Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for making improved tufted buffing pads of varied density across the face surface thereof. The apparatus comprises a tufting machine for placing pile in a spiral or circular pattern on a backing pad to form the buffing pad. The backing pad is held by a rotatable and laterally-movable pad holder which is coupled to a programmable controller. An improved buffing pad of varying density is achieved by coupling a programmable computer to the programmable controller for varying the length of intermittent steps that the pad holder is laterally moved relating to the tufting machine. By proper programming, pile applied to the backing pad is maximized in a selected high-wear area of the buffing pad, and minimized in a selected low-wear area of the buffing pad.