1st one is a random orbital and the second is a circular (rotarty) polisher. Normally the spindel is "5/8's, on this it is "1/2, you may have a tough time finding backing plates. Random orbitals occilate or jiggle so there is no real pattern which makes it safe because it's not in one spot long enough, a rotarty move in circles and is measure in how many rotations per minute (RPM)