If you are in charge of the janitorial staff at your local school, then you may be looking at buying a new floor buffing machine. Buffed floors have many benefits. They give the floor a clean and shiny appearance, they protect it from scratches and dings, and they reduce the appearance of scrapes and other types of flaws. While you may already understand that buffing is important, you may have no idea about how to purchase the right floor buffer. There are several things you need to consider.

Buffer Speed

Floor buffers come in both high- and low-speed varieties. Depending on your needs, a low or high one may be best. If you have a limited budget to work with, then a more inexpensive, low-speed buffer is a good choice. Low-speed buffers have a fairly low RPM. This means that it can take longer to buff a floor to a sparkling shine. However, low-speed buffers can often be used for several different purposes. The devices can be used to clean and scrub floors as well as buff them. You will need to purchase different types of pads for the buffer machine though, to complete the different tasks. Changing the pads is typically an easy process though. 

If you want a machine that can buff floors quickly, like if the school building is large or if it requires constant buffing in the gymnasium, then a high-speed variety is best. High-speed buffers do usually only buff the floors. This means you need a separate machine for cleaning. High-speed buffers are typically called polishers or burnishers. They are more expensive, but they are also heavier. The heavier machine places more force on the floor for a more thorough shine. If you have a few hundred dollars extra to invest in a buffing machine and if you already have something you use for cleaning, then a high-speed model can save you time and effort when buffing.

Solution Tanks

If your janitorial staff needs to buff large areas of flooring, then you will need to choose a buffer with a large solution tank. Solution tanks hold the cleaning and polishing solutions so the buffer pad can work across your floor. The solution moved through a tube attached to the tank and exits out on the bottom of the buffer. Some buffers have tanks with automatic releases that squirt solutions on the floor as the buffer moves. Other varieties have pull levers that need to be activated when you want the solution to release. If you want more control over the solution and how much is released, then opt for a buffer that has a tank and a lever. 

When choosing the buffer you want, you should also look at how much fluid the tank holds. Many tanks hold around three or four gallons of fluid. Larger ones are a good option for heavy-duty and larger machines. Smaller tanks are a good choice for the low-speed machines. 

If you do not want to purchase a machine with a solution tank, then you can purchase and add one on at a later day. Add-on varieties are typically the lever release types, so keep this in mind.

When you do get your buffer and decide on the tank you want, make sure to purchase a good liquid wax to add to the tank. You will need a buffable liquid wax. Some of these products are called floor finishers, while others are called waxing solutions. Finishing solutions are commonly sold for use with linoleum floors, while waxes that contain carnauba wax are sold for use with wood floors. For more information, contact a company that specializes in janitorial equipment and supplies. 

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