Polishing Brake Rotors

C

Chuckmotor

New member
I'm a smidgen close to buying a PC, but I need to get a few things clarified first. I have seen the 7335 for much cheaper than the 7424, so if I purchase the 7335, would I need to change to the 6" counterweight? Or would all I need to do is get some pads and stick one of those 6" velcro backing things into it?



If I buy this, am I forgetting something?

PC 7335

6" velcro backing plate

Pads pads pads



Do I need a 6 inch counterweight? What if I get the 7336?
 
Chuck: If you buy the 7335 you're probably going to want to buy the 6" conversion kit (i.e. counter-weight) if you're going to use the 6" backing plate. Check out the following explanation: http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/port/skinny.htm?L+coastest+yzkd7616ffc94ec9+1010435655
As far as cost is concerned, you should be able to pick up the 7336SP from your local Lowes (which includes the polishing pad of th 7424) for $109. Plus they'll price match. I got the 7336 from Lowes, got the pad kit from CMA and fired it up this weekend. Great results. Good luck.
 
BigCat,



Can I buy the 6" counterweight at Lowes or any other hardware store? The only place I have seen them is coastaltool.com. The counter weights are 1.95, however, Coastal charges 6.95 for shipping!



I wanted to see if Home Depot, Lowes etc carry the counterweight before I order it.



SJ
 
The difference between the 7335 & 7336 is 1 inch. The 7335 is a 5" unit and the 7336 is a 6" unit. Buy the 7336 if you're going to be using 6" pads and backing plate. Make sure that you use the proper sized counterweight.



Porter-Cable also makes a sanding unit and a polishing unit for each of the 733X machines. When you buy the polishing unit, it should come with a (non-velcro backed) pad and a foam pad. The Sanding other version comes with a dust collection ring...useful if you're a woodworker.
 
I've had a 7424 since this summer, and love it. But I still have the "stock" counterweight and was going to get the 6" one form coastal , but like SJ said, they charge 3 times as much for shipping than what the product costs. If anyone knows another place to buy where you don't get raped on shipping I'd most appreciate it:D I also got the pad set from cma, and love that as well
 
What's wrong with the "stock" counterweight of the 7424? Isn't that what you want for car detailing with a 6" velcro backing plate or am I wrong? This is the question I am wondering: what is the proper counterweight to use for car detailing with the 6" velcro backing plate?
 
Hi Chuck,



I had the same question and called Porter Cable, they said 5 inch plate #5 weight and 6 inch plate #6 weight.
 
The boys are correct, a 5" counterweight for the 5" pad and a 6" for the 6" pad. Again, you can get them at the Porter Cable service centers throughout the country. You can find them on line. If I remember, the counterweights are about $1.50 a piece. Enjoy!
 
Wait!

The whole point is that there is no reason to buy the 7424 polisher (which comes with the 5" counter-weight) when you can buy the 7336 sander (which comes with the 6" counter-weight) for less money! Remember, the 7424, 7335 and 7336 are all identical (same body, motor, ect) except that the 7424 and 7335 have the 5" counter-weight.

If you go to Lowes you can get the 7336SP which is the regular 7336 sander plus you get the polishing pad from the 7242 ("s" for sanding, "p" for polishing?). Since all of the pads I've read about and used are designed for the 6" velcro backing plate and that plate requires the 6" counterweight, it really, really makes no sense to get the 7424 unless you've seen a better price than I have. If you don't have a Loewes nearby, order the sander from Wal-Mart.com. They have what I'm now pretty sure is the 7335 for $98. Factor in shipping, plus the cost of the counter-weight and may end up ahead.
 
Wait!

The whole point is that there is no reason to buy the 7424 polisher (which comes with the 5" counter-weight) when you can buy the 7336 sander (which comes with the 6" counter-weight) for less money! Remember, the 7424, 7335 and 7336 are all identical (same body, motor, ect) except that the 7424 and 7335 have the 5" counter-weight. The 7335 and 7336 do not come with the dust collection system. The 97335 and 97336 are kits that come with the sander, the dust collection system and a few other things.

If you go to Lowes you can get the 7336SP which is the regular 7336 sander plus the polishing pad from the 7242 thrown in as a bonus ("s" for sanding, "p" for polishing?). Since all of the pads I've read about and used are designed for the 6" velcro backing plate and that plate requires the 6" counterweight, it really, really makes no sense to get the 7424 unless you've seen a better price than I have. If you don't have a Loewes nearby, order the sander from Wal-Mart.com. They have what I'm now pretty sure is the 7335 for $98. Factor in shipping, plus the cost of the counter-weight and may end up ahead.

I got the 7336 from Lowes and the CMA kit. Works like a dream.
 
You know what is FUNNY about this. I got a price from Lowes on the 7424 which they don't carry and it is $153.00. Lowes cost is $122.00, the guy slipped and told me by mistake. LOL,LOL,LOL. While the 7336 is sitting there for $109 with the counter weight you need. I didn't tell the guy they are the same machine, he had no clue. I think Porter Cable is charging more money for the 7424. Cause they market it as a polisher.
 
BigCat,

So let me see if I understand this correctly. The 7424 comes with a 5" counterweight which normally shouldn't be used with the 6" velcro pad, but for detailing it is OK because we are just using light attachments like foam?

However, the 7336 is much cheaper, uses the proper 6" counterweight which are <em class='bbc'>normally[/i] required when using 6" attachments, and is identical to the 7424 in every other regard?

Is the 7336sp the same price as the 7336?

Thanks!
 
I think you've got it. The two are the same except for the counter-weght. I don't know if everybody selling the 7336 is selling the 7336SP. I do know that Lowes, which has the best price ($109 or less) is selling the SP. That's where I bought. It really isn't that surprising that Lowes would have the 7336SP for less than the 7424. For them the 7336 may be a "loss leader" designed to bring a broader range of folks into their stores.
 
I got a quote on the 7424 from Home Depo $143.00 and Lowes $152.00. Makes no sence when Lowes sells the 7336 for $109
 
I think you've got it. The two are the same except for the counter-weght. I don't know if everybody selling the 7336 is selling the 7336SP. I do know that Lowes, which has the best price ($109 or less) is selling the SP. That's where I bought. It really isn't that surprising that Lowes would have the 7336SP for less than the 7424. For them the 7336 may be a "loss leader" designed to bring a broader range of folks into their stores.
 
Why does the 7424 come with a 5" counterweight? Doesn't it come with a 6" polishing pad?? That's still confusing me!!!!!! If the 5" counterweight is ok to use with their provided polishing pad, is the 5" counterweight ok to use with a velcro backing plate?

The reason I ask is this: I have seen the 7335 (5" weight) for cheaper than the 7336 (6" counterweight). If I can save $15 AND if the 5" counterweight is ok to use with a 6" velcro backing plate (just like the provided 6" polishing pad with the 7424), then by all means I'll get that. But if I have to have the 6" counterweight for the velcro backing plate, then I'll spend a couple bucks more and avoid having to have it mailed to me for a counterweight. I'm cheap.
 
I called CMA and spoke to Jack, he said they sell the 7424 with the 5 weight and 6 plate.They have had no problems. But if you get into the higher speeds it may vibrate a bit. To be safe, 5 weight 5 plate, 6 weight 6 plate,simple.
 
Chuck, don't be confused. The pad that comes with the 7424 and the 7336SP kit is indeed a 6" pad. However that pad attaches directly to the machine. It does not have a separate backing plate. Its "built in backing plate" if you want to call it that is made of lightweight plastic. Thus, according to PC it can be used with either counter-weight. If you are going to buy a velcro backing plate (like the one in the CMA kit) then you probably want the 6" counterweight. These backing plates are pretty heavy. So balance at higher speeds is an issue.



In any case, the point is this, why buy the 7424 when you can buy the 7336SP for less. Let the big store marketing strategies work for you.
 
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