Mini-Review: Metabo 12-175 Polisher

[mgm2003]

Here’s a brief review of my Metabo Polisher after 3-4 hours of seat time.



Metabo 12-175 Rotary Polisher

Variable Speed: 700-2200 rpms

Spindle Lock for easy pad removal

10 amps

Weight: 5.8 lbs

Length: 14"

Warranty: 1 year



Pro’s

• Lightweight (compared to my 8.5 lb Dewalt)
• Very good feel/ergonomics. The curved rubber nose of the polisher provides a very solid/stable feel.
• Quiet Running Operation vs. my Dewalt
• Very balanced
• Slow RPM start up vs. immediate start up @ your selected speed.
• Very easy to swap out backing plates
• I do not get fatigued as quick as I do with my Dewalt
• Very easy to learn rotary. The low 700 RPM speed allows you to get a good feel for a circular polisher vs. a DA polisher. The low speed also helps you identify the proper balance/position for operating this tool, and you are much less prone to making a mistake (i.e. burning the paint). At 700 RPM you would have to run the pad edge on the paint or hold down the polisher in one spot for 10 seconds or so to do any damage.

My neighbour has been using a PC for about 2 years, and has never operated a rotary. I put him behind the ‘wheel’ over the weekend with some brief guidance and he picked it up pretty quick (much better than I did, that’s for sure!). I had to prime the polish bead (sorry, but I didn’t want to wear sling on my clothes or clean Tahoe), and he took it from there with slow-controlled-overlapping north / south, east / west passes. He was a bit taken back by the power (i.e. the feeling that the polisher is walking you), but was doing very well after completing just one panel.



Con’s

• The speed dial is located at the rear of the machine, near the cord. It’s almost impossible to adjust the dial, and see the setting ‘on the fly’. I’m sure I’ll get a feel for the speed setting, by the sound it’s making, but I’d much rather have the thumb wheel on top like my dewalt where it’s easy to read and easy to adjust.
• No speed trigger to ‘feather’ in your polish, or control speed as you polish up to the edges.
• Price. This isn’t a budget machine, and I hope the durability/reliability are in line with the price.
• At 5.8 lbs, you are tempted to put some weight on the machine. IMO, this is a big ‘no-no’ for rotary polishing. I let the weight of the machine, aggressiveness of the pad, and chemical do the work. I’m just there to guide it.

 

[Woob]

Great review! Heard you can get it for 220 shipped. About 50 or so over a Makita, I might just make the plunge since I dislike my Chicago Electric. After reading this review my only worry would be the absense of the trigger for feathering, however I guess you could run it on low speed

 

[tubafeak]

After learning how to use a rotary I dont think I'd like the triggerlessness, the trigger seems to be an integral part of the rotary, while I've never neede to feather the trigger on my Makita I do use it for my own "slow start" I like to be able to spread the polish around without having to stop and adjust the speed dial. Other than that I'm getting that you enjoy the machine, congratulations on a great purchase.

 

[G35stilez]

Thanks for the review John.


Those cons could get to me though, specifically, the lack of a trigger and weight not being enough.


Keep us posted .

 

[mgm2003]

Thanks for the review John.

Those cons could get to me though, specifically, the lack of a trigger and weight not being enough.

Keep us posted .

The trigger is the biggest CON for me. It's a shame to see such a well made tool with these oversights.





Let me explain the weight CON in another way.



The lower -and balanced- weight lends to the Metabo feeling very agile. You can move it around almost as if it was a PC. When I use a PC, I tend to 'work' defects with some pressure and I'm very tempted to do this with the Metabo.

 

[mgm2003]

Here are a few shots of my neighbor running the Metabo. He ran it on 1/2 my hood and down the driver side, and did a very nice job. We kept the speed between 1000-1500RPM. He used a finish pad and Optimum Polish and a fine finish pad and P085RD. He did something that I could not....... No sling on his second time with a rotary. This really is an easy to use rotary. It almost feels like a PC.

After Shot: -No holograms