Which polisher do I need?

A polisher or buffing machine for polishing car paint is a good investment. Ever polished your car by hand? Then you know it's a tough job with guaranteed muscle pain and often disappointing results. If you want to make this job easier and achieve better results, use a polisher. The ideal car polisher will give you a shiny finish but can also remove (light) scratches and improve the clarity and smoothness of the paintwork to give you a brilliant result. At Autobaak, you will find the right polisher for your desired application.

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Car polisher

Polisher applications

During polishing, the paintwork is smoothed, unevennesses can be levelled out and paint defects repaired. Light scratches can be repaired by polishing the paintwork, whether it is the paintwork of your car, caravan, motorhome or boat. All types of lacquer can be treated with a polishing machine. The main difference when choosing a car polisher is the type of movement the head makes. We distinguish between eccentric and rotary movements. The eccentric motion runs in a star shape, while the rotary machine only rotates the pad, thus spinning in circles. Below are the differences, advantages and disadvantages of both versions.

Eccentric polisher

An eccentric polisher (or also known as DAP or Dual Action Polisher) is the ideal choice for both novice polishers and experienced polishers. The eccentric machine not only makes rotary movements but also turns on its own axis. As a result, you don't leave round marks on the paintwork and the surface doesn't get too hot and you avoid burning the paintwork. With this type of machine, you reduce the risk of damage during polishing. Because an eccentric polisher is easier to guide over the paint surface and minimises the risk of damage, it is often the best choice for beginners. This is because it allows you to master mechanical polishing without any problems. Because the eccentric polisher has slightly less power than a rotary machine, it may take longer to achieve the desired result but in this case, haste is seldom good.

Advantages and disadvantages eccentric machine

  • Easy to use, the best choice for home use and is also cheaper than the rotary version.
  • The eccentric motion keeps the surface from getting too hot and avoids burning the paintwork.
  • Safe to use and chances of damaging the paintwork are very low.
  • Works a little slower (but also safer) than the rotary machine which means you spend longer polishing.

Rotary polishing machine

Rotary polishers are powerful and particularly suitable for severe scratches. The machine has a disc that only rotates during polishing and therefore does not make eccentric movements. Due to these rotating movements, a lot of heat is released during polishing, allowing the deeper damages and deeper scratches to be polished out of the paintwork. Due to the power of the rotary machine and the heat it releases, the rotary polisher is especially suitable for the experienced polisher and not for novice users. Damage to the paintwork can quickly occur if you don't use the machine correctly, and of course you don't want that while polishing your car. We therefore recommend the rotary polisher only to experienced polishers.

Advantages and disadvantages rotary machine

  • The rotary machine works faster than an eccentric machine because the rotary movements have a higher speed.
  • Deep scratches and damage can be better treated.
  • The surface will get hot which can lead to damage to the paint if used incorrectly.
  • Due to the repetitive rotating movements, there is a chance that you will see holograms in the paintwork. If this is the case, you will still have to rework these holograms with an eccentric machine.
  • Especially suitable for the experienced car polisher.

Starter kit including pads

If you want to start with machine polishing, we recommend buying a beginner's kit consisting of an eccentric polisher and several, commonly used polishing pads. That way, you will make a good start polishing your car right away!

More info on the pads and how polishing works? Then click on the links below for more information!

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