I am looking for a good buffer that either comes with or has availabilty of a good selection of different pads and materials. Also whats a good source to get good pads and bonnets for one? I am looking for a rotary one (grinder type). Not one of those random orbit ones. I was thinking maybe a DeWalt or Makita?

I have one from wen tools with a 7" head.
Only cost me about 60 bucks , 10 years and hundreds of cars later she still runs strong.
All the 7" 3-M pads work on it.

Is there a good online source for those pads? I guess the 7-in, $30 one that harbor frieght usually has on sale would be fine. Variable speed, etc...

There is only one truely good buffer for automotive detailing. The Porter Cable 7428...

http://store.auto-geek.net/poca747po.html

Poke around Autopia.com and you'll notice every pro and non-pro alike always refer to it as their "PC".

If price is a problem - I think there's a 6" version just over a hundred.

Right on the money sinclair --- the PC is the way to go

www.smartshoppersinc.com has a good supply of pads and polishes or your local autobody distributor would be a good source too....i have a throw away harbor freght buffer that has lasted about four years now...my brother likes to borrow them for fiberglass grinding..and i got tired of him burning up my makitas...naturally they didnt burn up while he was using them...the makitas are nice because they have a delayed switch to help keep from burning paint

Craftsman makes a decent orbital buffer also. The PC7424 seems to b e the car industry benchmark. I got the Craftsman because of price and a gift card.

As far as random orbital buffers, the Flex is better than the PC7424, but the Porter Cable is still a good product. IIRC there is a Makita that switched from orbital to rotary for around 300 bucks.