If so what are your thoughts. I have always detailed my car by hand and achieved very good results. I am thinking about buying a Porter Cable and would like to know the benefits and disadvantes of using them.
tx :)

sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

get a dw849 ( dewalt )

I do almost all of my work by PC 7424 and anything it can't take out I use the rotary. I can't really speak to the difference between the PC and by hand because I haven't worked by hand in almost a decade, I just know the PC was the best $99 I ever spent. :)

havent got one yet, but i plan too. all i hear is good things about it. lots of people praise it on here and autogeekonline.net and a few other detailing sites. i just dont have the money at the moment

I've had a PC 7424 since about the middle of last summer. I use mostly paste waxes (also just picked up OCW) so I don't use it for the application of wax or sealant (SG). However I do use it for polishing and AIO. Once I get a few MF bonnets I may also use it for wax removal to save some time.

As far as benefits, the PC can take out defects that would be near impossible or at least completely exhausting by hand. Only disadvantage would be that you need to familiarize yourself with it and possibly more product consumption. The PC is practically idiot proof but there have been a few rare occasions when users have found ways to burn through their clearcoat but that is usually from an extremely aggressive product matched with a cutting pad on a thin spot of clear.

sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

get a dw849 ( dewalt )
mmmm no. Many professional detailers use a pc exclusively. It is a great investment.

sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

get a dw849 ( dewalt )
isnt that a rotary polisher? those are dangerous to paint when used by a n00b.

unless he has lots of experience using machine polishers, he should start out with a PC. almost anything that can be removed by a rotary can also be removed by a PC - it will just take more passes.

DeWalt is much better quality wise but the PC basically does the same thing. Not sure what the dw849 is but DeWalt makes a dual action polisher aka "orbital" as well as a rotary buffer. Like someone said... rotary buffers are not meant to be used by a "noob." And like Palomino said... most fine scratches and oxidation can be romoved with the PC/DeWalt orbital buffers, with the right product and technique of course. The PC for the money is a great product though. I say GET IT!

Willie

I forgot to mention. Not sure if any of you have heard of this site, but Autopia.org is a great forum to get detailing advice.

Willie

I think if you're working on your car only there really isn't much reason to get a rotary (unless it's in terrible shape). A PC will serve for both moderate marring removal and wax/glaze application. As a pro a rotary makes much more sense just in terms of speed. A panel with moderate swirls done by a PC can literally be done in 1/3 the time with a rotary.

I like my PC. I have found there are some scratches that I really expected to get out, that I haven't yet though. It definately takes out the majority of them though and removes all swirls!

I will probably get a rotary at some point just to familiarize myself with one, but my PC was a great investment. The learning curve is almost zero. You will pick it up extremely fast.

Also, if you've only worked by hand, you will be amazed at how much more shine you can get.

+1 for autopia.org

i love my pc!! much better results than what i can get by hand

I use the PC all the time...when I polish and wax the cars heh...

-Randy

Thanks everyone for your insight.
I will pick one up soon and show you all the results.
Thanks for your help. :)

+1 for autopia.org been a member for long time just don't post much.

M crazy i just bought one a couple a weeks ago.. still in the box, come over and test it out on my black car see the results for yourself.. but you have to wash, clay and seal as well. your welcome anytime

yeah, I use a 6" PC model 7336 just to apply polish & glaze, but I wax by hand. They make life a lot easier :)

Just ordered this kit from http://www.pinnaclewax.com/portercablekit.html
Also ordered ClearKote Vanilla Moose and ClearKote Carnauba Wax it will top al of it off with Souveran :)

M crazy i just bought one a couple a weeks ago.. still in the box, come over and test it out on my black car see the results for yourself.. but you have to wash, clay and seal as well. your welcome anytime

I suggest you come down we are having a detail day on sunday there will be quite a few nicely modded bimmers ;).

I will post my results Thank you all. :)

Every car enthusiast should own a PC. Great for removing paint defects that you just cant get out by hand.

I do!

After hearing such great things about the PC I decided that if I was going to get serious I would need one. Since the day I got it I have been very happy with it and highly recommend it to anyone. It really makes things possible that would not be possible if attempted by hand. It's true, it does make polishing or applying wax much easier but where it really shines is it's ability toremove swirls and scratches.

Not to get into a discussion about rotaries but for the normal detailing buff the PC is the perfect tool. Yes, a rotary can save time and be very effective but it's nice knowing that you really cant mess anything up with the PC.

I just got amy PC and am very happy with it. I do a lot of woodworking too. I have used many brands of power tools. IMO, and this is ONLY MY OPINION....DeWalt is trash. The PC stuff and Jet stuff is much better quality in the long term. I have never had to repair one piece of PC equipment. I am sold on them. I do own a Dewalt Sander as well as a few Delta and Milwaukee tools. The delta Pro stuff is good. Its the same as anything with Delta, you get what you pay for. The Milwaukee is good but does seem to wear bearings more than the PC stuff. Maybe its the way I use it though. The Milwaukee router in mounted and the PC ones are used by hand. So thats my take on it. No I never tried the Dewalt so I don't know first hand.

Get one when you have the money, and be sure to buy the package from Autogeek.net. It's the best deal in town IMO.

PC or Dewalt, there is no way you can achieve by hand what you can achieve with a machine. Pick a PC you won't be disappointed once you get your technique straight.

i live my Porter Cable, ever since I got it polish jobs hasnt really been easier perse compared to my cheapo $12 orbital but it removes everything i need and polishes an excellent finish

So use the pc for applying both polish and wax? I need to remove swirls....what is it that the pc does that removes the swirls that you can do by hand? Is it the number of revolutions, pressure?

And then, what kind of attachments should you have that are basic but necessary for applying polish and wax?

So use the pc for applying both polish and wax? I need to remove swirls....what is it that the pc does that removes the swirls that you can do by hand? Is it the number of revolutions, pressure?

And then, what kind of attachments should you have that are basic but necessary for applying polish and wax?


I usually just use the PC for removing swirls and polishing. Normally, I wax by hand but it can be done on the PC. There are many theories on this subject but most will say that pressure is not really needed when using a machine. A PC can do in a matter of seconds what would take you much longer if you tried to do it by hand. Any substantial swirl removing (not just covering up) is basically impossible to do by hand in my opinion. You will hear many people say that rotaries are better than a PC because they can do the job even faster, this is true you just need to know how to use them.

When using any type of machine there are different pads for different applications. I would suggest some type of cutting pad (yellow) for removing swirls. A white polishing pad for polishing (duh!) like with AIO. I also have some finishing pads are, mine are black, for applying wax when I don't feel like doing it by hand.

I suggest you come down we are having a detail day on sunday there will be quite a few nicely modded bimmers ;).

I will post my results Thank you all. :)

If you guys are looking for a place to detail your cars, PNC Bank Arts is having an autocross day on the 7th (Sunday). Not sure exactly how far it is from Long Island, but youll be able to push your cars for $40. :) Let me know.

GriFF

Pics:) : http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=529606

So use the pc for applying both polish and wax? I need to remove swirls....what is it that the pc does that removes the swirls that you can do by hand? Is it the number of revolutions, pressure?

And then, what kind of attachments should you have that are basic but necessary for applying polish and wax?
yes, use the pc for polishing and waxing. For polishing, it's a combination of pressure, speed, the polish used, the type of abrasives in the polish, the type of pad used. Cutting pads, polishing pads, finishing pads, etc.
For waxing, it's mostly the type of pad and speed.
The PC can do things you just can't do by hand and the pc will do almost all of what a rotary will do, the pc will just take longer. It's extremely difficult to damage paint with a PC and very easy to damage paint with a rotary.
I'd hone my skills with a PC, then eventually add a rotary when I feel I'm not a complete doofus.
-John C.