Use a floor buffing machine

Buffer machines serve many purposes. They are used to clean, strip, and wax floors. Smaller buffer machines are used to paint and polish nearly any surface.

Buffer machines can provide that extra shine to hard floors. They can be tricky to use, but once mastered can help you keep your floors in top condition.

Make sure the machine is unplugged. Tilt it backward until the operating handle rests on the floor. Make sure the scrub brush or pad is clean, or you could end up damaging the floor. Twist the brush or pad on the suds counterclockwise.

Plug in the buffer machine. Buff the floor with the buffer machine, working from the far side of the room to the entrance. Work backward slowly in a fanning motion from left to right. Be sure you have a good grip on the buffer machine as it is easy to lose control of the higher-powered machines. Operate the buffer with one hand, and use your other hand to move the electrical cord out of your path.

Check the pad or brush at set intervals, and change dirty pads or brushes. If a film is left on the floor, you’ll need to mop the floor and then buff again using a clean brush or pad on the machine.

When you are done buffing, remove the buffer pad or brush from the machine, clean all buffer pads or brushes and hang them to dry. Never leave pads or brushes on the buffer machine.

Professional painters often use buffing machines to polish and buff paint. It is quicker than hand polishing and reduces the expense involved in painting. There are two main kinds of machines that painters use: buffers and orbital polishers. A buffer is a type of body grinder with a polishing pad instead of a grinding disc. Orbital polishers are less powerful, less likely to have variable speed and have a special head that forces the bonnet to run in a variable pattern.

Caution must be used with buffers as their high speed raises the risk that a molding will be popped off, a hole burnt in the paint, or other problems caused.

There are two types of pads: cutting and polishing. Cutting pads are much faster, but they can leave swirl marks on dark finishes. They are usually made of wool, either synthetic or natural. Many experts recommend lamb’s wool. Polishing pads are used for finishing. They are made of foam rubber and can be used on almost any surface, including clearcoat finishes.

Whenever using a buffer, you should wear safety goggles. Buff a single section at a time, starting with the least abrasive polish that will be effective. Because most buffers rotate clockwise, you should left the left side of the buffer slightly and move the buffer in smooth left to right strokes. This will help prevent buffer burns and keep the pad always rotating off the edge.

Start slowly and spread the polish evenly across the surface you are buffing. Once the polish has spread, increase the speed slightly. Keep the buffer moving as you work the polish in. Check the pad at set intervals and change it when it becomes caked with polish. Alternatively, you can use a dull screwdriver to clean most pads. Foam pads should be cleaned only with water.