Porter Cable 7424 buffer

[bmwpower]

Just bought a used one but I'm not sure if it's missing stuff or not. The velcro pad backing plate and arbor is attached to the unit. Does this come off? If so, I don't have the wrench. Anything else I'm possibly missing?

Buffing pads...any recommendations?

 

[bmwpower]

Nada??.........

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

bmw,

It comes off. Do you have the manual yet? If not, I can email scans from mine.

Pads? I'm partial to the Edge foam system due to them having two sides and the fact I can go from 6" pads to 4" pads in about 5 seconds. Others prefer Lake foam pads or some of the other makers out there but Edge pads are centered when put on and that is not always the case with other systems.

I don't use wool on the PC (have a couple of Makita's for that) but some guys have reported good results with thw foamed purple wool pads. Have you decided on polishes yet?

 

[Romanova]

I love LC pads... always had good results...

 

[General Lee]

Ive owned a the 7424 for years, but I switched to the cyclo polisher. Google it and check it out. Its more powerful for paint correction yet still random orbit so safe for your paint. I mainly use by PC for applying waxes only.

Lake country makes good pads and so does meguiars.

 

[Chris Adams]

I went with Lake, no complaints at all.
Bought more than I needed as I didn't realize how long they last.

 

[gofastman]

do yourself a favor and get some 3-4" mini pads, the work so much better its amazing,the tool transmits ALOT less vibration too.

the tool should have come with a flat wrench to hold the tool end, then you can spin the backing plate off by hand, I think the wrench size is 13mm

 

[Bull]

I have used the Lake and like them. Cleaning them is, I find, a royal PITA. I wash them with dish soap and warm water in the laundry set tub, and end up squeezing out gobs of nasty polish from their pores. Pretty messy.

The Cyclo is like a couple hundred bucks, isn't it?

 

[jshillin]

I have used the Lake and like them. Cleaning them is, I find, a royal PITA. I wash them with dish soap and warm water in the laundry set tub, and end up squeezing out gobs of nasty polish from their pores. Pretty messy.

The Cyclo is like a couple hundred bucks, isn't it?

If you're squeezing out gobs of polish, your using way to much.

 

[Bull]

If you're squeezing out gobs of polish, your using way to much.

Well, seeing as how I am an amateur, this is quite possible. But, I have achieved some very nice results so far.

How much polish/compound SHOULD there be on the pad at the end of a day spent polishing an entire car?

 

[jshillin]

Well, seeing as how I am an amateur, this is quite possible. But, I have achieved some very nice results so far.

How much polish/compound SHOULD there be on the pad at the end of a day spent polishing an entire car?

Not much at all. When you start, prime the pad with a spray or 2 of Quick Detailer, then do a X across the pad with polish. Work the first 2x2 section. Next I do another X across the pad in the different than the first, and do the next 2x2. After that, the pad is primed so just use a couple pea sized dots on the pad.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Black eye pea sized, English pea size or snap pea size?

Sorry jshillin, couldn't help myself....

Same here but I describe them as dime sized. If the pad gets caked a little, change pads or spur with a tool designed for foam pads. Don't forget to "smear" the polish around the panel before starting. This allows you to use less polish and have fresh polish over the entire panel that you are working on. +1 on the 2'x2' areas. Your polish will not dry out as much working in an area that size.

 

[RAYJAY]

I have used the Lake and like them. Cleaning them is, I find, a royal PITA. I wash them with dish soap and warm water in the laundry set tub, and end up squeezing out gobs of nasty polish from their pores. Pretty messy.

The Cyclo is like a couple hundred bucks, isn't it?

bull just wash them in the washing machine ..........been doing it for years
use laundry soap no fabric softener,


and there's a lot of great info on this thread about the PC and pads and wax to use

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32336