Car detailing is known best for its paint protection. Aside from the better-known car wax and car polish, a car buffer polisher can help make your detailing easier. With that, the orbital polisher can be considered the best car polisher for beginners!
You can easily and quickly remove scratches and swirls from your paint with the help of this tool. It doesn’t matter if you’re a certified autogeek or just a regular car owner. Of course, you’d want your car to look the best it possibly can.
That’s why you should get a good polisher for your car care kit. There are many brands out there, some more well-known than others like Makita and DeWalt. Regardless, any orbital polisher will still immensely help you in your detailing efforts so better learn more about them.
Read on to discover what the best orbital polisher is!
There are many kinds of car buffers out there. You can choose from a cordless polisher, a variable speed polisher, an orbit car polisher, or something much more specific like a dual-action random orbital polisher! Yes, it does sound confusing and a bit overwhelming, right?
But don’t worry! The best orbital buffer is something that you’re comfortable with, whatever variety that may be. It’s also a good idea to stock up on different buffing pads and your favorite polish (the Nu Finish is worth checking out!).
Once you’re more confident in your buffing capabilities, you can always upgrade. These tools are here to make your life easier and to help you get the optimum paint repair and care your car deserves!
So, in this article, we’ll explore:
- Dual action orbital polisher review
- Dual action and random orbital polisher product reviews
- Random orbital polisher vs. Dual action
- Car polishing pads
- How to polish a car with an orbital buffer?
Dual Action Orbital Polisher Review
So, what is a dual action orbital polisher and how does it work?
Before you pick the best DA polisher (Dual Action) for you, you must first know what a dual action polisher is. It is an auto buffer polisher that makes use of two different motions simultaneously. When turned on, the DA polisher moves in a circular motion while a combined with another spinning motion on top.
The resulting oscillation creates a “wobble” which prevents excess heat and friction build up, but still allows enough such that light to moderate paintwork blemishes can be removed. This makes a DA the perfect choice for the amateur enthusiast looking to keep the car looking ‘tip top’ but without the worry of a potential re-spray! – The Ultimate Finish
There are tons of dual action polishers out there to choose from, and the best dual action polisher for you is just waiting to be bought. Some brands you can look into are a Torq and Ryobi orbital polisher.
Now that that’s out of the way, you should definitely look into a few reviews to get an idea of what you want to get!
Dual Action and Random Orbital Polisher Product Reviews
For this article, both the random orbital buffer and dual action polisher would be available for your review in the list below. If you want to know more about these two car buffers and how they differ from one another, make sure to keep on reading after the reviews.
The dual action or random orbital polisher will differ from person to person. Of course, some products will work better than others, but your ease in handling it is vital to your success. So, you better be sure about what you get.
You can easily buy car buffer in store at Walmart and other automotive or hardware shops, or you can buy online on Amazon and such. Worry about the price less! What’s more essential is how well your polishing machine can perform.
Below is a list of some of the other recommended products you might want to try. These models are carefully selected for their ample of high ratings and positive experience from previous buyers:
1. Rupes Polisher
- Superior Italian design and craftsmanship
- Soft start guarantees an acceleration ramp to...
- Anti-spinning feature prevents high speed...
- Electronic feedback control maintains...
If you want to try out something that’s already beloved to many professionals and enthusiasts, you’d probably like to get this car buffer by Rupes. It has an amazing 500-watt motor that can easily help you remove pesky swirls and scratches for a smoother, clearer finish.
It is Italian-made and has a soft start feature that enables for a more controlled operation because of its acceleration ramp. With this product, you can prevent any accidental dispersion.
Another excellent feature is their anti-spinning component, which stops the polisher from engaging in high-speed rotations that can cause further scratching.
2. Porter-Cable 7346SP Polisher
- 4.5 Amp, ac Only
- Electronic variable-speed dial 2,500-6,800...
- Random orbit, swirl-free sanding/polishing...
- Includes 6-inch proprietary counter balance...
A powerful random orbit polisher you could try out is the 7346SP by Porter-Cable. It has an electronic variable speed dial that can take you from 2500 to 6800 orbits per minute and can guarantee a swirl-free polishing action for a better and brighter finish.
Its strong 4.5 amp motor has a high overload protection feature, so you know it’s safe to use. Plus, this polisher already comes with a 6 inch sanding disc and a polishing pad.
It highlights an innovatively ergonomic design and has a removable two-position handle for better user comfort. So, it doesn’t matter if you’re left handed or right handed!
3. Bosch Random Orbital Polisher
- POWER: This Bosch Random Orbit...
- CONTROL: Includes soft start for reduced...
- DUAL-MODE: Provides two sanding modes -...
- SPEED: Set desired speed using a dial and...
If you’re looking for a car buffer that will last you a long time, then you might want to look into the 1250DEVS by Bosch. It has many durability features that include aluminum gear housing and a switch that can seal against dust.
It features a powerful 6.5 amp motor that can take on extended amounts of time so you can work on your project longer and finish it faster. This car buffer also has excellent control features like variable speed, reduced start-up, and a vacuum port that can collect dust and other messes.
This polisher also comes with a microcellular hook-and-loop pad made by Bosch. They are soft pads that can give you finer, smoother, and flatter results. It’s an impressive product that you’ll surely like using!
4. Flex Polisher – XC3401VRG
- 8 mm orbital movement; 10-foot black power...
- Permanent direct drive for an even polished...
- If carbon brushes wear down, the motor will...
- High-powered motor: can handle extreme loads
Are you having doubts about using a polishing machine? That’s definitely acceptable. After all, some works are done better by hand rather than by machine. But if you’re having a hard time juggling your limited amount of time with your desire for better buffing, then a good compromise would be this polisher from Flex.
Its amazing orbital rotation feature can simulate the circular motion of manual buffing as it polishes your car’s finish. Its high-powered motor can handle heavy loads, and it has handy switches. Both the accelerator trigger switch and the speed selection detail allow you to control the polisher’s optimal speed.
But it also has some fantastic safety features that you can benefit from! This polisher has innovative restart protection which lowers machine malfunctioning when there’s a power interruption. An overload protection features and temperature monitoring feature is added as well.
5.Griot’s Garage 10813STDCRD Polisher
- Remove swirl marks and scratches quickly and...
- Apply wax in a quarter of the time
- Adjustable loop handle. Domed, rubberized...
- Variable speed 850 Watt motor, 6 inches hook...
Griot’s Garage is a relatively well-known brand when it comes to automotive needs. While they sell mostly car care products, they also have a few car buffers in their product line. In fact, the 1013STDRCD is the 3rd generation of Griot’s orbital buffer because they continuously innovate their products to fit their customers’ needs better.
If their dedication to providing quality and high-performing products hasn’t impressed you yet, then their 850-watt motor might. This powerful polisher also has 6 different speed settings that you can use depending on the task at hand.
Plus, this polisher is definitely ergonomic! Their design has been updated for better and more comfortable use. Their handles are now rubberized and can be adjusted to your liking. They also moved both the speed control dial and power switch to more easy-access places.
6. Presa Turbine Polisher
- Polish your vehicle with power (600W,...
- Includes 6 Accessories: Soft pad, medium pad,...
- Comfortably control the polisher by adjusting...
- Soft start with counterbalance bearings...
If you’re looking for a lightweight polisher that’s still regular in size, then look no further than this car polisher from Presa Turbine. It’s only 4.5 pounds so you won’t have a problem handling it for a long time. But don’t think that weight is its only benefit!
It’s still a high-performing polishing machine, after all! It has a 600-watt motor that can efficiently operate from 1500 to 6800 orbits per minute. This polisher doesn’t even come alone. Once you buy it, you can use it at once!
It has six handy accessories that come with it. You already get 3 kinds of pads you might need (soft, medium, and hard) as well as a wash mitt and a microfiber towel. What’s best is that all of these come in a convenient carrying bag that you can stash at the back of your car.
Plus, working around your car is super easy because of this polisher’s 19.6 feet power cord.
Also, you can check out these models at Amazon if you want to:
Random Orbital Polisher vs. Dual Action
Random orbit polisher is kind of a combination of rotary and orbital polishers. When the machine is working, the pattern created is truly random as the combination of stroke length, pad size, pad grip, and speed can alter the pattern of motion. Unlike a rotary polisher which is forced to spin, a random orbital polisher actually rotates from the momentum created by the rapid orbital motion.
On the other hand, a dual action polisher combines both the rotary and orbitals motions into one forced action. It’s designed to run in an eccentric circular motion. The advantage of this kind of polisher is that it doesn’t over apply pressure to the surface and assures the buffer never concentrates its energy all into one spot. Unlike a regular rotary buffer which has a circular motion only.
A rotary buffer is not suitable for the novice user as you can easily apply too much pressure to the paint if not control well and burn right through it, requiring a new paint job. Thus, a dual action orbital polisher is much suitable for a beginner. You can read more about this topic, here.
Car Polishing Pads
Aside from the usual microfiber and chamois towels and mitts, you also need another kind of pad when detailing your car. Polishing or buffing pads are used to apply car care products on your paint when using a polishing machine.
There are different kinds of polishing pads, all depending on what type of service you’re going to need. You can classify them depending on the material: wool or foam polishing pads. You can group them depending on size: 6 inch polishing pads or 7 inch polishing pads. You can even make a category for how easy they are to use: hook and loop pads.
If you want to learn more about polishing pads, read this article here for more information or check out online forums to get some tips from your fellow enthusiasts.
How to Polish a Car with an Orbital Buffer?
Now that you know more about polishers and have an idea of which kind of buffer to buy, it’s time to learn about the actual polishing. If this is your first time to do a machine polish, then you’d probably find it relieving to note that an orbital buffer is the most recommended for beginners (more so than a rotary buffer).
That’s because it’s almost fool-proof and can still effectively remove minor scratches and isolated imperfections with minimal effort.
Turn the buffer on and work the area in circular motions, holding the pad completely flat at all times. Turning the buffer at an angle or applying too much pressure can burn the paint surface and cause swirling. Work one quarter of a panel at a time until you get a bright gloss. – Popular Mechanics
A few tips to remember before every machine polish project:
- Remember to wash your car thoroughly first to remove pesky contaminants.
- Use the proper polishing pads for the job, and keep changing when necessary.
- Take your time. Don’t move too fast to allow the machine to do its job properly.
If you want to get a more in-depth tutorial on how to polish your car with a buffer, you can read this article or choose to watch this video from YouTube instead.
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