Please Help!! (Porter Cable XP)

[ASPHALT ROCKET]

I was reading this and now I have to join the conversation. I just bought a 7424XP and have used it for the very first time on my old Honda and it works great. I have a black camaro I'll probably want to use it on in the future and I figured I'd better start on the Honda first since I've never used a DAP before. Anyhow, I'm getting the impression from reading this post that I shouldn't use a 3.5" backing plate with 4" pads. Is that correct or can I safely use pads that small on the 7424XP?

Having the same backing plate with the four inch pads I would agree by going a little smaller than 3.5.

 

[DARK HORSE]

Do they offer a smaller backing plate then the 3.5" for the pc xp?

 

[ricks778]

I just orederd a Porter Cable XP kit last week. It hasn't even been delievered yet. However I am now very concerned; I have recently read that many people don't seem to be as happy with the PC as they are with the Flex. A recent example is in the current thread "No Surprise, New Flex outperforms old PC" I definitely want to be able to remove swirls and light micro marring. If the PC will not do this please let me know now!! So I can return it before I open the box!!

I am glad to see your concerns about your order are resolved. I think you will be very happy with the Porter Cable XP. I borrowed a Meguiar’s G100 from a coworker and used the 7” Solo pads he had. It took a very long time but I got my truck that has hardly been washed in the 4 years prior looking really good.
Now I am looking to get a XP myself, I just cannot decide on a pad size and type.
Just a note on it not being there yet. It takes my orders about 10 days to get to me. But then I’m looking at it going from southern Florida to western Wash too.

 

[Harleyguy]

I am glad to see your concerns about your order are resolved. I think you will be very happy with the Porter Cable XP. I borrowed a Meguiar’s G100 from a coworker and used the 7” Solo pads he had. It took a very long time but I got my truck that has hardly been washed in the 4 years prior looking really good.
Now I am looking to get a XP myself, I just cannot decide on a pad size and type.
Just a note on it not being there yet. It takes my orders about 10 days to get to me. But then I’m looking at it going from southern Florida to western Wash too.

Stick with the 5.5 pads and you will see better results faster.7" is kinda big to be using on a Pc .By the way you print size is so small i thought i was going blind try increasing the size of it for us older guys.rops:

 

[Topless Stang]

Not to thread jack, BUT (lol) I figure I'd better ask here before I make my next purchase. I'm looking at picking up one of the PC-XP kits. The one the OP picked up caught my eye. Originally I was going with the kit that lets you pick 5 pads for $199. It comes with the following:

Porter Cable 7424XP Variable Speed Polisher
Dual Action 5 Inch HD Hook & Loop Backing Plate
2 Cobra White Microfiber Polishing Cloth (16 x 16 inches)
12 oz. Pinnacle XMT Polishing Foam Pad Cleaner
12 oz. Pinnacle XMT Polishing Foam Pad Conditioner
2 Free 5.5" Red Soft Wax Pads
PLUS choose five 6.5" CCS Foam Pads
I was going with:
3 - White
1 - Gray
1 - Blue

My question is should I get the same kit as the OP? That kit is only $25 more and it includes basically the same stuff...except 1 less CCS pad. Is the 3.5 plate and 4" orange pads necessary? I just bought the Megs M105 & M205 kit that includes 2 5.5" orange pads anyway, so I figured I was good there. However do the smaller orange pads offer better correction ability? I'll be using it on the following cars:

2006 White Mustang Convertible - Washed but never polished or waxed. Paint has light to intermediate swirl marks

2006 Silver Ford Taurus - Washed but never polished or wax, the paint is pretty much in the same condition as the Mustang

I'll be picking up an older (1990-1998) honda crx or civic in a few months to help with my commuting and I plan on probably having to do correction work on that for medium to heavy swirl marks, paint marring, etc.

I have been given some great advice on what products to buy from here, so I figured the same would hold true for hardware advice. What are you guys thoughts?

 

[ASPHALT ROCKET]

You will be just fine with the 5.5 inch pads for correction work. Having a few 4 inch pads around for tight areas would be a good idea.