Buffing vs Polishing

[SATracker]

Hey Mike, Besides the machines being used- what's the difference between buffing a car and polishing car?

[weavers]

to me buffing means to remove a product as in, "I am buffing wax residue." It seems alot of people think of buffing as using an old orbital or maybe a rotary with a large wool pad to remove scratches from cars.

When i say polishing i think of paint correction removing scratches and swirls and leaving the car with a nice finish, compound to polish or an all in 1 product like xmt 360. i suppose polishing could also mean something like meg color x, and remove oxidization.

[aerogt01]

IMO:
Buffing would be using any kind of machine to improve the finish of the paint. Those who are still old-school may default to thinking of a rotary, as much of the public does (at least in my area).

Polishing: A light, sometimes abrasive action that rejuvenates the paint and brings out the luster. Not my definition, just seems to be the understanding of people around me.

[Joe@Superior Shine]

Unfortunately there are no real standards in the detailing world. Anybodies definition is as good as anybody else.

I define buffing as using a rotary (buffer or polisher) to correct and shine an automotive finish.

When I am compounding with a rotary I am buffing. When I am polishing with a buffer I am still buffing.

buffed, buff·ing, buffs 1. To polish or shine

[C. Charles Hahn]

I agree with Joe, the terms are really ambiguous and are almost interchangeable in many cases.

That said, I'm just glad nobody mentioned the term "wheeling."

It's one term that seems to be more common in the uninformed real world and it just grates on my nerves when I hear someone use it.

[Kristopher1129]

Buffing, polishing...to me it's one in the same. Either way...your goal is the same.