Makita PW5001C 4" Electronic Stone Polisher

I purchased this for a friend who is a professional tile setter/anything tile or stone installer.He was doing countertops for a luxury home.It was a huge 200 linear feet of counter tops in a massive kitchen with back splashes and window sills.His faithful Makita stone polisher needed a new cord and he had an improvised hook up for the water feed.I wanted to surprise him before the job was done, he was cutting everything and hadn't started polishing all the granite parts yet.The tool arrived a day after he started the polishing and he was almost in tears he was so happy to get it.He went on an on about the quality and durability of the tool.His was the third he had purchased and this was the fourth.He always has two on his job sites for two people to use to polish the raw granite.I have helped him polish before and I can tell you, this single tool gets a lot of use on just one job.It is so powerful, my learning curve was to keep it steady and not make a gauge in the surface I was polishing.He just had to know what it cost and when I told him, he said it was a bargain compared to the big box stores.We searched the Makita web page to see if they made a cordless model, but did not see one.None on Amazon either.

Polishing large stones/boulders, and it just won't quit! My lapidary club gave a presentation on the use of these type wet polishers. They said their Barranca-Diamond polishers lasted only a few hours then went kaput .... Even the warranty replacement units did not last long!Through my many hobbies, I knew Makita was a quality manufacturer of hand tools, so I did not hesitate to buy this polisher. I have not even heard this unit emit so mauch as a wimper under long duration polishing sessions (Up to as much as 15 different grit pads at no less than 15 minutes per each grit). I highly recommend this unit for stone polishing.If you do a search on eBay, you can find 4" lapidary grit pad kits that will fit this unit. Some grit pad kits only offer a few different grit pads. However, you can find some, like mine, which offer a dozen or more different grit pads (~$45 - $50). My kit also comes with two hook backing attachments that will fit this unit (Adding the one that comes with the Makita, you will have a total of three backing attachments).When using this unit, I prefer to use the front end grip, instead of the side grip handle. I get better control and pressure with it.There is one other thing that you should purchase to help you provide water to the unit. I purchased the Gardena 36004 Garden Hose Quick Conector. If you plan to use the water feature of the unit, you need a connector like this.To use the Makita PW5001C, first connect the unit to a standard garden hose with the separately purchased Quick Connector. Then, plug the power cord into an outdoor electrical outlet (Be sure to create a "drip block" in the cord, by simply raising the cord off the ground somewhere between the Makita and the electrical outlet. Drape the cord over something like a brick, or rock, or plastic container. This prevents water from getting all the way from the unit to the outlet .... water and electricity do not play nice together). Making sure that your worksite is downhill from your electrical source is also a good idea!Next, turn the water valve so that it is perpendicular to the long length of the unit (This is the water OFF position). You can then turn on the water at the faucet (No more than about 1/4 to 1/2 turn of the spigot valve is necessary ..... you only need water to trickle out of the unit). Once you are ready to turn on the Makita unit, go over to the other end of the power cord and press the RESET button on the built-in GFCI unit (This will apply power to the unit).Proceed back to the Makita and apply your desired grit pad to the hook & loop backing attachment (The hole in the pad should line up with the hole in the backing attachment, to prevent water obstruction). Hold the Makita directly over the object to be polished. Slowly turn the water valve on the unit counter-clockwise (Toward the front of the unit) until water starts to trickle out of the ports in the center of the polishing pads. Then, push the power button on the Makita to the front of the unit. Power will be applied, and the Makita unit will slowly ramp-up speed.In one hand, hold the Makita at the back of the unit (Where the power cord is located), and with the other hand, grasp the handle that you installed (On the front of the unit or the side). Place the Makita down gently on top of your project, making sure the polishing pad is flat. Slowly move the unit in a circular motion. If after a few seconds the water spraying on you seems a bit warm (Due to more friction than cooling), adjust the water valve so that more water comes out. Do this until the water spraying on you stays cool. Continue moving in a circular motion, keeping the pad flat on the surface, until you have reached the desired level of polishing with that particular grit pad.When you are ready to shut down for the day, or just wish to change grit pads, turn the power off by first pushing on the back of the power button, then sliding it back. The power will slowly ramp down. Then, turn the water flow off by closing the water valve (perpendicular position). If you are shutting down for the day, make sure you go over to the water spigot and TURN THE WATER OFF THERE FIRST, before trying to disconnect the water at the units Quick Connect adapter, or you will likely get water where you don't want water .... like, in your eyes, your ears, or up your nose. At the very least, you don't want to accidentally douse your innocent bystander wife!If you are just changing pads, youjust need to turn off power and water at the unit, change pads, then switch back on the water first, then the power.Enjoy!

I had the polisher for a while now. I use it for all sorts of work from taking scratches out of stone to finishing up stone edges/bullnose.Let's be realistic the tool might not come with the little coupling but here's what you do: Get a hose ... it could be a garden hose ... cut 3 to five feet of garden hose with the female end attached, use two clamps to attach the hose to the machine and connect the female end to a standard garden hose which hopefully is attached to a water bibb. Turn on water. Control flow at the valve on the machine. Get working.I say cut a garden hose because you probably have a beat up one laying around. If not, make your own, nice metal fittings are sold at home depot. Don't buy plastic... crappy.In all this time I haven't had much issue with wear on the unit. It will last because most of the work doesn't require a huge amount of pressure ... maybe one or two case... at least from my perspective.Additionally, get some safety gear, apron and good pads ...Lastly, if you are going to spend this much cash on this machine, make sure you will take care of it. Otherwise, start with a cheapy one and see if that will be enough to get you by.Update 111014:Just finished working on a quartz countertop for a bathroom. As usual, excellent work from PW5001C unit, it is worth every penny and more for the results it delivers. I had a bit of time to play around so I upgraded the water line on the polisher. First I removed the hose attachment I had on it then, removed the male quick connect replacing it with a 1/4 in OD x 1/8 in FIP which was then connected to a 20 ft stainless steel braided icemaker line. The icemaker line was then connected to a 1/4 in OD x 3/4 in HC (hose connector).I would advice to disassemble the shut off valve and take it to the store with you, that way you can ascertain the right fitting will be purchased.Update 070715: I added another water line (look at added pic) to the polisher ... I was using drums which are better served with the additional water line. As usual the results are excellent as I just finished another kitchen sink opening.Also, as you will notice I removed the quick connector fitting that came with the original valve/water line as it was bulky and didn't work for me.Folks, lastly I'd like to remind you to keep on improving and tinkering ... the tool is great, no need to get upset about what is not or it doesn't have, we can always improve, I'd say. Keep moving forward.

Great tool! I modified the water feed to use a barb with 3/8" 20' of tubing to a garden hose connection that worked great. I was able to patch holes in travertine tile with Temex Polyester resin, and then wet sand with this tool. A floor polishing machine is needed if trying to cover very large areas, as this would be too much time on the knees and shoulders for most of us!