Buffers and Polishers For Car Detailers

Having the paint really shine and look great should be a professional detailers main objective. With today's base coat clear coat paint system you must correct the paint first and then prepare it to shine and Bling! Today's cars have a several coats of clear paint sprayed over the pigment color. Typically the clear paint is water based and softer than the old conventional single stage enamel based paints. This clear coat is easily polluted with environmental fallout and needs to be properly "buffed" to remove the pollutants.

Basically there are "buffers" and "polishers." The difference between a buffer and polisher is in the motion of the buffing or polishing pad. A high speed buffer also known as a rotary variable speed buffer will achieve better results "leveling" the paint than an "orbital" polisher. The high speed buffer creates heat and the buffing pad spins in a circular motion removing the pollutants and many of the scratches that are penetrated in the clear coat surface. Based on the severity of the paint would dictate which buffing pad and glaze or clear coat leveling compound should be used. We offer Makita and Dewalt variable high speed rotary buffers.

Using an orbital polisher instead of a high speed buffer will not correct or level the paint as efficiently as a high speed buffer. The orbital polisher pad does not rotate in circular revolutions, it actually "jiggles." The jiggling does not create heat so it cannot burnish the clear coat paint and remove the imperfections. Although if the paint of the vehicle is in good shape and orbital polisher can be used to glaze the paint with polish and then used to seal or wax the paint as the final step.

There are a few different types of orbital polishers. One type of a random-orbit polisher is the Cyclo Dual Head Polisher. This is very popular among detailers especially the novice. The Cyclo polisher has two 4" heads that spin in opposite direction. You can cover areas quickly with this unit because of the dual heads. The Cyclo is very versatile and is easy to polish around joggles, emblems, hood ornaments, door handles, and roof racks. Many detailers use this unit to apply wax or sealant because it imitates circular hand motion, saves time drastically, and you use much less product. Detail King has several Cyclo Polisher Packages available.

Another polisher used by professional detailers is the Porter Cable dual action polisher. This unit also has two motions; it spins in a circular fashion but the center point also oscillates, changing the orbit of the spin. The Porter Cable is actually a variable speed dual action polisher. The speed can be easily adjusted by controlling the dial on the handle. You can adjust the speed from 2500 orbits per minute to 6500 orbits per minute. This unit is more aggressive as a polisher and can even achieve minor paint leveling if used with the proper foam pad and glaze or compound. Although most professionals use this polisher as a quick and efficient way to apply and remove the final coat of protection.

The Gem Orbital Polisher is another possible polisher to consider. The Gem units move much slower than the two other units mentioned earlier. Although these units are much heavier and the polishing head is much larger. The Gem units are available in 14lb and 16lb sizes. They oscillate between 1600 and 1750 orbital per minute depending on which one you are using. Because of their weight you can push on them while applying the glaze or sealants to penetrate the product deep into the pours of the paint. Because of the 11" head of the drive pad the orbital bonnet will cover large flat areas quickly. You will have to remove the bonnet and apply the wax or sealant in the tight spots the the Gem could not get to. You can try all the orbital out at the Detail King training seminar before you make your choice.

When working with today's painted surfaces requires knowledge of several various factors including paint technology, general paint damage, products to recondition and protect, and polish pad selection. If your serious about being a professional detailer you will eventually need a high speed rotary buffer to level the paint to remove scratches, oxidation and pollutants. You will also want at least one type of orbital polisher for very minor paint correction or to apply the wax or sealant. Detail King offers a hands-on training course that teaches how to determine what type correction the paint needs and how to go about selecting the appropriate buffer, pad, polisher and products to achieve the very best results. It is worth getting educated first to avoid costly paint damaging errors. With practice and patience it is possible that you can become regarded as one of the very best in your home town and demand high revenue for your expert work!

Hopefully this article clears up some of the questions you may have had. You can provide exterior polishing services with just an orbital polisher but you may limit yourself on how well the paint will look when your completed. Using a Cyclo or Porter Cable polisher will help build up confidence in the beginning and you can work your way up to a high speed buffer as you mature. If you are going to be aggressive and go after all kinds of customers including fleet work, dealer accounts and body shop detailing you will need to know how to use a high speed buffer. Contact Detail King to learn more about our one day and two day training seminars. We can tailor a hands-on training course just for you and your staff.