Makita 9227c vs 9237c, 9237cx2, and 9237cx3

Makita 9227c vs 9237c  Series – do you know the differences between these two almost identical buffers?

Don’t worry, with almost identical specs and looks you’re not the first person to wonder what the heck was different or why one costs more.

The first time I went looking for a new rotary polisher, and ran across these two, I could see one was a few bucks more expensive but I couldn’t figure out why right away.

Is the 9237c just a rebadged 9227c being resold for the new model year? And what is the deal with the 9237cx2 and 9237cx3 models?

After a little digging I figured it out and then I had to decide if the differences were worth it. Before I can get into that, we first need to look at these two polishers.

Makita 9227c vs Makita 9237c: The Comparison

As you can see they are basically identical in specs aside from weight and $10 difference in price.

The motor on both is rated at 1200watt with a min speed of 600 rotations per minute and a max of 3000 RPM.

The body is nearly the same with both having the rounded top D shaped handle, molded tool rest on top, pistol grip, trigger, and trigger lock.

The weight is also 6lbs for the 9227c and 7lbs for the 9237c, but the differences don’t stop there…

Makita 9227c vs Makita 9237c: The Differences

To key you into the differences:

• The 9237c comes with a rubber coated handle, rubber coated gear housing (head of polisher), wire mesh air intake filters, and improved cord guard.
• The 9227c in contrast has none of those features. The gear housing is bare metal, the handle is bare plastic, there is no filter for air intake on the motor, and the cord guard isn’t as durable.

So what does that translate to as far as real world usage?

The 9237c is a slightly updated version of the 9227c geared for a safer, more comfortable, and more reliable experience. The rubber coated handle helps hang onto the tool and soften any impacts with what you’re working on, as does the rubber covered gear housing.

The wire mesh filters for the air vents prevent wool fibers, foam particles, and polishing dust from building up inside the motor housing and damaging the motor.

The improved cord guard extends the life of the cord. Several models of 9227c had issues with the cord fraying at the tail of the polisher. This fixes that.

Makita 9237c vs 9237cx2 vs 9237cx3

The only differences in these polishers is the included accessories. They are all the same 9237c polisher. Same goes for the similar 9227cx2 and 9227cx3.

• 9237c only includes the buffer and necessary tools
• 9237cx2 includes the buffer, a tool bag, and an 8″ white foam polishing pad
• 9237cx3 includes the buffer, a tool bag, a 7″ wool bonnet for compounding, and a 7″ wool bonnet for polishing

Is the Makita 9237c right for you?

Choose the Makita 9237c if:

• You have a budget of less than $200
• You are going to be polishing anything with an easily scratchable surface such as paint, clear coat, gel coat, etc…
• You are going to be using wool pads and bonnets.

Is the Makita 9227c right for you?

Choose the Makita 9227c if:

• You have a budget of less than $200 and you really need to save that extra $10 the 9237c costs
• You don’t care if the gear housing is metal and the handle is plastic
• You don’t plan to use wool bonnets that can lint up the motor without the screen

It’s easy to overthink it but it really is as simple as that. My honest opinion is that when in doubt, buy the Makita 9237c.

If you have use for a 8″ white foam polishing pad or a tool bag, buy the Makita 9237cx2. If you are going to buy a wool bonnet regardless, buy the Makita 9237cx3. If you look around on Amazon you can sometimes find the kits with the pads and tool bag for the same price as the tool itself, a no real no-brainer.

Makita 9237c vs Makita BO6050J vs Makita PO5000C

The primary difference between these polishers is that the Makita 9237C is a rotary polisher. The pad spins in a perfect circle. The BO6050J and the PO5000c are both orbital polishers that can switch between free spinning orbital and forced orbital. You can learn more about what an orbital is in my article Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Car Buffers.