Greg Guarino wrote:
I recently asked for advice on some old power tools my Dad is only too
anxious to export from his garage to mine.

I took a couple that I had an immediate use for, but saw another not-
as-old tool that I don't even remember him owning. It looked sort of
like these:

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/Product...C%3A+Polishers

... but seemed bigger, heavier and with more metal on it.

My question is, is this principally for polishing cars? Or could a
strong, fit person use it to buff a nice sheen onto a wood finish as
well?


Nice buffer. Similar to the one I own. If yours does not have a variable
speed capability, it can be retrofitted for about $20 (if I remember
correctly...) in parts, plus labor if you don't want to do it yourself. The
variable speed is quite handy in a buffer. To answer your question - it's
for polishing finishes. Can be used on cars, woodworking, etc. And yeah -
it can give you a work out if you're on it all day. If it came with wool
bonnets - chuck 'em. Go buy yourself some new foam pads. You can get them
at Harbor Freight and they're the same quality as what you'd buy in an
automotive paint supply. I've used mine to buff up guitar finishes on
guitars that I've simply cleaned up, and on guitars that I've painted. The
secret is to know how to use the tool. Keep it away from outside edges. It
will quickly reveal the mystery of what's really underneath the finish on
those edges...


--

-Mike-