Porter cable issues, or my method

[HeavenlyV6]

How long do you guys normally spend on the paint, compounding, polishing, sealant..... I have had my porter cable for two years now and I feel that I have a good idea on how to use it to reach maximum results, however, some of my details just do not turn out the way I think they would if I had a rotary. i spent 1 hour yesterday just compounding a Blue Volvo with a yellow pad and PB SSR 3. The swirls were still in the paint and I felt like that hour was a complete waste. What do you guys think my problem is. Suggestions?

 

[Old Pirate]

I spent about 5-6 Min's per 2x2 section when i use a PC with a orange pad. If i was going to use a yellow pad, then i just switch to a rotary with a wool pad. It all depends on the finish i'm dealing with.

 

[JaredPointer]

You won't get perfection on every detail. A PC can only do so much.

Your pad/polish combo sounds awfully aggressive for PC use - even though I have used SSR3 with a PC a few times before, I always had to do a lot of "final" polishing to remove the resulting haze. It's like wetsanding in a bottle.

 

[HeavenlyV6]

I know that was really abrasive, however, there was a ton of swirls that the orange pad and the SSR 2 were not touching. I know not every detail can be perfect, but I have seen some amazing before and afters on this website and I am not any where close to those. I am starting to wonder if I need to go back over my method, or just get a rotary. My trucks paint looks great, but my dad's new black BMW came from the factory(Under light) with some scratches and swirls and I am wanting to take care of those but the PC is just not doing it. Thoughts, could I be rushing, not enough product?

 

[CharlesW]

How long do you guys normally spend on the paint, compounding, polishing, sealant..... I have had my porter cable for two years now and I feel that I have a good idea on how to use it to reach maximum results, however, some of my details just do not turn out the way I think they would if I had a rotary. i spent 1 hour yesterday just compounding a Blue Volvo with a yelloe pad and PB SSR 3. The swirls were still in the paint and I felt like that hour was a complete waste. What do you guys think my problem is. Suggestions?

Your problem is you want a rotary.
And it may be time for you to consider it if you aren't getting the results you want with the PC.
What takes me 20 minutes with a PC takes my friend about 2 minutes with a rotary. That is not much of an exaggeration, either. He calls my PC "My Toy".

SSR 3 is some pretty strong stuff and while I have no idea what your "yellow" pad is intended for, I would guess it is at least a polishing pad. It should do a lot of correction if used properly.
Just some thoughts:
1. Are you using a speed of 5 or 6?
2. SSR 3 can leave some marring of its own, are you seeing the original swirls or some left by the SSR 3?
3. Smaller pads might help, but I have never used any smaller than 6.5". I do have some 5" LC pads, but I have never used them. Supposedly, the smaller pads do a better job of correcting since they work a smaller area. You can get 4" pads.
4. A cutting pad might help, but I have never used a cutting pad with a PC and some people advise against it. Others say it works for them.
5. Work just one area or panel with various pad/product combinations until you are satisfied with the results. Then use that combination on the entire vehicle. For me, that make much better use of my time.
6. Also, I seldom use an aggressive polish anywhere I can get with a less aggressive polish. I do the entire vehicle with whatever combination works for most of it and then just spot polish the areas that need more work with the more aggressive product. I don't have anything more aggressive than SSR 2.5 and Meguiar's #83 and some flaws can take a long time for a PC to correct them.

In answer to your question about time, it does take me about hour, maybe a little longer, to polish our vehicles and they are not usually in very bad shape to start with.

 

[Poorboy]

I know that was really abrasive, however, there was a ton of swirls that the orange pad and the SSR 2 were not touching. I know not every detail can be perfect, but I have seen some amazing before and afters on this website and I am not any where close to those. I am starting to wonder if I need to go back over my method, or just get a rotary. My trucks paint looks great, but my dad's new black BMW came from the factory(Under light) with some scratches and swirls and I am wanting to take care of those but the PC is just not doing it. Thoughts, could I be rushing, not enough product?

The SSR3 and yellow pad is too aggressive for a pc ..you can not generate enough heat to do proper polishing SSR3 with a polishing pad with a pc will get you the most effective results. A rotary is a necessary tool if you are going to look for perfection or close to it, but again it is not the total answer either. While working on Ronhk's black BMW yesterday, there were certain fine scratches that were not even touched by the rotary with polish ... wet sanding would be the next step, but if it's a daily driver and future scratches are inevitable, do you really want to start removing clearcoat? Also don't judge yourself by pictures seen on this site or any other site, pictures are two dimensional and often don't tell the whole truth

 

[HeavenlyV6]

Thanks, Charles. The yellow pad is a cutting pad that I bought off of Autogeek. I am guessing I need a rotary but I also should look at my method more as well. Pretty much every car I do is a daily driver and the people really do not take care of their car like I would. And it bugs me knowing that the paint is not perfect after I am finished with it. There are alot of detailers around the area, so I want to distinguish myself and my work from the rest!!

 

[JaredPointer]

I know not every detail can be perfect, but I have seen some amazing before and afters on this website and I am not any where close to those.

Be very careful of judging your own work via pictures you can see on any detailing forum. Lots of things can be hidden in photos via angles, lighting, photoshop, etc. I can probably take a photo of a beater in one lighting and in shadow and pass it off as a before and after.

One other thing: On a daily driver you'll never have it at 100%, at least in my opinion.

 

[CharlesW]

There are alot of detailers around the area, so I want to distinguish myself and my work from the rest!!

Learn to use the rotary.
Once you have it mastered, you will work faster, easier, better. :bigups
As a hobby detailer, I'm tempted. If I were a professional, no question about it. I would be using a rotary.
My friend has rotaries by Flex, Makita and I think Dewalt. He thinks the Makita would be real easy to master. Light weight, slow speed capability, soft start.
Use the slow speed while learning, be careful and stay away from peaks and ridges, especially while learning. Most areas will take a lot of abuse but the peaks/ridges and edges can get you in trouble almost instantly. Even an experienced user needs to pay attention in those areas.

When you have mastered it, you can laugh at all those of us still using a "Toy "(PC).

 

[RTexasF]

It's no substitute for a rotary or even a Flex but have you ever tried a smaller backing plate & pad(s) on the PC? It makes the machine much more effective in my opinion.

 

[sal329]

What size pads? I really like 4" pads on the PC. You should move the PC approx 1" per second. Left to right then right to left overlappinag about 50%.