If you want to maintain the sleeky cease of your car paint or restore information technology to make your vehicle look new, you demand buffing pads. Over time, car paint dulls due to weather condition, wear, and scuffs or scratches that can happen by blow. Buffing pads help to smoothen and clean the outside of your car and can even help repair damage from scratches.

There are many types of buffing pads on the marketplace at varying prices to fit whatsoever budget. To help assistance your search for the right buffing pads for you, we created this guide to help yous empathise buffing pads and make a smart purchase determination.

Bring Back Your Vehicle's Shine with a Automobile Buffer


Chemical Guys Chemical Guys HEX_3KIT_6 6.v

Chemical Guys HEX_3KIT_6 6.5

Chemic Guys Chemical Guys HEX_3KIT_6 vi.5

Meguiar's Meguiar'south G3502 DA (Dual Action) Polishing Power Pack

Meguiar's G3502 DA (Dual Action) Polishing Power Pack

Meguiar's Meguiar's G3502 DA (Dual Action) Polishing Ability Pack

VIKING VIKING Microfiber Car Detailing Applicator Pads, Car Wax Applicator, 5 Inch Diameter, 6 Pack, Blue/Grayness

VIKING Microfiber Car Detailing Applicator Pads, Car Wax Applicator, 5 Inch Diameter, 6 Pack, Blue/Grey

VIKING VIKING Microfiber Car Detailing Applicator Pads, Car Wax Applicator, 5 Inch Diameter, vi Pack, Blue/Grey

Now 33% Off

Chemical Guys Chemical Guys BUFX112HEX6 Hex-Logic Quantum Medium-Heavy Cutting Pad, Orange (6.5 Inch Pad made for half dozen Inch bankroll plates)

Chemical Guys BUFX112HEX6 Hex-Logic Quantum Medium-Heavy Cutting Pad, Orange (6.5 Inch Pad made for 6 Inch backing plates)

Chemical Guys Chemic Guys BUFX112HEX6 Hex-Logic Quantum Medium-Heavy Cutting Pad, Orange (6.v Inch Pad fabricated for half dozen Inch backing plates)

PORTER-CABLE PORTER-Cable Polishing Pad, Lambs Wool, Hook and Loop, half-dozen-Inch (18007)

PORTER-CABLE Polishing Pad, Lambs Wool, Hook and Loop, 6-Inch (18007)

PORTER-CABLE PORTER-Cable Polishing Pad, Lambs Wool, Hook and Loop, 6-Inch (18007)


What Are Buffing Pads?

Buffing pads are circular tools to polish pigment and other hard materials, such as metal. They're most commonly made of foam, wool, or microfiber. Some pads are meant for transmission utilize while others attach to power tools. They tin as well be useful in applying wax or sealant.

Buffing pads are similar to fine sandpaper, in how they remove dirt and give an fifty-fifty, smooth finish to surfaces. If you lot're applying polish or wax to a surface, it'due south wise to use buffing pads considering they are absorbent, flexible, and provide a protective layer betwixt your hand and the surface and material you're applying.

Here are benefits to using buffing pads rather than other materials:

  • Removes scratches: Buffing pads are most effective in removing defects from surfaces and they are more efficient than applicators such equally a towel.
  • Applies product evenly: Buffing pads have a unique design to distribute wax, polish, and other finishes evenly on a surface.
  • Uses less product: Unlike a towel or other applicator, a buffing pad uses less shine, which tin can salvage you coin.

Types of Buffing Pads

There'south a wide diversity of buffing pads to choose from. Hither are some of our top picks:

Chemic Guys Buffing Kit

This buffing kit from Chemical Guys comes with dissimilar pads to fit the needs of various surfaces. This product includes a cleaning solution to wash your pads with after each use. Information technology'south recommended for beginners to auto detailing and provides a beautiful terminate for your car. You tin can attach these buffing pads to a power tool or apply your mitt to use smoothen.

Meguiar's DA Polishing Ability Pads

Meguiar's DA polishing ability pads are accessories for the Meguiar's DA Power System Tool G3500 that are designed to help to remove calorie-free swirls from your auto. This tin can restore the glossy finish of the car paint. This set up includes two 4-inch diameter foam pads that allow you to accomplish about any surface of your vehicle. You tin can launder and re-use these pads and utilize them to smoothen or apply wax.

If y'all don't take the Meguiar's DA Power System Tool G3500, you lot can use these pads manually too.

Viking Car Care Microfiber Applicator Pads

The Viking automobile care microfiber applicator pads consist of soft microfiber textile. They're great for applying wax, polish, and protectant evenly on surfaces. These buffing pads are safe and gentle enough to use on both the interior and outside of your car. With just a five-inch diameter, these pads volition reach smaller surfaces of your automobile and are piece of cake to concord.

Consumers report that these pads have great quality, provide a beautiful end and they're very inexpensive.

Chemical Guys Hex-Logic Medium-Heavy Cutting Pad

The Chemical Guys hex-logic medium-heavy cutting pad is recommended for removing scratches and other defects. This foam pad is flexible and can conform to the surface you are polishing, providing maximum contact and coverage. The structure of the buffing pads is similar a honeycomb which helps blot, and so distribute a finish evenly.

The Chemical Guys hex-logic medium-heavy cutting pad is 6 inches in diameter to assist cover more surface area and is more efficient than smaller pads.

Porter-Cable Lambs Wool Hook and Loop Polishing Pad

This Porter-Cablevision 6-inch lambs wool hook and loop polishing pad can polish a wide range of surfaces including your vehicle or headlights. You need a sander or a polisher in order to use this buffing pad. It'southward compatible with well-nigh orbit sanders. The Porter-Cable polishing pad is about useful for removing scratches and buffing headlights to restore them to their original colour and smooth.

How to Choose the Buffing Pads

Consider these factors when purchasing buffing pads:

  • Material: Buffing pads are made from various materials. Consider how the pad volition be used and against what surface to decide the best material.
  • Flexibility: You lot may demand more or less flexibility in your buffing pads depending on the curves and edges of the surface you want to apply the product on. A flat surface is suitable for rigid pads, simply the surface of your vehicle requires a pad with flexibility.
  • Cut: The cut of a pad refers to how it removes defects. Ambitious pads can remove deep scratches and imperfections in paint speedily, while a less ambitious pad requires more than buffing time and leaves a smoother stop. If y'all utilise buffing pads to wax, and so y'all need a pad with no cut so that it is not too rough on the surface.
  • Surface paint: Consider the paint on the surface you're going to be using the buffing pad against. There are different buffing pads that manufacturers recommend using for clear coats, dark paint, etc.
  • Surface size: Consider the size of the surface you wish to utilize the buffing pads on. This tin can help determine the diameter of the pad you should buy. If you use a sander or polisher, the pad needs to be slightly larger to fit your tool properly.
  • Buffing motorcar: If you already have a ability tool for buffing, such as a sander, ensure that the buffing pads are compatible. It's also important that the buffing pads come up with a bankroll pad to attach the pads to the polisher or sander.
  • Warranty: You lot may want a buffing pad with a warranty included past the manufacturer. This may aid guarantee the quality of the buffing pads and protect you lot if the production is faulty.

Hearst Autos Inquiry , produced independently of the Motorcar and Driver editorial staff, provides articles about cars and the automotive industry to help readers make informed purchasing choices.