Porter cable or other buffer question.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 333
From:
Porter cable or other buffer question.
Guys I have been polishing my cars for over 12 years by hand. I am ready to take it to the next level
How much experience do you need to use the tool? I used one 1 time and it seemed simple, but it wasnt my car!
How proficient with one of these do I need to be to safely use it and not burn thru the clear.
What is a good prand and price?
Thanks alot!
How much experience do you need to use the tool? I used one 1 time and it seemed simple, but it wasnt my car!
How proficient with one of these do I need to be to safely use it and not burn thru the clear.
What is a good prand and price?
Thanks alot!
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 333
From:
RE: Porter cable or other buffer question.
ORIGINAL: 06Vista
Guys I have been polishing my cars for over 12 years by hand. I am ready to take it to the next level
How much experience do you need to use the tool? I used one 1 time and it seemed simple, but it wasnt my car!
How proficient with one of these do I need to be to safely use it and not burn thru the clear.
What is a good brand and price?
Thanks alot!
Guys I have been polishing my cars for over 12 years by hand. I am ready to take it to the next level
How much experience do you need to use the tool? I used one 1 time and it seemed simple, but it wasnt my car!
How proficient with one of these do I need to be to safely use it and not burn thru the clear.
What is a good brand and price?
Thanks alot!
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 695
From:
RE: Porter cable or other buffer question.
What's good... depends on your needs.
If you're using a one-step or a cleaner wax, almost any random-orbital will replace your hand.
If you have surface defects you want to remove and you don't mind making an investment of about 200 bucks, get something like a Porter-Cable 7336SP or 7424SP. I have the 7336SP. A lot of guys have one or the other, and the only difference is the counterweight, which you can get for a couple of bucks and put it on the 7424SP (which is often found cheaper at places like Lowe's) so you can run 6" pads (which is the size I like).
Then order a good Lake Country 6" backing plate and a pad assortment. Most online detail shops carry Lake Country or sell them under private label, like www.detailersparadise.com.
If you understand how polishes work, you probably won't have any problems learning to use a random-orbital. It's not like a rotary where you run a high risk of burning the paint. Random-orbital is pretty safe... a kid can do it.
I like to use Mothers Power Polish with a yellow or orange cutting pad to remove medium or light scratches... run it at a higher speed to get the polish to cut 'em. Obviously, watch what you're doing, stop and inspect the progress. And then at a lower speed I'll use a finishing pad with Power Wax, or even a one-step cleaner wax. It depends on what I'm needing to do. The velcro backing on the pads makes it easy to swtich.
If you're using a one-step or a cleaner wax, almost any random-orbital will replace your hand.
If you have surface defects you want to remove and you don't mind making an investment of about 200 bucks, get something like a Porter-Cable 7336SP or 7424SP. I have the 7336SP. A lot of guys have one or the other, and the only difference is the counterweight, which you can get for a couple of bucks and put it on the 7424SP (which is often found cheaper at places like Lowe's) so you can run 6" pads (which is the size I like).
Then order a good Lake Country 6" backing plate and a pad assortment. Most online detail shops carry Lake Country or sell them under private label, like www.detailersparadise.com.
If you understand how polishes work, you probably won't have any problems learning to use a random-orbital. It's not like a rotary where you run a high risk of burning the paint. Random-orbital is pretty safe... a kid can do it.
I like to use Mothers Power Polish with a yellow or orange cutting pad to remove medium or light scratches... run it at a higher speed to get the polish to cut 'em. Obviously, watch what you're doing, stop and inspect the progress. And then at a lower speed I'll use a finishing pad with Power Wax, or even a one-step cleaner wax. It depends on what I'm needing to do. The velcro backing on the pads makes it easy to swtich.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,321
From: Westville, IL
RE: Porter cable or other buffer question.
If you are looking for a Porter Cable, I carry them. I also stock the Lake Country pads and backing plates for it.
As Jim said, the Porter Cable is very user friendly. You can get awesome results with it even if you are a beginner.
Here is what I stock
Porter Cable 7424
5 in and 6 in backin plates-only have about 4-5 in. plates left-switching to the 6 in.
Orange 6.5 light cutting pad
White 6.5 polishing pad
Gray 6.5 finishing pad
The pads are washable and will last for a long time. I have a package deal price on the website with everything needed. I would recommend for polishes the Poorboys SSR line or the Optimum Polish and Compound.
As Jim said, the Porter Cable is very user friendly. You can get awesome results with it even if you are a beginner.
Here is what I stock
Porter Cable 7424
5 in and 6 in backin plates-only have about 4-5 in. plates left-switching to the 6 in.
Orange 6.5 light cutting pad
White 6.5 polishing pad
Gray 6.5 finishing pad
The pads are washable and will last for a long time. I have a package deal price on the website with everything needed. I would recommend for polishes the Poorboys SSR line or the Optimum Polish and Compound.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 333
From:
RE: Porter cable or other buffer question.
ORIGINAL: Juztang
If you are looking for a Porter Cable, I carry them. I also stock the Lake Country pads and backing plates for it.
As Jim said, the Porter Cable is very user friendly. You can get awesome results with it even if you are a beginner.
Here is what I stock
Porter Cable 7424
5 in and 6 in backin plates-only have about 4-5 in. plates left-switching to the 6 in.
Orange 6.5 light cutting pad
White 6.5 polishing pad
Gray 6.5 finishing pad
The pads are washable and will last for a long time. I have a package deal price on the website with everything needed. I would recommend for polishes the Poorboys SSR line or the Optimum Polish and Compound.
If you are looking for a Porter Cable, I carry them. I also stock the Lake Country pads and backing plates for it.
As Jim said, the Porter Cable is very user friendly. You can get awesome results with it even if you are a beginner.
Here is what I stock
Porter Cable 7424
5 in and 6 in backin plates-only have about 4-5 in. plates left-switching to the 6 in.
Orange 6.5 light cutting pad
White 6.5 polishing pad
Gray 6.5 finishing pad
The pads are washable and will last for a long time. I have a package deal price on the website with everything needed. I would recommend for polishes the Poorboys SSR line or the Optimum Polish and Compound.
Ok so the Porter Cable is a randow orbital and in my novice hands would not damage would occor?
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 695
From:
RE: Porter cable or other buffer question.
Right. A Porter-Cable brand -- or just about any brand of random-orbital polisher -- is very user-friendly, especially with quality foam pads.
Porter-Cable is just industrial-strength, and a tad pricey as a result, and more geared towards serious enthusiasts as well as pros. But with a variety of pads, you'll be able to safely address just about any surface problem you may come across and it would likely be a good investment.
What you don't want is a high-speed rotary -- paint disappears real fast with one of those. Leave those to the pros.
Porter-Cable is just industrial-strength, and a tad pricey as a result, and more geared towards serious enthusiasts as well as pros. But with a variety of pads, you'll be able to safely address just about any surface problem you may come across and it would likely be a good investment.
What you don't want is a high-speed rotary -- paint disappears real fast with one of those. Leave those to the pros.
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 695
From:
RE: Porter cable or other buffer question.
06Vista,
If you've got defect removal -- or anicipate defect removal -- get a Porter-Cable. A "consumer" random orbital polisher likely won't have the guts to remove defects, plus the bonnets aren't always designed for much more than product application -- it makes a job normally done by hand a little less work.
I've also got a Wax Attack from Mothers -- a little palm polisher with 6" pads -- and it's a pretty neat, lightweight and handy polisher that even a young girl can use it with one hand. But it doesn't have enough power to "cut" when necessary. But it's handy and easy to take out of its case when I just want to get some polishing and waxing done without too much effort.
The Porter-Cable and gear is about 3 times the price when all is said and done, but it's worth it if you have to remove defects. I had a hand-sized area of scratches in the clearcoat on my trunk, thanks to an inconsiderate someone, and less-aggressive methods didn't work so I brought out the Porter-Cable, my orange Lake Country light cutting pad (color aggressiveness varies by manufactrurer), grabbed my PowerPolish and cranked-up the speed and worked at it slowly and in not too long the scratches were gone.
Of course, if you've got much defect removal on an '06, we might want to talk proper washing and drying techniques, but if you're like the rest of us, we've got a stable of cars to take care of so it's nice to be prepared.
Really, it might be better to talk about recommendations based on your current or anticipated needs rather than what's the "best" -- the best for one person isn't necessarily the best for someone else with different finish issues (or no issues at all). Given certain criteria, you can get excellent results both by hand or by machine. But if you've got defect removal, machine is the way to go.
Tell us a little more about your vehicle, what you're currently doing, and what you don't like about it.
If you've got defect removal -- or anicipate defect removal -- get a Porter-Cable. A "consumer" random orbital polisher likely won't have the guts to remove defects, plus the bonnets aren't always designed for much more than product application -- it makes a job normally done by hand a little less work.
I've also got a Wax Attack from Mothers -- a little palm polisher with 6" pads -- and it's a pretty neat, lightweight and handy polisher that even a young girl can use it with one hand. But it doesn't have enough power to "cut" when necessary. But it's handy and easy to take out of its case when I just want to get some polishing and waxing done without too much effort.
The Porter-Cable and gear is about 3 times the price when all is said and done, but it's worth it if you have to remove defects. I had a hand-sized area of scratches in the clearcoat on my trunk, thanks to an inconsiderate someone, and less-aggressive methods didn't work so I brought out the Porter-Cable, my orange Lake Country light cutting pad (color aggressiveness varies by manufactrurer), grabbed my PowerPolish and cranked-up the speed and worked at it slowly and in not too long the scratches were gone.
Of course, if you've got much defect removal on an '06, we might want to talk proper washing and drying techniques, but if you're like the rest of us, we've got a stable of cars to take care of so it's nice to be prepared.
Really, it might be better to talk about recommendations based on your current or anticipated needs rather than what's the "best" -- the best for one person isn't necessarily the best for someone else with different finish issues (or no issues at all). Given certain criteria, you can get excellent results both by hand or by machine. But if you've got defect removal, machine is the way to go.
Tell us a little more about your vehicle, what you're currently doing, and what you don't like about it.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,321
From: Westville, IL
RE: Porter cable or other buffer question.
Everything Jim said is right on. He is very knowlegeable about detailing and has excellent advice.
Jim-does the PowerPolish by Mothers dust that much? What kind of cut does it have? I have never used it and was just curious.
Jim-does the PowerPolish by Mothers dust that much? What kind of cut does it have? I have never used it and was just curious.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 333
From:
RE: Porter cable or other buffer question.
ORIGINAL: Jim D.
06Vista,
If you've got defect removal -- or anicipate defect removal -- get a Porter-Cable. A "consumer" random orbital polisher likely won't have the guts to remove defects, plus the bonnets aren't always designed for much more than product application -- it makes a job normally done by hand a little less work.
I've also got a Wax Attack from Mothers -- a little palm polisher with 6" pads -- and it's a pretty neat, lightweight and handy polisher that even a young girl can use it with one hand. But it doesn't have enough power to "cut" when necessary. But it's handy and easy to take out of its case when I just want to get some polishing and waxing done without too much effort.
The Porter-Cable and gear is about 3 times the price when all is said and done, but it's worth it if you have to remove defects. I had a hand-sized area of scratches in the clearcoat on my trunk, thanks to an inconsiderate someone, and less-aggressive methods didn't work so I brought out the Porter-Cable, my orange Lake Country light cutting pad (color aggressiveness varies by manufactrurer), grabbed my PowerPolish and cranked-up the speed and worked at it slowly and in not too long the scratches were gone.
Of course, if you've got much defect removal on an '06, we might want to talk proper washing and drying techniques, but if you're like the rest of us, we've got a stable of cars to take care of so it's nice to be prepared.
Really, it might be better to talk about recommendations based on your current or anticipated needs rather than what's the "best" -- the best for one person isn't necessarily the best for someone else with different finish issues (or no issues at all). Given certain criteria, you can get excellent results both by hand or by machine. But if you've got defect removal, machine is the way to go.
Tell us a little more about your vehicle, what you're currently doing, and what you don't like about it.
06Vista,
If you've got defect removal -- or anicipate defect removal -- get a Porter-Cable. A "consumer" random orbital polisher likely won't have the guts to remove defects, plus the bonnets aren't always designed for much more than product application -- it makes a job normally done by hand a little less work.
I've also got a Wax Attack from Mothers -- a little palm polisher with 6" pads -- and it's a pretty neat, lightweight and handy polisher that even a young girl can use it with one hand. But it doesn't have enough power to "cut" when necessary. But it's handy and easy to take out of its case when I just want to get some polishing and waxing done without too much effort.
The Porter-Cable and gear is about 3 times the price when all is said and done, but it's worth it if you have to remove defects. I had a hand-sized area of scratches in the clearcoat on my trunk, thanks to an inconsiderate someone, and less-aggressive methods didn't work so I brought out the Porter-Cable, my orange Lake Country light cutting pad (color aggressiveness varies by manufactrurer), grabbed my PowerPolish and cranked-up the speed and worked at it slowly and in not too long the scratches were gone.
Of course, if you've got much defect removal on an '06, we might want to talk proper washing and drying techniques, but if you're like the rest of us, we've got a stable of cars to take care of so it's nice to be prepared.
Really, it might be better to talk about recommendations based on your current or anticipated needs rather than what's the "best" -- the best for one person isn't necessarily the best for someone else with different finish issues (or no issues at all). Given certain criteria, you can get excellent results both by hand or by machine. But if you've got defect removal, machine is the way to go.
Tell us a little more about your vehicle, what you're currently doing, and what you don't like about it.
The car is 1 month old to me. I use Zaino products on the car, Z-5,Z-2,Z-6, Zaino wash. I am extremley careful I ring the mitt out 2 bucket style method after every panel, and dry with 100% cotton towel, blot dry. Havent clayed the surface yet. would you recommend a product like ZPC, a slight abrasive on such new paint?
I noticed a slight amount of light scratches and 2 small spider webbs on the hood, I hate them! I need to work them with some Z-5 a bit more, but I really would be interested in your advise on how to make the paint defect free. Thanks for the advice.