When talking about the tools used in the detail business there is a great deal of miscommunication because everyone has a different meaning. When you discuss tools you will have terms such as: buffers, rotary buffers, high speed buffers, high speed polishers, polishers, orbitals, orbital buffers, orbital polishers, orbital waxers, dual-action (DA) tools, rotary shampooers and orbital shampooers.
Add to this list brand names such as DeWalt, Porter-Cable, Cyclo, Makita, Black & Decker, Milwaukie, Florida Pneumatic, Dynabrade and the list goes on.
Finally there are the electric and pneumatic (air) versions of all these tools.
For everyone in the industry, experienced detailer or newcomer, it’s confusing. The old-timers tend to stay with what they know and this is unfortunate they are denying themselves technology that could save them hours of time and energy. Newcomers take advice from an old-timer and they use electric when air, for them, might have been a better choice.
Let’s Define What We are Talking About
For this article to make any sense you and I have to be on the same page. So I will define what I mean by the different tools and explain their features and benefits
Electric. A tool powered by 110v/60HZ single-phase current or 220v/50HZ single phase current in several countries outside the USA.
Pneumatic. An air powered tool.
Rotary Buffer. This can also be referred to as a high-speed buffer, rotary buffer, polisher, high-speed polisher and rotary polisher. There could be other names used, but these are the most common. If it were me I would use the name Rotary Buffer.
Polisher. Often detailers use the term polisher when they really mean buffer. The reason for this could be that a detailer performs two functions with this tool:
- Corrects problems in the paint
- Polishes and/or removes swirls.
The only difference is when you polish or swirl remove you do it at a slower speed using a polishing pad and a polish or swirl removing chemical.
Orbital. This is often referred to as an orbital buffer, orbital polisher and orbital waxer. Personally I think an orbital does not buff nor polish, it simply applies chemical. With an orbital you have no real friction and there’s no heat so you don’t get a “buffing” action.
Dual-Action Tool (DA). The DA tool functions somewhat like an orbital, but a true orbital spins whereas with a DA you get mainly a vibration which works sell for application of wax or sealant.
Rotary Shampooer. A rotary shampooer is a modified Rotary buffer used to shampoo carpets and upholstery by using a brush attachment. Typically this is an air tool since it needs to be small to be used in the interior.
Orbital Shampooer. Some companies offer attachments to convert their orbitals or DA to a shampooer. However orbitals and dual action tools are not the best for carpet shampooing, you need a rotary action for the best scrubbing.
Having established some common definitions we should now define terms as buffing, compounds, cutting, polishing and swirl removing.
Electric vs. Air Tools
This controversy has really heated up in recent years. Prior to that detailers used only electric buffers and electric orbitals. Conversely, all other auto service industries use air tools rather than electric.
Are electric tools any better than air? Does a detail shop operate differently from other auto service businesses that requires the use of electric rather than air? No! In fact, the opposite is true. Water and electricity don't mix, and we often find a lot of water in detail shops. Sometimes detailers even wash the car and engine in the same bay as they detail and finish the paint. How many detail shops have a detailer buffing away with the electric extension cord lying in a puddle of water?
There are three main reasons detailers continue to use electric tools instead of air tools:
- That's the way they have always done it
- They have never tried air tools
- They don't own an air compressor
The most common reason, is that most detailers use electric tools is they cannot not afford an air compressor. If the detailers are mobile, they can’t haul around an air compressor large enough to power an air tool.
Of course, habit is a huge factor. Detailers don't like to change. If they have a certain tool, chemical or way of doing something, they stick with it, almost forever. Isn't it scary, to think that a doctor who went to medical school 30 years ago would be using only the methods he learned in school? To prevent this, a doctor must log a certain number of seminar hours per year to keep up with the new methods and technologies in medicine. But what about detailers? Many are still using tools, chemicals and pads and processes that were designed and formulated for different paint finishes, different interior materials or chrome trim instead of plastic or aluminum trim.
My recommendation is to use air tools. They are safer, lighter, smaller, more durable when oiled daily, and more versatile. You can buff, polish and shampoo.
If you want to learn more about these essential detailing tools, I suggest you get on the Internet and search for electric buffers, electric polishers, air buffers, air polishers, dual-action tools or try any other number of combinations. If you use my list, you will find everything you will need in the way of electric or air tools for detailing.
SIDE BAR
Action Terms
Buffing, Compounding and Cutting. These words refer to the process of using a Rotary Buffer to correct paint finish problems such as oxidation, scratching, dulling, etching, water spotting, etc.
Polishing. This refers to the process of smoothing the paint finish to create a high reflective shine. Detailers often do this as first step to improve the shine on a good paint finish or as a second step to enhance the finish after the buffing process.
Swirl Removing. This word is referring to the process that follows the buffing process where swirls left by the buffing or correction process are removed. Many detailers refer to polishing and swirl removing in the same breathe but this is wrong. There is a difference between polishing and swirl removing since you can polish a paint finish that does not have any swirls to get a higher shine.
