How to MAXIMIZE your DA Polisher

Re: How to maximize the ability of the 1st Gen Porter Cable Dual Action Polishers

aerogt01 said:
Mike:
Not to dig up an old thread, however I simply must thank you for posting this.
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No problemo... it was a much needed article just because there probably millions of first generation DA Polishers in the garages across the world and after over a decade now of teaching people how to remove swirls with a tool that has a Free Floating Spindle Assemble, I know the secret is to maintain pad rotation and the limiting factor is in most cases are the size and thickness of the pads...

That's one of the reasons I've coined the term...

Thin is in...

That is the trend... watch and see as new pad technology is introduced. Mark my words.

Here's an example...

Thin is in... New Lake Country Hydro-Tech Low Profile 5 1/2 x 7/8 Inch Foam Pads





aerogt01 said:
Two years ago I bought a PC and the Edge 6" Pad kit, and found even with proper technique it would take what seemed like forever and a day to two-step polish a Civic with soft paint. Partially thanks to this I have used the machine very little in the past 2 years.
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The Edge 6" Pads are thick, and the thickness of the foam means the foam itself is going to absorb and dissipate the power coming out of the tool. I love the true centering design of these pads, especially for use with rotary buffers but thick pads are going to reduce the ability of ALL DA Polishers that use the Free Floating Spindle Assemble to maintain pad rotation.


A note to Lurkers and Newbies to Machine Polishing
If Lurkers or Newbies to detailing are reading this and are not sure why pad rotation is important, here's why... it's only when the pad is rotating that you're going to be able to remove swirls, scratches and water spots. If the pad is just vibrating or jiggling, you're not going to remove any defects.
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There's a thread on here where I explained this to a Corvette owner trying to remove the swirls out of the clear coat on their Corvette and I told him it can be done with a first generation DA Polisher but it would be faster and easier with a new, second generation DA Polisher, either Porter Cable, Meguiar's or Griot's. He came back and vindicated what I stated.

Here's the thread...

WG TSR/FG & PC 7335 Technique


aerogt01 said:
Now I know exactly what the problem was and why the pad would so easily stop rotating. Does the XP version have near as much of a problem turning a 6-6.5" pad? At this point I don't know what I would replace (machine/pads/both). I really wish I had known this when I ordered.

Thanks again! :props::props:
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All the new generation DA Polishers are better at maintaining pad rotation, you probably don't want to hear this but if you are really into maintaining your car's finish and you like use a DA Polisher, I would whole heartedly recommend upgrading to a new Porter Cable 7424XP and some new pads...

The new PC is a very capable tool and with the new pad and chemical technology being introduced specific for these tools, it's going to be easier and faster to create a show car finish using only a DA Polisher.


:)
 
If I wanted a more aggressive setup without going nuts, I would be using 5.5" HT Cyan or thin flat Yellow/Orange pads(thin is in). M105 followed by 205 on a white or gray pad will finish very well. If you want to go OTC, UC followed by UP.
In my experience WG twins do a nice job on swirls but are a little lacking on RIDS but that could just be my lack of technique.
 
Good article Mike, I'd like to add my reaction to using Meg's MF pads. I've been using them for a several months now and they have turned my old G100 (circa 1995) into a new powerhouse. I've not picked up my Makita since. I've rarely used foam since either. These pads simply are amazing in their speed and correction, IMHO. I've used them on several kinds of paint, factory as well as repaints and have reduced the time needed for correction by a ton.

From my experience with the newfound performance of my G100, I'm thinking of how good the pads must be on one of the newer DA's. Guess its time to consider a new DA, 15 years is a long time to keep any well used tool.

Thanks for the great perspective on pads and the older PC.
 
jfelbab said:
From my experience with the newfound performance of my G100, I'm thinking of how good the pads must be on one of the newer DA's. Guess its time to consider a new DA, 15 years is a long time to keep any well used tool.

Thanks for the great perspective on pads and the older PC.
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I would highly recommend the new PC 7424XP, it's a much better tool than the first generation PC's and a battle tank. You can drive over it with a truck, pick it back up and get to work with it.


:)
 
I would be lost without my PCxp. It never fails me and produces consistently good results. Very versatile, light weight, and under rated.
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Sometimes, instead of pushing a DA to the limit, a better option would be to add another tool to a person's collection like a rotary buffer or a Flex 3401
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That's where I'm at now. I bought my Griot's DA to use on my personal cars. Lately I've been detailing cars for my buddy who buys and sells a lot of cars and have been using my Griot's. I've been leaning towards getting a Flex 3401 because I don't feel the Griot's (or the other DA's) are designed for mass production (as discussed in a recent post).
 
I am glad I found this thread, I am very new to polishing my own car and bought the PC 7424XP with the pick your pads, Well I guess I picked the wrong pads. I was actually getting the backward rotation Mike has talked about in the past, every time I was close to a lip like on the trunk deck lid I would get full stop on the rotation. I guess I will get some new pads.
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
I would highly recommend the new PC 7424XP, it's a much better tool than the first generation PC's and a battle tank. You can drive over it with a truck, pick it back up and get to work with it.


:)
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Mike,

Thanks for such a great article. I bought a 1st gen. PC on ebay sometime ago and just started using it as I began getting into the hobby recently. When I noticed this problem I thought maybe I bought a defective unit as it was used (you know 'hit or miss sometimes on ebay'). I just so happened to bump into your thread by chance. I'm really glad I did. I just upgraded to the XP model and me and my crazy self also went and bought a Flex XC 3401 VRG DA (notice I spelled out the whole model name, LOL). Again, thanks for your thread, knowlegde and everything else you brought to me and the whole industry. You da man!!!
 
runrun411 said:
Mike,

I just upgraded to the XP model and me and my crazy self also went and bought a Flex XC 3401 VRG DA (notice I spelled out the whole model name, LOL).
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The Flex 3401 is a very good tool, anyone detailing cars for money should have one.

How to use a one-step cleaner/wax to maximize profits

1970_442_by_Mike_Phillips.007.jpg




runrun411 said:
Again, thanks for your thread, knowledge and everything else you brought to me and the whole industry. You da man!!!
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Thanks for the kind words... I wrote this originally because I know there are millions of these first gen PC polishers in garages all around the world. Millions of cars have been successfully buffed out using them and millions more will be buffed out in the future...


:xyxthumbs:
 
Still not rotating

I read the whole thread and took every suggestion: Lake Country thin 5.5" flat pads, Meguiar's 5" Microfiber Discs and a new Meguiar's backing plate. Also made sure my technique was OK. I am still not getting the rotation that some folks seem to be getting out of their first gen Porter Cable 7424's. The pad will stop rotating under moderate pressure, but the machine is neither bogging down nor slowing down.

Think I should upgrade to an XP? Are you sure that I'd get better rotation of the new machine? It seems to me that as long as the old machine is not slowing down, I should be getting rotation.

I only detail two well maintained white trucks and two black Harleys. Most of the time ColorX will remove any marring that has occurred.

I already have a Makita 9727 rotary buffer but haven't used it for five years. No reason for any serious buffing and besides that I am still not all that comfortable using it. Shoot....I think I have forgotten how. Last thing I used it on was the badly oxidized gelcoat on my daughter's sailboat. Gotta love that wool pad. :D

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Tom :cool:
 
Not to bump an old thread, but I too just found this...

I have the original Porter Cable 7424 and love it... I was thinking of giving it to my friend (or he at least wants to buy it from me) and was thinking about picting up the 7424XP but really is the only difference slightly higher RPM's and .5 amp more power? I too have noticed that sometimes the rotation stops in one direction but it's still spinning, I think I've just gotten used to it and use less pressure... but honestly never had a problem with it.

I'd prefer not to spend $300 for a new polisher because I do this only on our cars 3 plus motorcycle and it's done very good... I love it actually.

Just wondering how much of a difference there really is between the 7424 and the XP version...

Thanks,
-Nigel
 
NewShockerGuy said:
Not to bump an old thread, but I too just found this...

I have the original Porter Cable 7424 and love it... I was thinking of giving it to my friend (or he at least wants to buy it from me) and was thinking about picting up the 7424XP but really is the only difference slightly higher RPM's and .5 amp more power? I too have noticed that sometimes the rotation stops in one direction but it's still spinning, I think I've just gotten used to it and use less pressure... but honestly never had a problem with it.

I'd prefer not to spend $300 for a new polisher because I do this only on our cars 3 plus motorcycle and it's done very good... I love it actually.

Just wondering how much of a difference there really is between the 7424 and the XP version...

Thanks,
-Nigel
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Get the Griots polisher. Night and day power versus the Porter Cable. I have the XP model PC just picked up the griots
 
ElGaby said:
Hi Mike, can you help me of how I can use this pads with my DA Polisher from UK is like the Griot's Garage 6 inch

6" Wool / Foam Interlayer Heavy Cutting Pad - V2 - www.CarPro-US.com

6" Cool Pad Hybrid - Microfiber/Wool - www.CarPro-US.com

Thanks!
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Great questions but I'll move your post to create your own thread as that would work better than tagging your questions that really deserve some in-depth information onto htis thread.

Make sense?

How to start a new thread & How to reply to an existing thread

How to write a good title for your thread

A tip to help yourself get great answers when you start a thread




NewShockerGuy said:
Just wondering how much of a difference there really is between the 7424 and the XP version...

Thanks,
-Nigel
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Hi Nigel,

First, I've been using the first Porter Cable DA Polisher to polish paint since they were introduced. Not as long as a few but longer than most still breathing air today.

The below picture is from a pad in my antique wax collection, the information is first hand as in I was there doing it.


The history behind polishing paint with a DA Polisher

W6000EarlyDAPad002c.jpg




While you'll find some guys on the forum that will like to argue that the XP has the same power as the first generation 7424 and 7336 models, all I know is from first hand experience, the XP version does a better job of maintaining pad rotation under pressure.

I like the Porter Cable version because it's built really well, you can driver over it with your car, pick ti up and keep using it.

The Griot's does have the most actual power as most people state.


:)
 
Thanks Mike for answering my question. I love my orginal pc7424, and when I bought it from yall I was amazed at what it did to my paint... I still use it now and really don't have any issues with it. I'm thinking abuot getting 5.5 pads as recommended here, when I bought the kit it came with 6.5 ccs pads and honestly can't really complain. I've noticed some spinning that has stopped but I attribute that to me pushing to hard, so now really I just use the weight of the machine rather than me pushing on it... I just wasn't sure if it was worth it to spend $120 for the same machine with a little more power or perhaps just try a new DA polisher... then again, this is for personal use only, of my cars, wife's and my motorcyles... Not getting paid to do it and it does take me a few days to completely finish the car but I don't mind that honestly... it's a relaxing feeling in a way.

Hard decisions to make...lol I guess I should look at it as if it's still working just as it did and I have no issues it might not be worth it to buy another machine just to do the same job I am doing now in a way...lol

:-)

-Nigel
 
Are the new GG DA's made in China? My new 7424XP was made in Mexico. Because of the low power I am thinking of dedicating my PCXP to smaller plates and pads. I have been ponderin on gettin a GG 6", but not sure of the quality of tools made in China. Any suggestion? (great thread by the way)
 
Tonyace_121 said:
Are the new GG DA's made in China? I have been ponderin on gettin a GG 6", but not sure of the quality of tools made in China. Any suggestion? (great thread by the way)
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Yes, the Griots is made in China...and it comes with a lifetime warranty.
 
Wow...pretty impressive. I am really undecided in my head about my next polisher, but I have narrowed it down to three..the Flex3401...the Rupes Duetto, or the GG 6". Thanks for the response.
 
Tonyace_121 said:
I am really undecided in my head about my next polisher, but I have narrowed it down to three..the Flex3401...the Rupes Duetto, or the GG 6".
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I was looking for my first DA not long ago. They are all reportedly good machines. I also considered the Rupes LHR 15 ES. I went with the Duetto and the entire Rupes system, based on the enthusiastic recommendations of some very fine detailers. While I have nothing to compare it to, I am extremely pleased with the Rupes products. I know I could get the same results with the GG, but I enjoy using the best tools. The Duetto is a great tool.
 
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