How to buff a car like a pro: For complete beginners

The word “buffing” is often used interchangeably with the word “polishing”. But it is important to note that polishing tends to involve the removal of a paint protection product or damaged clear coat. Whereas, the process of buffing is more about wishing away polishing compound residue, and eliminating things like swirl marks and surface haze.

Buffing goes beyond adding a spot of shine to a paint job or a chrome bumper. There are numerous techniques that can be used to accomplish the polishing process, each with their own form of execution. 

All cars are bombarded by contaminants every day. To keep a car in the best possible shape, you would need to know how to polish it using a buffer. To make a car’s finish look refined, there are a few things that need to be set on track. Buffing or polishing a vehicle in the correct manner helps you to take away or remove a number of defects, such as minor scratches, etching, and paint oxidation.

This gives a boost to the car’s shine and makes it ready for protection. When buffing a vehicle, there are different kinds of pads that need to be utilized. 

What is Buffing? 

Buffing is the act of removing a very thin layer of your car’s paintwork that helps eliminate oxidization, cracks, and scratches. When your car is exposed to the elements over the years, these irregularities are guaranteed to happen. Buffing makes your car look pristine and well-maintained.

How to maintain safety when buffing your car? 

Buffers are known to spin at dangerously high revolutions per minute (RPM). Working on your car can be detrimental and messy, so here is exactly what you will need to ensure you do not get maimed or lose a finger, and so on. 

• Keep your rings, bracelets, and other jewellery articles away from the buffer to avoid getting caught up in the spinning wheel.
• Work in a well-ventilated space to avoid getting asphyxiated breathing polishing fumes.
• If you get any solution on your skin or in your eyes, you must wash it immediately and call a poison control center.

What all materials will you need to buff a car? 

We have a list of equipment and tools that you will need to get the job done efficiently. 

List of tools: 

• Rotary buffer
• Wool and foam pads
• Car wash mitt
• Clean microfiber towels
• Masking tape
• Masking paper and newspapers

List of parts: 

• Automotive soap
• Carnauba wax
• Vinyl and rubber compounds
• Cutting and polishing compounds

Organizing your equipment will just speed up the process. Additionally, you will need a flat workspace, a garage floor is recommended, driveway, or street parking that is well-ventilated. 

How to buff a car? 

We have curated the entire process of buffing below. It is a deliberate process and requires patience but you will see the difference for yourself once you have successfully buffed your car. Work with patience and cover small parts of the vehicle at a time to make sure you are working in the solution before it dries out. Read on to know the complete process. 

1. Start by rinsing your car to get rid of any deposition of dirt and debris. After rinsing, give it a thorough washing with a gentle automotive soap or shampoo.
2. Tape off the areas other than the target areas. The rotary buffers spins pretty fast and generates a substantial amount of heat, so it is advisable to protect parts of the vehicle like headlights and trim pieces that cannot withstand immense heat.
3. Start with the wool pad and the gentle buffing compound. Begin by buffing in alternating up-down and left-right motions. Work in a limited area, such as one door or fender at a time. Do not try to work on a larger area right in the beginning.
4. When your compound starts to look a little bit hazy, take it as a cue to use a microfiber towel to wipe it clean. This process will help eliminate surface scratches.
5. Now, remove the wool pad and install the yellow foam pad to the buffer. Repeat the steps mentioned above, working in a small area. It is better to start with a decent amount of pressure and then reduce it as your approach the end of the step.
6. Once you have spread the compound thinly, use a microfiber towel to clean up the area.
7. After you have buffed the complete vehicle, it is time to apply a coat of wax. Use a liquid carnauba wax. These products usually come with applicators. Use the applicator to apply the wax in a circular fashion over a small area.
8. Take time to clean any lone buffing compound splashes off the windows, mirrors, wheels, and so on. 

Additional tips

• Do not mix up your pads. Each pad exists for a specific purpose and using them for more than a single step can cause an uneven buff or may even damage the car.
• Keep extra pads in handy and make sure that you have got enough buffing solution. You never know when you will end up spilling or damaging something you may need in the process.
• Store your tools in a clean space. Do not buff your car with a dirty pad.
• Give your car a good wash before you start buffing it. Buffing an already clean car will make the process easier. Your buff job is not going to look good if you are rubbing in dirt on your car.
• Do not buff in one spot for a long time. The heat will just end up damaging the paint.
• Try to work in the shade to give yourself as much time to buff before the solution dries. Sunlight and direct heat will speed up the process dramatically and will damage your car’s paintwork. 

It is best if you avail yourself of the services of a professional detailer. If you have any more queries, feel free to connect with  Ultrakool. We are the one-stop solution for all your automobile issues.