When waxing a car with a machine polisher, you should be using the softest pad possible. There are many different types of pads out there, each with a specific purpose.įor example, you do not want to use a pad that is designed for cutting or paint correction with your wax. Which Type Of Pad to Use with Machine Polisher?Īnother important consideration when waxing a car with a buffer is to ensure you pick the right pad for the job. Some products I have used in the past which have given me great results by machine are : These are going to be much easier to apply to the pad and spread over the car’s paint, which will give you the best results. If you want to use a machine to apply the wax, I would recommend you stick with liquid waxes or glazes. Some types of car wax are more suited towards application with a machine, and others which I would not recommend.Īlthough I am a big fan of paste waxes, these are less than ideal for use with a buffer. Griots Garage Dual Action Polisher Which Type Of Wax to Use with Machine Polisher?Īnother point to note is that not all waxes are created equal. Some great dual action polishers which are safe to use by less experienced detailers are Rotary polishers are much too aggressive in terms of power and ability to generate heat on the paint, and should only really be handled by someone who has experience with these machines. Due to the nature of their action, they are a much safer tool for the job. In my opinion, the only type of buffer you should be used to apply wax to your car is dual-action or random orbital polisher. Which Type Of Polisher is Best for Applying Wax? Because the rotary buffer is a direct drive machine, it can do a lot of work very quickly. This rotating motion is typically clockwise as you look at the rotary buffer from behind, as though you were using it on a panel. This results in a powerful rotating motion. It is driven directly off the electric motor. The drive unit used in a rotary buffer is referred to as a direct drive. Rotary buffers are very different in the way they work compared to Dual-action polishers and Random Orbital buffers.

However, it is also safer to use and easier to learn with. It is a more gentle tool so correction work typically takes longer. The random orbit nature of a dual action polisher means that it generates far less heat than a rotary polisher. This results in a random orbit movement of the pad – sometimes such polishes are referred to as “Random-Orbit” polishers (RO polishers) By dual-action, it means that the pad not only spins in a circle, but it also oscillates. Dual Action or Random Orbital Polishersĭual-action polishers are a much safer tool to simply pick up and use. These can usually be grouped into two main categories. If you have already read my post on “ The Best Car Polishers for beginners“, you will already be aware that there are various types of machine polishers that have different mechanisms of action. However, there are some things you should know before you start.įirst things first, not every type of machine polisher is going to be suitable for wax application. I also find you can miss a spot more easily using the hand application approach So, is it possible to use a buffer to help with some of the drawbacks of polishing a car by hand? There have been many times I have layed on too thick of a layer, which makes it harder to buff off. I find that sometimes when you apply wax by hand, it is hard to get even coverage on the paintwork. I have often woken the next day feeling like I have had a heavy arm workout! Uneven Coverage The constant application and removal can be tiring on your arms. It can be a physically demanding process to wax a car by hand. If you already have some experience waxing a car by hand, you will know exactly what I mean by effort. The type of wax used can often have an influence on the time taken.Īlthough some waxes are designed to be able to be applied and removed relatively quickly, it can still take quite a bit of time to apply evenly over an entire vehicle. It can be a very time-consuming process to apply wax to a car by hand. Drawbacks of applying a Car Wax by Hand Speed Now, we all know machine polishers are designed for use with Polish on a car’s paintwork, but can they also be used to apply wax to your car instead of a hand application?

Car wax by hand