noob to detailing, thinking about getting a polisher

J

Jscort98

New member
I just started getting into detailing and I only have some basic products. I don't have any polishers and I think my car has some swirling and cobwebs. What kind of polishers should I get and what machine do you recommend for a person who has never used one? My car is white if that matters.
 
i read in another thread and some guy said that the porter cable was extinct. Any truth to that?

And also, is it really necessary to get a machine or can I get rid of most of the swirls by hand? I just started and I don't want to spend too much money.
 
I'm no expert so use this info as a general guide.

Popular power tools are:

Random orbital - good, better, best = Porter Cable, UDM, Flex. The Festool would probably fit in between the UDM and the Flex.



Rotary - all seem good but require more skill and popular brands are Makita, Hitachi, Dewalt, Metabo. The Dewalt is reported as heavier than most, the Metabo lighter than most.



Those new to detailing often start with a Random Orbital and progress to a rotary as a later step. Random orbital machines make it difficult to damage paint. Not so with an improperly used rotary.



Price wise, a used PC would be the most reasonable and a good starting point. I'm thinking quite a few are thinking about selling their PCs and upgrading to a Flex, so deals are possible.



Others will jump in with tools/brands I've missed.

-John C.
 
Jscort98 said:
as a newcomer would you recommend I do it by hand or just wait to get the machine?
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Depends how long you'd have to wait to get the machine and how badly/urgently your vehicle needs polished.



I'd get the machine, period. If you want to do it by hand get some 1Z brand polish, but I'd get that polish and use it by machine :D It's *VERY* user-friendly and effective, perfect to use as a getting-serious product when you're first staring out (and plenty of experts like it too).



While I like the Cyclo, and I want to support David B., which would mean recomending the UDM....the Flex sure sounds interesting. But a used PC might be a lot of utility for the money. FWIW, a friend's husband got the polisher from Griot's, and he likes it better than the PC *and* the Cyclo.
 
I agree with some have said above, if you look around, you can find some used Porter Cable 7424's (probably for less than $100 shipped) due to the owners wanting to upgrade to the Flex. However, if detailing is something you think you will stick with, you may want to consider going straight for the Flex (will cost you about $265), I wish I did.:(
 
oh thanks for the input guys. What is the difference between the PC 7424 and the PC 7336? I looked and the 7424 seemed cheaper overall.
 
Jscort98 said:
oh thanks for the input guys. What is the difference between the PC 7424 and the PC 7336? I looked and the 7424 seemed cheaper overall.
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I have one of each. They're the same except for the size of the backing plate and the correspondingly sized counteweight. Both are cheap and easily changed.
 
Jscort98 said:
oh thanks for the input guys. What is the difference between the PC 7424 and the PC 7336? I looked and the 7424 seemed cheaper overall.
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Exactly the same machines inside and out, including the same electric motor with the same power. The only difference is the -24 comes with a "5 inch counterweight" to balance 5 inch backing plates/pads and the -36 comes with a "6 inch counterweight" to balance 6 inch backing plates/pads.

The counterweights are replaceable, cheap, and available but many don't even bother to swap them out.

Oops - Accumulator beat me by a few minutes. He's quick!

-John C.
 
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