Best Car Polishers [Rotary & Dual Action Buffer Machines]

​DeWalt has been making rugged tools and equipment for eons. What they don’t know about power tools isn’t worth knowing. So as you’d expect, their dual action ​polisher is a quality piece of equipment with some neat touches. The built-in wool ingestion shields, for example, that stops the loose wool from clogging up the workings.

​Added to that is the powerful 12 Amp motor and an all ball-bearing construction, along with precision-cut all-steel gears. You’ll see that the DeWalt DWP849X is built tough, and is suitable for everything from home to professional use.

​It has other neat touches as well. It’s got a rubberized gear case cover that won’t mark the paintwork should you catch it (which is easily done). It’s also got ​a soft start mechanism which helps to reduce polish ‘fling’. And last, but not least, it’s fitted with an electronic control module to hold a steady speed, regardless of load.

​Speaking of speed control, the DeWalt DWP849X is variable from zero to 600 / 3500 rpm. That means it’s ideal for working with a number of different materials and compounds.

​This is not the lightest car buffer on the list, but at just 6.7 pounds, you’ll be able to spend the day with it and you won’t need to be Mr Universe.

​Comes with a 180mm hook and loop backing pad.

​A little like DeWalt, Porter-Cable has been in the business for decades. While the 7424XP is aimed more at the home user, it’s a pretty solid tool that should last a while for someone that isn’t beating it every day.

​It’s a random orbital ​action polisher, so getting a swirl-free finish is relatively easy, but unlike the DeWalt, the speed isn’t infinitely variable. It has speed settings, ranging from 2,500 – 6,800 OPM (Orbits Per Minute). The biggest giveaway to what market it’s aimed at (Professional or Home) is the motor amperage – 4.5 Amps (the DeWalt is 12 Amp for example).

​At just 5.5 pounds, the machine is lightweight. While you may think that’s because it’s down on quality, the Porter-Cable 7424XP has a 3-year limited warranty. It comes with a one-year service contract. Basically, that means Porter-Cable will inspect and replace parts (free of charge) if it goes wrong through normal use.

​You get a polishing pad with the kit. However, you’ll need to buy a hook and loop backing pad if you’re looking to use this lightweight car buffer for detailing.

​Perfect for the more serious home detailer.

​The TORQX has been designed for everyone from 1st-time users to professional paint correctors, with the 8mm of throw being ideal to get professional results. It features intuitive controls for speed. It’s well-balanced and you can switch between 3, 5, and 6″ pads without the need for adjustment with a counterbalance.

​The listed motor amperage is 6.8 Amps, but it’s slightly less. Calculations put it at closer to 6.6 Amps (insignificant really), so it should have enough power for most jobs. What I really like about the Torq is that it seems to have been designed with the user in mind. A forward control grip (actually called the Torq Forward Grip or TFG) gives the user a great deal of control​.

​The TORQX Polisher ​Kit comes with everything you need to get started – the buffer, three Hex-Logic buffing pads, a sampler range of the V-Line compounds, and polishes.

​One other neat little touch is the ridge on the back of the tool. It’s a simple design touch to stop the tool from rolling over when placed down.

​Heavy-duty construction and streamlined controls make for an ideal car buffer for ​DIY enthusiasts.

​Griot’s is a well-known name in the car care business, and this heavy-duty car buffer is the third generation of their popular tool. Being 3rd gen means that they’ve been able to refine it from customer feedback, so this should be everything that you need.

​A 7 Amp motor provides enough power for the professional, but the ergonomics and ease of use means that a first-timer could pick it up and get great results. The main control handle mounted on the top is adjustable. However, it’s pretty bulky and could limit access to smaller spaces, or hard to reach areas.​ You could remove it as the machine has a domed, rubberized palm grip also.

​A maximum OPM of 6,800 and six-speed settings should be enough for all jobs, whether that’s polishing, cutting or waxing​. A really neat touch is the option for the extended power cord. It comes with a 10ft cord as standard.

​Backed up with a lifetime guarantee, the Griot’s car buffer is a great all-rounder. Whether you’re just starting out, a professional detailer, or someone that’s been playing with car buffers for a while, this will do it all.

​This is at the higher end of the budget, but Makita power tools have an excellent reputation for delivering solid results and reliability.

​​Equipped with a 10 Amp motor, it’s one of the most powerful car buffers in the list. But, as the old saying goes, power is nothing without control. This machine ​features a soft start, six-speed settings, and a constant speed control regardless of motor load.

​Small details such as being able to replace the motor brushes without a full strip-down mean that the Makita is meant for professional and heavy use. As is the wire mesh guards on the intake to prevent it from sucking in wool strands​.

​A rubberized handle and gear housing give a little extra protection from accidental damage​. The Makita 9237CX3 ​Polishing kit ​includes the buffer, wrench, centering sleeve, 7″ wool bonnet for compounding, 7″ wool bonnet for polishing, and the loop handle. It’s all packed up in a heavy-duty tool bag.

​Being a rotating polisher means that it’s easier to damage the paint if you’re a novice​​, my recommendation would be to buy this if you’re an experienced pro​.

​The WP900 from Black & Decker is aimed squarely at the occasional home user. With just 0.5 Amps of power, this isn’t designed to be loaded up and abused.

​The ​tool has a fixed speed of 4,400 OPM, which while it isn’t ideal for a range of solutions, is enough to get you started. The twin handle design gives you plenty of control, aided by the lightweight – just over two pounds.

​It’s supplied with a foam applicator pad and two polishing bonnets, but you may want to switch these out for a decent hook and loop kit.

​​Overall, if you are looking to try ​a polishing machine for the first time and want an inexpensive introduction to it, the WP900 will do just that.

​Meguiar’s are best-known for their detailing products, so you’d expect the MT300 to be everything to all people. While it has some neat touches, there are a few areas that can’t compete with some of the other makes.

At just 4.5 Amps, the motor is pretty light duty, but the digital torque management systems do its best to modulate the speed vs load. Similar to the Makita, it’s possible to replace the motor brushes without the need for a complete teardown of the tool.

​This is one of the lightest car buffers – weighing in at just 5.4 pounds. You could wield this buffer about all day long and not suffer. But,​ you need to add a little pressure when cutting because the tool is just a bit too light.

​A soft start function means that the compound or polish won’t be flung off, and there are 6-speed settings, from 3,000 – 7,500 Orbits Per Minute. If it wasn’t for the price, you’d say that this Meguiar’s car buffer was very definitely aimed at the driveway detailer, but there are cheaper models available.

​The MT300 is a middle of the road car buffer. It does everything that you need, but it isn’t special.

​You’ll need to purchase a separate backing pad with the MT300, as it comes with nothing as standard.