Is the PC worth the money?

BradE · 12-03-01, 12:33

I am considering buying a PC from Coastal Tool. I currently have a rotary buffer, but its getting kind of old and I am going to replace it before spring. I have used a friends PC before, but only on a limited basis, so I don't have a real feel for what it can do.

I like rotarys, but they are kind of expensive to replace, and the pads are then are not exactally cheap. So, for all you PC owners out there is it worth the money? Is it really able to tackle tough swirl marks with taking 5 hours to get rid of them?

TIA.

bigboyhf · 12-03-01, 12:37

I love the PC. But if you are experienced at a rotary, which might be considered the "gold standard", then I don't see why you would need a PC also. Unless, you want to do some simple stuff without worrying about burning holes into your paint.....

H

BradE · 12-03-01, 12:39

I hear ya on doing the small stuff. I get sick of draging the damn thing out for little things, that's part of the reason I was considering the PC.

Kev · 12-03-01, 12:47

I love mine and would definatly recommend it. I was able to get almost all of the swirls and scratches out of my dark blue Audi using the PC and 3M SMR ( I forgot to tell the dealer not to wash it last time it was in for service, big time swirls). It also saved a lot of wear and tear on my arms and back.

TBone · 12-03-01, 12:48

Also because of the size of the PC, it is easier to access places on your car/truck that are difficult to get at with your rotary. And...if you keep your vehicle/vehicles in very good to good condition year round, you won`t really be needing heavy duty polishing and or compounding. Maybe once in a while to buff out a nasty scratch or two but thats about it. The PC can do all the rotary can except for the serious paint defects. My .02

TBone

Guess My Name · 12-03-01, 01:28

Heck I dont have one but I want one so buy it SL. DO one of your reviews on it afterwards I would love to read your impressions.

bretfraz · 12-03-01, 01:36

And they've done a pretty good job. But I have a PC on order now and can hardly wait to use it. There are just so many positive remarks about it, but it was David's video and Greg's Ferrari story that convinced me to buy one.

I would love to have a rotary to use as a back up. That's the type of buffer I first learned to use (Black and Decker). I've used Sioux and Webasto (sp?) buffer as well.

But I just don't have a need for a rotary so my plan now is to rent a rotary at Home Depot or wherever, and use the PC for the usual work.

My old orbital's going on the shelf unless I totally hate the PC.

jazzyjack · 12-03-01, 01:48

I bought a PC and found it to be good for very, and I mean very light swirls, and forget about scratch removal. I then bought a Makita rotary buffer and you can read my review of this machine in the "Review" section.

If you couple a new rotary with Meguiar's "Softbuff" pads at 6.5 inches you'll be set to even do small things.

Please do yourself a favor and read the review. Get a PC for applying wax, or polish. But for surface repair (even the light stuff) stick with the rotary.

SJ · 12-03-01, 01:48

Showroom,

I would say that the PC is worth the money. I would also say this...I bought my PC from Coastal as well. I am happy with it.

However, I also say that the foam white pads which come with the Coastal PC are not really what you want for serious detailing.(I know, I have used them several times). The orignial PC pads produce a nice shine, but I am planning to order the Classic Motoring PC pad kit with the velcro pads.

I became tired of changing with the wrench...not to mention that the pads which come with the PC cannot be washed with much soap at all. I washed my first pad in mildly warm water and a little bit of dawn. I must have used too much Dawn because when I put the pad on the PC to "spin" it dry on 4, the pad broke, and I lost half of it. I have read on the forum that soap breaks down the "permanent" glue which bonds the pad to the backing plate. My remedy, go with CMA and the velcro kit, with pads you CAN wash.

I would say order from Coastal, and order the motoring pads...you might save a few bucks. Otherwise just order from Classic, and you get the pads and velcro with the unit from day one.

Have fun...I find the PC to work very well, and produce a great shine with very little effort.

SJ

BradE · 12-03-01, 01:54

Thanks for all the responses so far, keep'um comming.

Jazzy,

I did read your review about the Makita 9227c. That is one of the rotarys I am considering. I like the idea of a 600RPM starting point instead of 1000. It seems to be more of a "safe" rotary. It was a very good review, and I am keeping it in mind.

maxshine · 12-03-01, 02:01

I just ordered a PC 7424 from Coastal. For $115 plus $6 shipping - that's hard to beat. Since my car is new I'm not planning on needing to 'repair' much for a little while. So I've ordered some 'Ulimate Bonnets' from Meguirer's that will fit over the standard pad. For now I just plan to remove residues to save some time - and my shoulders. Later on I'll get the CMA kit.

Good Luck

bigboyhf · 12-03-01, 02:08

Could you just give us an overview of the pads and products you use with the rotary? I know there are some other sites that have some info, but not really the specific pads and products and order of application to get the best results. Like if you have some scratches that you can feel with your fingernail, or some heavy swirls etc. Do you start with wool and work your way down to less agressive pads and abrasives like with the PC? Also, how did you learn the technique for the rotary? Practice on an old hood or something??? The horror stories scare me a bit, but I would definitely like to have the power of a rotary for some heavier paint problems......

H