Wax on- Wax off....Need buffer advice - The Firearms Forum

garydude · 11-23-2011, 02:57 PM

I need to wax my vehicles again. I haven't tried a buffer before but I'm definitely thinking about giving it a go.

Anyone have advice as to if they save time and energy? Also any good brands?

Thanks!

armedandsafe · 11-23-2011, 04:31 PM

I'd recommend the orbital or jiggle types rather than a wheel buffer. They are less likely to dig into the surface. If you are going to use a rotary one attached to a hand drill, set your drill to relatively slow speed. You are not polishing a hard surface, you are smoothing a soft substance.

When I lived in the SouthWest (Nevada, Arizona, etc) I always let the car sit in the sun for a few hours before applying the paste wax. Metal surface at 120 to 130F smooths out the paste wax REAL quick.

Pops

garydude · 11-23-2011, 05:39 PM

Thanks Pops,

I am trying to figure if the cost of the unit would offset the time saved, and if it does a comparable job to hand waxing (or even better).

When I went from steel to carbide sizing dies, it was one of those smack your forehead moments realizing that you could have been saving a ton of time and inconvenience with technology. Would the orbital buffer be one of those forehead smacking events? My forehead is up to the abuse if it means I find out a new and better way of doing things!

wsas7816 · 11-23-2011, 05:58 PM

I used my buffer a couple of times and then on to a garage shelf. I can only think that it is a time saver if you have a slab-slided, -roofed, -hooded and -trunked car.

Vladimir · 11-23-2011, 07:47 PM

I used one once, returned it promptly. That being said it was probably a cheap unit, not sure if a nice one would have done better.

Don't recall the details but I don't think it saved any time or looked any better.

armedandsafe · 11-23-2011, 08:53 PM

My experience is that it will save time if you are waxing to preserve the finish. If you are waxing to impress Miss Molly or for a car show, then by hand is the only way to go.

Pops

Fast Forward · 11-23-2011, 09:12 PM

I use an orbital to apply a good Cleaner wax,,(Mothers works for Me) and The Hard wax ,,I use some old clean bath towels to remove the wax,,Seems,My lincoln gets longer every Year

11-23-2011, 02:57 PM	#1
garydude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Desert Southwest Proper Contributor Posts: 765	Wax on- Wax off....Need buffer advice I need to wax my vehicles again. I haven't tried a buffer before but I'm definitely thinking about giving it a go. Anyone have advice as to if they save time and energy? Also any good brands? Thanks! -->

11-23-2011, 04:31 PM	#2
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: Wax on- Wax off....Need buffer advice I'd recommend the orbital or jiggle types rather than a wheel buffer. They are less likely to dig into the surface. If you are going to use a rotary one attached to a hand drill, set your drill to relatively slow speed. You are not polishing a hard surface, you are smoothing a soft substance. When I lived in the SouthWest (Nevada, Arizona, etc) I always let the car sit in the sun for a few hours before applying the paste wax. Metal surface at 120 to 130F smooths out the paste wax REAL quick. Pops

11-23-2011, 05:39 PM	#3
garydude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Desert Southwest Proper Contributor Posts: 765	Re: Wax on- Wax off....Need buffer advice Thanks Pops, I am trying to figure if the cost of the unit would offset the time saved, and if it does a comparable job to hand waxing (or even better). When I went from steel to carbide sizing dies, it was one of those smack your forehead moments realizing that you could have been saving a ton of time and inconvenience with technology. Would the orbital buffer be one of those forehead smacking events? My forehead is up to the abuse if it means I find out a new and better way of doing things!

11-23-2011, 05:58 PM	#4
wsas7816 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 69	Re: Wax on- Wax off....Need buffer advice I used my buffer a couple of times and then on to a garage shelf. I can only think that it is a time saver if you have a slab-slided, -roofed, -hooded and -trunked car.

11-23-2011, 07:47 PM	#5
Vladimir Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Issaquah WA Posts: 3,558	Re: Wax on- Wax off....Need buffer advice I used one once, returned it promptly. That being said it was probably a cheap unit, not sure if a nice one would have done better. Don't recall the details but I don't think it saved any time or looked any better. __________________ -JVRR меня зовут Владимир или Джеймс. Я знаю только немного русский язык (я американец, но мой пра дедушка русски). STEAM (CSS, TF2, etc): Ask me! Xbox LIVE! GT: "Vlad is Rad" PS3 PSN: "Vlad_Is_Rad"

11-23-2011, 08:53 PM	#6
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: Wax on- Wax off....Need buffer advice My experience is that it will save time if you are waxing to preserve the finish. If you are waxing to impress Miss Molly or for a car show, then by hand is the only way to go. Pops

11-23-2011, 09:12 PM	#7
Fast Forward Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chaska Minn Posts: 541	Re: Wax on- Wax off....Need buffer advice I use an orbital to apply a good Cleaner wax,,(Mothers works for Me) and The Hard wax ,,I use some old clean bath towels to remove the wax,,Seems,My lincoln gets longer every Year