The Koblenz B-1500-FPN is the floating-handle version of the 20-inch AC burnisher. Letting the head find its own plane instead of being held rigid by the operator is what keeps the full pad on the floor across uneven older VCT, and that is what the difference between an even gloss and a swirled one usually comes down to.
Built for
- Weekly gloss maintenance on VCT in schools, offices and public buildings
- Older slabs with settlement or lippage where full pad contact is hard to hold
- After-hours crews who do not need onboard dust capture
- Multi-floor routes where the machine has to move up and down stairs
Use cases
Uneven and older floors
On a slab that has moved, a rigid head rides one edge of the pad and burnishes unevenly. A floating handle lets the head follow the floor, which puts the whole 20-inch pad to work and produces a consistent gloss down the lane.
Weekly spray-buff cycles
Paired with a restorer and a burnishing pad, 1500 RPM brings a finish back up without stripping. Staying on that cycle is what pushes the next full strip and recoat out.
Multi-floor buildings
Stair climber wheels and a handle designed for compact storage make it realistic to work a building floor by floor rather than staging a machine on each level.
Buildings with limited circuits
At 1.5 HP and 1500 RPM this machine draws less than a 2000 RPM ultra-high-speed unit. Crews working older buildings consistently report the faster machines tripping breakers.
Why crews choose it
All-metal construction with a cast aluminum chassis and an epoxy powder coated steel skirt is the reason burnishers in this class stay serviceable for years rather than seasons.
An onboard circuit breaker protects the motor when the pad loads, which is the most common field failure on a high-speed machine.
Four 5-inch non-marking wheels move the machine across the floor you just polished without leaving black transport marks.
Specifications
- Pad speed: 1500 RPM
- Pad size: 20 inches
- Motor: 1.5 HP AC twin capacitor
- Handle: floating, designed for compact storage
- Cord: 50 ft grounded, 14 gauge
- Circuit breaker protected
- Wheels: four 5-inch non-marking, stair climber design
- Skirt: epoxy powder coated steel; chassis: cast aluminum
- Construction: all metal
- Warranty: 3 year motor warranty
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a burnisher and a floor buffer?
A buffer runs near 175 RPM and does the wet work: scrubbing, stripping and bonnet cleaning. A burnisher runs at 1500 RPM and dry-polishes an existing finish to a gloss. They are complementary machines, not substitutes.
Is 1500 RPM fast enough for VCT?
For routine maintenance, yes. 1500 RPM is the common standard for weekly spray-buff and restore work. Very hard wet-look finishes sometimes call for 2000 RPM or more, but higher speed also draws more current and can trip breakers in older buildings.
How often should floors be burnished?
Most facilities burnish main traffic lanes weekly and low-traffic areas less often. The right frequency is whatever keeps the finish from dulling enough to need a strip and recoat.
What does a floating handle actually do?
It lets the burnisher head pivot to follow the floor instead of being held rigid by the operator. On uneven floors that keeps the full pad in contact and reduces swirl.
Does this model include dust control?
No. The B-1500-FPN is the version without a dust control system. For occupied or dust-sensitive spaces, the B-1500-CN and B-1500-FCN add a dust control shroud and filter.
Discount Cleaning Products is an authorized Koblenz dealer. Every machine ships new in the factory carton with the full manufacturer warranty, and our US-based team can match pad drivers, pads and replacement parts to the model you own so a routine wear item never turns into downtime.
