What model Porter Cable buffer do you guys recommend? Who has the best price? How often do you use them on your car; once a year, more, less? Just wondering how many uses before the clear coat wears through or is that not an issue with a PC?

 

The 7424 and 7336 are the same except for the counter-weight. Either works fine.

I got mine from Coastal Tool for $120, and it included a backing plate. You can get one from Lowe's for $99 (w/o a backing plate).

I try not to over polish my car...2-3 times a year tops. The PC is pretty safe, and it would take MANY polishings to go through the clear, but you don't have to worry too much.

Work on refining your washing/drying/waxing techniques so there isn't reason to use the PC too much.

 

Thanks. I've always done that stuff by hand but I do have some areas that need a little more than that. I've used buffers before but never on a car that I baby as much as the GS.

 

The best advice of all. I think you just should use the PC ONCE -- to restore paint that you've previously neglected. Then, in a perfect world, you'll be more careful and never cause swirls or scratches again. Well , that's in a perfect world.

You may find prices lower elsewhere, but I like autogeek -- got my PC 7424 there - just buy it with the full wolfgang pad kit -- will give you everything you need, so you know you're not missing something like a backing plate. about $189 total,( with the kit with all the pads and stuff that you don't get if you just get the Lowes deal above) but you have convenience and know that you're getting all that you need, and a great vendor that will get you the stuff in less than a week.

 

Thanks for the advice but for the record, I haven't neglected the paint or caused swirls....it was the pig (I have other adjectives for him but don't want to get in trouble with the moderators) prior owner! Beleive me this was not a car guy to say the least. Anyway, I've worked for a year to turn that car around, interior and exterior, with very good results but was exploring another step AKA buffing. It's good to be able to get input from this forum by people like yourself who appreciate cars in general and C-4's specifically.

 

You have a PM

 

Like Bugman I purchased the 7424 from Autogeek. I used it for the first time last Friday. It was very easy to use and the results were great. I plan on using it every time I apply polish unless somebody on this forum convinces me otherwise.

 

I did learn the hard way NOT to use the orange Wolfgang pad --
not unless you have some severe oxidation etc that won't come out any other way. For a car like the vette that is babied, everything gets the white pad, except final wax or sealant layer, which gets the black pad.

I'm starting to use the PC to apply waxes and sealants -- sure, you can do it by hand just as well, but it does save some shoulder aching.

I suspect you could probably use the black pad with sealant every day for 10 years and you'd never hurt your clear coat - it's a soft pad. I'll probably use the white pad with some swirlmark remover or scratchX once or twice a year. But I am learning to prevent trouble rather than fix it. Got a soft wash mitt (sheepskin I think), started using TWO buckets (DOH !), and I'm upgrading my drying towels to use only DF towels now, though I still use the cheapy walmart towels for removing sealants. They're ok if you're gentle.

 

http://www.autogeek.net/hk7424.html

We offer a complete kit with everything needed for your PC. I prefer the orange and yellow cutting pads when polishing, but I choose to use the least aggressive polish and move forward to more abrasive polish as only necessary. I do see where using the most aggressive pad (yellow cutting) and some of the most aggressive polishes could provide some slight hazing . That said, follow up with a light polish and a white pad after will usually jewel the surface and make it better than new.

 

I bought the buffer from autodetailingsolutions.com and have the lifetime warranty for the PC. The price is fair and you can't beat the lifetime warranty.

Kevin

 

Use your DFTowels for removing your sealant, don't risk using cheap towels for anything paint related.

 

I just ordered the big 7424 kit from autogeek. I can't wait to give it a shot!

-GT

 

I ordered the Porter cable buffer and pads from "Autogeek" last week........great customer service and fast shipping.

 

Well today was the day. Washed the GS with Dawn and followed with an application of Zaino Z-PC Fusion using the PC and a white LC pad. Actually did use the orange one a little where I needed more cut and it worked well. Here is a picture right after the Z-PC application.



Then I mixed up some Z-2 and ZFX, two ounces. Well that was enough to apply 3 good coats and a fourth from the mid-body molding up including the glass. My recommendation to anyone who has not used this stuff is to start with maybe 1 onuce....you mix more that that you either waste the Z-2 or, if you don't like wasting stuff like me, you make more work for yourself adding coats. Anyway here are a couple of after shots.





Now for the "It's my opinion so don't get offended" part. I like Zaino and contrary to all that has been said about it being hard to work with I thiought it was pretty easy. Yeah it took me 4 hrs. to wash and dry the car, do the Z-PC, and get three full coats of Z-2 with ZFX on and off ( I put a fourth on later), but all and all it wasn't that bad.

Is it better than the Glare I was using? I honestly can't say as I think using the PC, which I didn't have when I used the Glare, would skew that assessment. IMO both go on and come off about the same with the Glare maybe maybe a lilttle less powder and both shine like a som@#*ch . Am I going to continue using the Zaino...you bet (can't drink it).
What about the Glare? I'll use the Glare on the Le Mans Comemorative Z06 and let you know how that comes out.

Bottom line, both are high quality products and you can't go too wrong using either. How's that for straddling the fence?

 

The car looks FABULOUS.

Constructive critisizm: You used WAY too mich Z2 Pro. 1 oz. (half the mixing bottle) should be plenty to do 3 full coats on your Vette. When used correctly, there will be absolutely zero dusting from Z2 Pro.

 

Thanks, I figured that out as I went along.

 

Like the 7424 it's easy to use and very light weight

 

Forgive my ignorance, but what are DF Towels?

 

www.dftowel.com