Help: New to the PC

T

Toymachine2009

New member
Hey everyone i just got my porter cable today. I was so excited to use it the minute i got it i opened it up and go to work. Earlier today i washed and claybar'd the cars to get them ready to be polished.



What I got in the package was Porter Cable 7424 Mezerna IP and 106ff with lake country orange, white, blue, black 6.5" pads.



So this being my first time ever using this thing i wasnt too impressed with my results so i have a few questions for you guys. First off i tried it out on a 12 year old infiniti Q45 the paint seems very hard so i started on the hood. Started off with IP with an orange pad. I did a square section on the hood that was pretty bad scratched and water spots. All seem like surface imperfections nothing i can feel. I got out maybe a few very tiny tiny scratches but the water spots and the majority of the scratches did not come out. I must have tried 3 times with IP and an orange pad. After i figured ill give the white pad a shot with 106ff. Well not much luck there either. After i was done it was very shiny indeed but still water spots and scratches all over so didnt look good. This Paint on the Q45 is very hard paint so i figure ill try my next car which has very very soft paint



So next i pick a spot that is very swirled on my Black G35. The Spoiler had tons of swirls I go with the same process as i did the Q. I went once over with IP and orange pad then followed with white pad and 106ff. This made me feel better all the swirls came out of the spoiler and it looked brand new. So i go to the hood of the car where there are swirls plus lots of surface scratches. Same process as i did on the wing but like the Q45 swirls came out fine but the surface scratches didnt budge.



My questions are.. Exactly how much product should i put on the pad? How long should i run the porter cable till i wipe away. If you guys have any tips or suggestions why i cant get out these surface scratches or water spots feel free to help me out



Thanks
 
I believe you need to keep going over the area with the IP until it goes clear or dusts. Im still learning myself though.
 
toymachine,



spreed IP on 21/2-3 after two passes side to side, up and down, the polish should be pretty evenly spread. Turn the mach up to 5-51/2. Make several passes, you should know when the polish is done, it will look very thin and become almost transparent.



*remember when working the polish on 5, move the PC very slowly as if an ant were walking on the car. Also try applying some pressure to the PC, as the polish gets thin lighten the pressure. Use overlapping method also. The polish should work for a few minutes(4-6) depending on the size section etc. Put an X on the pad, or three nickle size drops. Remember the more polish the longer you may have to buff. Try to get a feel of how much you are spreading.



Hope this helps, You will get it!
 
For a car that old, those water spots could indeed be acid rain. Very very difficult to remove via PC. Intensive Polish really isn't as intense as the name implies
 
While a PC "can" get out most swirls and such - it takes a yellow pad, some compound and a whole lotta time. Been there - done that ! I moved up to a Makita and just use the PC to apply glazes and waxes now.
 
cheapshot said:
toymachine,



spreed IP on 21/2-3 after two passes side to side, up and down, the polish should be pretty evenly spread. Turn the mach up to 5-51/2. Make several passes, you should know when the polish is done, it will look very thin and become almost transparent.



*remember when working the polish on 5, move the PC very slowly as if an ant were walking on the car. Also try applying some pressure to the PC, as the polish gets thin lighten the pressure. Use overlapping method also. The polish should work for a few minutes(4-6) depending on the size section etc. Put an X on the pad, or three nickle size drops. Remember the more polish the longer you may have to buff. Try to get a feel of how much you are spreading.



Hope this helps, You will get it!
Click to expand...



I disagree. Kick that pc right to speed 6 and don't even worry about anything between 3-5
 
Alright i gave it a shot on a another panel this morning all the swirls came out and the panel looks pretty good for a first timer and all. I used IP with orange pad then 106ff with White pad. Ones question tho with the white pad it vibrated a ton more than with the orange pad on? should it be doing that. My wrist is very sore right now. Well i guess ill give the whole car another shot next weekend when i have more time.
 
pc on speed 6 only for removing defects...anything slower is a waste of time and undesired reuslts...



get some hitemp EC with a smaller 5" or 5.5" pad and throw the speed to 6...let it rip and watch defects removed...
 
Is it just me or is it vibrating too hard Speed 5 is fine. I couldnt hold the porter cable at speed 6 it vibrated to hard. I woke up this morning and my wrist hurts to twist it. Am i doing something wrong
 
I'm pretty new to the PC as well, never have had the amazing corrective results like i've seen on here... (yet), I use poorboys ssr 2 and 2.5, 6inch pads though...may need to step down to a smaller pad. (and more patience and practice)



I know what you mean with the vibrations. . ., PC's pretty much known for that I gather.



I recall when i purchased my PC also buying a different 'counterweight' to work with it. I am using my purchased one, not the one that came stock with PC7424....I feel the vibes but certainly dont wake up sore from use. . .



Good luck!



--jason



Ps My car is white, so hard to see potential swirls, also hard to see polish/sealants 'haze'. Still have fun detailing it though.
 
You'll find better correction with a PC by only using speed 6 and crush the pad. Exert some pressure and move slowly to get any kind of correction that mimics a circular.



I'd "prime" the orange pad with one ring around the outside and use the highest speed setting and work the machine slowly with exerted pressure so it feels like you're compressing the pad almost 3/4. I'd then reapply about a dime's diameter in the middle of the pad each new pass. It may take 3-4 passes on a section to see reduction in the scratches.



Good luck and keep pluggin'
 
Puckman said:
You'll find better correction with a PC by only using speed 6 and crush the pad. Exert some pressure and move slowly to get any kind of correction that mimics a circular.



I'd "prime" the orange pad with one ring around the outside and use the highest speed setting and work the machine slowly with exerted pressure so it feels like you're compressing the pad almost 3/4. I'd then reapply about a dime's diameter in the middle of the pad each new pass. It may take 3-4 passes on a section to see reduction in the scratches.



Good luck and keep pluggin'
Click to expand...



Ill give that a shot ! Thanks
 
Remember not to use too much product, because if you do it will take way longer to break down. As for the water spots, I'm not really sure what you can do, but I've heard mention of acid baths and vinegar and stuff. Maybe somebody else can help you there
 
hold the machine straight...not with your arms cocked at an angle....helps my wrists from aching...oh keep your back straight too...
 
Ok so now with practice its a ton easier to use and handle and i barely even notice the vibration anymore. Quick question though guys.



About the pads after they are used for example white pad with 106ff which is a purple color? Does it matter if it stains the pad. Even after its been washed my white pad has turned purple. Half of the color comes out but right in the center where i put the product on the pad is where its stained. Am i doing something wrong for it to not come off or does it not really matter? I wash my pads by using dawn in a bucket and let it sit for an hour then i put it in just plain water for another hour.



P.S. infiniti has such soft paint its rediculous!! I polished and got all swirls out of this panel. Then wiped the dust with a brand new microfiber tag left on and boom all these scratches appeared from the tag. Dang it is really easy to swirl/scratch this car i am not sure it will last 2-3 washes without getting all swirl'd up again.
 
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