Matt M PA
Enthusiast
The BEST deal on a Porter Cable polisher is at Lowe's.
The Porter Cable 7336SP, $109.
Meguair's sells a re-badged 7424, and it has the wrong counterweight for the 6.5" pads you will be using. (Most detailing sites sell the 7424.)
The 7336 and 7424 are identical, except for the counterweight. The 7424 comes with a 5" counterweight; the 7336 comes with a 6" counterweight.
When you use a 6.5" pad and a backing plate, with the 5" counter weight vibration becomes an issue, and even Porter Cable recommends matching the pads and counterweights to avoid damage to the machine.
I use a 5" 3M Hook-It (not Hook-It 2) velcro backing plate and Meguair's 6.5" pads. Very little vibration at even the highest speeds. Since this backing plate does not come all the way to the edge, it gives your pad edges a bit of "give". Plus, it helps against vibration.
The Hook-It plate and Meg's pads are at most auto body supply shops.
As far as applying and removing wax, I find it faster to do this by hand, than with the machine.
Finally, there is no reason to push down on a PC. The weight of the machine, the pad, and the product you are using should be sufficient. If you need to apply force to the point of it no longer tunring, you need to go a bit more aggressive with material or pads.
The Porter Cable 7336SP, $109.
Meguair's sells a re-badged 7424, and it has the wrong counterweight for the 6.5" pads you will be using. (Most detailing sites sell the 7424.)
The 7336 and 7424 are identical, except for the counterweight. The 7424 comes with a 5" counterweight; the 7336 comes with a 6" counterweight.
When you use a 6.5" pad and a backing plate, with the 5" counter weight vibration becomes an issue, and even Porter Cable recommends matching the pads and counterweights to avoid damage to the machine.
I use a 5" 3M Hook-It (not Hook-It 2) velcro backing plate and Meguair's 6.5" pads. Very little vibration at even the highest speeds. Since this backing plate does not come all the way to the edge, it gives your pad edges a bit of "give". Plus, it helps against vibration.
The Hook-It plate and Meg's pads are at most auto body supply shops.
As far as applying and removing wax, I find it faster to do this by hand, than with the machine.
Finally, there is no reason to push down on a PC. The weight of the machine, the pad, and the product you are using should be sufficient. If you need to apply force to the point of it no longer tunring, you need to go a bit more aggressive with material or pads.
