Just ordered this stuff to get started

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brian45acp

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So I did some calling around to tech support and watched some vids and made my choice.

Here is what I bought along with the Video Mike made for using this PC.
Porter Cable 7424 & Foam Pad Kit - Car Buffer

I went with Orange foams for the swirl removers, White for the AIO product, and Red for the polish I use which has no abrasives in it and is just for optics.

I was reading some forum info and it seems many like to use a 5 inch back plate with a 5.5 pad but the kit suggests a 6.5 pad which it comes with. I hope I dont have any issues with that but its what they recommend so I went with it.
 
I think you should call them back right away and get the 5 inch bp and 5.5 inch pads...

flat LC or hydrotechs that are 7/8 inches thick, not ccs and definitely not the 1 1/4 inch thick ccs...
 
I did call them again to confirm this and they suggest what is in that kit. I am new to this but its driving me nuts with all the different opinions on what to buy. I just went with this kit and will have to start here and see what I think after I learn more.
 
embolism said:
I think you should call them back right away and get the 5 inch bp and 5.5 inch pads...

flat LC or hydrotechs that are 7/8 inches thick, not ccs and definitely not the 1 1/4 inch thick ccs...
Click to expand...


I agree. I've used the thicker pads and they are harder to use.
The 5" backing plate and 5.5" pads which are 7/8" thick are the easiest to use and get great results.
 
brian45acp said:
I did call them again to confirm this and they suggest what is in that kit. I am new to this but its driving me nuts with all the different opinions on what to buy. I just went with this kit and will have to start here and see what I think after I learn more.
Click to expand...

well then I would say that I don't want that kit then. I know they have PC kits with 5.5 inch pads. You should just switch to one of those or build your own kit.
 
Well the issue is when I call and speak to 3 different tech support guys at AG they all tell me 6.5 pads are fine. I ask on here and its 5.5 so I am just lost on this and have no experience to formulate my own opinion.

I stayed with the same kit I ordered and feel its a good starting point for a newbie and safer. I asked Mike because honestly I am used to forums of different types and know that there is some advice out there you have to be careful of.

I trust you guys have a system that you like and perhaps I will find my own once I get started but a 6.5 pad seems safer and more forgiving to work with. As I gain experience I am sure the 5.5 pads might be the hot ticket.

It just fries my brain to think tech support suggests something different and kits this together with 6.5 pads and has no idea what they are talking about. This is why I asked 3 different guys there after calling back various times today. I hate conflicting info and what I understand now is that its simply preference but either will work equally well. For me the safer larger pads seems best because I have zero experience right now and dont want to screw my cars up.
 
Ok I know what to do. I will also buy some 5.5 pads and add yet another order. I will have it all and can test which I like better. I am sure I can use the 6.5 pads for my Tundra which has huge panels and the 5.5 for the tighter smaller door jam areas.

So now that I have the CCS 6.5 pads which other 5.5 pads should I try?

FYI I am using a swirl remover, an AIO, then multi layers of polish at the end divided up between 2 products. So please tell me what colors to get for these products.
 
Heck, it's your money to spend - but I'd get 5.5" pads too. Will you be able to correct with those thick 6.5" pads? Probably, but it'll take more time and technique (to keep the pads spinning) than using thinner 5.5" pads will.
 
So how about these to add to my arsenal as well? Are they a good choice of 5.5 pads?

Lake Country 5 1/2 x 7/8 inch Beveled Edge Pads 6 Pack, foam pad kit, build a kit, buffing pads, curved edge pads

3 orange for swirl remover
3 white for AIO product
3 black for polish that hides swirls but has no cleaning properties but is typically not the last product applied.
3 blue for final polish meant only for good optics and shine which is last product applied

I will start out using the 6.5 pads that came in the kit on my daily driver car for practice. After I get the hang of it I will move over to the 5.5 pads and try to learn those. I can always send back the additional 6.5 pads I ordered which is no big deal since they weigh nothing so shipping will be cheap.
 
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those are good. Once you see/feel the difference, all your doubts will be a thing of the past. Make sure you mark your backing plate so you can see when it stops spinning b/c it will stop spinning with those huge thick pads...

If you do a search you will find lots of threads where people complain about the 6.5 inch PC kit with the 5 inch bp. It's what led AG to introduce the 5.5 inch pad PC kit imo...
 
thanks man. Going to give this a shot as well. I will have all of it and get to see for myself what the deal is. I will likely be sending back the 6.5 pads that I added to the kit but I will use up the 5 that came in the kit to learn on.
 
This backplate Dual Action 6 Inch HD Backing Plate, heavy duty backing plate, backup pad with this counterweight Counterweight for Porter Cable 7424 Polisher renders great results with 6.5" pads. Great for larger jobs.
If anything, I'd say go with the 6" BP w/counterweight and a 3.5" BP for the hard to reach areas. If I was the one spending the money, I would put it towards two different sets/size pads. Not enough of a difference between the 5.5" and 6.5" pad for the average Joe. And yes, I've used all of the above. JMO....
 
Thanks. I think I am good for now and will figure out what suits my needs as I learn more. Smaller BP and pads is a good idea. I will make do for now but I think I can position the larger pads on areas like door jams with a little effort. If not I can hit the small areas by hand for now.
 
Neither did I, lol.

Well now I have all of it coming to me so I will try it out. I still plan to send the 6.5 pads back for a refund because I ordered like 9 extras more then the kit had. I will at least get to try the kit 6.5 pads for my first time on my daily driver car before I go near my brand new garaged car. :) I figure they are safer and after a few panels I will graduate to the 5.5 and get the rhythm down on a car I dont care too much about.

On the other hand watching all the vids makes me think that its pretty darn hard to screw up so I am not overly worried any more. Its more about fine tuning a technique that I will have to learn but the results will either be good or not effective in which case I have to practice more.
 
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