Polishing a car can be a very expensive ordeal, such is the demand for budget machine polishers for those not wanting to break the bank. For anybody unfamiliar with polishing, or if you’re not entirely serious about it, a budget machine polisher will naturally come to mind.
Some of the very best machine polishers, dual action types or rotary, retail for at least £500. And to many, this is quite unjustifiable. That’s before you add in the cost of the polishing pads you might need, and batteries that may not be included. You may even have to pay extra for a backing pad.
Happily, however, budget machine polishers are out there. They are manufactured by top brands such as Ryobi, Milwaukee, and Bosch. You do notice a drop in build and operation quality, but when you need to correct paint swirls and light scratches, some may not be concerned.
The best budget machine polishers at a glance:
Editor’s pick: Workpro Cordless Buffer Polisher – Buy from Amazon.
Best quality compact budget machine polisher: Milwaukee M12 – Buy from Amazon.
Best value corded budget machine polisher: Sealey DAS149 – Buy from FFX.
However, looking for a good budget machine polisher can be tough. There is a field of cheap products out there which only retail through Amazon, and these are often cheap for a reason. We’ve made things easier and ranked our favourite budget polishers from not only reputable brands but reputable retailers as well.
The best budget machine polishers
Editor's choice
It has two no load speeds of 0 to 2,800rpm and 0 to 7 to 7,500rpm, depending on the gear. It has a working time (claimed) of 30 minutes and a 66-minute charging time. It even has a temperature sensor which stops the machine if the polishing application is too hard.
Pros
- Very good value
- Comprehensive level of equipment included
Cons
- Battery life isn't brilliant, reportedly
Best quality compact budget machine polisher
It runs on a 12V motor which, sadly, isn't included in the standard purchase. But a handy aspect is that it's a compact tool, which makes things very handy when accessing difficult areas.
Pros
- Well-engineered for the price
- Useful for difficult areas
Cons
- No battery included as standard
Best value corded budget machine polisher
Its dual action orbit stretches out at 8mm, which allows for plenty of surface area to polish in any one place. Unfortunately, it's massively hindered by a 1.9m cable - which is simply not good enough for when you have to polish an entire car.
Pros
- Great dual action polisher for beginners
- Variable speed control
Cons
- Cable length is too short
Best budget machine polisher for surface area
It's powered by an 18V motor and runs between 500 and 3,000rpm. It's also a very lightweight polisher with a basic product weight of 1.28kg
Pros
- Lightweight tool
- Large polishing disc
Cons
- Battery and charger not included
Best professional budget machine polisher
It weighs just 2.5kg and uses a powerful 1,400W motor with a soft-start and continuous mode feature, which allows for a gradual process. It has a no load speed between 750 and 3,000rpm and has a 16cm polishing sponge. If you're not keen on spending top money on a great quality machine polisher, Bosch have a great answer. The downside? The cable length is only just over 4 metres, which can make things challenging if you have a lack of access to sockets.
Pros
- Great quality
- Good kit included as standard
Cons
- Cord length is notably short
Hyundai 900W Dual Action Polishing Kit
Best budget dual action kit
Included in the kit is a 15cm polishing pad, a wool pad, three sponge pads, a side handle and even a little wrench, should you need to adjust anything.
Pros
- Comprehensive level of kit included
- Good for practice polishing and/or beginners
Cons
- Quality won't be as on par as others
Things to remember about machine polishing a car
The key bit of advice to take away when polishing is to take your time and be gentle. Apply too much pressure to the bodywork, and you could risk damaging it via heat. If you just rest the machine with the polishing pads on the car and allow the polish to work its way in, you’ll get a better result. The steadier you are, the better.
When applying the polish to the pad, you only need a few small drips evenly separated across the pad. This means it will be evenly spread across the pad and the bodywork section you’re working on. If you have a corded polisher, it’s recommended to place the wire over the back of your neck to prevent it from dragging on the body and interrupting the polish.
Lastly, consider what kind of polisher you want. Your choices are limited on the budget end of the spectrum, but rotary polishers are quite common at this price point with some exceptions of dual action polishers. The difference is that while rotary polishers move in the same direction on the same axis, dual action polishers move in two different ways and are more suitable for beginners. The movement of dual action polishers means heat isn’t centred on any one point, which reduces the chance of damaging the bodywork.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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