Abstract: An orbital polishing system includes the drive motor assembly for orbitally rotating a buffing pad. The buffing pad includes contour means for defining a groove on a periphery thereof for supporting a buffing cloth thereon and an elastic O-ring is sized for holding the buffing cloth in the groove of the periphery of the buffing pad and operative with the groove for decreasing tension between the buffing pad and the buffing cloth on one side of the buffing pad as the buffing pad is orbitally rotated and pinching the buffing cloth into the groove on an opposite side of the buffing pad as the buffing pad is orbitally rotated in order to cause the buffing cloth to achieve and maintain a taut configuration across the face of the buffing pad.

Abstract: A buffing pad includes hub including screw threads therein for releasably attaching the hub to a drive shaft from either side of the hub. A fusible center disk is attached to the hub and a pair of buffing pads are provided with each having a plurality of yarn tufts protruding from a first side thereof and a plurality of yarn stitches which are exposed in a second side thereof. Additional fusible material is provided for securing the stitches in the buffing pads, coaxially securing the center disk between the second sides of the buffing disks and securing the second sides of the buffing disk together to form a buffing pad, with the two tufted first sides of the buffing disk facing outwardly from one another. During manufacture of the buffing pad the center disk is heat-formed into a tapered configuration which decreases in thickness from a position adjacent a coaxial hold therein to an outer edge thereof.

Abstract: A contoured buffing pad includes a buffing disk which is heat-formed by the method of the invention so that a portion thereof proximate an outer edge thereof forms an approximate right angle with the remainder of the buffing disk. Additionally, the buffing pad includes a fusible center disk which is fused into a tapered shape during manufacture of the pad and also, in cooperation with the fusible means, secures stitches in the buffing disk and coaxially secures the center disk to a second side of the buffing disk. A hub coaxially mounted in the disk includes threads for attaching the hub to a drive shaft, thereby eliminating the need of a conventional face plate, or the like, to mount the buffing pad to a drive shaft or buffing motor.