Polisher type
Corded polishers: voltage, marks and damp-location safety
Corded polishers need a supply voltage that matches your outlet and a certification mark on the tool. What makers state, and the GFCI rule.
Also listed as mains polisher, plug-in polisher
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Short answer
A corded polisher runs from the outlet, so check two things the cordless kind avoids: the supply voltage and a recognized certification mark on the tool itself. RUPES's LHR15ES and SPTA's CP501 pages state no supply voltage, so a US 120 V version has to be confirmed elsewhere. Milwaukee's general safety rules call for a GFCI-protected supply in damp locations.
Key facts
Watch out for
- Check the voltage on the nameplate. RUPES's and SPTA's product pages state no supply voltage or plug, so North American suitability is not established from them.
- Look for the mark on the tool. Health Canada says plug-in electrical products must be certified, names marks such as CSA, cUL and cETL, and says the mark must be on the product, not just the packaging.
- UL 62841 is the standard family. OSHA lists UL 62841-2-4 (sanders and polishers other than disc type) among UL's recognized standards. That shows which standard applies, not that any product is certified.
- Damp locations need GFCI. Milwaukee's general power-tool safety section calls for a GFCI-protected supply where a power tool must be used in a damp location.
What fits
Product details below are the seller's own description unless a source is shown. Pick the variant named for each item.
15 mm corded random orbital polisher
FLEX FC3321-Z 120 V brushless random orbital polisher (15 mm)Choose the FC3321-Z listing that includes the 5 in (FT333) and 6 in (FT334) backing plates.
Sold on Amazon: check 'Ships from' and 'Sold by' on the Amazon offer before you buy, and look for a North American certification mark on the tool's nameplate.
Check price on Amazon Opens amazon.com7 in rotary polisher (corded)
Makita 9237C 7 in rotary polisher (120 V)Choose the 9237C with the 7 in hook-and-loop backing pad (743052-5).
Confirm the listing describes the 120 V US version, and check 'Ships from' and 'Sold by' on the Amazon offer before you buy.
Check price on Amazon Opens amazon.comRotary polisher (corded)
FLEX FC3311-Z 120 V brushless rotary polisherChoose the FC3311-Z listing with the 5 in FT331 and 6 in FT332 rotary backing plates.
Sold on Amazon: check 'Ships from' and 'Sold by' on the Amazon offer before you buy, and look for a North American certification mark on the tool's nameplate.
Check price on Amazon Opens amazon.com
Prefer batteries? See cordless polishers.
Questions
Does a corded polisher need a GFCI outlet?
Milwaukee's general power-tool safety section says that if a power tool must be used in a damp location, a GFCI-protected supply should be used.[3]
What safety mark should a corded polisher have in Canada?
Health Canada says plug-in electrical products must be certified by an accredited body, names marks such as CSA, cUL and cETL, and says the mark must appear on the product itself. CE alone is not one of the marks it names.[4][5]
Which UL standard covers car polishers?
OSHA's listing for UL includes UL 62841-2-4 for sanders and polishers other than disc type and UL 62841-2-3 for disc-type polishers. A product is certified only if its maker or the certifier says so.[6]