UK Question
- Thread starter Spook
- Start date
Hey Spook, I've got one headed my way now. I finally gave in to the devil on my shoulder saying 'buy one, you know you want to' 
I ordered that and some other bits, the original shipping cost for my order was $107, I enquired about other shipping options and was offered either USPS Airmail for $70 or USPS surface for $50. I took the Surface shipping as it was the cheapest and I'm in no rush for my order. It can take 4 to 6 weeks but that's fine by me
I know AndyC and Alex shipped theirs together, they may chime in later.
Others have ordered from coastal tools and then got the pads elsewhere. Alex sells the megs pads.
The nearest we have is the Makita BO6040 http://www.tool-net.co.uk/data/index.php?ToolID=314941 I was tempted to buy that but went with the PC due to the fact that when someone on here says they used a certain product/pad/speed I would be able to relate to it.......not think wonder what I should use on the Makita. Oh and the fact there is a spare transformer at work helped too......I've got my eye on that
I ordered that and some other bits, the original shipping cost for my order was $107, I enquired about other shipping options and was offered either USPS Airmail for $70 or USPS surface for $50. I took the Surface shipping as it was the cheapest and I'm in no rush for my order. It can take 4 to 6 weeks but that's fine by me
I know AndyC and Alex shipped theirs together, they may chime in later.
Others have ordered from coastal tools and then got the pads elsewhere. Alex sells the megs pads.
The nearest we have is the Makita BO6040 http://www.tool-net.co.uk/data/index.php?ToolID=314941 I was tempted to buy that but went with the PC due to the fact that when someone on here says they used a certain product/pad/speed I would be able to relate to it.......not think wonder what I should use on the Makita. Oh and the fact there is a spare transformer at work helped too......I've got my eye on that
Hi, just joined this site. Been browsing for the last month & as far as I know read all the relevant posts about the PC by searching. Does any UK residents whom have imported the PC have a complete cost including shipping, transformer, VAT, any handling charges? I notice that the Makita BO6040 has been mentioned before as a equivalent, anyone used or considered the Bosch GEX 150 ACE
Specs 550W
2400-6000opm
4.5mm orbit
150mm pad size
2.4kg
seems very similar as also has dual modes of operation though cheaper at approx £200
Specs 550W
2400-6000opm
4.5mm orbit
150mm pad size
2.4kg
seems very similar as also has dual modes of operation though cheaper at approx £200
Alex Creasey
New member
Hi Spook,
Myself and Andy did indeed order ours from David at Autopia (here!). We thought it was fair to support Autopia and although it wasn't the cheapest (only by $20 or so) we knew we would have absolute peace of mind, and someone to talk to if something went wrong.
Another thing is that the shipping isn't exactly cheap. You get the package in four days which is fab but you will get a VAT and duty bill AS WELL AS the shipping bill, on top of the machine.
It's a big outlay just to polish a car but the rewards that the PC offers over doing the job by hand are at least noticable.... I'd say go for it!.
Cheers.
Myself and Andy did indeed order ours from David at Autopia (here!
). We thought it was fair to support Autopia and although it wasn't the cheapest (only by $20 or so) we knew we would have absolute peace of mind, and someone to talk to if something went wrong.Another thing is that the shipping isn't exactly cheap. You get the package in four days which is fab but you will get a VAT and duty bill AS WELL AS the shipping bill, on top of the machine.
It's a big outlay just to polish a car but the rewards that the PC offers over doing the job by hand are at least noticable.... I'd say go for it!
.Cheers.
Alex Creasey
New member
Hi RTE 60 also! .....
I can't find the receipts etc at this moment but yes, the price of the PC against the Makita end up very similar. The PC is so tried and tested though that in all honesty, I wasn't going to spend that sort of money just to try something different.
I've certainly not been disappointed.
.....I can't find the receipts etc at this moment but yes, the price of the PC against the Makita end up very similar. The PC is so tried and tested though that in all honesty, I wasn't going to spend that sort of money just to try something different.
I've certainly not been disappointed.
Hi Alex
Just playing devils advocate, but I was under the impression that the PC was popular due to its price performance ratio, which I can understand based on the US price without all the other costs us poor UK residents get hit with. So if the Makita & hence the Bosch are around the same price or cheaper, wouldnt it be easier to get one of them, dont have to use a transformer & theres a warranty that you can actually use?
Just playing devils advocate, but I was under the impression that the PC was popular due to its price performance ratio, which I can understand based on the US price without all the other costs us poor UK residents get hit with. So if the Makita & hence the Bosch are around the same price or cheaper, wouldnt it be easier to get one of them, dont have to use a transformer & theres a warranty that you can actually use?
Alex Creasey
New member
Hi RTE60,
Your right, and I do agree with what you say. It isn't quite the deal our end that it is in the US.
I did do alot of reading up on other equipment so that the Brits may get other choices but, at the end of the day I felt most comfortable going for the PC.
I think 'Butchdave' on here has also got the Makita and rates it highly.
Do what you feel comfortable doing at the end of the day.... The biggest difference is the step up from everything being applied by hand to being applied by machine....And the results you get in return. Which ever you choose, just hope you are happy with it.
Your right, and I do agree with what you say. It isn't quite the deal our end that it is in the US.
I did do alot of reading up on other equipment so that the Brits may get other choices but, at the end of the day I felt most comfortable going for the PC.
I think 'Butchdave' on here has also got the Makita and rates it highly.
Do what you feel comfortable doing at the end of the day.... The biggest difference is the step up from everything being applied by hand to being applied by machine....And the results you get in return. Which ever you choose, just hope you are happy with it
.imported_vindaloo
New member
RTE60, Hi
I notice you live in Lancashire as I do, where?
I imported my PC from Coastal about 6 months ago. If you want to have a look at it or have a demo on your car let me know. I have most of the popular products mentioned on this board as well, maybe you could come over one weekend?
Jim
I notice you live in Lancashire as I do, where?
I imported my PC from Coastal about 6 months ago. If you want to have a look at it or have a demo on your car let me know. I have most of the popular products mentioned on this board as well, maybe you could come over one weekend?
Jim
togwt
The Old Grey Whistle Test
Quote: UK Question
~One man’s opinion / observations~
I tend to agree with Andy on the ‘support Autopia’ thing but as an alternative the German version of a PC is a Flex
www.flex-tools.de/en/prod/right.php?group=38 - 4k
X 1107 VE, The powerful FLEX orbital sander with dust collection
Technical Data X 1107 VE
Power consumption 710 Watt
Power output 420 Watt
Speed/Strokes 4 300 - 13 000 /min
Stroke 8,8 mm
Grinding disc max. dia. 150 mm
Weight 2,4 kg
Order no. 218.669
~Hope this helps~
Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/
justadumbarchitect * so i question everything*
~One man’s opinion / observations~
I tend to agree with Andy on the ‘support Autopia’ thing but as an alternative the German version of a PC is a Flex
www.flex-tools.de/en/prod/right.php?group=38 - 4k
X 1107 VE, The powerful FLEX orbital sander with dust collection
Technical Data X 1107 VE
Power consumption 710 Watt
Power output 420 Watt
Speed/Strokes 4 300 - 13 000 /min
Stroke 8,8 mm
Grinding disc max. dia. 150 mm
Weight 2,4 kg
Order no. 218.669
~Hope this helps~
Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/
justadumbarchitect * so i question everything*
Alex Creasey said:
Well, I have the Makita but not used it yet (need those pads Alex...). Without having used it, my impressions are that it is bigger and heavier than the PC (might check that). I also suspect from reading Cvcaelen's report on the Makita that on forced rotation mode its a bit more like a cross between a PC and a rotary (time will tell when I get chance to use it and compare directly to the PC).
Here is a Bosch review . I'm sure I saw a report from the Philippines comparing differnt RO's - but can't lay my hands on it at the moment
Hi Vindaloo, I live in Blackpool, I'm sure I'll take that offer one of these days.
I've seen that review on different RO from the Philipines, though I'm sure that he was working with wood, which is a little different from what we're thinking about.
Though if you can use a Bosch GEX 150 AC (rather than ACE) model, it would open up many options with other brands with similar power/speeds. For example the Makita BO6030 4000-10000 opm, 310 W (approx £170) or the Metabo SXE450 Duo 4000-10000 opm 400w (£170).
What speeds do you tend to use on the PC?
I've seen that review on different RO from the Philipines, though I'm sure that he was working with wood, which is a little different from what we're thinking about.
Though if you can use a Bosch GEX 150 AC (rather than ACE) model, it would open up many options with other brands with similar power/speeds. For example the Makita BO6030 4000-10000 opm, 310 W (approx £170) or the Metabo SXE450 Duo 4000-10000 opm 400w (£170).
What speeds do you tend to use on the PC?
RTE60 said:
The PC is rated at 2500 - 6000 OPM. Most people seem to use speeds 3 up to 6, exactly how that corresponds to the OPM :nixweiss but i'm going to guess the following
1 = 2500 opm
2 = 3200 opm
3 = 3900 opm
4 = 4600 opm
5 = 5300 opm
6 = 6000 opm
700 opm steps, but I could be completely wrong
Speed can be a bit difficult to compare when looking at different RO's - one reason some choose the PC is that you can get a lot of help here - anything else and you are on your own! If you are looking for alternatives then I can only advise that you try and make sure that the machine has low speed settings.
The wood test was the one I was thinking of. I think it was useful, not for the wood but for the feel and handling of the different machines. For example, here you sometimes see new PC owners complaining about the vibration (I don't think its bad), whereas the Makita on forced rotation is quite smooth. On the other hand the Makitas extra size and weight will make it harder to use on a long job.
Whether you use the PC much once you have eliminated the swirls etc is largely a function of the products you use. I like using Autoglym SR and EG followed by a topper such as S100. I currently do all that by hand, but some like to apply the SR by PC (and I will try that at some point). Products like S100 would be fairly pointless to apply by machine.
My daily driver is a volvo estate so there are large areas of flat panels which are perfect for machine application, but even so there are plenty of places that can only be done by hand. By hand only is perfectly possible, but like many before me I tried by hand but one session with the PC taught me the error of my ways!
It seems an expensive thing to do but you will be saving a lot of time (and detailing can wipe out your whole weekend). I was reading recently on a metalworking forum where the issue of buying expensive equipment was being discussed and the general concensus was that the best route was to buy expensive then use the equipment for paid jobs to recoup the investment.
The wood test was the one I was thinking of. I think it was useful, not for the wood but for the feel and handling of the different machines. For example, here you sometimes see new PC owners complaining about the vibration (I don't think its bad), whereas the Makita on forced rotation is quite smooth. On the other hand the Makitas extra size and weight will make it harder to use on a long job.
Whether you use the PC much once you have eliminated the swirls etc is largely a function of the products you use. I like using Autoglym SR and EG followed by a topper such as S100. I currently do all that by hand, but some like to apply the SR by PC (and I will try that at some point). Products like S100 would be fairly pointless to apply by machine.
My daily driver is a volvo estate so there are large areas of flat panels which are perfect for machine application, but even so there are plenty of places that can only be done by hand. By hand only is perfectly possible, but like many before me I tried by hand but one session with the PC taught me the error of my ways!
It seems an expensive thing to do but you will be saving a lot of time (and detailing can wipe out your whole weekend). I was reading recently on a metalworking forum where the issue of buying expensive equipment was being discussed and the general concensus was that the best route was to buy expensive then use the equipment for paid jobs to recoup the investment.
Alex Creasey
New member
I still do hand applications quite alot...... Many people will say that the PC helps cut down on application time but, I seem to find myself being even more of a perfectionist than usual. If I've only got a couple of hours (or a stonking hangover......Which is more likely! ), then I do by hand. If I've got half a day or more to kill then I'll break out the PC........
Could well be a PC day tomorrow...... Picking up the new toy. All that lovely Midnight Purple paintwork to play with!
Cheers.
), then I do by hand. If I've got half a day or more to kill then I'll break out the PC........Could well be a PC day tomorrow...... Picking up the new toy
. All that lovely Midnight Purple paintwork to play with!Cheers
.Lowejackson
New member
You will not regret buying a PC or similar machine. In comparison to the value of your car or what a full service will cost, it is very good value for money.