Any of you use one of these? Sean (my son) and I went 50/50 on one. Wondering if anyone has any tips on using it so we don't screw up our finishes. Looks pretty straight forward but you never know any advise would be very much appreciated.

Pat

 

Don't drop it on the car and you'll be fine. Seriously, that's about the only way to really screw up your finish with one of these.

What pads did you get and what polish do you plan on using? I'm a Meguiar's fan myself and get all my stuff at autodetailingsolutions.com Using either M80 or M83 with a Meguiar's yellow polishing pad I've been able to get rid of most any issue I've come across. I rarely pull out my rotary unless I'm trying to remove wet-sanding marks from something.

For polishing purposes you want to use a speed setting of 4 or 5, but physically move the machine slowly over the surface of the paint. No fast back and forth motions, let the machine work. Apply a fair amount of downward pressure too, not enough to stop the pads from spinning, but almost. Of course, that sort of depends on which polish and pads you use - I know Prima polish on a Lake County pad works better with very light pressure but the opposite is true of most Meguiar's polishes. Of course, the paint itself has a lot to do with technique as well since different paint systems respond differently.

I suggest you check out the forums at meguiarsonline.com and read up on all this.

 

Use speed 1,500 rpm or less, don't stay in one spot and you'll be fine.

 

If you are referring to the PC-7424 you don't have to worry about damaging your finish. It is a very safe polisher.

 

This place has a lot of tips on detailing and using the porter -

http://forums.roadfly.com/forums/detailing/

 

Lots of good info and detailing stuff.

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/pcdepot.html

 

Great machine, here is another site with a lot of GOOD info.

http://www.autogeek.net/po.html

 

You're thinking of a rotary buffer, he's talking about a random orbital so there aren't any RPM settings per se. It's a completely different animal with a much smaller learning curve.

 

much agreed ... i use to use both on a regular basis ... the orbital is pretty much idiot proof. the high speed buffer requires some skills.

 

Yes it's the 7424. I'd be dangerous with a high speed buffer, the car would end up with holes in it! As for the wax/polish I'm gonna use up the Zaino AIO I have and then I might try some Adams or go back to the Z-2 (pink) Zaino. Although after today's hand polish, (the PC hasn't got here yet), I'm blown away with the shine using the Meguiars gold wash and the AIO so the jury is out on the polish, I am always open and I do appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.

Pat

 

Check-out my sticky, "How to Detail a Crossfire." Or, I'll detail it!

 

Pat,

While you certainly can use the PC 7424 to apply both the Z2 and Z AIO, I think you will find that you will use more of the Z2 just to fill your pad than you would normally use to apply the product by hand.

I usually apply the Z2 w/ZFX by hand, then use the PC 7424 with the buffing bonnet to remove the Z2 after curing/drying. By using the PC 7424 to remove the Z2 rather quickly, this allows me to apply a second coat of the Z2 or wax if you prefer, in the same amount of time it would normally take to buff by hand.

Just some tips, from someone who has been there and done that when using the Zaino products.

XFH

 

Well said. This PC is all I use on any of my cars. It makes the job easy and fast and if you use good products the results are perfect. I have had nothing but good luck with this thing.

 

the auto geek typically puts a good sale on them around christmas time. so watch for it. and tell santa you want one.