Does a Porter Cable improve results or just take less time?

T

TonyTahoe

New member
I think this is a question that there might be some differing opinions on. I am not too uptight about how long it takes to do the AIO/SG/Blitz shuffle. But would a PC improve my results or just get me out of the driveway quicker?
 
This brings up a very good question. I have been thinking about getting a Porter Cable, but have resisted the switch. What are some thoughts on PC compared to good old elbow grease?



Is the PC the best one to get, or are there others? Just wondering, as I have just recently AIO, SG, Blitz (the works), and it took me two days. I wondered if I could speed this process along (not that I want to rush).
 
This brings up a very good question. I have been thinking about getting a Porter Cable, but have resisted the switch. What are some thoughts on PC compared to good old elbow grease?



Is the PC the best one to get, or are there others? Just wondering, as I have just recently AIO, SG, Blitz (the works), and it took me two days. I wondered if I could speed this process along (not that I want to rush).



Are there places that have PC's at reasonable prices (Griot's Garage sells them for $200, plus, they have kits that put the entire cost at almost $300; that is a bit steep).
 
You can find them for about $115 (do a google.com search on porter cable AND 7424) I think that's the model # - (mental blocking seems to be currently engaged :))
 
It is $110 at coastaltool.com. I don't know if they have all the accessories though. I have seen some at CMA but I don't know which pads are used for what... If I do get one, I think that it would definitely help with any kind of polishing and swirl mark tasks. As for applying and removing Klasse or Zaino or high end wax, I am not sure it will be any easier or yield better results, but I am open to suggestions from those who have used it!



H
 
MarylandBimmr,



Griot's Garage is overpriced on a lot of items. You can get a PC much cheaper than $200. If you shop around you can find them for $110-$120.
 
I knew it! He says that his stuff is the best (which I am not disputing), but man he charges an arm and a leg. I think that he has got the advertising portion down (it is asthetically pleasing to the eye). Don't be fooled, you are paying for that fancy catalog somewhere (probably from all of thos Porter Cable machines).
 
An orbital buffer is primarily a time saver. There is little more that an orbital can do that you can't do by hand. Any enthusiest can use one safely.



A direct drive, or hi -speed polisher is a different aninal. In the hands of the "experienced" they can work wonders on a paint job due to superior cutting abilities. It is also much easier to create a disaster with these if one doesn't have the proper skills.
 
With PC, everything is faster for me. I am less fatigued than doing it by hand. I did 4 applications or 3M Finesse It II with a yellow cutting pad (CMA's), followed by one coat of AIO by white polishing pad (CMA's), then followed up with 5 coats o Klasse SG. I would say I finished witht he 3M and AIO in 2-3 hours. Then around 5 hours for the 5 coats of Klasse Sg, let it dry a littler longer, around 35-45 minutes.

www.coastaltool.com has them for cheap, got mine for like $115 shipped. Has the machine, one white polishing pad (I use this for my shower walls), tool to tighten the backing plate, instructions, and a surprise.........ok a bag of popcorn.

www.properautocare.com (CMA) has the DM-KIT for like $60. I have this also and use all the pads, cutting for 3M, polishing for AIO, and gray for SG (same as using hand, but I sometimes do it for kicks)

Jason
 
Yes, unless your like a ironman, in which you will have the endurance to produce a uniform coat over and over again like the PC.



The PC as Brad says saves time and IMHO makes good finishes better.



A rotary or hi-speed buffer will really get good work done on a neglected finish.



So it depends on the cars you work with, good cars get a PC to make them great, neglected cars, rotary to bring that back from the dead.
 
Jason,



You mentioned the different colored pads, yellow for cutting as with SMR or Finesse IT, White for polish as with Paintwork Cleansing Lotion or AIO, and I think gray for toppers such as wax or SG.



I am slightly confused though, do you use these pads for just application of these products or both application AND removal? If you use if for both, do you need to have 2 pads of each color??



H
 
Colors of different pads vary from maker to maker.



CMA's pads are colored like how I describe because they are the ones I use.



The pads only apply product. I remove by hand. I keep one product per pad, and do not mix any.



Jason
 
I like Griots Garage and use one or two of their products, but i really dont care for their marketing sceme, which is to re-bottle other products under his name and make it sound like he hand crafted it himself. He also tries to scare you away from other companies...for instance, the claim about the backing plate is a good example. I use CMA's backing plate and it works great with no "excesive heat build up." Griots has some good stuff to offer, some of it is at good prices, other things are not, but dont fall for their marketing. As for the PC, a time saver that will get you better results than hand or low-speed orbitals like the Waxmasters....just dont expect rotary results. -Bradford H
 
Personally, I have never used a dual head orbital© I hear they are great for swirls and an "idiot proof" tool© I believe PC makes one© I know Cylco makes one that a local detalier raves about© He mentioned that he had "this machine"© As it turned out it was the Cyclo dual head orbital© Supposedly does a great shop on carpets with the attachment©



Anyone using a dual head orbital? Which one? Is there any advantage to the PC 7424?
 
My recent Griot's catalog has PC pads that you can put a claybar into the middle of it and clay your brains out! Its not online - i'll have to photo it.
 
Griots clay bar pad for PC equals :down



If one piece of dirt gets lodged in that clay, gosh, I don't want to clean that mess up.



I think it was a april fools joke.



Had a long thread on it way back in April.



Jason
 
i use the PC7424 daily. the reason it is better than by hand is because you will always get a uniform coat on the paint. no way can you get a uniform coat by hand over th entire car. besides that i can get a coat of cleaner, polish, or wax(all liquid products) on the entire car in about 10-15 minutes. once that's done i can go back and take it off by hand(my preferred method of removal) in the same amount of time it took to put it on. it definitely works better than by hand when applying cleaners or polishes.:up
 
Okay then, its going on the wish list. Anyone want to call the "Boss" and tell her why I desparately need this? Figure it will cost me a new pair of women's shoes! :D:D Geez, then I'd be spending over $200 total!
 
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