Ryobi 18V One+ Variable Speed Cordless Dual Action Polisher PBF100

Jan 13, 2024

Ryobi covers the Prosumer sector like no one else, offering performance and features that reach up to professional levels at a surprisingly affordable price. The Ryobi 18V One+ cordless dual action polisher promises to maintain that reputation. We got our hands on it to see if it delivers.

This polisher lets you skip the old-fashioned Mr. Miyagi "wax on, wax off" manual method and step into the 21st century. We put it in the hands of our resident rancher, Eli Mosley, who also happens to be a major league car care enthusiast and deals with maintenance on the vehicles on the ranch. He also happens to be tired of hand waxing.

What is a dual action polisher? Dual action polishers combine forced rotary and orbital motions into one action. The difference between this and a random orbit polisher is that a forced rotation drives both the rotating and orbiting motions. A random orbit polisher only drives orbit and relies on momentum to rotate the pad. A forced rotation dual action orbital polisher has a consistent pattern and therefore produces a better result.

The Ryobi PBF100 uses a brushed motor to deliver 3,000 to 7,500 orbits per minute (8mm throw) with force rotation to give it the dual action designation. The combination of orbital movement with forced rotation helps reduce heat build-up and the potential for swirl marks.

If you’re new to power polishers, here's a general speed guideline (it's also printed on the tool):

As Eli put a fresh coat of Brazilian carnauba wax on his truck, the polisher's finishing pad left a clean path as he worked across the body.

Expect up to 2 hours of runtime using a 9.0Ah battery—enough to cover most full-size vehicles. If you’re using the 4.0Ah battery that comes in the kit, it's closer to 50 minutes. Even though there's a big difference between those values, we prefer the 4.0Ah battery to keep the overall weight down some.

For speed control, the polisher has a lock-on slide switch and combines it with a variable speed dial. Its removable auxiliary handle supports multiple grip positions and you can flip it around for left-handed use.

The overall feel of the polisher is very similar to Ryobi's HP Brushless Angle Grinder with its slimmer handle. It's very easy to maneuver and control, especially when working around delicate vehicle body lines.

All of this comes in a package that weighs just 3.75 pounds as a bare tool—the lightest in its class according to Ryobi. That's a really big deal if you’re polishing for hours at a time on a busy day.

The Ryobi PBF100B is available from The Home Depot for $199 as a bare tool. We recommend spending $30 more to get it with a 4.0Ah battery and charger.

The polisher kit comes with a 5″ hook and loop backer pad, finishing pad, correcting pad, cutting pad, aux handle, hex key, and wrench. As usual, Ryobi backs it with a 3-year warranty.

Ryobi's cordless dual action polisher produces excellent results with a design and features we expect to find on more expensive Pro-level models. While it doesn't have the efficiency of a brushless motor, its price point is well under models that do. If you’re on the hunt for a dual action polisher that lets you cut the cord without breaking the bank, Ryobi has you covered.