Polishers & Sanders

A machine polisher removes swirls and scratches faster than hand polishing and spreads polish, glaze and wax evenly. The range covers dual action, rotary, forced rotation, cordless and mini polishers from DAS-6, ShineMate, Rupes, Vertool and Maxshine.

How to choose

• Dual Action Polishers: the pad spins, orbits and slows if you press too hard, so a DA is the safest first machine. A 12mm throw is easier to control on curves, 15mm is the all-rounder and 21mm covers flat panels fastest.
• Rotary Polishers: direct drive, so they cut deep defects and sanding marks fastest, but build heat and leave holograms in inexperienced hands.
• Forced Rotation Polishers: gear-driven, so the pad keeps turning under pressure. Faster cutting than a DA, easier to control than a rotary.
• Cordless Polishers have no cable to drag across the paint, and Mini & Nano Polishers take small pads for pillars, mirrors and bumper recesses.

Good to know

• Match pads to the backing plate size on the product page; see Polishing Pads.
• Tape rubber trim, badges and sharp edges with Masking Tapes: polish stains trim, and paint is thinnest on edges.

What is better, a rotary or a dual action polisher?

It depends on the job and the hands on it. A dual action pad orbits and slows down under pressure, so it is the safer machine for most owners and for finishing. A rotary is direct drive and cuts deep defects fastest, but it builds heat and can leave holograms, so it suits experienced users.

Related: Workshop, Machines & Storage, Polishing Machines & Kits, Compounds & Polishes, Paint Inspection Lights. Popular brands here: DAS-6, ShineMate, Rupes, Vertool.