Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher Buyers Guide
The Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher is the best car polisher on the market today. No other type of car buffer or car polisher offers the same level of capability and safety.
This article will help you understand the Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher and the benefits it provides over polishing you car by hand or other types of automotive buffers and car polishers on the market. It will also help you choose the best car polishing and buffing foam pads, accessories and polish needed to achieve a brilliant shine on your car's paint.
POLISHING YOUR PAINT BY MACHINE VS HAND!
Working by hand just can't produce the brilliant shine you can achieve by machine but many are afraid to take the step up as they fear the machine will do more harm than good. Set your mind at ease, there are no worries when it comes to the Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher damaging your paint, even if you have never used a car polisher before! This machine offers variable speeds and a random orbit dual action for safe, swirl free polishing.
The Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher is capable of removing random isolated scratches, swirl, oxidation, water spots, acid rain etching and bird dropping damage as well as other unfortunate paint defects that stand in the way of that brilliant shine.
The Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher is also a great maintenance tool for your gloss enhancement polishing, pre-wax cleaning and can finish the job by applying thin, even coat of favorite car wax, paint sealant or protectant.
MACHINE POLISHING OVERVIEW
The Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher is a random orbit, dual-action car polisher. That simply means that the polishing head both orbits and rotates at the same time.
The dual-action polisher is the ultimate polisher action for the professional, serious car care enthusiast or beginner. It is 100% safe for the do-it-yourselfer who wants an automotive polisher that is safe to use and provides awesome results.
This diagram shows the working action the polishing pad makes on a dual-action car polisher. It both orbits (small random circle action) and rotates.
If you want the best results possible, with safety and ease, the Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher. is the way to go!
THE SECRET TO A GREAT SHINE IS IN THE PREP WORK!
Use of the correct dual action car polisher is essential for safe and efficient car care. It is polishing your car's paint, not car waxing, that offers the most improvement in the overall appearance of car's paint. A good car polisher, such as the Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher is capable of removing random isolated scratches, swirl, oxidation, water spots, acid rain etching and bird dropping damage as well as other paint defects that diminish shine in your paint.
The Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher is also a maintenance tool for your gloss enhancement polishing, pre-wax cleaning and will help you protect your hard work by applying a thin, even coat of favorite car wax, paint sealant or protectant.
The key is to use the proper foam buffing or polishing pad with the coordinating car polish at the correct speed. The perfect combination will result in an unbelievable, flawless shine.
IF IT'S PAINTED, YOU CAN POLISH IT!
The Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher isn't just for your car, you can use it to perfect and protect just about any painted surface
- Cars
- Boats
- Motorcycles
- RV's
- Airplanes
Even if you have never used a buffer or car polisher before you can use one of the dual-action polisher to achieve awesome, swirl-free results.
NOT ALL CAR POLISHERS ARE THE SAME
We have all heard the horror stories of people burning their paint or creating horrendous swirl marks by machine and because of this people fear polishing their paint by machine. These stories are usually true stories but they DO NOT involve the dual action polishers like the Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher.
Paint damage by machine is created by rotary buffers, which spin at a high rate of speed, and in the hands of the inexperienced detailer can create severe paint damage. Rotary buffers are for the trained professionals who have experience and need to remove severe defects prior to polishing with a dual action polisher.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN CAR POLISHERS?
The car polishers found in your local auto parts store work like a jitter bug sander. They lack the power and versatility necessary to properly polish modern clear coat paint finishes and do little more than apply your car wax. These machines, like the one pictured above, operate at a single speed of less than 2,200 OPM. This is very common on all machines in this configuration.
Dual-Action car polishers operate by orbiting the polishing pad around a center spindle while the pad freely spins on its own axis. A counterweight on the opposite side of the center spindle dampens vibration for smooth operation. These are known as random orbit dual-action polishers.
This random orbit pattern prevents the creation of swirl marks, paint burns and other forms of paint damage often associated with high-speed rotary buffing machines.
In addition to lack of power, the small polisher machines, sold in retail and automotive discount centers everywhere, have very limited polishing pad and bonnet options. Most of these system rely on an inexpensive fabric bonnet will a pull string for fastening.
Quality professional and pro-consumer car polishers all use removable, washable and reusable foam polishing and buffing pads with quick change VelcroTM backing.
DETAILER FOR HIRE OR DIY?
Hey, if you can afford to hire a professional detailer to maintain your cars, by all means, do it! However, before your turn your car over to a detailer, ask them what kind of polisher they use.
CAUTION: Many detailers use a high-speed rotary buffers. These machines are very powerful and the polishing pad is driven directly off of the motor shaft which means the pad spins at a high speed and creates heat.
If the detailer is not very skilled (and careful), their polisher will leave marks called holograms or buffer swirl and could potentially burn through the paint.
Most good detailers will only use the rotary buffer for very serious defects in the paint, then they will make a final pass with a dual-action machine after the serious defects have been removed by their high-speed rotary buffer.
WATCH OUT! Inexperienced or shady detailers will cover buffer swirl with a filler polish, glaze, oily wax to hide them from you. When you pick up the car it looks great, then the swirl will magically appear after the next time you wash your car.
DO IT RIGHT, DO IT YOURSELF!
Don't worry, it's safe and easy! You can pick up a dual-action polisher like the Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher for the price of one good detail job.
Even if you have never used any type of car polisher, you can successfully polish your car's paint and achieve that sought after, deep, wet looking shine!
There's a little bit of technique involved, but most people can pick it up it in about 5-10 minutes. The technique is to use overlapping motions and run the polisher over your paint at a nice and slow speed.
Proper machine polishing is as easy as following this simple pattern. Master this and you're on your way!
Recommended Speed Setting Guide:- STEP 1- Remove Serious Defects 5 to 5.5
- STEP 2- Remove Swirl and Minor Defects 4.5 to 5
- STEP 3- Pre Wax Cleaning and Gloss Enhancement 4.5
- STEP 4- Protect your paint finish from harsh environmental elements 2.5
- Product Residue Removal Sonus DAS Microfiber Buffing Bonnet - 3.5 to 4
Note: Not all paint finishes require the entire four-step process. Complete only the steps necessary for the condition or your paint finish.
MACHINE POLISHING HOW-TO TIPS
- Do a test spot! Make sure your technique and process is offering desired results before proceeding to polish the entire car
- Use the proper pad, polish and speed combination for your paint's condition
- Keep the pad level on your paint surface at all times
- Always start with your least aggressive polish, then step up only if needed
- Use overlapping motions
- SLOW Down! Don't run the machine over the paint too fast or it won't get the job done
- Work a small (2' by 2') area at a time so you can concentrate on your work
- More polish is not better! Use only about 3 to 4 pea size dabs and add more as necessary
- Never dry buff! Add polish when you see your polish is thin and starts to go clear
- Never buff in direct sun or on a warm or hot surface
- Never use more than one type of polish on your polishing or buffing pad
- Keep your pads away from trim and sharp edges
- Tape off trim with painter's tape to avoid staining trim and polish build up in cracks and crevices
- Never lift your pad off the paint when the machine is turned on
- Keep the cord over your shoulder and away from your paint
- Tie a loose knot around where the extension cord meets the polisher cord so it stays plugged in
- Make sure your lighting is good so you can see your progress
- Apply medium pressure only when removing defects
- Check your work often to make sure your process is working
Read more about the Porter Cable 7424 XP Car Polisher here...
Porter Cable 7424 XP Polisher User Guide