I mostly polish stainless, which requires heavy machine sanding. My methods have evolved. One has to be creative in this field. Tool manufacturers are not exactly rushing to provide equipment for metal polishers. Here is my latest tool:

I bought a five inch hook and loop backup pad, drilled a large fender washer to bolt it to, brazed the washer to a 5/8-11 coupling nut, and now I have a five inch pad for that Makita 1400 rpm polisher you see there. I use store bought hook and loop sanding disks up to 150 grit. From there on I cut disks from sheets of wet or dry sandpaper in 220, 400, etc., and glue those to one of the 150 grit hook and loop disks with 3M number 77 spray adhesive. I use motor oil thinned with kerosene instead of water to sand with. Sandpaper seems to last longer with oil. Of course no sandpaper lasts very long on stainless. The stuff eats sandpaper.

I do the same with a smaller sander:

It’s a Chicago Pneumatics air polisher. It turns at 2500 rpm, and uses three inch disks. This is my favorite tool. I love it.

Getting stainless ready to go to the buffing wheel is still a lot of work, but these two things sure make it go faster with fewer headaches.

R