littlejohn
New member
I know the makita is quite a bit more expensive, so assuming you get what you pay for, the makita is a "better" unit.
But is it worth twice as much as the PC??
But is it worth twice as much as the PC??
Makita BO6040 vs PC 7424
- Thread starter littlejohn
- Start date
imported_Axe
New member
Well, it does more than the PC in that it allows orbital polishing mode, as well as dual action mode, so you are not really comparing apples with apples. Looks like a good hybrid though.
littlejohn
New member
yeah this I understand..
but as a newbie to machine detailing, is it worth the extra $$ to go for the makita?
I'm thinking as I get more experience, I may end up needing a rotary polisher as well, so this may be a better route to start with.
Inaddition to this, the PC has a bigger throw, which makes it better for detailing.. right?
but as a newbie to machine detailing, is it worth the extra $$ to go for the makita?
I'm thinking as I get more experience, I may end up needing a rotary polisher as well, so this may be a better route to start with.
Inaddition to this, the PC has a bigger throw, which makes it better for detailing.. right?
J.J.
DEEP & WET
Edit: I misread the question.... apologies
littlejohn, I used it last week for the first time...a fellow Autopian lent it to me to try. I had it for several months in the box without trying it because I was unsure how it would work, and I didn't want to use a customers car as a guinea pig.
Well, I ended up using a customers car as a guinea pig! A '63 T-bird with rock-hard oxidised original metallic paint! My PC wasn't cutting it (literally). So I broke out the Mak. It worked very well in 'forced rotation' mode. It rotated like a rotary, but kept it's random orbit as well...no swirls or burning paint (probably equivalent to 900 rpm on a rotary). It had much more cut than the PC on this paint and eventually returned some shine to the finish. I used 1Z Extra (sand-in-a-can) and it left no marring and restored gloss. (Don't try this on regular paint...this paint was like polishing granite, and thus, was an exception).
I loved it...and hated it.
I loved it because it was harmless to use, yet returned almost rotary results. I hated it because it was top heavy and very tiring. It's also noisy (gearbox noise), requiring ear muffs.
I was totally wasted by the end of the day. I went back to my PC and it felt like a feather...although the Mak is only one pound heavier, it's weight is concentrated at the head, where-as, the PC is wonderfully balanced. It was like carressing a puppy after being mawled by a rottweiller.
In RO mode it was far weaker than the PC...no comparison.
In conclusion, my take is this:
One cannot compare the Mak BO6040 to a PC...they're too different. You'd buy one for it's 'forced rotation' mode, not its RO mode. In RO mode, it's great for applying paint cleaners/glazes/LSPs. One wouldn't use it to remove defects. You'd go to 'forced rotation' for that, and it *really* works! It leaves the PC behind in it's speed and gloss creation. It really is half-way to a rotary.
So, you must decide if you want to go half-way to rotary results with PC safety, or all the way to rotary and use the PC when you want safety.
Me...I'm undecided. If it was as comfortable a PC I'd say "YES, the PC can't touch it". But it's soooo not comfortable.
I haven't used a rotary so I can't compare it's ease of use to that of the BO6040. If a rotary is as tiring as the BO6040, I'd probably say "buy it!"
But I don't know~! :nixweiss
Well, I ended up using a customers car as a guinea pig! A '63 T-bird with rock-hard oxidised original metallic paint! My PC wasn't cutting it (literally). So I broke out the Mak. It worked very well in 'forced rotation' mode. It rotated like a rotary, but kept it's random orbit as well...no swirls or burning paint (probably equivalent to 900 rpm on a rotary). It had much more cut than the PC on this paint and eventually returned some shine to the finish. I used 1Z Extra (sand-in-a-can) and it left no marring and restored gloss. (Don't try this on regular paint...this paint was like polishing granite, and thus, was an exception).
I loved it...and hated it.
I loved it because it was harmless to use, yet returned almost rotary results. I hated it because it was top heavy and very tiring. It's also noisy (gearbox noise), requiring ear muffs.
I was totally wasted by the end of the day. I went back to my PC and it felt like a feather...although the Mak is only one pound heavier, it's weight is concentrated at the head, where-as, the PC is wonderfully balanced. It was like carressing a puppy after being mawled by a rottweiller.
In RO mode it was far weaker than the PC...no comparison.
In conclusion, my take is this:
One cannot compare the Mak BO6040 to a PC...they're too different. You'd buy one for it's 'forced rotation' mode, not its RO mode. In RO mode, it's great for applying paint cleaners/glazes/LSPs. One wouldn't use it to remove defects. You'd go to 'forced rotation' for that, and it *really* works! It leaves the PC behind in it's speed and gloss creation. It really is half-way to a rotary.
So, you must decide if you want to go half-way to rotary results with PC safety, or all the way to rotary and use the PC when you want safety.
Me...I'm undecided. If it was as comfortable a PC I'd say "YES, the PC can't touch it". But it's soooo not comfortable.
I haven't used a rotary so I can't compare it's ease of use to that of the BO6040. If a rotary is as tiring as the BO6040, I'd probably say "buy it!"
But I don't know~! :nixweiss
Bill D
Hooked For Life
It sounds even closer but still "safer" than a rotary than a Cyclo.
Bill D said:
I'm not sure what you mean...sorry.
Just to clarify about its safety. I can imagine on soft paint the BO6040 can do some damage. But at *top* speed with an aggressive polish it made the *hard* paint quite warm/hot moving at slow (PC) arm speeds. On soft paint I could see it cutting quickly.
So, to someone who's not careful and aggressive, it isn't harmless. At lower machine speeds and moderate arm speed I feel it's very safe, compared to a rotary.
I guess you had a bad example there. My Makita if anything is quieter and makes less vibration than the PC - though its been a while since I used it in forced rotation mode so maybe its noisy there.
It does seem heavier I agree but as for damage, I have cut through paint with an aggressive polish by hand so ANY machine including the PC can do so (and I have). I should point out that in both cases its where the paint defects required repainting anyway, but anyone who thinks that you can't damage paint with a PC is just wrong. Keep to low cut polishes and you are fine with either machine.
It does seem heavier I agree but as for damage, I have cut through paint with an aggressive polish by hand so ANY machine including the PC can do so (and I have). I should point out that in both cases its where the paint defects required repainting anyway, but anyone who thinks that you can't damage paint with a PC is just wrong. Keep to low cut polishes and you are fine with either machine.
butchdave said:
The loudness was evident in 'forced rotation'. I didn't use it in RO much, but it did display less vibration than a PC. That's because it has a shorter pad throw than a PC...that's also why it won't cut as well as a PC in RO mode. Its always a two-edged sword. :think:
I applaud it's results...but it was still very hard work on *this* job. The matt oxidised paint made the pad grip and tried to rip me around with it. :buffing:
ultrajim49
New member
I'm a BO6040 user and I wrote something about it
http://autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16906&highlight=bo6040
Now , a few years later I 've demonstrated the machine to several people and they are all surprised what the thing can do.
I cannot compare to the PC7424 , but for us European the Makita is the way to go.
With either one, you can't go wrong.
Christiaan
http://autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16906&highlight=bo6040
Now , a few years later I 've demonstrated the machine to several people and they are all surprised what the thing can do.
I cannot compare to the PC7424 , but for us European the Makita is the way to go.
With either one, you can't go wrong.
Christiaan
Lowejackson
New member
Christiaan, I have not seen you around in some time, welcome back :xyxthumbs
ultrajim49
New member
Lowejackson said:
OT on: Still alive and kicking
OT off :wavey
Christiaan
Paddington
New member
To bad they dont make a 220v version of the PC.
Maybe if all of us nag on them they will?
Maybe if all of us nag on them they will?
gregory kina
New member
I bought the BO6040 a few months ago. I’ve used it on several details so far and I just love it! I used to have a Makita 9227 rotary, but sold it because I wasn’t feeling comfortable using it. After reading a lot about the PC I decided that the PC would be a better tool for me. The only problem was that I live in The Netherlands and that de PC is not available over here. I could have ordered it from the US but than I would also need a converter to use it with our 220V net.
After looking at the alternatives I decided to buy the BO6040. I have no regrets whatsoever, it a great machine. For finishes that are in good shape I use the DA mode. For more cutting action I switch to forced rotation. I feel much more comfortable with this machine than I did with the rotary. The results are also very good. I can get rid of pretty heavy swirls without inducing holograms to the finish.
The machine is quite heavy, but I don’t really have a problem with that. No problems with noise here either.
Here are some pics of a black car I detailed using the BO6040
After looking at the alternatives I decided to buy the BO6040. I have no regrets whatsoever, it a great machine. For finishes that are in good shape I use the DA mode. For more cutting action I switch to forced rotation. I feel much more comfortable with this machine than I did with the rotary. The results are also very good. I can get rid of pretty heavy swirls without inducing holograms to the finish.
The machine is quite heavy, but I don’t really have a problem with that. No problems with noise here either.
Here are some pics of a black car I detailed using the BO6040