to do real polishing, like catman says, it should look like a side angle grinder but with a rubber head, pad, and wool cover. If you were to leave this one running over one place too long, it will do damage. Should look like this (I've never seen one with a random orbit)




A random orbiting buffer (the kind that you find in the automotive section at walmart that mostly vibrates) will do a good job applying wax, but it will not work with rubbing compounds very well at all.