Polishing and buffing your car can be one of the easiest ways to bring back that beautiful new car finish; however, using a car polisher or buffer improperly can also damage your finish permanently. For this reason, it’s important to fully understand the intricacies of using a car polisher buffer before you begin.
First, although some may use the terms car polish and car wax interchangeably, this is incorrect. A real car polish is actually a compound with abrasives in it. Using a car polisher buffer with this compound, the user finely sands down the surface of the vehicle, making it smooth again. Car polishes come in several varieties, from those that are very abrasive (used for the removal of things like oxidation and deep scratches) to polishes used with car buffers that are only lightly abrasive, used as a finishing step in the polishing process. Car polish itself will not protect a car’s finish, once it’s applied, and therefore must be followed with wax or protectant.
One of the most common methods of applying polish is with an orbital buffer, as the car polisher buffer. These car buffers come in a several pad sizes and powers. Two popular pad sizes for orbital buffers are 6″ and 8″. Although the 8″ pad may make easier work of larger, flat surface areas, the 6″ pad is often easier to work with when it comes to the contours of the vehicle. Many models include a Velcro pad that allows the user to change out the polishing and buffing pads easily, depending on the stage of their polishing and buffing project.
The density of the pad the user is using on the car polisher buffer, should be in relation to what the user is trying to accomplish with the polishing. As an example, to remove deep scratches, a denser foam pad that is more abrasive should be used. Other types of pads include waffle-surface pads, to help dissipate heat better, 2-ply pads, pads with beveled edges, and conical pads for intricate details.
There are several tips to effectively using a car polisher buffer, and ensuring the best finish possible is achieved.
First, the automobile must be completely clean prior to polishing. Even the smallest bit of dirt will be grabbed by the buffer and scrubbed across the car’s surface, scratching it in the process. Using claybar after the vehicle is washed can help ensure that it is as clean as absolutely possible.
For this same reason, if the pad from the car buffer is dropped, it must be washed completely before using again. Even if it appears to be clean, a small piece of dirt can cause significant surface scratching.
Beginning with the most abrasive polish needed for the particular surface, when applying the car polish compound, apply it to the car polisher buffer and then spread it on the vehicle’s surface, BEFORE turning on the buffer. This will help minimize the chance that polishing compound will be flung off the pad and wasted.
With the car polisher buffer’s pad against the vehicle’s surface, turn on the buffer. Work the polish back and forth across the car’s surface, so that the area is covered with car polishing compound. Once the compound is spread evenly along the surface, turn the speed up on the buffer, making sure the pad is level with the car’s surface. If a vibration is felt, it’s an indication that the buffer is not parallel with the surface.
Work the car polisher buffer both from side to side and up and down, on the area of the car being polished. Continue until the car polish becomes clear. If the polish becomes overworked, it may begin to flake. Once the polish has turned clear, turn off the buffer and lift it away from the vehicle. Using a terry cloth towel, the polishing compound should then be removed from the vehicle. This process can either be followed with a finer abrasive polish, or finished off with a wax or protectant. Pads should be cleaned after every use.
By understanding the different components of car polishing and buffing, the user can bring a car’s surface back to shining life!
Tags: buffing pads, car buffers, car polish, car polisher, car polishes, orbital buffer, orbital buffers
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