Random orbit sander for car polishing?

[Osmoliver]

The following may be a stupid question, but please educate me.

Can you use a random orbit sander with speed pre-selection for polishing a car?

I'm asking because I can use some work rewards to buy Bosch tools which includes a random orbit sander. To be more specific, the PEX 300 AE.

[V8RX7]

In theory you could use any sort of sander

The problem will be buying polishing heads for it albeit it wouldn't be too hard to make an adaptor

[Osmoliver]

V8RX7 said:

In theory you could use any sort of sander

The problem will be buying polishing heads for it albeit it wouldn't be too hard to make an adaptor

I think it has a velcro based fastener, so should be able to fit most polishing pads? I guess it's just a case of being careful not to burn through paint with a lowest setting of 4,000rpm?

[C0ffin D0dger]

I bought a Lidl (Parkside) random orbit sander so years back. In amongst the accessories sold for it were polishing pads and a lambswool bonnet which I also bought. I've used it a few time on cars without any bother, if anything it's a little bit lacking in power but that's probably a good thing.

I expect the Bosch should be similar.

Just don't take the polishing pad off the car without bringing it to a stop first. Sprays a fine mist of polish everywhere otherwise

[gazzarose]

I'd say you'd be less likely to damage the paint with a da sander than with a purely rotary polisher. I've tried using a da sander as a grinder a few times to shape bits of wood and you get it spinning fast, but as soon as you putting any load on it it just wobbles back and fore, so especially with a foam pad on it it should be more forgiving.

[Black_S3]

I’d go the other way and buy a das 6 (loads of Chinese copies about which are all the same thing) then use that as a sander.... the dedicated sanders have edges that will catch the paint.