Machine Polishing
Disclaimer:
The opinions in this article are my own. They represent the accumulation of knowledge gained in 30 years of car cleaning as an amateur not a pro. The technical information contained in this article is accurate and where opinion is being offered it will be identified as such.
Introduction
We’ve all been through the joy of a Saturday spent hand polishing a car – certainly the end result is worth the effort but as a confirmed lazy bastard I’ve always preferred to let a machine do the work for me. Over the years I’ve had a vast number of machines – some good and some bad but no article of this type would be complete without a basic description of the types on offer and how they work.
Orbital v Dual Action v Rotary
This is really not a question of which is best as they will all perform a more than satisfactory job of applying and removing polishes and waxes from a vehicle surface. However there are differences in how they operate and what they are best suited to so we will look at each type in brief.
Orbital or Random Orbital
The two terms above will be used by various manufacturers to describe their products. In simple terms an orbital sander describes eccentric orbits as it works (Fig 1) and a random one introduces a slight shift to the orbiting pattern.
There are a huge range of these on the market from the simple random orbital buffer through to professional quality variable speed machines. We will look at some of these in more detail later.
Fig 1
Opinion: These are the easiest machines to learn to use and the least likely to damage paintwork with excessive swirl marks or burning of the paint surface and are probably best suited for the amateur user.
Dual Action
A dual action machine both orbits and rotates (Fig 2) and thus offers a good compromise for a general purpose machine. Some of the machines in this segment can be switched between two modes of operation so that they can act as a rotary buffer as well.
Fig 2
Opinion: These machines are a little more difficult to use than their simpler cousins but produce very good results when used properly. They are probably best suited to the practiced amateur or those who require a dual purpose machine for general household use as well.
Rotary
The rotary machine simply spins the head in a circular motion – it is the best machine in the hands of a skilled user but presents substantial risk to the paintwork in the hands of an inexperienced user. Some of the more upmarket machines attempt to compensate for this by offering variable speed operation where the lower speed settings reduce the risk somewhat. Most professionals use the rotary machines for the quality of finish they can produce and the fact that they are the only machine capable of actually removing paint material which is necessary in order to remove anything other than fine scratches.
Buyers Guide
Because of the huge array of choices available and the varying levels of skill required I think it is easiest to look at three typical uses for these machines and then look at the low, medium and high end alternatives in each category
Basic Care Care
Profile: This user here has a nice car that they wants to keep in tidy shape. They will probably wax the car 3 times a year and polish it once or twice.
Requirements: A buffer that is easy to use, reasonably lightweight and which offers a good range of basic accessories to make the job easier.
Opinion: One of the issues with most of the dedicated car buffers in this segment is the actual head size which is typically 8-10” in diameter. While this makes the large horizontal surfaces easy to deal with they are difficult to use on vertical and odd shaped surfaces.
Choice 1 – Entry Level:
A dedicated automotive orbital polisher (Fig 3) is the entry level in this category. They are readily available from most outlets for prices around the AU$60-100 mark. These are mostly 10” units.
Fig 3
Choice 2 – Mid Level
Moving away from the dedicated automotive equipment the next step up this chain offers the widest choice with products from almost every manufacturer that makes power tools. The images used here are from Makita but that is not an endorsement of their products. These units are typically 5-8” in diameter and reasonably lightweight but it is important to find a machine that you feel comfortable handling.
Prices range from a little over AU$90 for a 5” Bosch unit through to AU$300 for a top line variable speed Makita.
Fig 4
Choice 3 – High End
Not applicable to this usage.
Intermediate Care Care
Profile: This user here has a nice car that they wants to keep in very nice condition. They will probably wax the car 4 times a year or more and polish it at least twice and the car is likely to be shown on the odd occasion.
Requirements: A buffer that is easy to use, reasonably lightweight and which offers a good range of accessories to make the job easier.
Opinion: As with the previous category it is important to find a machine that you feel comfortable with. This category is where the dual action machines are more likely to be used but there are plenty of people who will use random orbitals as well.
Choice 1 – Entry Level:
A good quality random orbital machine like the Makita shown above in the mid level choices is a good starting point for this category. (Figs 3&4).
Choice 2 – Mid Level
Next up the tree will be a range of dual action machines from the mainstream manufacturers like the Makita Dual Action unit in Fig 5 or the Meguiars unit in Fig 5b. Prices for these machines range from AU$200-400 and they typically offer variable speed action and a host of extra features.
Fig 5
Fig 5b
Choice 3 – High End
The machines in this category come from manufacturers that tend to specialise in high quality and long lasting power tools or who have made their market niche in the automotive field. Sizes typically range from 5-8” diameter and most of these tools offer a vast range of options and additional features over the cheaper options along with extensive warranties.
Prominent names in this category (and the other two categories for that matter) are Festoool and Rupes both of which you will find in most professional workshops. Fig 6 is a Rupes random orbital sander which whilst only offering single speed operation is as robust a machine as you’ll find anywhere. For those preferring variable speed operation (like me) the Festool unit shown in Fig 7 is a good chocie.
Prices are in the AU$450-600 range and accessories are similarly expensive
Fig 6
Fig 7
Concours Care Care
Profile: This user here has a nicely restored or immaculately kept car that they want to keep in that condition. They will spend substantial amounts of time keeping their car pristine and it is likely to be shown regularly.
Requirements: A buffer that is easy to use, reasonably lightweight and which offers a good range of accessories to make the job easier.
Opinion: As with the previous category it is important to find a machine that you feel comfortable with. This category is where the rotary are more likely to be used but there are plenty of people who will use random orbitals or dual action machines as well.
Choice 1 – Entry Level:
There is no real entry level to this category.
Choice 2 – Mid Level
Most of the machines in this category come from the mid level of the previous example.
Choice 3 – High End
Most likely the tool of use will be from the two manufacturers mentioned above; Rupes and Festool. Both offer a wide range of choices but you can expect to pay from AU$500 upwards. Whilst this is a lot of money to pay, these machines are near enough to a lifetime proposition and spare parts will be available for at least 20 years.
I’ve just replaced my Rupes after 23 years of hard use with the Festool unit in Fig 8 and it’s not unusual to hear of them lasting 10 years plus in professional workshops. Like most of these units it is variable speed and offers switchable modes of operation but is somewhat heavier than some of the choices (although lighter than the Rupes).
Fig 8
Accessories
Essential things to add to whatever machine you choose are the necessary application pads for polishes / waxes and suitable covers or pads for removal of that material.
Sponges are used for application of material and they mostly come in two choices – a coarse sponge and a finer one. The coarse sponge (Fig 9) is typically used with a rotary tool and a light cutting compound for effective removal of surface imperfections while the fine sponge (Fig 10) is used for application of waxes, polishes and sealants.
Fig 9
Fig 10
Felts (Fig 11) are used for fine finishing of paintwork when used with mist or spray rather than paste or drying liquid products. They need to be changed regularly during use and the average large car will require 3-4 felt pads.
Fig 11
Lambs wool and Sheepskins (Fig 12) are used for the removal of paste and drying liquid products. They should be changed frequently as they start to lose effect and a normal full sized vehicle will require 3-5 of these based on the type of product used. These used to be the staple of final finishing but are largely being replaced by ultrafine microfibre covers which produce a fine finish with no risk of introducing surface blemishes.
Fig 12
Some of the tools will offer dust extraction and this is useful for extending the life of pads.
When selecting pads and covers ensure they are the right size for the machine and have the right attachment method – typical methods are hook and loop; elastic and tied on.
