Get your buffing supplies in a complete polishing kit

Many wood and metal polishing machines are sold in a kit with the necessary wheels or pads. Polishing compounds also may be included. If you're looking for your first set of buffing and polishing equipment, consider purchasing products in a kit, which may also come with additional instructional support for new users.

I recommend: Caswell Electroplating offers buffing wheels and buffing kits, as well as a helper tool to find the right buffer for your job, and online support. Bright Works sells polishing and buffing kits and has an instructional video available for customers in need of additional project help.

Get compounds for buffing and polishing solid surfaces

The buffing process also requires that you use buffing compounds along with your machine-operated buffing pads. The purpose of a polishing compound is to serve as a chemical solution that combines with the physical effect of the buffing wheel to create an overall final polish.

I recommend: Search for the polishing compounds you need with Southwest Metal Finishing Supply or with TP Tools & Equipment. TP Tools & Equipment sells a more limited selection of compounds, but also sells a compound caddy for easy storage and portability of your polishing supplies.

Tackle the toughest buffing using abrasive solutions

Abrasives are an alternative to a traditional buffing compound that can be used with blasting equipment to buff extremely rough surfaces faster. Abrasives and blasting may be used either as an alternative to buffing supplies, or as a first step to prepare a rough surface for buffing and polishing.

I recommend: Regal Associates sells abrasives, in addition to standard buffing and polishing equipment and compounds. Eastwood is another company that provides abrasives solutions as well as blasting equipment for sand and soda compounds.