You might have seen videos of people using portable drills with attachments for polishing cars and furniture. If you have been thinking about using a cordless drill for polishing then this article is for you. It can certainly save you time and headaches!
To start, I recommend buying a cordless drill. The benefit of owning a cordless drill is that you can charge the battery and take the drill with you anywhere. Since the drill is not limited to a certain area, you can use it for a wide variety of tasks.
Here is a list of all the products mentioned below (click for quick navigation):
Drills:
- 🏆 Black+Decker LDX120C 20V Max Cordless Drill [Top Choice]
- Black+Decker BDCD8C 8V MAX Cordless Drill
- Ultra Steel AQ75024G 20V Cordless 2 Speed Hammer Drill
- Galax Pro 20V Cordless Drill Driver
- Avid Power MW316 Drill Driver Set
Buffing kits:
Another reason is cordless drills are designed for energy efficiency which means they have a much lower RPM than regular corded drills, meaning the chances of damaging material and surfaces are also lower.
Drills that have a high RPM tend to generate a lot of heat, which can burn certain materials, such as paint.
Best Cordless Drills for Buffing & Polishing
1. Black+Decker LDX120C 20V Max Cordless Drill
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
The battery-powered Black+Decker 20V cordless drill is a decent drill for polishing because it’s lightweight and cordless.
The RPM is not too high, at 650, with an 11 position clutch. It weighs a total of 3.15 pounds, so it should be comfortable to use for long periods of time.
The nice thing about this drill is that it’s compact, making it suitable for all kinds of close-quarter projects.
Throw some polish bits on to this drill and you’ll have absolutely no problem polishing surfaces around your home.
Bear in mind, the drill is good enough to make holes in wood and other surfaces too, so it’s quite versatile. Definitely worth checking out.
2. Black+Decker BDCD8C 8V MAX Cordless Drill
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
Here we have another Black+Decker cordless drill (it’s a very popular power tool brand) but we recommend this one for a couple of reasons.
For one, it’s a very budget-friendly choice. Secondly, it’s a lightweight drill, the total weight is 1.3 pounds.
These two reasons make it a good option for people who are interested in using a drill as a polisher.
Even though it’s small and light, the engine is decent, with a maximum of 400 RPMs. All in all, a decent drill for very basic DIY work and cleaning surfaces.
3. Ultra Steel AQ75024G 20V Cordless 2- Speed Hammer Drill
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
While not very lightweight, the Ultra Steel 20V cordless drill is a very versatile power tool. I recommend it specifically because it has two speed modes, low and high.
The low-speed mode is perfect for polishing, the maximum RPM on low is 350. Likewise, with a max RPM of 1350 RPM, the high-speed mode is decent for drilling holes and other construction-related work.
It weighs a total of 3.74 pounds, which is not too heavy but also not very light, it’s a mid-range compact cordless drill.
You can also switch between the hammer and non-hammer mode. What it boils down to: a budget-friendly and versatile cordless drill. Great for polishing!
4. Galax Pro 20V Cordless Drill Driver
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
The Galax Pro 20V cordless drill is another decent product. The drill has a 19+1 position torque ring so you can easily change the settings with a simple twist.
It also has a variable speed, which means the harder you press on the trigger, the faster the bit spins.
When the trigger is fully-pressed, it seems like the maximum RPM is 650. Other than that, it has a really nice LED light that automatically turns on when the drill is in use.
The battery lasts a decent amount of time too, and it’s rechargeable via wall outlet.
Another notable feature is the drill is reversible, so you can use it to both screw and unscrew. One more benefit is the tool only weighs 2.5 pounds, which makes it the second lightest on our list.
Overall, a decent cordless tool that can work well as a polisher with accessories.
5. Avid Power MW316 Drill Driver Set
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
Here we have another lightweight cordless drill that’s good for polishing and small DIY projects.
Although it’s a 20V drill, the MW316 is not very powerful, and that’s good for our purpose. It’s nice and light, weighing a total of 2.2 pounds, and it has a nice feel to it.
You’ll be happy to know that this drill has a variable speed, with a maximum of 550 RPM, and a 15 position clutch.
This particular product includes a set drill bits and a charger for the battery. It’s worth checking out.
Buffing & Polishing Accessories for Drills
So now that I covered some of my recommended cordless drills for polishing let’s dive a little deeper into attachments.
Most of these attachments are compatible with every drill, but it’s always good to double-check.
Bear in mind, the type of attachment you need entirely depends on what task you need it for and the footprint you plan to cover.
1. SPTA 29PCS Drill Buffing Pad & Detail Kit
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
In my opinion, the SPTA 29PCS kit is the best one on the market.
It comes with a wide range of pieces; wool pads, buffing pads, and many other attachments for details.
Every piece is made from wool, sponge, or foam. Overall, a nice kit with lots of pieces!
2. Rampro 3” Car Buffing and Wax Polishing Kits
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
I recommend Rampro 3” Car Buffing and Wax polishing kit. It includes 3 mini-buffs, 4 pads, a backing plate, and an adapter for ¼ drill bit.
The material is wool and high-density foam, it’s very soft and unlikely to scratch any surface.
Can I Use A Drill To Polish My Car?
Bear in mind, while you can save a few dollars using a drill as a polisher, there are some things you need to know.
Generally, it’s not recommended to use a drill to polish a car, even if you have the right drill attachments.
The reason is the car’s paint can be easily damaged if the rotation speed of the drill is too high.
Most portable drills won’t have a high enough RPM to burn the paint on a car, but it varies depending on the exact model.
To polish a car, most experts agree you should either use an orbital DA polisher or simply do the job by hand.
You can use a drill to polish certain areas of the car, but we wouldn’t recommend it for a full-scale paint polish.
Another downside to using drills to polish cars is it’s harder to keep a polisher drill bit flat on the surface of a car, and that can lead to uneven spots, which can cost a lot to repair. In a nutshell, proceed with caution.
You can also use a low-speed random orbital sander for these kinds of jobs. If you want to learn more about this then go and check this article out.
Benefits of Using Cordless Drills for Polishing
The main advantage of using a cordless drill for polishing is it has a very small footprint and you can easily polish hard to reach areas, making it great for details or tight corners.
You can also use it on the wheels of your car, and other specific areas.
Having said that, besides vehicles, a drill can be used to polish many other surfaces.
You could use it on all kinds of appliances too, such as sink fixtures, doorknobs, handrails, and much more.
It’s also common to see people in the woodworking industry using drills with polish drill bits; buffers & buffing balls, polish wheels, and whatnot.
To be clear, if you’re going to buy a drill specifically for polishing then you should look for drills that don’t have a very high RPM because they’re safer and easier to use.
Related article: Difference Between Polishing and Buffing a Car
Closing Thoughts
To summarize, using a cordless drill for polishing can be a lot of fun and can make it much easier to reach certain areas.
While I don’t recommend using drills for full paint wax or buff jobs, they are great for the finer details on a wide range of objects.
Just remember to keep the drill on a low setting and don’t apply too much pressure. I recommend choosing a drill that has an RPM of under 1,000 because anything higher might cause problems with delicate materials.
Of course, you can always use a high powered drill but on a low setting or speed. When used correctly, cordless drills are perfect for buffing!
I hope this article was helpful. Good luck with your polishing work.
Cheers, tools owners!
Helpful Articles:
