PC 7424 newbie Q

[03SilverDak]

I was thinking about picking up one of these probably in july (tax stimulus check) how easy is it to use. I have a quad cab dakota and thats a large vehicle to wax. I am worried about burn through and so on. the paint is bright metallic silver and never been compounded or anything. just the ususal clay and wax. I want to do more and get it back to like the truck was when new.

do you have to use the high speeds when polishing and so on? I may go and buy a panel at a junk yard and practice. but that and my baby is 2 different things. I wont care about the used panel and may get great at it. but when it comes to doing it to my truck I know I will get cold feet. as I dont have the money to have repaint jobs done on it.


I know take your time and go slow. I could always do my wifes crappy malibu first and if I screw that up I dont care

I really want my truck to pop again and what I have now just dont cut it now. want to take the plunge but same time kida scared

please help =-)

[Jscort98]

Don't worry about damaging the paint with a pc. The only way your gonna damage the paint is if you drop the pc on it.

Read this how-to, it will explain a lot. The pc will save you a lot of time and make your car pop again.
Polishing Paint to Perfection

[Eliot Ness]

The following thread also has a link to a very good PC guide:

A Guide to Dual Action Polishing : PDF Format

[dublifecrisis]

youtube.com seach and watch. good videos on how to do just about every datiling trick there is. you don't need a junk panel, you just need a clean car, and all the OC, polish, pads, MF towels etc...by the time you finish half the hood, you will feel confident enough.

with the PC-polishing is done at the highest speed.

[Atlantic Euro]

I agree with everyone else here. You have to be trying really hard to hurt something with a PC - since you have a clearcoated paint, you're in really good shape.

There are a number of kits available out there that can get you started. Personally, I use and recommend GlossHaus, but you'll find several veins of loyalty out there for different brands, pretty much all of which have good results.

Dive in and enjoy it!

[KnuckleBuckett]

PCs are really safe.

Also consider a Flex.

[Accumulator]

03SilverDak- Heh heh, it won't be long until you're thinking that "gee..the PC is too gentle, how do I get more aggressive"

No need for practice panels or for worrying. Just get something user-friendly and go to it.

I strongly advocate the use of 1Z brand polishes (sources: Welcome to Exceldetail.com! or Aloha & Welcome to Our Oasis for All Your Auto Detailing, Auto Detailing Supplies, Auto Detailing Equipment, Auto Detailing Products, & Auto Detailing Accessories for all your Automobile Detailing ). I know plenty of people with zero experience who found the 1Z stuff quite easy to use and *I* find it easier to use than anything else I've tried (and that's really saying something )

Regulars here have heard about my pal the lady MBA: she has *zero* interest/experience at this stuff. Her husband borrowed one of my PCs and some 1Z Metallic Polish with Wax to do her Lexus but he never got around to it. So she did it herself with no help, no coaching, no research, just common sense...and it turned out great. She not only thought it was easy, but even sorta *fun*.

[BigAl3]

here are some excellent videos to check out as well...
Car Detailing videos - How to detail, polish and wax your Car

[03SilverDak]

thanks to everyone that posted the guides. I have looked at most and will look at the rest later on. they make me feel alot easier on diving in. thanks to all on here posting and putting up with a noobies questions. will have to wait for the tax check and will place my order for a kit. if I can deciede which kit to get that is lol. my next delima so again thanks to all who posted links on the how to on it and I have been searching you tube on how to videos.

oh yeah can anyone give recomendations on a great starter kits that includes the PC? fathers day is comming up soon and will tell the wife to get me this then I can start

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by 03SilverDak

...can anyone give recomendations on a great starter kits that includes the PC?

Short answer:

-small backing plate for use with 4" pads

-4" pads in light cutting (orange), polishing (green Cyclo brand or white from somebody else), and finishing/light polishing (white Cyclo brand, blue Sonus brand).

-Maybe some larger pads in polishing and/or finishing for gentle work on large areas

-1Z brand Paint Polish (medium polish)

-1Z Metallic Polish with Wax (very, very mild final polish)

-Collinite 845 Insulator Wax