Best Dual Action Polishers – Tried, Tested and Reviewed

en.clix.vn23 March, 2023

0 71 7 minutes read

In my quest to find the best dual action polishers, it took me hours of research trying dozens of products. there is a lot of crap on the market today, and most of it comes in the form of cheap foreign imitations.

That being said, as competition increases, product quality continues to grow as well. I’ve already seen the best dual action polishers for beginners, but I wanted to see some of the higher end products and how they work.

Reading: Best electric car polisher review

Throughout my review, I’ve included some of the best da polishers in the business right now, including rupees and megiuars, to name just a few.

here are what I think are some of the best dual action polishes on the market right now:

meguiar’s mt320ouk dual action polisher
rupes lhr21es deluxe large foot polisher
vonhaus double action polisher
katsu 850w double action polisher
3 inch spta dual action car polisher

1) Meguiar’s MT320OUK Dual Action Polisher

My longtime faithful detailing partner was Meguiar’s MT320OUK Dual Action Polisher. I’ve also had the pleasure of using high quality bigfoot rupees, but my heart goes on with this great polisher.

this is actually a redesign of the old mt320 da polisher. New is an updated billet counterweight for smooth, more precise operation, which is what you need for waxing freshly polished paint.

meguiars may be cheaper than rupes, but i still do a great job with the kind of work normal hobbyists do every day. things like single-stage fixes or taking it with you for site work make it an ideal addition to any detailing set.

Now has a digital torque management system with a thumb-adjustable speed dial that makes it easy to instantly adjust orbit speed on the fly. the machine feels smooth and balanced as it glides over the paint, so it feels less than the stated weight of 2.3kg.

Best of all, Meguiar’s MT320OUK Dual Action Polisher won’t break the bank. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s the perfect middle ground that manages to deliver outstanding results every time.

In my opinion, this makes it the best dual action general polisher.

Meguiar’s MT320OUK Dual Action Polisher Spec Sheet

2) rupees lhr21es deluxe large foot polisher

I think few would argue with me that rupees are the best in the business right now. Their entire range is fantastic, but I am specifically referring to the rupes lhr21es deluxe bigfoot polisher, which in my opinion is the best polisher for professionals.

but that’s not all, because this polish is also good for beginners who want to achieve a flawless, professional-quality, mirror-like shine.

Right off the bat, the rupes bigfoot feels great in the hand. It feels light and balanced, making it the perfect tool for all day polishing. The ’21’ in LHR21ES points to the single 21mm orbit radius, which is far more than other DA polishers are capable of. The pads larger diameter and reach mean you get amazing results in a fraction of the time. if you are a professional then time is money my friend!

in terms of negatives, there’s only one; the price. You see, the Rupes Bigfoot polisher isn’t exactly the most affordable da polisher out there. but you can often get them with some kind of combination of pads and polishes, which is a great starting point for most.

yes, they are expensive, but here you get what you pay for. take care of this and you will never have to replace it.

rupes lhr21es deluxe bigfoot grinder spec sheet

3) vonhaus double action polisher

Coming out as the best value dual action polisher, it has to be vonhaus da. what I like about this is that you can get a complete package (towels, washcloths etc) for less than £100!

even though the price is small, the da still packs a punch. Its 600w motor can range from 1,500 to 6,800 opm, providing an impressive range of control.

ergonomically, it lacks a bit compared to some of the more premium products. however, it is about the same weight as meguiars, so it works well for longer detail projects.

vonhaus have also included a 2 year warranty which is great and shows that they stand behind their own product.

I’ve been able to use this for an extended period of time and it’s hands down the most affordable polishing pack I’ve tried to date. If you’re new to paint correction or on a budget, this is the dual action polish for you.

vonhaus dual action polisher spec sheet

4) katsu 850w dual action polisher

When I say the katsu 850w da polisher is the best da polisher for tight budgets, i really mean it. For a quarter of the price of Meguiar’s, you can get a pretty decent polisher with a powerful 850w motor.

but power is nothing without control, right? Fortunately, the Katsu Da polisher is endowed with an ergonomic design, although it is a bit heavy for a polisher at around 2.8kg. despite this, the variable orbit speed of 2500 to 5800 opm means you can clean, restore, polish and wax paintwork with just one tool.

Sure, the 8mm orbit coverage is much less than on bigfoot rupees. This is not to say that the Katsu Da polisher is a lesser machine. It just means that the rupees can buff an area faster with its 21mm orbit diameter, but it’s also possible to achieve great results on the katsu.

drawbacks? I can think of two. The Katsu Da Polisher is a bit cumbersome considering the simple design, and the build quality is a notch or two below Rupees and Meguiars. but still, the katsu is hard to deny in this price range.

katsu 850w dual action polisher spec sheet

5) 3 inch spta dual action car polisher

Sure, you don’t exactly need a mini da polisher. but if you want to take your detailing hobby to new heights, you’ll be surprised at the benefits of having a smaller 3-inch sander.

For starters, a smaller 3-inch mini da buffing tool lets you target smaller areas like pillars, door sills, roof edges, and even hard-to-reach areas like under the hood (yes, some enthusiasts they like to polish down the neighborhood believe it or not).

With that in mind, I prefer the spta 3-inch dual action car polisher. Equipped with a powerful 780w motor and six-speed variable control, this little polisher delivers huge portions of spectacular results.

Capable of orbiting at speeds from 2000 to 5500 opm, the spta 3-inch da polisher is sold as a complete kit with a set of polishing pads, a cleaning mitt, and a set of microfiber towels. if you ask me, not a bad deal given the price of less than £90.

spta 3 inch dual action car polisher spec sheet

how does a dual action polisher work?

It all comes down to the rotating action of the head. rotary polishers rotate on a single axis, while dual action polishers can oscillate rather than rotate on their axis. As a polisher’s backing pad rotates, the spindle also rotates to create a rocking or wobbling effect.

You want this wobbly feel to reduce heat and friction while you polish the paint. when you apply polish, you are essentially removing or scraping off a small portion of the clear coat to create a smooth, level surface, which is the beginning of removing scratches and swirl marks.

however, a continuously rotating head generates a lot of heat and friction. This is why rotary polishers are not intended for beginners or beginners. Without proper experience, it is difficult to see with the naked eye when too much friction is applied to the paint, so using a rotary polisher requires patience, skill, and experience.

on the other hand, a dual action polish is easier to use without the danger of damaging or burning the paint. The oscillating action creates less heat and friction without reducing the cutting power of the pad. This also means you can confidently polish using a DA polisher even if you have virtually no automotive detailing experience.

Are da polishers suitable for beginners?

da polishes are not only best suited for beginners, but are the only polish beginners should use when polishing or waxing a car for the first time.

how to use a dual action polisher?

As with most aspects of car detailing, the best results come from the preparation stage. using a dual action polisher to polish your car is no different.

The first step is to wash and decontaminate the entire vehicle with water, car shampoo, a clay bar, and some de-iron spray. you should never buff without cleaning and decontaminating the paint to prevent further scratches and swirls from occurring while buffing.

next, make sure the surface is dry before polishing it. After choosing the correct pad attachment, the trick is to apply a couple of dots of polishing fluid to the outer edges of the pad and saturate the product into the pad with your finger. the idea is to wet the pad with liquid polish without applying too much. this prevents slings when you activate the polisher.

Finally, place the pad on top of the paint, turn on the buffer, and work one area at a time. the size of about 30cm by 30cm should be adequate to start with. as you get more confident, you can do it panel by panel.

after buffing, take a microfiber towel and buff off the excess to expose a renewed shine.

Since you’re using a da polisher, you don’t need to worry about damaging the paint even if you purposely leave the pad spinning in a particular area for long periods of time.

what things should I avoid when polishing my car?

Here are some things to avoid when polishing your car.

never polish a dirty car. be sure to thoroughly wash, degrease, and decontaminate paintwork before polishing and waxing.
When applying nail polish, less is more. in truth, you only need small amounts of polishing fluid to treat a larger surface area.
Make a habit of saturating the polishing pad with liquid rather than spraying the liquid onto the paint and catching it with a rotary polisher. this not only leads to waste, but the slings will be difficult to clean afterwards.
Avoid over-polishing your vehicle. polishing is recommended every 12 months or before the onset of summer and winter. the trick is to wax more and polish less, as wax will not remove the clear coat, unlike polishing.
If you can avoid it, never polish or wax under a blazing sun; it also does not polish or wax a hot surface. make sure all surfaces are cool to the touch.