Effective buffing is accomplished through the proper selection of the buffing compound, buffing wheel, and the buffing machine. The proper combination of cloth, construction, and treatment are also important elements. If you are unsure of the necessary specifications or materials, please contact us for more information or send us a sample of the materials you will be finishing. Our engineers are happy to recommend the appropriate products for your job.
It is also important to maintain the appropriate amount of pressure along with speed to obtain the best possible finish. Not enough pressure, and no buffing will result. Applying too much pressure may result in slips, collapse, or fire. Please refer to our buffing wheel speed chart for the appropriate speeds of your buffing wheels.
The use of buffing wheels can involve up to three steps: cut buffing, intermediate cut, and color buffing. These steps are usually performed by what is referred to as area buffing or mush buffing.
Cut Buffing
In cut buffing, the buffing wheel and work piece are usually rotated in opposite directions to remove polishing lines, forming marks, scratches, and other flaws. Intermediate cut buffing takes this one step further. A harder buff wheel and generally more abrasive buffing compound are used to start the cut buffing process.
Color Buffing
Color buffing is performed when the work piece requires a mirror finish, and is performed with a softer buffing wheel and less abrasive compounds. The work piece and buffing wheel are typically rotated in the same direction to enhance the cut buffing surface and bring out the maximum luster of the product.
Area Buffing
Area buffing a term that refers to a localized finishing process using narrow buffing wheels that are positioned tangentially to the work piece.
Mush Buffing
Mush buffing is a technique used to finish larger parts, multiple pieces simultaneously, or pieces that have several different surface elevations. One or more wide buffing wheels are used in this process, and the part is rotated or cammed through the buffing wheel.
