Floor Buffer Key Terms

Understand the key terms related to floor buffers

By Howard Robertson

Floor buffers or floor machines are a popular method for polishing, rebuilding and cleaning floor surfaces. Floor buffers are useful for residential, industrial and commercial purposes. These machines are available in various sizes, speed and power ratings. They perform different functions for different surfaces and use various types of pads and brushes for cleaning and polishing.

In this guide, we will cover some of the key terms related to floor buffers, such as high speed and low speed floor buffers, buffing, pads, carpet brush, solution tank and propane floor buffers.

Horsepower (HP)

Horsepower is the imperial unit of power. One horsepower is the work done at the rate of 550 foot-pounds per second and it is equivalent to 745.7 watts. This is an important factor to consider when buying floor buffing machines.
Try: The Engineering ToolBox, an information resource, offers an explanation of the term horsepower.

High speed and low speed floor buffers

Floor buffers are available in high speeds and low speeds with both having different applications. Low speed buffers are for residential and other small areas while high speed buffers are best suited for large areas and hard surfaces.
Try: VacuumCleaners.Net gives information on the types of floor buffers and tasks they are best suited to.

Propane floor buffers

Propane floor buffers use propane (also known as liquefied petroleum gas or LPG) for fuel and reduce the polishing time considerably as compared to other floor buffers.
Try: Cleaning Stuff, a provider of professional cleaning supplies, provides information about propane floor buffers.

Buffing

Buffing is the process of repairing the floor to clean and restore the finish or to give a shine to the floor.
Try: You can learn more about the buffing process at Basic Maintenance Supply Inc..

Pads

Pads are useful for cleaning and polishing a surface. As a part of floor buffers, pads are combined with different chemicals to give the proper finish.
Try: CleanLink, an informative website for sanitary supply distributors, gives information about the different kinds of pads and their related uses.

Carpet brush

A carpet brush is an attachment for the floor buffing machine that cleans and scrubs the carpets. This attachment is often used as a replacement for pads.
Try: JimTrade, a business-to-business (B2B) Media Company, provides information about cleaning brushes, including carpet brushes.

Solution tank

A solution tank can be attached to the floor buffer to give a constant supply of water, cleaner or shampoo to the carpet or the floor being cleaned.
Try: Material Handling Network, a magazine for the material handling industry, provides information about solution tanks.