I Polished My Car With A PC - Which One Did I Use?

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GearHead_1 said:
It might be different for someone who is approaching this world as a beginner.
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Bingo! The lingo is great for people that read forums all the time, assuming that someone with a Porter Cable 7428 ROTARY doesn't start saying "I used my PC" and screwing everything up that thinks PC only refers to one product made by Porter Cable.

It's the new folks that may be confused.
 
This is the reason why a lot of people post the numbers as well as PC..i.e. PC 7424 or PC 7336. These are the same machine except for the counter weight is a different weight. The PC7424 has a smaller counter weight than the PC7336.

That is why the forum is here to answer questions. The acronym list would have helped to be able to tell the difference for the dual action polisher. D.A. or ROB or DAPC. There are a lot of different names. Adding one more can not hurt.
 
cwcad said:
This is the reason why a lot of people post the numbers as well as PC..i.e. PC 7424 or PC 7336. These are the same machine except for the counter weight is a different weight. The PC7424 has a smaller counter weight than the PC7336.

That is why the forum is here to answer questions. The acronym list would have helped to be able to tell the difference for the dual action polisher. D.A. or ROB or DAPC. There are a lot of different names. Adding one more can not hurt.
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This post was most helpful and will definately answer questions when people are looking for the answers.
 
Blinded said:
Bingo! The lingo is great for people that read forums all the time, assuming that someone with a Porter Cable 7428 ROTARY doesn't start saying "I used my PC" and screwing everything up that thinks PC only refers to one product made by Porter Cable.

It's the new folks that may be confused.
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I'm going to try to be as kind as I can be, but I also have to be frankly honest. To me, new folks who don't have the ability to look up the lingo, or read a few threads for clarification, are just being lazy. If one bothers to read for a while and do some searches, they'd be able to pick up the lingo rather quickly.

Granted, a dedicated acronym list would be helpful, but even without it I don't see how it's that difficult to figure them out through some reading. :howdy
 
I agree that new folks should read up and learn as much as possible but my whole point is just that there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of products in Porter Cable's lineup and calling one of them a PC can and has confused people.

All I'm saying is that people should either include the part number like "PC 7424" or "PC 7336" when talking about DA machines and "PC 7428" when talking about the PC rotary or else use the DA acronym if referring to a Porter Cable dual-action polisher.

I'm sure that being specific is quite doable for Detail City members. Alot of smart people here.
 
There's no doubt you're fighting a loosing battle Blinded. 99.9 percent of people think of the Porter Cable 7424 or 7336 when they see 'PC'.
I think I've just discovered who the 00.1% is, not that there's anything wrong with that.
-John C.
 
Blinded said:
I agree that new folks should read up and learn as much as possible but my whole point is just that there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of products in Porter Cable's lineup and calling one of them a PC can and has confused people.
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I understand that, but who is going to read that and say, "Ooh, he polished his paint with a biscuit planer!" It's kinda common sense which machines are feasible for use on automotive paint, and unless you hear "RPM" being referred to, you can safely assume it was the DA in most cases.

All I'm saying is that people should either include the part number like "PC 7424" or "PC 7336" when talking about DA machines and "PC 7428" when talking about the PC rotary or else use the DA acronym if referring to a Porter Cable dual-action polisher.

I'm sure that being specific is quite doable for Detail City members. Alot of smart people here.
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Frankly, you can't just come into a site and tell people they should change a habit and standard acronym term that has been in place for YEARS on MULTIPLE detailing sites. So again, I'd say that reading, and common sense, are very important here. That is, reading to discover the definition of the term, and common sense to dictate that whenever you see "PC" without a number specified, they mean the DA machine. Usually a specification is only made when it ISN'T the DA being referred to.

And also, I'm hoping you've realized this by now but the PC7335, 7336SP, and 7424 are totally interchangeable, because aside from the factory accessories included with each, they're all the exact same machine. This is another fairly common mistake that new members make; constantly asking "which one is the best?" and insisting that the machines are totally different. Again, some reading helps to solve this misconception. In fact, some of us refer to our "PCs" when they aren't exactly a PC. My polisher is a Meguiar's G-100A. If I didn't specify that the G100A is actually a re-labeled Porter Cable 7335, most would again think it a totally different machine.

So really, "PC" is a catch-all phrase that, unless otherwise specified, denotes a DA polisher.... and it's a term that has been in use for many years by a large number of us on a large number of detailing sites. One person complaining isn't going to break that habit, I can guarantee. :howdy
 
JohnZ3MC said:
I think I've just discovered who the 00.1% is, not that there's anything wrong with that.
-John C.
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This isn't about me. I was asking questions in an effort to show where others may and have gotten confused. I am not confused, read my first post in this thread, I was here to create a thread that INFORMED.
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
I understand that, but who is going to read that and say, "Ooh, he polished his paint with a biscuit planer!" It's kinda common sense which machines are feasible for use on automotive paint, and unless you hear "RPM" being referred to, you can safely assume it was the DA in most cases.
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I don't agree. We can never let newbies "safely assume" anything when it comes to using power tools on paint. I've read posts right here on Detail City where members ASSUMED something and then damaged their paint because of that assumption.

Although YOU may be a pro detailer and know what YOU are talking about does not mean that lurkers and new members here know what you are talking about.

Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Frankly, you can't just come into a site and tell people they should change a habit and standard acronym term that has been in place for YEARS on MULTIPLE detailing sites. So again, I'd say that reading, and common sense, are very important here. That is, reading to discover the definition of the term, and common sense to dictate that whenever you see "PC" without a number specified, they mean the DA machine. Usually a specification is only made when it ISN'T the DA being referred to.

And also, I'm hoping you've realized this by now but the PC7335, 7336SP, and 7424 are totally interchangeable, because aside from the factory accessories included with each, they're all the exact same machine. This is another fairly common mistake that new members make; constantly asking "which one is the best?" and insisting that the machines are totally different. Again, some reading helps to solve this misconception. In fact, some of us refer to our "PCs" when they aren't exactly a PC. My polisher is a Meguiar's G-100A. If I didn't specify that the G100A is actually a re-labeled Porter Cable 7335, most would again think it a totally different machine.

So really, "PC" is a catch-all phrase that, unless otherwise specified, denotes a DA polisher.... and it's a term that has been in use for many years by a large number of us on a large number of detailing sites. One person complaining isn't going to break that habit, I can guarantee. :howdy
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I'm not just coming in here and telling people what to do. I've been here a while and I'm just bringing attention to something that is well accepted by the status quo that can confuse people that are new to this and trying to gather information. This thread is here for those people. It's not about me so you don't need to educate me on the difference between the said machines. This thread is here to educate the ones that don't know.

I would agree that reading is important, common sense always helps but common knowledge is not a given and cannot be assumed. There has to be a reliable source of information that isn't conflicting. When you put hundreds and thousands of people all online putting in their two cents, it doesn't always make sense. You know what I mean?

Like I said before, and this is for members and lurkers that may be confused by all the different numbers. The acronym DA (dual-action as in dual-action polisher) would accurately describe the machines that Shiny is talking about here:

Shiny Lil Detlr said:
And also, I'm hoping you've realized this by now but the PC7335, 7336SP, and 7424 are totally interchangeable, because aside from the factory accessories included with each, they're all the exact same machine. This is another fairly common mistake that new members make; constantly asking "which one is the best?" and insisting that the machines are totally different. Again, some reading helps to solve this misconception. In fact, some of us refer to our "PCs" when they aren't exactly a PC. My polisher is a Meguiar's G-100A. If I didn't specify that the G100A is actually a re-labeled Porter Cable 7335, most would again think it a totally different machine.
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You see Shiny, posts like this one of yours are helpful to people and that's why I started this thread.

Travis
 
First I just want to say that this thread seems to be on the road to becoming heated. So, let's all just take a breath.

I completely sympathize with your statement that using the acronym "PC" can be confusing to newbies. I think we were all newbs at one point and confused by the acronym. However, "PC" has become a standard term in the detailing world. Just like in any other pursuits there is a lingo to learn and "PC" is part of that lingo. Asking detailing people to use a term other than PC is like visiting China and stating the Chinese should speak English because there are people in the world who don't speak Chinese. Discovering what PC means is simply part of the learning process for a newb. It's just like learning the difference between a polish and a wax.

This is exactly why DC is here. For newbs to ask questions, search, and learn. PC is a standardized term in the industry and learning what it means is just as important in becoming a detailer as learning what pads and polishes to use with it.
 
Mikeyc said:
First I just want to say that this thread seems to be on the road to becoming heated. So, let's all just take a breath.

I completely sympathize with your statement that using the acronym "PC" can be confusing to newbies. I think we were all newbs at one point and confused by the acronym. However, "PC" has become a standard term in the detailing world. Just like in any other pursuits there is a lingo to learn and "PC" is part of that lingo. Asking detailing people to use a term other than PC is like visiting China and stating the Chinese should speak English because there are people in the world who don't speak Chinese. Discovering what PC means is simply part of the learning process for a newb. It's just like learning the difference between a polish and a wax.

This is exactly why DC is here. For newbs to ask questions, search, and learn. PC is a standardized term in the industry and learning what it means is just as important in becoming a detailer as learning what pads and polishes to use with it.
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Thanks for the post. I'm typing with a smile on my face and everyone seams to be on their best behaviour.

Actually, PC isn't a standard term in the professional detailing world outside of a few forums such as Autopia, Detail City and a few others. Most folks thnk of "politically correct" or "personal computer" when they here PC. Out in the body shop and pro detailing world, DA is the term that is most commonly used to describe a dual-action machine.

In the real world, brands don't matter as much as what "type" of polisher is being used. Especially if a particular body shop might have a DA polisher and a rotary, both made by PC (Porter Cable).
 
Blinded said:
Actually, PC isn't a standard term in the professional detailing world outside of a few forums such as Autopia, Detail City and a few others. Most folks thnk of "politically correct" or "personal computer" when they here PC. Out in the body shop and pro detailing world, DA is the term that is most commonly used to describe a dual-action machine.
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Well, I don't make it a habit to hang out in body shops or at detailing shops, but what I can tell you is that there are a number of DC members who detail cars as their sole means of income. They all use the term "PC" to represent the Porter Cable 7424 or 7336. I have not heard any members who are professional detailers use "PC" to speak of political correctness. This is extremely consistent across the internet. The term "PC" is used in this manner in every internet forum discussing detailing. This is true whether you are on Autopia, Detail City, other detailing websites, or an owner's club website. The term has become part of the vernacular and is ubiquitous.
Blinded said:
In the real world, brands don't matter as much as what "type" of polisher is being used. Especially if a particular body shop might have a DA polisher and a rotary, both made by PC (Porter Cable).
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I beg to differ. In the real world the brand of DA you are using matters quite a bit. The PC is arguably the most popular DA and it's not because they give them away for free. The PC is almost a cottage industry within itself. There are more pads, backing plates, and other accessories designed for use with the PC than any other DA polisher. This combined with the design of the machine itself makes the PC the most versatile DA polisher available and therefore the most popular. Basically what I'm saying is the PC is not just any old DA polisher so in the real world the brand you're speaking of does matter.
 
Of course I agree that it is a very popular machine.

All I'm saying is that there is a Porter Cable 7428 that is not a dual action polisher that is every bit a "PC" too. If I buy a Porter Cable Air Compressor, it is also a "PC".
 
Blinded said:
Of course I agree that it is a very popular machine.

All I'm saying is that there is a Porter Cable 7428 that is not a dual action polisher that is every bit a "PC" too. If I buy a Porter Cable Air Compressor, it is also a "PC".
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And, as I said earlier, readers can quickly pick up on the fact that when a "PC" is referred to on a detailing website, it means a DA polisher (unless otherwise specified). This is no different than referring to Microfiber towels as "MFs." On a detailing site, you just know this to mean "MicroFiber," as opposed to "Mother F****r" like it could be interpreted as in other contexts.

Just curious, would you make the same argument about folks saying "I polished my car with my Makita" or "I polished my car with my DeWalt"?? In both cases, again the manufacturers make several tools of various sorts. On a detailing website, however, the automatic association is that a Makita 9227C or DeWalt DW849 rotary polisher was used. If someone is referring to a Porter Cable rotary, they'd usually say "My PC 7428" or something of that sort to denote a difference.

I guess my point is that there are certain standards that have been adopted and accepted over a long period of time on the internet when it comes to discussions about detailing and bodywork. I'm sure we aren't the only dicipline with our own "internal lingo" on the internet; and just like every other dicipline with such a unique set of acronyms, it may take a bit of time to get used to the association, but it IS possible to figure out.
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Just curious, would you make the same argument about folks saying "I polished my car with my Makita" or "I polished my car with my DeWalt"??
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ABSOLUTELY! Why should we be left to assume or guess which Makita or which Dewalt tool was used? How hard is it to be specific so that the reader will not have to assume or guess?
 
We're on lap three of the post circle

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Again I completely understand your issue with the PC acronym. However, learning all the acronyms used in detailing discussion (at least on the internet) is just part of the learning process. Acronyms are used ad nauseum on these forums. It's just part of the jargon.
 
Blinded said:
ABSOLUTELY! Why should we be left to assume or guess which Makita or which Dewalt tool was used? How hard is it to be specific so that the reader will not have to assume or guess?
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Oh come on now.... I've said it before, I'll say it again: Common Sense!! You're on a detailing board. I don't think we're talking about a sawzall here. To not pick up on that you'd have to be either a complete idiot, or one of the laziest people alive. In which case I doubt you'd even be on this site since you'd rather pay one of us to do your detailing for you, and wouldn't understand the importance of using a buffer.

At this point it would appear you're just being ridiculous for the sake of having something to complain about. :boot
 
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