Ryobi Orbital Buffer - Budget Buffing

Professional paint and body shops have traditionally used rotary buffer/polishers, but the speed and heat generated by the various pads make these tools best left to the professionals. Incorrect use by an inexperienced person could lead to "burn-through," which means in a traditional paint job, the buffing pad goes through the clearcoat and into the basecoat.

Correcting the damaged area usually requires another application of clear, or in the case of single-stage paint, a repaint of the area, which requires blending in new paint. Damage from buffing can be caused in a micro-second. All it takes is dragging the buffer over a painted edge or applying a bit too much heat to the pad.

Although these machines are critical tools in the professionals' arsenal, they are primarily used after the vehicle has been painted and wet-sanded to "take down" any imperfections in the clearcoat. Since the hobbyist wants a professional and glossy finish without the fear of ruining the paint, high-tech buffers and polishers that operate in a random orbital or dual-action pattern are popping up everywhere. The prices for these hobbyist product offerings range from approximately $129 to well over $300 for a machine with variable speeds and other high-end features.

When you take a close look at the parameters that define what one would consider a professional versus a hobbyist buffer, the professional orbital buffers generally operate between 0 and 3,200 rpm with 7- to 9-inch hook-and-loop pads, while the enthusiast machines oscillate between 3,000 to 9,600 orbits per minute (opm) and have 5.5- to 6.5-inch pads.

According to David DuSold of DuSold Enterprises, "Bodyshop-grade buffers and polishers, like the Dewalt or Milwaukee rotary units that we have, weigh between 9 and 12 pounds and are 16 to 17 inches in horizontal length, making them heavy and best suited for longer surface panels. Rather than purchase a lower-power unit for buffing and polishing after the initial clearcoat is wet-sanded and buffed, we figured out a way to adapt a $25 Ryobi 6-inch orbital buffer into an enthusiest-level buffer/polisher for less than $10 by simply modifying it to accept a hook-and-loop pad. Not only will the buffer/polisher do the job of a much more expensive machine, but it weighs just over 3 pounds, and is safe and compact, making it perfect for buffing and polishing in tight spots."

Read on as we show you how to create your own $35 buffer that will do much of the job of high-end enthusiast buffers for around a quarter the cost. Whether you are a body shop professional or a hobbyist who demands perfection, this tool will deliver impressive results and can be modified in 10 minutes.

Tools & Supplies Velcro Razor blade or scissors Grease and wax remover Buffing and polishing pads and supplies

Buffing And Polishing Tips • Buffing pads have "cutting" ability, but polishing pads generally will not provide any cutting action. Remember that when you "cut" a finish, you are taking off a minute amount of either single-stage colorcoat or clearcoat (depending on paint type), and cutting to remove swirls should only be done when necessary. There is only so much clearcoat on your car!

• Lightly mist the buffing or polishing pad with detailing spray before applying the liquid product to the pad. Put the product on the pad in small circles starting from the center and moving outward. For initial applications, start with three circles; for subsequent applications, switch to two circles.

• Always start and stop the buffer on the surface that you are working on, otherwise the liquid on the pad will splatter everywhere resulting in unnecessary clean-up work.