What is buffing
Written by: Vinnie van Rooij
Buffing is the act of leveling out residue or excess of a certain applied product. In many cases it will either increase the gloss, or even out the residue to create an uniform look.
The term “buffing” is sometimes used to refer to polishing.
Contents
Why do buffing
During buffing, you will remove any excess product and generally increase the level of gloss. It will also help in spread the product evenly, increase the chance of an even and level finish. When you’ve applied a wax or sealant, only a very small layer of this product will actually stick to the surface, the rest of the product will not adhere to anything. While hazing, the product will loose a part of its liquid content and result in a less translucent layer. The majority of the un-transparent finish is due to excess product. Buffing will remove this excess product, leaving a smooth and even finish with increased gloss.
In the case of buffing polish, you are essentially removing excess product in order to remove old polish residue, paint residue and make it easier to see whether the surface is done, or if it needs more polishing.
When do buffing
Buffing is done in several staging if the detailing process. Not everything should technically be called buffing, but sometimes it gets the name “buffing” because it is a similar type of motion.
- Removing excess wax or sealant after hazing
- Removing excess coating after hazing
- Removing polish residue to assess result
- Spreading out haze
- wiping off glass cleaner after cleaning the window
- Drying the car after washing
- Spreading out dressing with a cloth (or wiping it to create a matte finish)
Risk of buffing
Buffing exposes you to certain risks. These risk can generally be minimized by using quality buffing cloths. Getting proper tools makes a big difference in the end result. An A-quality microfiber towel is recommended.
When buffing a certain area, there is mechanical action involved. This movement can cause swirls and other imperfections if done improper. Apart from using a clean, quality microfiber towel, it is also advised to not use to much pressure. Turn the towel over frequently and make sure it is clean before you use it. Speed should not be a factor, although improper application of wax, sealant or coating can require the need to use more pressure. In some cases the use of a spritz of QD will help to make the job a lot easier.
Buffing by machine
Buffing can also be done by machine. After the product has been applied to the surface, or you are finished with the process, the cloth on the machine can either remove the excess product or spread it out more evenly. Buffing by machine has also been used to finish the last step. It should add gloss and give the surface its final look. In this case the term “buffing” is used to describe the last part of the polishing process. The first one would be “sanding”, followed by “compounding”, then “polishing” with “buffing” as the last step.
A sealant is protective product that is made up out of polymers. If they contain wax, they are considered hybrids. Sealants come in several different types and are the step between natural wax and completely synthetic protective products....
The interior of a car needs regular cleaning, the contaminants found here can be totally different from the outside, which requires different products and different ways of safely removing them. ...
The clear coat is a transparent layer of paint that can be used to cover the colored coat. The clear coat is usually the last coat of paint that is applied to a panel. The thickness can vary a lot per panel and per manufacturer. On average it can be between 30 and 80 micron. The clear coat is not always used, single stage paint is not covered with a clear coat....
Powdercoating is a paint technique. Instead of spraying the liquid paint on a surface, and let it cure. A powder is sprayed over a surface and baked the cure. Powdercoating is very popular for coating wheels with paint....
A traffic film remover is a product that is specifically designed to remove "traffic film". This is a very fine layer of dust, grime and even oils that cover your car and are notoriously difficult to wash off. A traffic film remover can be wax-safe, but many ar not. This is not a product for the weekly wash, but more to be used once every couple of months. "Traffic film remover" is often shortened to TFR....
Smart Polish Pro is an English manufacturer of detailing products with a strong aim on environmental-friendly products that do not require the use of water. The company is fairly young, but has been growing in popularity in only a few years....
[…] could take time and energy. Another alternative is to use a buffing machine to speed up the polishing process of the car. Here is the recommended product to […]