Really Need Help With Choosing Pads!

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Torguy

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Hi Guys, so I have the Porter Cable 7424XP, and I have am having a really tough time knowing which pad to get and if its compatible and what not.

Please have a look at the following 2 links I posted below, one is the Backing Plate, and the other is a Compounding Pad.

Firstly, I want to know if the Backing Plate is compatible with the Compounding Pad, and secondly, if its actually compatible with the Porter Cable 7424XP.

I understand if I not mistaken it attaches via Velcro, but this is what I want to also confirm before making any purchases.

http://www.amazon.ca/Astro-Pneumatic-Tool-4606-Backing/dp/B003CH577Y

http://www.amazon.ca/3M-05711-Wool-...m_auto_10?ie=UTF8&refRID=0FESRXK819ER4KA6QKH9



I really appreciate any feedback you folks and provide...Cheers!
 
I have used the pc7424 with 5'' and 6' backing paltes. I would highly recommend getting the 5" instead of the 6" you posted.
The 5" works much nicer for correcting with the pc.
I preferred micrfofiber pads for cutting, but others like the finishing ability of a foam pad.
The backing plate you posted would work, but I didn't see a size indicator for the wool pad you selected.
I recommend a 5" velcro bp and using 5.5" pads.
 
expdetailing said:
I have used the pc7424 with 5'' and 6' backing paltes. I would highly recommend getting the 5" instead of the 6" you posted.
The 5" works much nicer for correcting with the pc.
I preferred micrfofiber pads for cutting, but others like the finishing ability of a foam pad.
The backing plate you posted would work, but I didn't see a size indicator for the wool pad you selected.
I recommend a 5" velcro bp and using 5.5" pads.
Click to expand...



Thanks for the reply! The Wool buffing pad is 9 inches, I know its obviously bigger than the backing plate, but can I still use it with the 6 inch backing plate?
 
The 6" Backing plate IMO is too big for the PC 7424 XP. I have a PC and the power of the machine will probably not work as well. Get the 5" Backing Plate and 5" or 5.5" Pads. It works best with the 5" backing plate. You will work much harder and be less effective with the 6" backing plate.

As for pads I prefer any foam pads from Lake Country. Orange, White and Red Pads
 
Kamakaz1961 said:
The 6" Backing plate IMO is too big for the PC 7424 XP. I have a PC and the power of the machine will probably not work as well. Get the 5" Backing Plate and 5" or 5.5" Pads. It works best with the 5" backing plate. You will work much harder and be less effective with the 6" backing plate.

As for pads I prefer any foam pads from Lake Country. Orange, White and Red Pads
Click to expand...


I will probably do that, but generally speaking, can you use a 9inch pad with a 5 or 6 inch backing plate?


And is there a difference between Hook n Loop and Velcro?

Thanks!
 
"Velcro" is a specific brand name. Hook and loop is a generic description used by other manufacturers. Same thing as a "Kleenex" vs a tissue.
 
Torguy said:
I will probably do that, but generally speaking, can you use a 9inch pad with a 5 or 6 inch backing plate?


And is there a difference between Hook n Loop and Velcro?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

No! Don't waste your time with a 9" pad on a PC. Like others have stated get a 5" BP and stick to 5.5" pads. Foam pads can handle almost everything you will normally run into. I if you do need more correction there are options like the Carpro flash pads, MF cutting discs, and a few wool options. If this is your first use of a DA I wouldn't push the envelope stick to foam and maybe a couple MF.

That said I would order at least 10 pads. 4 heavy/medium cutting pads, 4 polishing pads, and 2 finishing pads.
 
Torguy said:
Hey guys thanks a lot for the tips! So I ended up taking your advice and getting the following in the links below, please tell me what you think.

eShine Canada: Lake Country 5" Flexible Backing Plate (DA)


eShine Canada: Lake Country 5.5" CCS Yellow Cutting Pad


I plan to use these with the Megiars Ultimate Compound.
Click to expand...

Much better than the huge wool pad!

Typically what most people start with is Lake Country's CCS line of pads in the 5.5" size. Three Orange compounding pads, Three White polishing pads, and a couple Grey finishing/waxing pads.

Ultimate Compound is a great product, especially if you new to the game. It's very effective, and easy to use.
 
If you want to maximise your PC, then a 5" BP with some Lake country 5.5" Hydrotechs is a good place to start.

With a DA the smaller the pad, the better the cut - opposite to a rotary - and so if you can afford to, you should also look at a 3" (or is it 3.5") BP with some 4" pads for the tighter areas.

For the Hydrotechs get yourself some Cyan for compounding, Tangerine for Polishing and Crimson for final polishing/glaze/LSP type work.
 
If you get Mike Phillip's The Art of Detailing, you will find all the info you need to choose the right pad for the right job and the right product...It was extremely helpful to me..:
 
surfn8r said:
If you get Mike Phillip's The Art of Detailing, you will find all the info you need to choose the right pad for the right job and the right product...It was extremely helpful to me..:
Click to expand...

I agree that this will help, but as Mike has said in his videos there are no standards on the colors and types of pads and it makes things really confusing. Seeing them on a video or in a picture is a lot different than holding them and trying them on a buffer.

I have personally wasted hundreds of dollars on different pads not knowing which ones to buy. It almost seems like a racket the way this is being handled. I have a cabinet full of pads that I will probably never use.

Right now the consensus of opinions seem to favor the LC Hybrid pads. I don't know why because I haven't purchased any yet. One advantage of the Hydro-Tech pads are there are only three colors to choose from, blue cutting, orange polishing, and red finishing. But to be honest I think I got better results using CCS pads on my last car.

It would really be nice for me if the pad manufacturers would at least try to standardize some kind of system to make this a little less confusing. I haven't helped you at all but one thing I would recommend is don't waste as much money as I have trying to figure out which pads to buy. Get some more opinions from the other guys on this site and good luck.
 
Check out the new thin pads from Meguiars that Mike just posted pictures of. I am ordering some of these as soon as they are available.

I don't think we will be disappointed. Hope they come out soon.
 
What others said - on the PC, use pads no bigger than 5.5". My very first mistake was getting the AG kit that was offered with the PC back then. They were 6.5" pads, this was years ago, probably not offered anymore due to the conflicting but correct advice on this forum.

I spent a whole day polishing my vehicle with those pads. The results looked great until the panels were viewed under bright halogen lights and then the nasty swirls became visible. A few months later, I tried again with 5.5" and 4" pads without varying my technique or product. The results were outstanding!
 
Still being somewhat new to corrections and using my PCXP . I think it is way worth your money and time to have both 4 " and 5" backing plates . Even 3" . But if I had to only choose one it would be 4" . That would be because Lake Country 4" pads are not tapered so you can cut in close around emblems ,taillights etc.. really nice . I think it was already mentioned but being smaller they do spin better .I cant imagine a 6.5" pad let alone 9" on a pcxp .. I also tend to have way more pads that I need . I'm not so good about cleaning them on the fly , they are not cheap but also not all the expensive , I rather have to many on hand then not enough and have to order them and wait ? days for more .

This is from an hobbyist point of view though ,I'm sure the Pro's can do allot more with allot less . I'd add one more thing if this is your first time .You may want to have a couple different name brands of polish on hand to choose from ..Or even several within a given brands line . You may find you'll have better luck with one then another and again , having to order stuff online and wait for it can be a bummer bringing your otherwise simple and fun project to a screeching halt turning it into a bad experience . Hope this helps some......
 
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