[artbyjody]

Here is my take (and since I am laid up in NYC - too tired to wonder the streets - but to awake to sleep)...

There is always the right tool for the job, but the job you are dealing with dictates the tool.

Say you have a 4 yr old Awlgrip finish. A Rhyobi (sp) will probably work and result in less fatigue of the person using it. I used such on my C-27 and my dockmate used it on his 37 foot Carver. But the finishes were more or less intact. The trick to any polishing / waxing tool is to have plenty of covers for them as the dirtier they get the less effective they are. I think I have 20 some pads and covers depending on the usage (ie compounding or waxing).

Higher RPM tools take more muscle to use as they are usually heavier and they exhort more torque which can really wear one out really quickly. However, in heavily oxidized or dirt impregnated surfaces - more the right tool for the job in the end.

I have a full suite of the chepaer Ryhobi tools (compact and expendable in the marine environment), as well as Makita, Porter and Bousch. Each has its purpose based on the difficulty of job, ease of use, and most of all application to the job at hand. The latter being the most important decision on the reasons to use one over the other.

For example, working with pine - cheap tools work just as effectively. For Teak and other hardwoods - I'll go the commercial series of tools as usually I want those tools to be powered by compressed air, to enable immediate reload and insure correct bonding.

However, when it is all boiled down - its about the amount of elbow grease you want to put into the job. Certain tools can reduce it or make such more effective but it is surely dictated by the conditions the tools must work in.