looking to buy a pc starter kit

[funfactor89]

Hello,

Newbie here. I was wanting to buy a good pc starter kit. Could you guys point me in the right direction as far as what pads i need to get started with. Hopefully i can get a kit that has some polish in it also. Budget around $250. Thanks

[dshreter]

I just bought my first PC setup, and it hasn't even arrived in the mail yet. I'm new at this so my opinion is likely worthless!!! BUT, I've done an excessive amount of reading on various forums, and it seems the most popular pads are the lake country CCS pads. I had a tough time deciding between menzerna polishes and optimum polishes, but in the end went with optimum; I felt like I got more bang for the buck.

I purchased:
Porter Cable 7424 & Foam Pad Kit - Car Buffer and
Optimum Detailing Kit:This kit contains the optimum products for swirl removal & paint protection!
which came out to $280, just over your budget.

I'm pretty sure I went overboard, but I wanted a few extra pads around in case I screwed one up or dropped one on concrete or something dumb like I usually do. I also wanted to get everything at once, and figured this had me covered.

There may be something else that is better for your car and its condition, but this was what I decided on for an '06 audi a3

[bjackson8]

Personally, I would not look for a kit, but would buy the pieces individually.

Coastal Tools has the PC for $109. (They are a great online vendor)

1 each large and small backing plates = $30

2 - 6.5" Cutting pads = $20
2 - 6.5" Med polishing pads = $20
2 - 6.5" Finishing pads = $20
2 - 4" Cutting pads = $8
2 - 4" Med polishing pads = $8
2 - 4" Finishing pads = $8

Optimum polish 32oz. = $15
Optimum compount 32oz. = $15

This setup would be in the price range that you are looking at, and give you the benefit of having the smaller 4' pads as well as the normal pads.

[Alan W]

Why buy a PC7424 when the new Ultimate Detailing Machine will be released in a few weeks.

The 'UDM' be available in a kit complete with a selection of pads.

Have a look here for more information: http://autopia.org/forum/ultimate-de...e-project.html

[bjackson8]

Originally Posted by Alan W

Why buy a PC7424 when the new Ultimate Detailing Machine will be released in a few weeks.

The 'UDM' be available in a kit complete with a selection of pads.

Have a look here for more information: http://autopia.org/forum/ultimate-de...e-project.html

If the ultimate detailing machine is as good as advertised, it will certainly be worth the price differnce over the PC. The PC is still a great machine, and I think that most people that own one will still find them very useful.

[Alan W]

Sorry but I wasn't meaning to put the PC down. It's a fabulous machine and has very many satisfied owners. However, the UDM is said to address the various weakness of the PC and, if you don't already own one, why not wait and see what the UDM has to offer.

I'd kick myself sore if I bought a PC tomorrow and find out in a mounths time that the UDM was a superior machine.

[P1et]

The PC is a great machine, you cannot go wrong with it. The Ultimate Detailing Machine (I was wondering if they could have come up with an even longer and unoriginal name...) will probably be better, but you'd have to wait for it.

I personally purchased the Poorboys Kit from AG and have been very happy with it.