Getting the PC

Joshs2013MSAltimaSL

Joshs2013MSAltimaSL

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Hey all. So my dad and I are thinking of getting the PC7424. Neither of us have used anything like it before. The closest we've gotten to using a machine on our cars is using an orbital buffer that we bought at Wal-Mart to take wax off. So using a machine to put wax on is totally different to us. As stated before, we've never done this before and are worried about burning or ruining the paint. I've watched a few videos on it and it doesn't seem difficult, but him and I would just like to make sure before we were to make any purchases. Is it really a safe product to use and easy to learn? Thanks for an help!

I guess I should mention that we are thinking of getting the starter kit offered on this site...I think it's $199.99. It comes with the PC, different pads, etc. Thanks again!
 
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It is about impossible to mess up with the porter cable or the flex because they do not genrate alot of heat like a rotary but i would suggest the flex da if you can spare the extra money it is a much better machine and also throw some good polishes like menzerna, pinnacle, or wolfgang
 
Yeah, I'm new to this all and don't know what's good to use or what to use for what job. Our cars have some light swirls from drying with regular towels. I've read that we need to use a compound, then a polish, then a sealant, using different colored pads at each stage. The starter kit that we're thinking of getting comes with all the different pads. We'd just have to buy the polishes etc. So it's pretty simple to use?
 
yes i have the pc, flex, and a makita rotary and both the flex and pc are great machines do you have any thoughts on what kind of polishes you want to try
 
Umm...really the only stuff I've heard of is Optimum. I've read posts on here with people using Menzerna, Pinnacle, etc. but I don't know what the differences are between them, or what I would really need. Any suggestions?
 
For someone new, I would suggest a PC, 3-4 pads in each colors (orange white for polishing) and at least 1-2 pads of red and black (for applying a wax/sealant) To keep it simple, you can just get 5.5 inch pads across the board. BUT-smaller pads like 4 inch will work a little faster at removing swirls. You can get by though with the 5.5 pads.

Optimum products are great for beginners. They're less expensive, they have longer working times, they're less finicky to climatic conditions, you can mix them to make your own formulas (search a round for more on that) etc...Dpending on how bad the swirls are and how soft the paint is on the cars you will be working on, you might not need the compound.

Check out the Optimum PC7424 kit and maybe add a couple extra pads, microfiber towels. I think the kit comes with poli-seal which is an awesome product but i would also suggest another wax of some sort if you can afford it. Otherwise, nothing wrong with using a wax from wally world, or auto zone etc...

there's a sale going on right now so save some cash and order before end of the week (15% off and free shipping!!!)
 
I saw the sale. The cars that we would be working on are an 07 Maroon Corvette, 07 Sport Red Cobalt ss/sc, and a red Porsche Cayman S. There is nothing too serious, just light swirls over the cars, maybe some intermediate marks here and there. Here is what we're thinking of getting: Porter Cable 7424 & Foam Pad Kit - Car Buffer What products do you think would be good to use?
 
i would get menzerna SIP, 106fa, and po85rd i would also go with the 4 inch pads like doublelife said
 
Alright, well I will have to pass this information on to my dad. I know his main concern is ruining the paint. He's heard some horror stories or people using machines on their cars and burning the paint. From what I've read here, that won't be a problem with the PC.
 
it will not be a problem with the porter cable as long as you take your time and tape of plastic parts you will be fine
 
So this is what I'm thinking of doing when/if we this kit:

2 passes with Optimum Compound using an orange CCS pad. Then use the same compound for two more passes using a white pad. Then I would use Optimum Polish using a CCS grey pad. Finally I'll seal using Poorboy's EX sealant using a CCS blue pad. How does this sound?
 
Sounds good but remember do a 2'x2' area first from start to finish (polish only) and if your happy with the results finish the rest of the car. Remember to remove the polish/glaze from the car completely before inspecting.
Just me $.02
 
When doing correction with a polish, you should inspect your work after each panel. That is, never do any more correction than you need. If a panel needs two passes, then do it but do not try to follow a routine. I learned never add more work (marring) than you need when using an orange pad so less is better whenever possible. That way, you may need less use of the white pad and then your beauty finish with the gray pad.
 
Ok, that makes perfect sense. I mean, why do more work than you need to do. Do we do all work in a 2' x 2' area?
 
your gonna wish you got it sooner, watch the videos and jump in its rather user friendly. I suggest a kit with the polishes also ... consider the Menzerna Kits or the Poorboys kit both wont break the bank and have alot of nice items.
 
After looking at all the pictures, I'm wishing I had it now!! What's a good kit to get that you would suggest. I just looked up some Menzerna kits, but I really don't know which one to get. I saw one was a maximum shine, and a few others.
 
i would get this kit:Menzerna Porter Cable Ceramic 5.5 Inch Polishing Pad Kit mainly because it works great on all finishes whether they are ceramic, hard, medium, or soft clear coats.
 
joshs07redss said:
After looking at all the pictures, I'm wishing I had it now!! What's a good kit to get that you would suggest. I just looked up some Menzerna kits, but I really don't know which one to get. I saw one was a maximum shine, and a few others.
Click to expand...

Poorboy’s Porter Cable 7424 Polish & wax Kit (original fav -- easy to use with great results)

Menzerna kit, 5.5 lake country pads, porter cable menzerna kit, ceramic clear polishing kit, Mercedes polishing kit (the system to beat, also comes in G110 and Flex offerings)
 
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