Buffers make polishing and waxing your car almost fun… almost! Whether you just got a new buffer or you are an old hand at buffing but want to try a new wax product, we’ve got all the info you need to find the best wax for an orbital buffer.
While it’s true that there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of different car waxes on the market, some work better with a buffer than others. Our overall favorite orbital buffer wax is the Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax, but more on that later.
You could spend hours reading reviews, manufacturer’s websites, asking your friends and co-workers, or you could spend a few minutes reading our list of the best car waxes to use with an orbital buffer.
There are lots of great choices on this list, everything from big brand names you’ve known for decades and new products that really pack in the WOW factor.
The Best Car Wax To Use with an Orbital Buffer
1. Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax
Specifications:
- Size: 16 Fluid Ounces
- Paste or Liquid: Liquid
- Carnauba Based or Synthetic: Carnauba
One visit to any car care aisle or online search and you will see the Chemical Guys products listed as one of the best sellers. The reason for this is due to the outstanding quality of products, as well as being made in the USA. Those two items usually go together.
The Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax is appropriately named since it literally melts like butter onto a car’s painted surface, making it super easy to apply with a buffer.
A small amount goes a long way, which also keeps this choice economical. Butter Wet Wax has a carnauba base so you will get an outstanding shine and good protection, but you will also have outstanding protection for plastic, stainless steel, chrome, painted wheels, and more.
The Chemical Guys know that using polymers will result in a longer-lasting product, but it’s the carnauba that gives you that wet-look shine every car owner wants. Numerous users say that they would never even consider using any other product with their buffer.
Pros:
- Extremely easy to apply and remove
- Good protection from the elements
- Outstanding brilliance and shine
Cons:
- Will not last as long as some other products
- Several layers are needed for best results
- Water repellency is not as good as some other products
If you love waxing your car and you don’t mind doing it every other month or so, The Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax is super easy to apply and will give you the wet-look you want. It may not last as long as others, but it can be used on all parts of your vehicle.
2. Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax
Specifications:
- Size: 20 Fluid Ounces
- Paste or Liquid: Liquid
- Carnauba Based or Synthetic: Synthetic Polymer
When it comes to famous names among car care products, one of the top ones has to be Meguiar’s. This company has been around since cars were first put on the road. They are known for making top quality products that exceed expectations.
Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax is no different. When using a buffer, the easier the wax is to apply, the better. Meguiar’s goes on like water and can even be applied in full sun. Many waxes go on easy, but removing them takes real work, but not Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax, it wipes off as easily as it goes on.
Meguiar’s uses a synthetic polymer so your car’s paint will be superhydrophobic (meaning that water will fall right off the surface).
Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax is actually used by many detail shops and automotive wash locations. They know that Meguiar’s is a quality product and that it is safe to use on plastic and glass parts as well. Imagine waxing the plastic trim and not having a white haze left behind!
Pros:
- Synthetic polymers make this wax long-lasting
- Super easy to apply and to remove
- Removes minor swirl marks and scratches
Cons:
- Some users complained of hard-to-remove streaks
- May not last as long as a conventional paste wax
- A few users felt that it was overpriced compared to other brands
Meguiar’s has been making quality car care products for more than 100 years. This is a top-rated product that shows how Meguiar’s has withstood the test of time.
3. Griot’s Garage Best of Show Wax
Specifications:
- Size: 16 Fluid Ounces
- Paste or Liquid: Liquid
- Carnauba Based or Synthetic: Carnauba
Someone once said that Griot’s Garage products were made for the car perfectionist and we must agree that this is true!
This Best of Show liquid wax has a high carnauba wax content, which means that you can count on it to give you incredible shine and be easy to apply with a buffer.
This product uses no cheap silicones or sealers, just pure science to bring out the color and clarity of your car’s paint. Best of Show wax removes the oxidation that prevents your vehicle from having a deep, showroom like finish.
The company recommends at least 3 coats be applied for best results. If you follow manufacturer directions, you should enjoy a minimum of 3 months of incredible, head-turning results.
This is one of the finest carnauba liquid waxes on the market. It’s been a best seller since 1994 in a heavily competitive market. Griot’s Garage Best of Show Wax is both a polish and a protecting wax, which will make waxing your car much easier.
Pros:
- Easy to apply and remove
- Leaves a deep, wet-look shine
- Lasts for several months
Cons:
- Requires several layers for full protection
- Some users found the smell objectionable
- May be difficult to remove if a thick layer is applied
Griot’s Garage Best of Show Wax feels like a high-quality wax going on and manifests its qualities when you see the head-turning shine it leaves behind.
Griot’s Garage also offers polishing pads for your orbital buffer.
4. P21S Carnauba Wax
Specifications:
- Size: 6.2 Ounces
- Paste or Liquid: Paste
- Carnauba Based or Synthetic: Carnauba
You may nor may not have heard about P215 wax. While it isn’t a big name, this wax does have a big following.
This is a paste wax, so it won’t be quite as easy to use as a liquid, but among paste wax users, this one is said to be buttery soft.
One of the great things about a paste wax is how long the shine lasts. Most say P21S will easily last 6 months or more if you live in a mild climate. If you don’t really love waxing your car, even with the buffer, then this is the one you want.
Getting wax on the plastic parts of cars is usually a no-no since it tends to leave a white haze that is difficult or even impossible to remove, but that isn’t the case with P21S.
This product might seem to be priced a bit higher than other waxes, but the shine and long-lasting protective coating make it well worth the price.
Pros:
- Incredibly long-lasting
- Leaves a wet-look shine
- Wipes off easily
Cons:
- More expensive than other paste waxes
- A few users complained of streaking
- The product will dry out quickly if not resealed tightly
For those who want a conventional paste wax, and they want the best possible wax that is still easy to apply and remove, the P21S is the right choice.
5. Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax #845
Specifications:
- Size: 16 Fluid Ounces
- Paste or Liquid: Liquid
- Carnauba Based or Synthetic: Carnauba
Collinite paste wax has been around so long you’ve probably seen your father or even your grandfather using it. Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax is similar to the paste wax your daddy used, but this liquid form makes it much easier to use with a buffer.
This is a carnauba-based wax, so you know that you will get a showroom shine that makes your car a showstopper from any angle and in any light. Collinite is proudly made in the USA.
Collinite Insulator Wax offers some of the best protection from the damaging rays of the sun that you will find anywhere, but the one stand-out feature of this wax is that it really lasts. Liquid waxes are great for buffers since it makes the job even easier, but they tend to not last as long as a paste wax.
This isn’t true with Collinite. Depending on the weather, how often you wash your ride, and how many layers you apply, this wax should last an impressive 3 to 6 months. That’s equal to any paste wax but with half the amount of effort used.
Pros:
- Outstanding durability
- Impervious to soap or detergents
- Deep, showroom shine
Cons:
- Some users found that this does not cover fine scratches
- Can be difficult to remove if a thick layer is applied
- Several thin coats are required for longest-lasting protection
If you’ve used most of the big names in wax products and want to try something different or if you haven’t been happy with other products, try Collinite Insulator Wax. Many products “wax” poetic about what they can do, but Collinite really delivers.
The Bottom Line
Ask 50 people which is their favorite brand of wax and you will probably get 25 different answers. Most people have a brand that they stick to like glue. We also have our favorite stand-by names, but when testing these products, we were super impressed by the Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax.
For liquid wax, Collinite was simply outstanding when it came to durability. This is most likely because it has special compounds that prevent it from breaking down when you wash your car. Soap and detergent do not seem to have any effect on this wax!
To top it off, it was extremely easy to apply with an orbital waxer. Very little pressure was required and when the wax dried, it was just as easy to rub off.
It’s important to use very thin coats of wax to get the kind of durability that lasts for months. Read the instructions carefully and follow them to the letter, and you will be rewarded with a showroom shine that literally lasts for months.
If you are on the lookout for a new wax product or you’re new to waxing with a DA polisher, try Collinite Liquid Wax Insulator. You will NOT be disappointed.
