I'm about to buy a Porter Cable orbital polisher. I have a 1990 white car with the paint in decent shape, and a '97 black car and the paint isn't in as good of shape (there are a few chips in the hood) and some swirl marks. Although I've read several threads on how to use it, and what pads to use with it; I'm still a bit confused. What polishing pads, cutting pads, and compounds or liquids should I use and where is the best place to get them?

I'm about to buy a Porter Cable orbital polisher. I have a 1990 white car with the paint in decent shape, and a '97 black car and the paint isn't in as good of shape (there are a few chips in the hood) and some swirl marks. Although I've read several threads on how to use it, and what pads to use with it; I'm still a bit confused. What polishing pads, cutting pads, and compounds or liquids should I use and where is the best place to get them?

Here's a good place to start...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=379819

OK, so I should use an Orange light cutting pad with 3M FI2? Is that an abreviation for the actual name? And then I use a white pad for the AIO? Is AIO another abbreviation for something? Should I even use a Grey pad at all?
And do I still hand wax after I do these things?

First, check David's Detailing 101 thread. Lots of good info there. I'm no expert, but I'll try to explain the use as I understand it. Maybe someone who is more experienced will jump in and correct my mistakes.

Basically, you need an assortment of pads and a few good products.

The pads are classified by use - cutting, light cutting, polishing, finishing, and finessing pads. Those are in order form most abrasive to least abrasive. If the paint is heavily oxidized, you may need a cutting pad, but I'm afraid to use one. The light cutting pad is appropriate for minor defect and swirl mark removal. The polishing pad is used for final polishing. The finishing pads are not supposed to cut and are used for wax or sealant application. Finally the finessing pad is for final buffing.

You need to decide on which products to use. There are lots of product lines. Sticking with David's directions, you'll need a medium polish like 3M Finesse-It II Finishing Material. You'll also need a mild polish to remove the haze left by the mild polish, like Klasse AIO. And you'll need a paint cleaner. David reccommends Klasse AIO for that, too. I've read that a lot of people like the Menzerna and Poor Boys products, too.

You should start with the least abrassive product and pad you think will remove the defect. For example you might try to removing swirl marks with AIO on a polishing pad and evaluate the results. If the swirls are still noticable, you can step up to FI2 on a light cutting pad. You can also step up to a more abrasive product on same pad, like FI2 on apolishing pad. Or a more abrasive pad with the same product, like AIO on a light cutting pad. The idea is to remove as little clear coat or paint as possible.

Personally, I don't expect to need to remove a lot of paint so I bought a light cutting pad, a Lake Country Orange pad to use with FI2. But I expect to do some poilshing, so I bought two Lake Country white polishing pads. This lets me finish a car without stopping to clean a pad. And I wanted to use the PC to apply wax and sealant. So I bought 2 Lake Country finishing pads because you shouldn't use different products on the same pad. Of course, I plan to buy a couple of pads any time I order products. Those pads just got me started.

The nice thing about the method in David's post is that it uses a minimum of products and pads.

OK, so I should use an Orange light cutting pad with 3M FI2? Is that an abreviation for the actual name? And then I use a white pad for the AIO? Is AIO another abbreviation for something? Should I even use a Grey pad at all?
And do I still hand wax after I do these things?

3M Finesse It II Finishing Material machine Polish (P/N 39003 in the 16 oz bottle).

AIO is Klasse All-In-One.

The gray pad is good for applying wax or sealant. But it's really not much help with Klasse Sealant Glaze or a carnuba like P21S/S100, because they go on and come off so easy.

or drive up to dallas one day and i'll detail it. :D

Here's what i have and where I bought it.

PC 7424 www.coastaltool.com $119 with backing plate
2 of each lake country pad www.Topoftheline.com $50
Meguiars #83 and #80 www.amazon.com www.autogeek.net www.pakshack.com etc.
Poorboy's ssr2.5 (for polishing in sunlight) www.pakshack.com $15
Klasse AIO $20 www.autoggek.net www.pakshak.com

ssr2.5 and AIO would be a nice choice as would 83 and 80. or 83,80, and AIO. 83 is probably the most abrasive one and needs to be followed up with some ppolishing using #80. After that you are ready to wax/seal. ssr2.5 is similar to 83 though. AIO would be a nice follow up to it.

And don't forget to get lots of mf towels. If you want the best get them from www.pakshak.com or if you want some more reasonably priced ones get them from www.chemicalguys.com

I've found the 9$ for 20 pack of Costco (Sam's Club) towels is more than good enough.

I use the Sonus pads with the PC, 3M FI2, AIO and SG.

i use a orange cutting pad with menzerna intensive polish ( if necessary) then switch to a white pad with klasse all in one, then apply several layers of klasse glaze by hand.
you can most of the supplies at http://www.properautocare.com/bufpol.html

pelos