Qucik Porter-Cable Question before I buy... (Already Searched)

Go to Lowe's. Buy the 7336SP. It somes with a white polishing pad. Use it with your 3M SMR. Apply your Zymol. How complicated is that? For $109 you are ready to do what you wanted the PC for in the first place.



Forget about what color different companies use for their pads. Buy polishing pads for polishing, finishing pads for applying wax, cutting pads for removing severe damage. If all you want to do is polish, the pad that comes with the PC will do that.



Whatever brand of pad you buy, just follow their instructions for use & care.



Charles
 
I bought the 7424 from CT with the bonus kit....



There are so many different pads though, and I understand that they have different cutting power, and I would like to know what pad is right for me before I buy all of them.



If the White pad from CMA will work better, then I'll get that. I read the PC pad wasn't too great....
 
adg44 said:
I bought the 7424 from CT with the bonus kit....



I read the PC pad wasn't too great....
Click to expand...



Sorry, but I have no idea what the 7424 from CT with the bunus kit would have in it.



All I know about the PC pad quality is from my own experience, which has been fine. I still use it for Meguiar's #9 2.0 Swirl Remover and have had no problems with results or pad damage.

Since I only do my own cars, it has only been used four times. If it was put to some heavy use, then it might be a totally different story. The velcro Meguiar's system is much more convenient, but changing the screw on pad is no big deal either.



You probably can't go wrong buying pads from any of the vendors listed in 4DSC's article. Like I said before, forget about what color the pad is, just buy it and use it for its designed purpose.

Here again, if you ask the vendor, they can tell you what pad you should purchase for the purpose you have in mind.



Charles
 
Thanks Charles...



The Bonus Kit from CT has a 6" velcro back thingy and a 6" counter weight.



Some people are using the cutting pad with 3M SMR and others are using the polishing pad... In my opinion, there are too many pads to chose from. :)



I just don't want to use a polishing pad which doesn't cut enough and doesn't remove the swirls, when what I needed was a yellow pad.





But on the other hand, I don't want to use something that cuts too much when I didn't need to.



Maybe I'm just being overly paranoid....
 
Just buy a white and yellow pad from CMA.



Then you can use SMR + white pad to see how it does, it it's not cutting enough, flop over to the yellow pad. :) :up
 
But then I will have wasted the white pad so I can't use anything else on it.... or can I wash those pads? I remember reading something that said I shouldn't wash these pads, but I can't remember what pads they were referring to. I think it may have been meguiars.



Oh yeah, and can someone tell me what purpose misting the pad with water serves? CMA says to do that whereas other how to's don't mention anything about misting the pad...
 
Mindflux said:
Just buy a white and yellow pad from CMA.
Click to expand...

CMA pad uses by color:

White pad = Polishing pad

Yellow pad = Cutting pad

Grey pad = Finishing pad



Since I use Meguiar's, I can only comment on their pads and the pad that came with my PC. I don't own a cutting pad and don't see where I am likely to need it. The polishing pads have worked well with Meguiar's #9 2.0 and Klasse AIO. I have used the polishing pad to apply wax or sealant a couple of times and I'm really not sure if there is any benefit.

I have washed all my pads in a Dawn mixture at one time or another. I use a Dawn & water mix about 1" deep and soak the pad for a while then kind of knead it by hand to finish cleaning the pad. I think the main problem with washing is damaging the velcro attachment. I have been told that if it is treated too roughly, it can come loose from the foam.



Charles
 
adg44 said:
But then I will have wasted the white pad so I can't use anything else on it.... or can I wash those pads? I remember reading something that said I shouldn't wash these pads, but I can't remember what pads they were referring to. I think it may have been meguiars.



Oh yeah, and can someone tell me what purpose misting the pad with water serves? CMA says to do that whereas other how to's don't mention anything about misting the pad...
Click to expand...



Using water as a "primer"... A common myth is that using water to dampen a pad makes the product more "gentle". FALSE - it makes it more aggressive. The moisture interferes with the "buffers" in the compound. I use water in a spray bottle with SMR when I need just a little more "bite" than plain-old SMR.

Thank geekysteve for this info.:bow
 
I think the initial misting of the pad helps spread the product on the pad during use, as the product would easily migrate across a damp area as opposed to being mopped up by a dry area. I think it also helps to prevent a dry pad from being worked on your paint, which is a big no no.
 
LOL!



I think I'm gonna order the 7.5" advance pads from CMA unless I should just get the 6.5" ones, as it seems those are the pads that most people use.
 
adg44 said:
But then I will have wasted the white pad so I can't use anything else on it.... or can I wash those pads? I remember reading something that said I shouldn't wash these pads, but I can't remember what pads they were referring to. I think it may have been meguiars.
Click to expand...
I would just wash them really well and re-use the pads for the same type of product, that is abrasives only, waxes only, etc. I mixed pads all the time (when I was hand polishing this summer) and didn't encounter any problems.

CharlesW said:
I think the main problem with washing is damaging the velcro attachment. I have been told that if it is treated too roughly, it can come loose from the foam.



Charles
Click to expand...
Yeah I've already encountered this problem with some cheap finishing pads I have that has velcro going all the way to the edge. I realized that the reason why the velcro was coming away from the foam was because of the uneven pulling forces put on the pad while I was squeezing and kneading it like I would with a hand app. I thought up of a way of cleaning them gently in the sink using a sink mat (to allow water flow) and a dinner plate (to evenly push down the pad). I'd just put the plate over the pad and compress the whole thing evenly. Alternatively, I have a flat bottomed strainer too and thought maybe I could flip the pad over and compress it that way. I haven't had the chance to try these out yet though...





David B once said you should match the pad to the product. For instance, using a polishing pad with a swirl remover and a cutting pad with a fine/medium cut product (something considered more aggressive here I suppose).
 
Wow, this thread is getting crazy.



Here's what I did:

-Ordered the PC from Coastal Tool for $107. Best deal there is, and comes with the velcro backing pad and both 5" and 6" counterweights.

-Ordered the $24.95 package of 3 pads from Meguiar's.

-Also ordered 2 white pads and 1 grey pad from CMA.



The BIGGEST difference between the CMA pads and others is that the CMA pads are CONCAVE, which reduces potential splatter, among other things.

John
 
I was looking forward to using this PC this weekend, and I just got home and it still isn't here yet.... IT was supposed to get in on Thursday - I need to call and see what's going on.
 
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