You cannot burn through the paint with a random orbital buffer. Random orbital buffers spin in an oscillating circular motion, and also vibrate. If you apply pressure on the machine while you are buffing, it stops spinning, and just vibrates.

If you're not experienced in removing scratches, you probably will not be able to remove them with a random orbital buffer because they do not do a lot of work. You would need a direct drive buffer, which is easy to burn through paint.

I'd take your husband's car to the local car wash / detailing shop, and pay them $80 to buff the car and the remove the scratches.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".