( 3 reviews )
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Posted: 06-30-2009
I bought this buffer from Target, instead of a $100+ Porter Cable buffer to buff waterspots off of my car's finish and to put an even coat of wax on. The buffer itself feels fairly sturdy and durable. The 10' cord is long enough to reach. The buffer's motor operates smoothly, but it is quite loud if you turn it on not pressed against the car. It was able to spread an even coat of wax over the whole car with just a few ounces of Meguires cleaner wax (1st step, day 1).Eventually though, the foam applicator became clogged with wax. When I attempted to remove the bonnet to clean it and maybe use it again, a large chunk of the surface ripped rendering it un-usable. I will never use the wool bonnets because they are very harsh on paint finishes. The buffer ought to come with more than one foam applicator as they are pretty much 1 time use only. If anything, put 1 wool bonnet in the package and 2 foam applicators. To top it all off, B&D pretty much has you over a barrel in terms of replacement pads. NO COMPANY offers 6" foam pads for this, so you're stuck paying $3 per pad and $11 shipping from B&D for replacements, plus their parts website is poorly designed and very slow. I bought 5 pads literally 10 minutes ago, but it took 2 days to successfully order them!The longevity of the buffer is yet to be determined...OVERALL: Good actual buffer, poor pad design and number of pads, poor customer support website.
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Posted: 06-07-2009
I bought this for my motorcycle and car. Both are black. They say black is not a color - it's a second job. Well I needed some help on my second job.The first thing you wonder with something of this price is "What's the catch?". So far, I cannot find any. Effectiveness - Runs circles around hand application (pun intended). It removes swirl marks with minimal effort, and does so very quickly. Using basically the weight of the tool and just enough downward pressure to keep the pad flat to the paint, you can get the job done and produce mirror finish results. I was a bit sad (not the product's fault) to realize how much time I've wasted over the years doing it by hand.Ergonomics - Comfortable to hold, vibration and noise are reasonable (no hearing protection required IMO). Power switch is under a rubber boot and can require a few tries to activate.Accessories - The slip on terry bonnets are effective and have withstood several wash/rinses. You will probably need an extension cord (not supplied) for your car.Durability - Can't tell yet as I've only used it a half dozen times. This is probably my main concern. But at the price, if it lasts a few years I will be delighted.Watch for - Running the tool before it's against the paint with product applied will make quite a mess. Spend a minute or two to get the bonnet evenly adjusted all the way around the applicator pad. It might fit right away, but you'll get vibrations unless its evenly adjusted. Think of it like balancing a car wheel - if it's not even it will vibrate.Conclusions - Get it! I will report back on durability in another 6 months.
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( 13 of 25 found this review helpful ) Posted: 04-20-2003
The machine worked good for about 2 minutes. Then it started making a strange noise and two minutes later, the foam applicator literally disintegrated splattering wax all over the car, including the plastic and the windshield. It may be the provided applicator was defective, but 2 minutes is ridiculous for a brand new product.
