Counterweight for PC DA

[flhden]

Sorry if this has been asked to death but I could not find an answer. I have a porter cable 7336, basically the older version of the 7424 and I recently purchased a 3in backer plate with some LC 4in pads. Will I need a new counter weight for my DA?
Thanks

 

[Detailing by M]

no, why do you thing you'd need a new counter weight.

 

[dad07]

You will be just fine,no need to mess with the counterwieght.

 

[flhden]

Thanks guys, I know they sell a different counterweight for 5 in backer plates and wasn't sure if they were even necessary. rops:

 

[XSSIVE]

no, why do you thing you'd need a new counter weight.

Because the original 7336 PCs (I also have one still kicking around from back in the day) needed different weights to run 6" pads Vs 5" pads so based on that he assumed he'd need a 3" weight but there is no such thing.

 

[Detailing by M]

Hum... I have a 15 year old PC and never changed the CW for any size pad

 

[2old2change]

I still have my 7336 from back in the day and bought the optional weight. I couldn't tell the difference with any backing plate change including the 3"bp. Now it has been demoted to having a carpet cleaning brush on it. So save your money and skip the optional weight.

 

[Rsurfer]

Because the original 7336 PCs (I also have one still kicking around from back in the day) needed different weights to run 6" pads Vs 5" pads so based on that he assumed he'd need a 3" weight but there is no such thing.

The counterweights pertain to using sanding disks and not buffing pads.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

The counterweights pertain to using sanding disks and not buffing pads.

I believe this is correct and if you think about it...

• A sanding disc is a thin paper disc with abrasives on it.

• A buffing pad tends to be a lot thicker, and has a lot more mass and weight. As you buff your pad becomes wetter or saturated with liquids from your products and this increases mass and weight.

So a huge difference in a thin sanding disc and a buffing pad.

It's a great question that comes up all the time and a lot of people new to machine buffing don't know that the Porter Cable dual action polisher (as well as all the similar types of polishers like the PC), has it's roots as a Wood Sander, not a Paint Polisher.

From this article,

The Free Floating Spindle Bearing Assembly - The Story Behind The Story...



Enter the Porter Cable DA Sander
That's right, I said sander! The Porter Cable Dual Action Sander is the tool that became the Tipping Point that was the driving force behind the average person switching from working by hand to working by machine.


The Porter Cable Dual Action Sander with Wood Dust Collecting Attachment for Sanding Wood

Sanding the old finish off using a Porter Cable Dual Action Sander

The exact same tool only outfitted with a foam polishing pad for machine polishing automotive clear coat paints

The below was posted in 2004 by my good friend Jimmy Buff-it...

I have one DA in our shop that is a few years old. It was supplied with a 6" counterweight to replace the standard 5".

The theory being that the 6" lessens vibration when using 6" pads.

So I just acquired a second, with supplied 5" counter weight.

No perceptible difference. None Zilch, Nada.

End of 'controversy', at least in my shop.

Jim

Also... neither the Meguiar's nor the Griot's included provisions to use multiple counterweights when they designed their tools.

Just food for thought...



:xyxthumbs:

 

[XSSIVE]

I bought my 7336 from Griot's back in the day (must be around 10 years ago now) and it came with the 6" weight and 6" pads and everyone said it was a "must" to have the correct weight with the correct pad back then. I used it like mad for nearly a decade but now it's gotten a horrible vibrating problem when turned on for some reason so it's retired to the back of the cabinet since I don't have the heart to throw it out since it served me so well. Was also a nice plus that it was made in the USA unlike nearly all the modern DAs.

 

[flhden]

"It's a great question that comes up all the time and a lot of people new to machine buffing don't know that the Porter Cable dual action polisher (as well as all the similar types of polishers like the PC), has it's roots as a Wood Sander, not a Paint Polisher".

Exactly right Mike.

My father ran a painting business his whole life and my brothers and I all had to help out as kids. 2 of us stayed in the business until my older brother passed away and I retired 3 years ago. We had several 7336's and when I first polished my old C5 I found a brand new 20 year old 7336 in the shop and after careful research found out the old sander is now a popular polisher.

It works great and I had posted a thread here a couple years ago about how much power this old sander has even though the motor is rated smaller than the 7424xp. All our sanders were porter cable as they ran forever and you could always fix them. I just wasn't sure about the counter weights as that was something we never knew about when we used them as sanders. rops:

 

[WantcarPerfect]

I was concerned about this also. I have a GG6 I use most of the time and a PC with 4" pads. The PC works fine with a 3.5" CG BP and 4" LC pads but I have always been worried if I need a new counter weight. If Mike says its okay then I know its okay. I am sure he has burned through more pads than I will ever own.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I bought my 7336 from Griot's back in the day (must be around 10 years ago now) and it came with the 6" weight and 6" pads and everyone said it was a "must" to have the correct weight with the correct pad back then.

Is it possible you have the first generation Griot's polisher which was a wood sander?

See this thread...

Griot's Garage 6" won't accept Lake Country 5" Backing Plate?




The shroud and the vanes surrounding the spindle assemble were to capture and remove wood dust while sanding.

The holes in this backing plate were touted to help with keeping the polishing process cool but actually they are for sawdust extraction.

I used it like mad for nearly a decade but now it's gotten a horrible vibrating problem when turned on for some reason so it's retired to the back of the cabinet since I don't have the heart to throw it out since it served me so well.

Was also a nice plus that it was made in the USA unlike nearly all the modern DAs.

Compare yours to the pictures above.