because load can mean alot of different things; not a standard number.

 

arent most DAs and rotos rated at no load? i've read alot about using a rotary and dual actions and have download detailingworlds rotary polishing guide. even if the paint gets to hot with the DA i have, i know how to check it you just simply feel it with the back of your hand.

 

you can do that with a rotary too....

 

When i first started out I've burnt through bumpers that were cool to touch. It doesn't take much. Bottom line just save up and start out with a porter cable or gg orbital. It's the safest way and you wouldn't have to worry about f-ing up you car. Don't risk something that you have no idea what your doing. Just read around the forum and see what all you will need with an pc or gg.