gregdavidson
New member
I've never used a buffer which is why I'm asking this question. Also, is it easy to screw up your paint when using an orbital buffer?
Is hand waxing just as effective as using a buffer?
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gregdavidson
New member
Legacy99 said:
So basically, most people use a buffer just to make their job easier.
Well not sure what you are getting at. If you want to use a "buffer" to "wax" your vehicle, thats your choice.
Most of us use a polisher to remove swirls/defects.
I suggest you do a lot of reading here, as most of your questions will be answered.
Personally, I prefer to wax by hand.
Most of us use a polisher to remove swirls/defects.
I suggest you do a lot of reading here, as most of your questions will be answered.
Personally, I prefer to wax by hand.
gregdavidson
New member
craigdt said:
I'm obviously new to auto detailing so I have a lot of dumb questions to ask. I was just wondering whether the results achieved by using a buffer were significantly better than waxing by hand.
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
gregdavidson said:
That's kind of an oversimplification. The general idea about "waxing" that most of us grew up with is that you go to the store and buy a can/bottle of "wax", you put that on the car, let it haze, and wipe it off with an old t-shirt. After a few years of doing that once or twice a year, the car doesn't look as good as it used to, so we think maybe it's because we don't have a machine, and those $19.99 orbital buffers at Sears seem to be the ticket to restoring the shine to our car.
That OTC wax has some cleaners in it, and if you apply it often enough and with enough elbow grease, will probably keep your car pretty nice. More likely, your car has built up some light scratches (what we call here "swirling") from life and washing, and has built up some dirt on the surface from those times that you just didn't feel like "waxing" (like all last winter).
So, whether by hand or machine, there is a methodololgy that would be followed to remove that dirt and other contaminants, remove minor swirling, and just generally recondition the paint surface. That might include clay, chemical cleaners, and light abrasives (polishes). And yes, a machine can get better results, but mostly by saving you time and muscle. However, that orbital polisher you've perhaps been eyeing up is not in the same league as the machines most people here talk about, which are usally called DA's (dual action orbital polishers), forced-rotation DA's, or rotary (or circular or high-speed) polishers.