Backing Plate

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azacura

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Hello everyone,

I will be purchasing the PC 7424 polisher along with all the necessary equipment & supplies detail my cars & family (maybe) from start to finish. And by start to finish I mean brush/clean wheels & tires, wash, clay,and interior. Anyway I'm leaning toward the Lake Country pads my question what size backing plate should I buy the 5" or 6"? This will be my first time detailing my cars by machine.

Thanks,

AZ.
 
Whichever DA Machine you choose to buy, Porter Cable or Griots Garage, definitely at least get the 5" Backing Plate.

The Lake Country 5" Yellow Plate works fine, but Griots Garage now also makes a 5" Ventilated Plate and it is sold here. The additional venting may help a bit keep a pad cooler in operation. The Griots Plate does fit the Porter Cable DA.

It's also not a bad idea to have other Backing Plates for these machines. Such as the Lake Country Plate which might be called 3.5", or 3-7/8" which will permit the use of 4" Pads. The smaller Pad size does come in handy working certain tighter areas.

I believe the GG6 does come with a 6" Backing Plate, but the Porter Cable 7424XP comes with a 6-1/2" Plate-Pad Combo in which the Pad is permanently bonded/glued to the Plate. This Plate/Pad Combo can be used as a wax application or removal accessory with the appropriate sized slip on Microfiber Bonnets if one wishes. (also sold here)
 
The debate of Porter Cable 7424XP versus Griots Garage GG6 and which is better has many countless opinions.

Yes, Griots Garage's machines come with a lifetime warrantee, best in the business. And you won't have to beat them over the head for replacement unless you're burning one up a month using such in hard professional use. The Griots is made in China, the Porter Cable is made in Mexico.

Some say the Porter Cable is a better built machine, but not quite as powerful as the GG6. My first machine was the 7424XP, and it works fine still have it, you can stall either machine in use because both are free spinning, not forced rotation such as the Flex 3401.

But either free spinning machines are much more forgiving as well. The Flex 3401 is a machine one can get in trouble with if they don't know what they are doing, somewhat mimicking a rotary polisher with forced rotation.
 
Thank you for your quick reply. So me being new to machine detailing, you don't think I'll have an issue with the Griots?
 
Thank you for your reply's. I had already had my mind set on the PC but now I guess I'll have to look into the Griots. So you don't think I'll have an issues with the Griots, know that I've never used an electric polisher?
 
No, you can basically put the machines in your hand and not burn up your hand. They are very user friendly and have an easy learning curve.
 
azacura said:
Thank you for your reply's. I had already had my mind set on the PC but now I guess I'll have to look into the Griots. So you don't think I'll have an issues with the Griots, know that I've never used an electric polisher?
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I'll try to answer both later questions of yours with one reply so you have some better understanding of both machines which you may not be aware of.

Although I own a PC7424XP and never had any trouble with it, my #1 major dislike is a Rotary Speed Select Dial which has 1/2 speed increments, meaning 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5 but no 1/2 increment speed between speed 5 and 6. Why they did this was stupid IMO, because sometimes speed 5 seems inadequate, and speed 6 seems to be going a bit overboard and just too much.

Although I never used the GG6, speed 5 on this machine is probably quite adequate for all correction tasks.

As for warrantee repair or replacement, which I believe Griots Garage probably doesn't monkey around with repair, they just ship you a brand spankin new machine, keep in mind that in probably any case and with any manufacturer, you will ship the machine back to them once you get an RMA# on "your dime". They will then ship you the new machine on theirs.

The latest iteration of the GG6 is probably their best to date. Nice looking machine.

I also have the baby 3" Griots, and more recently did buy the Griots GG15 Boss. The Boss is a very nice looking machine but haven't used it yet to further comment on its abilities.

I'd say as I close, with either machine you'll get great use from either. Tough to ignore the Griots warrantee though, they got you covered if it's 5-6 years or more down the road. If a new machine supercedes the one you have, they send you the latest offering.
 
I mostly read this forum and can honestly say that I wish I would have read threads like this before I bought my PC. While its a good machine (the Porter Cable) and I can accomplish pretty much all tasks I take on, I wish I would have bought the GG6 instead. Ive now used both machines and can say that the the GG6 has more power without question. That and the warranty is hard to overlook. If I may, I would also suggest that you consider the Lake Country thin pads. Its impressive what you are able to accomplish with a thinner pad on a smaller machine like the PC/GG6. Ive used both 5" and 6" pads and it is a much more pleasant experience using 5" pads. 6" pads are IMO, too big for a smaller machine like these. The GG backing plate is worth the extra money in keeping pads cooler which will in turn make them last longer. Anything that makes pads last longer is a no brainer for me. I would also suggest the smaller pads (3" or 4") and backing plate as a compliment to your machine and 5" pads/plate combo. Well worth the investment in plate/pads and the first time you use the smaller pads you will wonder how anyone does without them.

Best of luck in your decision
 
Another thing to keep in mind is the amount of correction needed.

If you have a darker color car with soft paint and find yourself having to correct quite a bit, go with the Griots machine.

If you have a lighter color or metallic with medium to hard paint, then the PC will work well for you.
 
Thank you PaulMys for your feedback. I do own nothing but black cars. My 2007 Sequoia is in pretty bad shape. It has severe water spots, swirl marks and scratches.
 
azacura said:
Thank you PaulMys for your feedback. I do own nothing but black cars. My 2007 Sequoia is in pretty bad shape. It has severe water spots, swirl marks and scratches.
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NP, bud. Go with the GG6. It'll make your experience much more enjoyable and way less frustrating.
 
btw, you can use the BOSS Pads & Creams with the GG6 and all of the other Griot's Polishers (G21/G15/GG3, etc.) as well...

 
I suggested privately to the OP that the Lake Country ThinPro Pads would be a good place to start with either the PC or Griots Machines.
(As Mike Phillips says, "Thin is In!")

I suggested that for everyday run of the mill correction processes, the white pads will be one basic good one to have on hand, and that dependent upon the aggressiveness of the polishes used, one can achieve varying degrees of correction as required-needed.

This is of course a learned, "hands on" trick-technique that one learns in time, and learns quickly with doing the proverbial "test spots".

Mike P has basically taught us underlings that once you find the right combination of Pads, Polishes, and technique on a given test panel, to then repeat the same processes on the rest of the vehicle. In essence this is correct, but there are of course the variables, where the hood, or trunk is beat to hell, the fenders-doors-etc slightly less, so you have to adjust and compensate accordingly.

The major theme and guideline with any detail, and any vehicle is to use the least aggressive methods and products to get the job done to satisfaction.

In other words in layman's terms, start with a very mild ultra fine finishing polish first. See what results that brings you. If not satisfying, one may then either repeat a polishing process again, or then perhaps resort to a slightly more aggressive product and try again till satisfied.
 
I, just as many 1000's of others here have put in some good homework. I myself have probably read 25,000 posts here, heck, maybe more?!

Was my time invested worth it? Sure was!

Keep in mind that for any proper correction processes to take place, many other things should occur and be done beforehand.

Such as of course the decontamination of Washing, Iron Removers which are usually needed even if the vehicle is brand spanking new, Claying, Washing, Masking, good lighting, many good MF Towels on hand for all the processes.

One that has been accomplished, then, and only then will a good experienced detailer place machine to paint.
 
Definitely go with the 5" plate.

I've used both the GG6 and the PC, and prefer the PC.

1. Better fit and finish. Feels great in the hands.
2. Smaller spindle shroud. This facilitates 3" plate/pad systems if you decide to go that route.

I usually use Green, blue, and red Buff and Shine foam pads, and Lake Country Hydrotech on with them. I also use the microfiber offerings from both companies too.

More recently I've been putting the Meguiar's thin foam discs to work. Not really a fan of the thin discs, but I love the foams.

My favorite? The Lake Country Hydrotech.

Whatever you do, try and keep that pads matched up to the plates. They're usually designed to be compatible.
 
dlc95 said:
Definitely go with the 5" plate.

I've used both the GG6 and the PC, and prefer the PC.

1. Better fit and finish. Feels great in the hands.
2. Smaller spindle shroud. This facilitates 3" plate/pad systems if you decide to go that route.

I usually use Green, blue, and red Buff and Shine foam pads, and Lake Country Hydrotech on with them. I also use the microfiber offerings from both companies too.

More recently I've been putting the Meguiar's thin foam discs to work. Not really a fan of the thin discs, but I love the foams.

My favorite? The Lake Country Hydrotech.

Whatever you do, try and keep that pads matched up to the plates. They're usually designed to be compatible.
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Your comments put a smile on my face, because reading between the lines I can gather you "walked the walk", with your written opinions to come to these liked personal choices of yours. And to realize that so many of us "old timers here" have done the same.

That this vast wealth of shared information here has many-most of us on quite similar pages of the understanding of the good basis of guidlines of paint correction and car detailing.

Makes me also realize that you, I, and countless others here have probably spent not only multiple hundreds of dollars, but multiple thousands on our hobby. That in retrospect and in hindsight looking back, we most likely never could've realized that we'd all wind up at this highly complex point, amassing such great knowledge and as well that many of us grew such a vast array of tools and products to have on hand in our arsenals.

And that surely, the majority of us have absolutely no regrets with where we've gone and are going. That our loves for this hobby and its addiction and reward always continue to grow.

I hope some of my words and thoughts have not "scared" any newcomers, but gives such people starting out hope and light that this hobby is an enjoyable and rewarding one. The personal pride and accomplishment to say "Hey, I done this, look at how nice my work is, and how fantastic the results are that I have gotten!"
 
You can switch the plates back and forth but beware a lot of people like the 5 in plate but if use 5-inch pads it takes a lot longer to do the car. I get at least a 5.5 pads.

The 5-inch pads are good too for smaller panels.
 
MarkD51 said:
Your comments put a smile on my face, because reading between the lines I can gather you "walked the walk", with your written opinions to come to these liked personal choices of yours. And to realize that so many of us "old timers here" have done the same.

That this vast wealth of shared information here has many-most of us on quite similar pages of the understanding of the good basis of guidlines of paint correction and car detailing.

Makes me also realize that you, I, and countless others here have probably spent not only multiple hundreds of dollars, but multiple thousands on our hobby. That in retrospect and in hindsight looking back, we most likely never could've realized that we'd all wind up at this highly complex point, amassing such great knowledge and as well that many of us grew such a vast array of tools and products to have on hand in our arsenals.

And that surely, the majority of us have absolutely no regrets with where we've gone and are going. That our loves for this hobby and its addiction and reward always continue to grow.

I hope some of my words and thoughts have not "scared" any newcomers, but gives such people starting out hope and light that this hobby is an enjoyable and rewarding one. The personal pride and accomplishment to say "Hey, I done this, look at how nice my work is, and how fantastic the results are that I have gotten!"
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Thank you!

I had written a paragraph where I use the PC to make money - mostly in the spring/summer/fall months. That I used the GG6 alongside the PC in a production environment in my friend's shop. We cut certain cars with a rotary/wool combo, and finished with Menz 2500 on either the PC, or GG6. Some cars I used the Meguiar's d/a microfiber correction system using either tool. The GG6 is obviously not a bad tool, I just prefer the PC. That GG6 was his 12th unit in three years. He went through twelve of them. While the lifetime warranty is nice, he's still down a tool. Yes he has backups as do I, but twelve times is a lot to be messing around with mailing out, etc.

The third point I forgot to list in my original post, is that I like supporting the actual manufacturers of the tool. Rupes, Flex, DeWalt, Makita, PC/B&D.. Just a personal preference thing.
 
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