I was just roaming sears today looking at random tools when i came across some polishers.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...+%26+Polishers

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...cal=TOOL&cs=e1

I perfer the feel and weight of the 7in better then the 10. I've seen people use it and stuff but never got to try this on myself. I'm not one of you hardcore detailing guys. I'm more of the type that might go all out on the wax and polishes twice a year and the rest just mainly washes. With those reasons being i just cant see myself spending $100+ on something like that. So i'm considering this. What is there to look for in the polishers and will this get the job done without damaging my paint. I really like the size and weight of the 7in compared to the 10. What else can i look for?

 

All those are gonna do is make it easier on your arms. They wont remove swirls any better than your hands, and would only really just slightly speed up the process for you. Those really arent worth the money at all

 

Exactly what rsly33 said. If you spring for the PC , you'll end up polishing your car more than twice a year. Once you see how easy it makes keeping your car looking better than 95% of those on the road, you'll be addicted. And once past the initial purchase price, it's not that expensive. I still have an original set of my pads that I got over 2 years ago, and still use them A LOT (mine and others vehicles). Just with anything else, if you take care of them, they'll last. Figure about $60 for 2 complete sets of pads (1 each cutting, polishing, and finishing per set), and you're good to go for well over 2 years if properly cleaned/taken care of.
If the price of PC and pads puts you off, just think of it this way. After you get your vehicle looking amazing with it, others will want you to do theirs. You can easily make your money back in a short time just on a few friends/family members vehicles. Most of my detailing supplies are paid for by occassionally doing someone else's vehicle. So it's a self-sufficient hobby.
Having had an electric buffer like the ones you linked to, and now owning a PC, I can say the buffer is pretty much useless other than buffing off wax. It can not remove swirls, etching, or scratches of any type. A PC with the right products can, although not as efficiently as a true rotary (which is dangerous in inexperienced hands). And you can get small 4" pads for the PC for spot-repairs and headlights, and also a carpet brush for carpets/mats that is simply amazing.

Anyways, if you can't tell, I'm a firm believer in the PC. It not only saves time, effort, and product, but truly raises the results up a few notches. Christmas is around the corner, so maybe you could drop some hints to a few people. Lowe's usually has good pricing on the PC, and www.topoftheline.com, www.exceldetail.com, and www.detailersparadise.com have good, competitive pricing on pads and a backing plate. I personally prefer the Lake Country 7.5" variable contact pads because they're machine washable. Any questions, email or PM me.

Hope this helps. Semper Fi,

Dave

 

thanks guys. some good info there. but something i was wondering after reading your posts is. What makes a PC so much better then any average polisher? you guys said it can remove swirls and stuff like that. I wanted to know why? Would it be the speed ranges or what. When i look at both PC and a average polisher i dont see too much of a diffrence, but then again i never used one.

thanks guys

 

i'm really interested in getting the PC 7424, but it seems so confusing. how do you know which pads to get? do you need the counterweight? etc...

the last thing i would want to do would be buy the PC and the wrong pads and end up ruining my paintjob. (even though it doesn't seem that easy to mess up with the user-friendly 7424.)

 

As said already that's nothing more than a power waxer. Save your cash and get the PC so you can polish too.

The 7424 will come with the correct counterweight for normal 6in pads. The 7336 (marketed as a sander) is essentially the same thing, but can be had cheaper. It comes with a 5in CW, but I use my dads and it doesn't seem to be a big problem. The counterweight isn't expensive either.

I have the edge 2000 pads...they have the quick disconnect instead of the usual velcro which I really like. I'm sure you'd be happy with any pads carried by autopia, autogeek, or excel detail. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting.

 

thanks. so you think i'd be best off with the 7424?

oh, and i'm drawing a blank. what's that detailing site/forum that is often refered on here?

 

I'm asking what does it have extra to makes it a polisher? is there a feature that is there or what?

 

autopia.org is the big one

 

What makes the PC effective for removing swirls when compared to those electric buffers is mainly the power. To remove swirls and scratches, you in essence must remove the paint around it to level it down to the lowest point (not a lot of paint. We're talking on the microscopic level here.). Paint is relatively hard, although it does scratch easy. So a lot of times it takes pressure to help the polishes perform more effectively to remove defects. You can really bow down on the PC to remove defects without bogging the machine down much. You can not do that with one of those electric buffers; you can actually stop the machine with pressure. And the PC is built to do it day in and day out.
Another aspect with the PC is it's variable speeds. The dial goes from 1-6. I use a speed of 4-5 to effectively work most polishes and paint cleaners, and depending on product used, I might do a final "burnishing" (for lack of a better word) on 6 (with a polishing pad). This produces a really deep, reflective gloss I can't duplicate with an electric buffer or by hand. For applying waxes/sealants, I use a finishing pad with the speed at 2-3. Same for wax/sealant removal with a microfiber bonnet. This works excellent for "hard" waxes like one of my favorites, Meg's #16. Swirl and scratch removal is the same as polishing, except I use a cutting pad and the appropriate product like Meg's DACP (#83). Those electric buffers are single speed, and much slower than the PC. I used to know the opm (orbits per minute) of the different settings on the PC, but can't recall them off the top of my head. I believe setting #6 is around 6000 opm, much faster than an electric buffer. And in all actuality, some people don't even use #6, going to 5 is usually plenty and effective.
The PC is extremely safe for your paint. Probably the only way you could damage your paint is if you drop the machine on it. The pad jiggles, not just rotates like a rotary. This jiggling motion prevents any chance of installing swirls or holograms in the paint like can be done by improper use of a rotary.
The learning curve for a PC is not bad at all. You'll develop a good feel for it by the time you finish your first car. Pad choice is usually a no-brainer, too. The 3 main types are cutting, polishing, and finishing. There are several that fall in between these 3 (like my favorite, the orange light-cutting). This only refers to the "cutting" ability of the pad itself. Cutting pads are the most aggressive, and are used for defect removal. Don't let the name scare you, they aren't that aggressive. Polishing pads are in the middle, and have minimal "cutting" ability. These are probably the most often used pads, mainly for paint cleaners and general polishing. Finishing pads have no cutting ability and are for applying fine glazes, waxes, and sealants if you want to apply them by machine. I do, and it really speeds up the process, gives an even coat, and applies the product much thinner than I can by hand. Thin coats aid in product removal, especially if using a "hard" wax like Meg's #16. Any of the pads you can get from the sites listed in this thread will serve you well. You can check around for the best deals, as the different sites often have specials. I would suggest 2 of each main type of pad so you don't have to stop if you drop one. You could even get by without a finishing pad if money is that tight and you apply your wax/sealant by hand. The 4" spot pads are extremely convenient for spot repairs, bumpers, lights, and other small areas. Keep in mind that you will need one backing plate for each size of pad you get (maximum pad size for the PC is 7.5", and the 6" backing plate is used). Another feature of the Lake Country 7.5" Variable Contact (VC) pads is that the backing plate sits recessed in them, so you can't accidentally hit your paint with the backside of the backing plate. Just something to think about. And the Lake country VC's are machine washable, but most people wash their pads by hand. I do it both ways.

The PC 7424 and 7336 are the same machine. They are just marketed differently (polisher versus sander). My 7336 came with a 6" counter-weight from www.detailersparadise.com . I use both 7.5" pads and 4" spot pads with no big deal. Others may come with a 5" counter-weight. If you don't like the vibration, order a 6" counter-weight; they only cost about $3.00.

Check www.autopia.org for more info than you'll ever need on the PC. You'll also find more info on pads.

A PC is definitely a worthwhile investment if you're serious about keeping your car looking its best.


Hope this helps.
Dave

 

that helps a lot. this was what i was trying to get out of the thread. I don't think i'll be gettin a pc anytime soon. But i guess i'll start stacking up on the polishes and waxes. For now thanks a lot Dave.

 

Dave - very helpful and informative post...I plan on buying a PC and pad kit from autopia, but wasn't sure what I needed for which purpose. Now I have a better idea.

Thanks,
Chris

 

I've been looking for one also. And got feedback from a org member at prices and seems to be the best so far. Here for the PC http://www.toolmarts.com/pc_7424.html
and then was recommended to get this: http://www.autopia-carcare.com/son-daspad-kit.html
with this kit comes a CD guide to detailing. Not sure how much it will help but i'm sure if someone is new to detailing its a good start.

 

Heres another pad kit thats cheaper and works just as well if not better than Sonus pads
http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/s...etail&ct=29307

That cd is information that you can download from autopia anyways