Electric Car Buffer or Hand Waxing?


"Yep, took the paint off down to the primer." 

"That sucker scratched the paint up so bad I had to get a paint job!"

You may have heard a friend or neighbor tell the tale of how he ruined his car's paint job by using a car buffer. 

While there may be some truth to the tales, the fact of the matter is that many people are unjustifiably afraid to take the leap from hand waxing to using an electric car buffer.

Let's take a look at the facts:

There are several different types of electric car buffers on the market today. One we'll discuss in detail, the other we'll discount by saying its use is best left to the professionals. This article is geared toward the Average Joe rather than the car professional.

High-speed car buffer - This is the big, bad boy you may have heard about in the
                                   horror stories. Actually, in the hands of a trained and 
                                   experienced detailer, this is the machine that can
                                   give the very finest results. Like the kind of incredible
                                   finishes you see at car shows. But its high RPMs can easily
                                   cause paint to soften with heat and mar if used
                                   incorrectly.While this type of car buffer is great for
                                   removal of heavy scratching and oxidation, its best left
                                   in the hands of a professional.

Orbital car buffer -  This car buffer uses a slow circular rotation at the same time
                              it rotates in orbital fashion. This simulates hand waxing, 
                              but only much more rapidly.
                                        
                                          Pros:
                                                   - It's faster and easier than hand waxing.
                                                   - It uses less wax than hand waxing.
                                                   - Achieves an even, streak-free look.
                                                   - Can quickly remove swirls and minor
                                                     oxidation.
                                                   - Doesn't require much experience to master
                                                     technique.

                                          Cons:
                                                   - Can be dangerous if you use cord model and
                                                     the ground is wet. (Cordless models are
                                                     available)
                                                   - Not effective in fixing badly damaged paint,
                                                     swirls or deep scratches.

 
                                           There are several different types of orbital car
                                           buffers on the market today. Cost can range from
                                           under $40 to upward of $300 depending on brand and
                                           size. Bear in mind that larger models like a 10" car
                                           buffer won't be able to reach into the small areas
                                           between trim. A 6" mini orbital car buffer can get
                                           into small areas, but might take a little more time to
                                           use, comparatively. In addition, consider the ease
                                           of a mini car buffer designed for one-hand
                                           operation.
                                         
                                           Some caution is advised when looking at cheaper
                                           models. Read "the fine print" before buying because
                                           often the cheap orbital car buffer is recommended
                                           for wax application only. It doesn't have the power
                                           to polish.
                                

                                           Some popular orbital car buffer models to consider:

                                                The 6" Porter Cable 7424XP Dual Action Polisher.
                                                 It's easy to use and is the choice of many
                                                 amateur and professional detailers.
                                                 Prices range around $120.
                                      
                                                Meguiar's Dual Action 6" Polisher G110v2. A little 
                                                pricier than the Porter Cable 7424XP, but still
                                                affordable at around $150.

While there's something to be said by the way of speed for orbital car buffers, hand waxing is a time-honored way of  waxing a car. Let's look more closely at why.


Hand Waxing -      This was and maybe still is you father's and your  
                           grandfather's way to wax a car. It's old-school. It still 
                           is the method preferred by many car owners.
                                               
                                     Pros:
                                             - What's not to love? A nice Saturday afternoon
                                                spent waxing your car. iPod on or off listening
                                                the birds or neighbors as you work. No noisy
                                                car  buffer motor to disturb the peace.
                                             -  Hand waxing is quieter than even the 
                                                quietest electric car buffer.
                                             -  It's more relaxing, too. A real nice experience.
                                             -  There's no risk of ruining your finish at all.
                                             -  Cost is only your time.

                                     Cons:
                                              - Takes more time and effort than an electric
                                                 car buffer. 
                                              - Can leave streaks more than an electric car
                                                buffer.
                                              - Not as effective in fixing badly damaged paint,
                                                 micro-marring scuffs or light scratches
                                                 as electric car buffer.

The bottom line:

In a word - "time". Time is the very biggest difference between hand waxing and using an electric car buffer.
If you only have one car or have a whole afternoon to spare, hand waxing is a great way to go. At the same time, you shouldn't be afraid to use an orbital car buffer. They're not the boogie man. Most people are very happy with the results of these machines. They're fairly fool-proof and can achieve superior results if you're willing to shell out a few bucks.
                                  

1 comment:

  1. Car wax related cons and pros made me so curios about car waxing and I will try to do waxing carefully as each cons affect my pocket.

    ReplyDelete