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buddy01

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I am looking at getting into detailing and I always heard from people the porter cable is the machine to use and autogeek is the place to learn. Because of that I will be purchasing my porter cable really soon with all necessary pads for it.

I will be using this on a 2002 dodge ram 1500. I have only washed this car and never performed any waxes or anything. I am not sure if the old owner did or anything but I am going to go with a no. This truck does have some key marks and 3 real good marks that a plow scratched. I will be getting that fixed though soon and hoping the same person will do the touch up spots everywhere else. I have a question though with the scratches/dent. The guy said he may have to use bondo to fix, but I heard bondo isn't the greatest, is this true?

Now my truck is silver, and I have always seen how great waxing/polishing and all makes black cars look, but never seen any silver cars like that. Is it possible to make a silver car/truck pop with that shine? Anyone have pics?

Since I am a full noobie to waxing/clay bar/ polish/ etc what would be the proper brands to use and pads? I am hoping to read up on how to claybar/wax/polish the truck properly. Any other input is great, I am a noob and don't know nothing in this type world!
 
buddy01 said:
I am looking at getting into detailing and I always heard from people the porter cable is the machine to use and autogeek is the place to learn. Because of that I will be purchasing my porter cable really soon with all necessary pads for it.
Click to expand...

Porter Cable introduced the first of this style dual action polisher. The Porter Cable 7424xp is the 2nd generation in it's like and is more powerful that the first generation and is more ergonomic..

buddy01 said:
I will be using this on a 2002 dodge ram 1500. I have only washed this car and never performed any waxes or anything. I am not sure if the old owner did or anything but I am going to go with a no. This truck does have some key marks and 3 real good marks that a plow scratched. I will be getting that fixed though soon and hoping the same person will do the touch up spots everywhere else. I have a question though with the scratches/dent. The guy said he may have to use bondo to fix, but I heard bondo isn't the greatest, is this true?
Click to expand...


Bondo or body filler is very common in order to make repairs and as long as it's not put on too thick it's an acceptable method of repair..


buddy01 said:
Now my truck is silver, and I have always seen how great waxing/polishing and all makes black cars look, but never seen any silver cars like that. Is it possible to make a silver car/truck pop with that shine? Anyone have pics?
Click to expand...

Sure do!

Detailing011.jpg


Detailing010.jpg


Detailing002.jpg


Detailing009.jpg


buddy01 said:
Since I am a full noobie to waxing/clay bar/ polish/ etc what would be the proper brands to use and pads? I am hoping to read up on how to claybar/wax/polish the truck properly. Any other input is great, I am a noob and don't know nothing in this type world!
Click to expand...

Basic steps in order are:

  • Wash
  • Clay
  • Paint Correction & Polish
  • Seal
  • Wax
Claying by Mike Phillips




The Porter Cable 7424xp

Here's some great information by Mike Phillips that will help you.


Product recommendations


 
A little more information on the Porter Cable 7424 dual action polisher...

There are two classes of dual action polishers discussed here, the Flex 3401 and the Porter Cable style.

Flex 3401

The Flex is in a class of its own and while it's considered by many to the the best dual action polisher on the market it's built like a tank and is somewhat pricey.

Porter Cable style

These are probably more the type your looking for but make no mistake, these are quality machines capable of correcting some of the most stubborn finish defects.

  • Porter Cable
  • Griot's
  • Meguiar's
Porter Cable wrote the book on these polishers long before the other two were even through of.

The first generation Porter Cable 7424 was available to customers 12 years prior to Meguiar's announcing they were entering the market with them offering their G110 polisher in 2006. I'm not sure when Griot's began offering their polisher...

The Porter Cable 7424 basically set the standard which made many if the features between the 3 interchangeable.

To the best of my knowledge Porter Cable is the only company listed above that designs and manufactures their power tools. Griot's and Meguiar's are not in the power tool manufacturing business therefore contract their orders and my guess to the lowest bidder. But this probably also applies to Porter Cable now that everyone's left the US to manufacture abroad...

Griot's has the most powerful motor among the three. The Porter Cable 7424xp is the second generation polisher which outsells the others combined.

Meguiar's falls into the same realm as Griot's in regard to manufacturing power tools.

Pad Size

The Porter Cable style polishes are right at home with a 5" backing plate and using 5 1/2" foam pads, not the 6 1/2 diameter pads typically offered.
 
Thanks for the response! I meant to say the porter cable 7424xp, sorry.

I didn't know if bondo would be bad or not I heard people telling me bondo is not good to use yadda yadda.

Now like I said I'm gonna have the shop hopefully do the touch up key marks too, hoping to get this done soon. Since I live in a winter area I am trying to get all my knowledge during the winter time so I can start this detailing right in spring!

I bet the truck has some swirls, when do I do that process? After clay bar?

Edit: I see you list some brands and see you have both wax and a spray wax, do I do both or either or? If either or do you recommend one over the other? Second, the glass cleaner, is that safe for tint?
 
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