Buffing wheels come in all different sizes and types, the two main factors to consider when selecting polishing wheels or buffs are buff hardness and stiffness. Buffs range from very coarse like the Sisal wheel to very fine and soft like the Cotton Flannel wheel. They also range from stiffer forms, like stitched or felt types, to loose types which create less heat and pressure while you polish. The most important thing to realize and be aware of when choosing a buffing wheel is that you will probably need to use more than one wheel per polishing job. So, while you generally won’t use the full range of buffing wheels on each job, you will almost always use a variety of wheels moving from a coarse one to a finer one as you use finer and finer compounds. This should make it easy to find a set of buffing wheels and compounds that meet your needs, but remember to change your wheel each time you change your compound.
Different types of buffing wheels respond and work differently depending on the compound that you use them with. Below you will find a listing of the most common types of buffs and polishing wheels to help you identify the ones that best fit your needs. Because in the end, all that matters is that you have the buffs and compounds that work best for you and your projects.
Additionally, to power any of the wheels we carry at Esslinger.com, you will just need a 1/4 hp motor. These motors easily power wheels up to 6 inches in diameter with a maximum thickness of 1 inch. It is recommended for general polishing to keep the buff surface speed between 3000 – 7500 RPM.

If you need to calculate your buff surface speed, try using this formula: 1/4 x Buff diameter (inches) x Motor Spindle RPM = Buff Surface Speed

Check out this guide to learn more about the different types of buffing wheels we carry and decide which one is the right one for you.