Adam Savage's Favorite Tools: Motorized Angle Polisher

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Adam Savage's Favorite Tools: Motorized Angle Polisher

Рет қаралды 70,452

Жыл бұрын

As seen in his recent restoration of his Nagra IV-S plastic cover, Adam demonstrates the usefulness of a motorized angle polisher like the one made by Proxxon in his buffing of a spacesuit helmet! The variable speed of this kind of handheld polisher works great with Novus multi-stage plastic polish, and even Adam is surprised by how much better the helmet dome looks without too much physical effort!
Proxxon Angle Polisher: amzn.to/3Cr2UqT
Novus Plastic Polish Kit: amzn.to/3C4Zjxx
Brillianize Plastic Cleaner: amzn.to/3LY6s7m
Disclaimer: Tested may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links here.
Adam's Nagra IV-S restoration: • Adam Savage Restores C...
Shot by Josh Self and edited by Norman Chan
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Thanks for watching!
#adamsavage #favoritetools

Пікірлер: 209

@tested Жыл бұрын

Proxxon Angle Polisher: amzn.to/3Cr2UqT Novus Plastic Polish Kit: amzn.to/3C4Zjxx Disclaimer: Tested may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links here. Adam's Nagra IV-S restoration: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y7CbZLCjudauf58.html

@Jimmy106_ Жыл бұрын

very cool

@mromutt Жыл бұрын

haha I actually added that novus polish kit to my amazon wishlist after watching the nagra video! Also I love the proxxon tools but do not own any because they are very beyond my price range, but someday! Really want some of the 12v stuff and the mini industrial tools like the lathe and tablesaw, the mill is also really cool.

@lewiscantplay8639 Жыл бұрын

I am so excited for the videos on this suit, the series was so so good!

@HoLeeFuk317 Жыл бұрын

Stop using paper towels! They are made with wood fibers. Your puting a very fine haze into the plastic.

@k-ron7403 Жыл бұрын

As a detailer Adam, might I suggest you invest in some good microfibre clothes. While paper towels have their uses, they are the last thing I would use to remove polish. They will in fact produce fine micro marring on soft finishes like paint and plastic. Also if your kit came with a soft foam pad you will get better finish following up the 1st stage heavy abrasive with your 2nd stage finest polish and a soft foam pad. Very cool mini rotary polisher btw. Never heard of them before but it looks quality 👍

@steamgadget Жыл бұрын

came here to say "stop using paper towels"... Thank you and I agree with what you're saying. I have some experience in polishing as well.

@yannicktessier1968 Жыл бұрын

Came here to tell him to remove is ring while rubbing the plastic.

@swtravels Жыл бұрын

Glad I’m not the only one screaming at my TV. Paper towel is NOT for plastic!!!! 😭

@bibeau756 Жыл бұрын

Adam mentioned a while back in his video about rags that he hated working with microfibre, as they cling to his hands' skin imperfections. :/

@bibeau756 Жыл бұрын

Correction: he said they're fine and uses them. They're just like fingers on chalkboard for him :)

@Iamandyf Жыл бұрын

With how soft and prone to scratching the clear plastic is, it might be worthwhile to clean the pad every so often. Larry at AMMO has great videos about polishing and frequently uses compressed air to "blow out" the pad to remove any of the clogged up junk from the polishing surface. Also a clean microfibre to remove the polish residue and (depending on the polish used) maybe a spray of some diluted Isopropyl or panel wipe if the polish is quite sticky. My experience is with an old motorcycle helmet visor so i used the process Larry did for piano black interior trims (due to how soft they are) and got great results.

@malkierie Жыл бұрын

Oh man Ammo NYC! LARRY has done great videos. I was thinking Adam, you didn't load your pad before polishing!

@timwrigley102 Жыл бұрын

I do a little watch repair and had some old guys teach me to polish plastic crystals. The biggest trick I learned is treat your buffing wheel/pad like it has to be sterile. A very small amount of dirt, grit, or metal dust will make it impossible to get a nice finish.

@joezcool Жыл бұрын

Don't know what a motorized angle polisher is, but if Adam Savage is telling me about it I'm sure it's absolutely essential and I'm absolutely invested

@odinata Жыл бұрын

Maybe read the comments before you put this guy on a pedestal.

@wb8147 Жыл бұрын

@@odinata ?

@brianking9357 Жыл бұрын

Once the polish is on the surface. With the tool turned off use the pad to dab the compound every three inches or so and work in sections. No need to spread with your hands. A lot of compounds say to let dry anyways.

@citizen127at 9 ай бұрын

I find your tattoo deeply satisfying. Human perception alone is woefully inadequate to the task of quantifying reality. We need something else. We need something that doesn't think, something that doesn't feel to measure and understand concrete reality. This is a cornerstone of science and engineering. Most people demand that the universe reflect their feelings. A scientist, an engineer must reflect concrete reality in order to succeed. Your tattoo is a symbol of this, a reminder of this in a world where most people fight to deny this. Offering a temporary version of it is brilliant. I'm not into tattoos, but this is a great opportunity to try it on and think about getting the real thing ❤

@joyopd Жыл бұрын

I always miss some before/after half screen comparison. It would be nice to see on many restoration projects. PS: I also love proxxon.

@lambodp Жыл бұрын

Almost bought this tool the other day when Adam showed off this tool in his Nagra restoration video, but ended up opting to spend about the same money on a 3" mini DA polisher instead. I figure I'll have more utility for the tool vs this small polisher, plus it came with a 2" backing plate option if I want the smaller pad size. The Proxxon is still a really useful tool and works well, but when space is a premium for me, I went with the 1 tool that'll do most jobs.

@McMillanCars Жыл бұрын

I'm a detailer and microfiber towels work way better than paper towels. Just an FYI. Awesome job!

@danielpaquette1597 Жыл бұрын

I was amazed to see you using paper towels to clean your plastic. I am a glasses wearer and have been told my whole life not to use paper towels to clean plastic (or glasses or TVs) as it can scratch the surface. Is this a myth? Keep up the good work!

@waynesbutler7834 Жыл бұрын

Its not a myth , paper towel including tissue contains abrasives that will scratch plastic over time . Its is made from paper a wood product ground to a pulp ..

@steamgadget Жыл бұрын

Agree with Waynes Butler on this... Paper towels will scratch the holy shit out soft plastic and can scratch some of the best plastics.. Use Zeiss lens wipes for cleaning glasses and plastic, they work really well.

@aserta Жыл бұрын

Yeah, never touch paper to plastics you want free of scratches. Clean microfiber is all you want. Should be mentioned that what Adam calls "polish" really means dehaze. He more than likely wants to have a few scratches here and there to show this isn't a freshly made item, rather a prop with "years" of use.

@waynesbutler7834 Жыл бұрын

@@steamgadget I have been told that some paper towel is equivalent to 3000 grit sand paper , have a good day my friend

@HoLeeFuk317 Жыл бұрын

Not a myth, Adam shouldn't be using them. Paper towels made with wood pulp.

@s13Marino Жыл бұрын

We all gotta start somewhere, theres some really good advice in the comments here on how to get a better finish. Polishing can be alot easier and get better results when the right methods are followed, but its very easy to get wrong and introduce scratches/hazing/etc. The proxxon polisher looks very nice, and the price isnt bad at all! The novus system works incredibly well, even by hand, highly recommend it for clear plastics.

@unsoundmethodology Жыл бұрын

I think it was one of Neal Stephenson's "science-fiction" books in the Baroque Cycle ( _Quicksilver_ , I'm pretty sure) where I first read a description of lens grinding - and by extension, all sanding and polishing - as the process of deliberately making scratches in a material, but finer and finer ones, until the scratches are sort of beyond the resolution of the material. I'm sure there's some nuance to that - others have mentioned that plastic polishing compounds also have a wax-like component to fill some scratches in? - but it's something I always think about in a sanding/polishing/buffing context.

@OhHeyTrevorFlowers Жыл бұрын

Yes, I think of it this way. That's also how I know when to switch to a finer polish: The only remaining scratches are at the size of the current polish, all of the rougher scratches are gone.

@troyclayton Жыл бұрын

I watched you break that thing out to polish the plastic cover and thought, "I want one". I'm so glad you made this video. Thanks!

@joegilly1523 Жыл бұрын

Nice tools, thanks for the upload.

@toastownsu Жыл бұрын

Visited the Weta Unleashed exhibit in Auckland at the weekend! Thanks for suggesting it Adam! It was absolutely awesome! 😊

@peckenstein Жыл бұрын

That whole Proxxon system seems awesome. I need to start adding it to my tool kit piece by piece.

@MechanicalMikesRoadsideRepair Жыл бұрын

I could sit in his shop with him all day just hanging out always entertaining and informative

@dankshatter4906 Жыл бұрын

your shop is like a wonderland of creative potential

@andyb-com Жыл бұрын

Microfiber towels will be better for cleaning and buffing after polishing.

@marvindebot3264 Жыл бұрын

Much, paper towels will actually leave scratches and NEVER use ROAR Wipe.

@nevertrustatory9412 Жыл бұрын

We’ve got a few proxxon tools for cleaning up 3d prints. Finger sander, detail sander and angle polisher/grinder. We fixed some foam backed fine abrasive pads to some Velcro rotary sander discs and cut them into 2” diameter pads. Attached to the angle polisher they were great at removing print lines off the more organic shapes we needed to work on.

@tjoyce1971 Жыл бұрын

Watching you polish this reminded an old soldier of the simple joy of polishing boots, I'm going to have to get myself an old pair of leather boots, not even to wear, just to polish.

@Captain_MonsterFart Жыл бұрын

I love polishing boots! I used to wear army surplus boots in high school and really enjoyed polishing them.

@jesperwall839 Жыл бұрын

The wool pad is the most aggressive, except for sandpaper. I would recommend using a soft sponge pad for the finish. Preferably a waffle type.

@jasoncutrone Жыл бұрын

It was not a build video but watching Adam dismantle his space helmet and clean it was entertaining.

@NP-zl7dz Жыл бұрын

Was blown away seeing this used in the nagra case cover refurbishment

@vernonland5987 Жыл бұрын

I was told by the girl at the sunglass hut to never use paper towels on plastic, only synthetic materials. Paper towels have wood fibers that can scratch.

@hfuy8005 Жыл бұрын

This. I use LCD screen cleaner towels, which is just a microfibre towel but the cellulose fibres are hard.

@ProfSimonHolland Жыл бұрын

what a well built prop

@TheHylianBatman Жыл бұрын

Very handy, will definitely relieve stress on the body doing the circles.

@movieminiaturesandprops Жыл бұрын

The polisher is great, and if you add a 3m soft sanding pad to it, you get a sander for 3d prints. The pen sander and delta sander from Proxxon are a time saver. For large surfaces I adapted my Mirka Deros from sanding to polisher.

@alwayscensored6871 Жыл бұрын

As a hobbyist Proxxon have been on my wish list for about 4 decades.

@MonkeyButlerLabs Жыл бұрын

Paper towel in itself is abrasive and scratches plastic super easily. Does your technique produce different results between cloth wipes and paper towels?

@JacobNovember Жыл бұрын

It won't get rid of deep scratches but for maintenance of the domes over moving head lighting fixtures I have used Plexus spray. It isn't cheap but won't leave any film and polishes up very nicely with lint free towels or microfiber cloths. Might be a good product for keeping your helmet nice between wearings.

@RazDesignAB Жыл бұрын

Polisher are really undervalued! bring old or prototype state stuff into magic!

@TheMoffBoy Жыл бұрын

Coming from a car detailing hobby, my 2p would be to first, get some foam polishing pads, they are less abrasive than microfiber. And second it's worth putting the polish compound on the pad then dab it around the surface to avoid 'sling'.

@Merennulli Жыл бұрын

Adam: "Beat it to heck, get it nice and dirty and scuffed!" Also Adam: "This polisher makes it look brand new!" (To be clear, that's not a criticism. It's just really fun that he's just as excited about such polar opposites in prop making and care.)

@alkaline3mc Жыл бұрын

I used to work in an underwater camera shop in Los Angeles that supported many tv shows / movies and fashion shoots and polishing acrylic domes for camera housings sucked up about 50% of my time.

@ickysan Жыл бұрын

I could watch Adam polish his helmet all day long.😳

@Immolate62 Жыл бұрын

Adam - you put the polish on the polishing pad, then dab it on the work, evenly distributed. This knowledge comes from car detailing. They have a discipline called paint correction which is very similar to what you're doing.

@SunnyPea Жыл бұрын

Would love to see a kind of how-to or just informational video about polishing :) I love watching care videos for props and such

@bluestar.8938 Жыл бұрын

Thank you : )

@alitydotorg Жыл бұрын

I found the Novus polishing compound worked best when allowed to almost dry after evenly applying, and then buffing off with a clean microfibre cloth.

@adidasgimp Жыл бұрын

I love Proxxon tools!

@AnnaAnna-uc2ff Жыл бұрын

Thanks.

@hfuy8005 Жыл бұрын

LCD screen cleaning supplies are good for this. The towel is just a microfibre towel, but I understand (and have found) that's better than paper, because the cellulose fibres are actually quite hard and can slightly mist transparent plastics. Don't know what the fluid is but it's low-smear.

@bartoscar Жыл бұрын

I never clean my glasses with any kind of paper. And they're not even particularly expensive glasses

@HoLeeFuk317 Жыл бұрын

I've always had good luck using stuff intended for paint. I use 3M rubbing compound and machine polish with corresponding 3M pads. Be careful with the rubbing compound as it is easy to burn with

@SPProps Жыл бұрын

Almost died when you dropped the visor! ☠Nice catch! 🤣

@Windows_96 Жыл бұрын

At first i misread the title as Motorized Apple Polisher so i clicked instantly, but this is just as good

@Serenity_Dee Жыл бұрын

As a Southerner, "bless your heart" can mean anything from the literal definition to "eat sh-t and die" and exactly what it means at any given utterance is determined by context and tone of voice. When it's sincere it'll be delivered with something like a surprised intake of breath or a sign of affection like a hug or a kiss on the cheek, when it means "eat sh-t and die" it'll be delivered in a syrupy tone of voice and a smile that doesn't reach the eyes.

@devinholland2189 Жыл бұрын

Useing a very light touch its possible to polish up glasses, it will add some weirdness to the lens but can be a huge improvement if things look a little dirty.

@tomg1432 Жыл бұрын

"I didn't expect to totally dismantle this hero prop" Adam you were the only one who did not expect that.

@johnyoungquist6540 Жыл бұрын

To get rid of the scratches and get that really polished you need to go back to 400-600 grit wet/dry paper. Sand it plenty wet - NOT dry until you see no scratches under magnification. Then step up through all the grits to 2000. Then do a few stages of cream like the Novus and it will have no scratches and look like new. Anyone who has ever made a telescope mirror will remember starting the grind with 40 grit and advancing with finer and finer grits with the goal being control of the surface in microns and and the surface smoothness of the best camera lens. Aircraft windows get refurbed starting with 120 grit. It looks scary to see an aircraft part costing as much as $30K undergo this but it works. They use an ultrasonic gauge to measure and control window thickness within .001 inches to prevent optical distortion.

@elchuco00 Жыл бұрын

I Ike that polisher for sure! I see nobody has told Adam that paper towels add micro scratches to surfaces. Micro fiber towels is the way to go...

@closer2theheart684 9 ай бұрын

I love Proxxon tools. Their North American HQ is located right up the road from me in Hickory, NC.

@86fifty Жыл бұрын

7:53 - Me combining the wet and dry ingredients while baking... Always flies everywhere! XD

@painedinks Жыл бұрын

I use novus polishing system on my motorcycle helmet visor, it works miracles!

@mikejames4648 Жыл бұрын

Love the Bundaberg Diet Ginger Ale, a fine Aussie product.

@piratepete1475 Жыл бұрын

very nice

@mcsstudios101 Жыл бұрын

I have Proxxon products. Great quality! I wanted to extend my comment. I have have the mini desktop mill and it is fantastic and super powerful and accurate. 😁

@matterwiz1689 Жыл бұрын

For a second i thought that was the martian helmet and got excited for another video on that

@GeorgeNovak Жыл бұрын

Great video Adam. I've learned over the years to apply the polish to the buffer instead of the surface. Otherwise, you get a money shot. Of course it took me a while to learn this. Suffice to say, I know what Novus tastes like. Edit, everytime I heard your wedding ring thwack the plastic, I would cringe a bit. Especially since you were using paper towels not microfiber cloth.

@mugogrog Жыл бұрын

What I always think about when seeing Adam handle these props is how he is adding to their value just by owning and handling them. I find it strangely ironic and paradoxical somehow. Say for instance there's 10 of a certain prop and one is owned by Clint Eastwood the question asked down the line is...? Is this the one Clint Eastwood had? Yeah, Adam Savage you're not Clint Eastwood famous but none the less you are a famous and important figure to many. Thanks Tested team for another great video!

@GrizleMah0gany Жыл бұрын

speaking from some experience with polishing cars and other surfaces etc less polish is generally the way to go. quicker results, less to clean off, pad doesnt fill up as fast, etc. :) results are hard to argue with though

@godminnette2 Жыл бұрын

I somehow read that as motorized apple polisher, and I was highly intrigued.

@phillipboggs6718 Жыл бұрын

Try it You will like it. I have found I can polish anything with elbow grease and brasso on final pass.

@JM800 Жыл бұрын

Adam, I've done years of acrylic polishing, both professionally and for myself. What I've learned is heat is not your friend. Buffing wheels move too fast for plastic. If I was going to the helmet I would have assessed the damage, wet sanded with progressive sanding. I would have used medium to 0000 steel wool with dish soap and water. Then I would have done the motorized polisher. Keeping it cool keeps the burns down, fracturing, and warping down.

@tavlingapa Жыл бұрын

For an art project we had to choose s celebrity to make a portrait of using only words. Anyway Adam was the only legend I could think of.

@Zawfee Жыл бұрын

Ochre and green reminds me of ammo cans 😍

@recurvestickerdragon Жыл бұрын

The title said "apple polisher" earlier, and I like that much better

@Profexxx Жыл бұрын

I polished my car headlights the other day. This would’ve made it so much easier. I’m gonna do it again.

@halokillernoob Жыл бұрын

Hey Adam, I wouldn’t use those paper towels for the final wipe. You need a microfiber cloth. Rubbing it with those paper towels is just leaving micro scratches.

@wrorchestra1 Жыл бұрын

I see a new demerit badge there! "Flinging the polishing compound"

@theprojectproject01 Жыл бұрын

l went and bought one off The Big Rock Candy Mountain. It works an absolute treat for polishing vintage sewing machines.

@theprojectproject01 Жыл бұрын

And the extension/smøl head kit showed up today! Yaaaayyy!

@rstainsbury Жыл бұрын

In the U.K., “Bless their hearts,” is a patronising phrase, like “That’s so sweeet!”. It certainly doesn’t mean “Go to hell!”

@crusherj3535 Жыл бұрын

I was talking to the video asking does it come apart right before you discovered that piece comes off.

@milk-it Жыл бұрын

When the polish splattered everywhere, I figured nothing's changed since Mythbusters 😂.

@user-nt2fe6iq4r 2 ай бұрын

Post polishing acrylic/ you will saw swirlmark. If u you have transparent baby dish dryer, u can try putting it there but place it in some distance not direct to the heat. u can place it direct to heat but u gotta monitor it not over heat it. and u gonna surprise yourself the result. the effect is same with inside paint booth with heater. i've beem working glass/acrylic/plexiglass polishing for a while. Hope it increases the finishing beauty

@user-nt2fe6iq4r 2 ай бұрын

there are tips on how to minimize those swirlmark in the process but that is for another time

@TheLord-YT-FTM Жыл бұрын

I have the same polisher, only it has a chainsaw head on it and i use it for Animal feet repair. Unusually sensitive to moisture even for a power tool.

@hw2508 Жыл бұрын

Proxxom makes a lot of tools, electric and non electric. And they make tools for model making. In Europe they are always good quality (maybe not the best quality, but quite good) for a very good price.

@ender4555 Жыл бұрын

Every detailer is screaming "clean your pad!" and "that's 10x the compound you need!", lol.

@calleostlind4248 Жыл бұрын

every single car detailer watching this is screaming right now. But hey, it did work.

@Scoots1994 Жыл бұрын

Adam, do you do anything to anti-static treat the plastic?

@jerryyu583 Жыл бұрын

By my experiences of polishing, the wool polish head will left some ring shape scratches, better to use a sponge one.

@IsabellaCatherine19XX Жыл бұрын

Would a microfiber cloth be ideal in this situation or nah? I'm genuinely curious.

@HXGSH Жыл бұрын

Interesting that you mentioned that the main guy from Nagra was a polish engineer, 'Nagra' is a polish verb meaning: it will record , nagrac: to record; nagrywac: register, record; nagrane: recorded; nagrywane: being recorded; nagra: it(or he/she) will record. etc.

@111havok Жыл бұрын

You should get Adam Jones of the band TOOL to come to the cave, Before he was in the band he worked in special effects. He directed TOOL's videos, I don't know what you guys can do, but it would be a cool whith what ever you come up with.

@Micah__ Жыл бұрын

Your right arm on your glasses is giving me anxiety Adam!!! haha

@jb0078887 Жыл бұрын

You need some good quality microfiber towels to enhance your polishing. Paper towels are reversing your work.

@robertlittle9907 Жыл бұрын

Just curious why didn't you use a micro fiber cloth versus paper towels? Isn't paper towels more grittier of sorts?

@nicolevanderpool1252 Жыл бұрын

Slow speed polishing reduces loss, gotcha. But over the whole process how much do you lose about? Just thinking of the fist time I polished something and removed 1/5 of the material 😅

@timothydoom Жыл бұрын

does he have the world record of owning the most tools? jeez

@mechachrist Жыл бұрын

Watch Chip Channel Restoration. He restores old metal toys, most of which are rusted and dented. Watching him sand blast rust and fabricate parts to bring them back to life is fascinating.

@backpacker3421 Жыл бұрын

Place a few dabs of polish on the polishing wheel, then WITHOUT turning on the polisher, dab it all around the surface to be polished. It will look like polka dots. THEN turn on your polisher and go to work. You'll avoid all the splatter - and avoid getting all over your fingers, AND the polisher will pick up more product as you go, removing the need to add more. PLUS, you'll avoid the excess use of polish you see here. That's a ton of polish. You could do the job very well with about 1/4 as much or even less.

@aqacefan Жыл бұрын

All the detailing/restoration videos he claims to have watched… and he doesn’t put the polishing medium on the pad. Not to mention spreading the medium around with his fingers, thus introducing whatever contaminants are on his skin.

@johan.mp4 Жыл бұрын

Don't forget to add UV protection after you've polished clear plastics.

@markcollins2876 Жыл бұрын

You applied the compound directly on the visor. Why not on the pad?

@phillipboggs6718 Жыл бұрын

Try some brasso. I use it on watch crystals ,Headlights.

@stephen300o6 Жыл бұрын

I always spend time cleaning screen plastic, then realising the shipping film is still on.

@grymhild Жыл бұрын

Why didn't you take off your watch and ring before polishing? Or use a lint free cloth?

@loofy26 Жыл бұрын

PLastic residues that comes off are ruining your work and that's hazy effect you get under the shine. you need to blow your pad, clean the area with alcohol then redo the same area. Change pads frequently is also key. considering plastic is soft i would ceramic coating the entire visor.