Is the Porter Cable 7424 fool proof? :)

A

audiguy69

New member
Hi,



I think it is time for me to get a PC 7424...



I will just be using with waxes, sealants, glazes - not polishing products as I am afraid I would ruin the car if I were to start polishing - I will let someone who knows what they are doing do that, lol.



My question is - is there ANY way I can ruin the paint with the PC 7424?



Swirls?



:nixweiss
 
pologuy said:
Hi,



I think it is time for me to get a PC 7424...



I will just be using with waxes, sealants, glazes - not polishing products as I am afraid I would ruin the car if I were to start polishing - I will let someone who knows what they are doing do that, lol.



My question is - is there ANY way I can ruin the paint with the PC 7424?



Swirls?



:nixweiss
Click to expand...



could you cause damage, sure you can. is it highly likable, no. the PC is one of the most user friendly tools there are, and with practice you can achieve some excellent results with the right pad and product combo (the technology with products these days is mind blowing). btw - get the new pc7424xp as it's got more power than the original 7424...
 
You REALLY have to be trying to ruin your paint to do it with a pc.

I tried it once with a 4" yellow pad and some compound on a test panel.

It eventually burned through, but I had to work that spot for a good while

to do it.

In my opinion, no, it's not COMPLETELY "foolproof", but you're not a complete fool either, are you?
 
If you are just doing waxes, sealants and glazes just save your money and buy a $10 buffer from your local hardware. Honestly it'll be all you ever need for that type of work.
 
The only real way to damage paint with a PC is to stand back and physically throw the unit at the vehicle. Other than that, you should be good. As has been said, it's possible, but you'd have to really try.
 
I bought one. I am a fool & went hard at my new 09 Ridgeline. Even using meguires UC & an orange pad taking out some small scratches I couldn,t mess it up. The only time you really need the pc is for correction as I find applying aio/sealent & waxes better to do by hand.
 
There have been some highly respected Autopians (highly skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable) that have caused damage with a PC.



*Nothing* is idiot proof; every time they make something idiot proof, someone builds a better idiot.
 
As danase said, if you really aren't going to be doing any correction than don't waste your money. Just get any orbital, like one of those "waxmasters". The pc isn't going to apply a wax any better than one of those.
 
SuperBee364 said:
There have been some highly respected Autopians (highly skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable) that have caused damage with a PC.
Click to expand...





Indeed. Like that guy who wrinkled his paint...



But overall, Id say that its a very safe machine. Im a fool/idiot and I have had no issues.
 
SuperBee364 said:
There have been some highly respected Autopians (highly skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable) that have caused damage with a PC.



*Nothing* is idiot proof; every time they make something idiot proof, someone builds a better idiot.
Click to expand...



LMAO!



My new sig! :funnypost
 
pologuy- I've damaged paint with a PC four times that I can think of. A pal of mine (a MIA member here) who was using one of my PCs damaged paint once. BUT....those are the only instances that I have personal experience with over decades of polishing and three of the cases where I did it were highly unusual situations that nobody normal is likely to encounter. In the fourth situation I was being *VERY* aggressive, about as much so as you can get with a PC; you won't be doing anything like that.



I've given plenty of people (including my then-elderly father) a cursory five minute tutorial and then turned them loose on their cars with a PC/Cyclo. None of these people ever had a problem. Never.



Weird situations do come up. Weird [stuff] happens and it can always happen to you. But such things are highly unlikely and as long as you don't *really* have a room temperature IQ you oughta do fine.



It's very easy to gradually ramp up your aggressiveness as you see fit, and IMO you really *will* see fit to do that after you use the PC a few times. Before you know it, you'll want to know how to make it *more* aggressive, you just wait and see ;)



Get the XP model now or you'll want to upgrade in a few months.
 
If this hasn't been said, the key to keeping it safe is big pads. Almost impossible to get in trouble with a 6.5" pad. Seems to me most of the reported "oops" moments are with 4" yellow or orange pads. I know I baked a patch of KAIO onto the side of my friend Jr's car with an orange pad at dusk on a winter evening (paint was cold) trying to get some parking garage water spots off with a 4" orange pad and almost gave myself a heart attack (thought I had burned through).
 
I think a lot of damages come from the backing plate as well. If you use a plate where it's edge is right at the edge of the pad you have a high risk of hitting the backing plate on paint or trim.
 
Check Sears or one of the auto parts stores...even Harbor Freight.

They always have some type of orbital buffer for cheap.

I think Sears has kits for something like $30.
 
I agree that nothing is fool proof. However, the PC is pretty forgiving.



But, re: the PC investment or not.......why not buy the PC, since it can do all the fuctions, including wax/AOI/sealant applications vs. say $30-50 for a one use machine? PCs are available for ~ $115 delivered (then again, you need pads & backing plates.....but you can buy them as you need them).



See ya. :wavey
 
pologuy said:
Well, if I am just going to be using it for glazes, sealants, waxes, etc...



What would be a GOOD alternative?



:confused:



:buffing:
Click to expand...



seriously... get a PC, it will be one of the best investments you'll ever make...
 
NOTHING is fool proof. I made a mistake with my PC..first time I used it. I burnt thru the paint on the side mirror on my truck. I think the paint was a little thin there to begin with, since it was a repaint. And that taught me a lesson. Plastic heats up fast. AND NOTHING is foolproof. As I have heard, When you think you have invented something foolproof, along comes a better fool. LOL

But the PC is still a good investment for you. You can't find anything cheaper that will do a good job, nor be as versatile. If you are wanting to wax and glaze, use the lowest speeds. Later, when you want to do some correction, you can crank it up.
 
FWIW, I'd probably lean towards a Cyclo for waxing/etc. Pricey compared to a PC but I enjoy using it a lot. A PC is the minimum I'd consider, wouldn't take anything less as a gift.



Eh..this thread is starting to head in a direction I can't relate to- "what's a cheap tool that'll fufill minimal requirements." I just don't go for buying [crap] with the idea that "it'll be good enough because I won't ask much of it".
 
One thing nobody mentioned about the $10-$30 cheapo buffers is pad selection. Most of the pads/bonnets sold with these are total junk and might make things even worse.



Get a PC, use mild polishes and be careful (especially around plastic).
 
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