My Epic WORST DAY With my new Porter Cable

[Adam's Polishes]

Stick with it... the PC really isn't that hard to use, just sounds like you need more practice. I'd guess you were using too much pressure, but its hard to say without seeing your process in person.



One suggestion I would make to you is look at the 2 sided quick change pads. All it took was a couple of times hitting the underside of a mirror to convince me that I didn't want to risk the damage... the 2 sided pads are nice since they give you protection against damage like what happened to your spoiler:



Gray & White combo pad + QC adapter: Car Wax, Car Polish, Auto Detail Supplies - Polish & Wax Pad with Adapter



Green & Orange combo pad:

Car Wax, Car Polish, Auto Detail Supplies - Green & Orange Pad - Moderate-Heavy Polishing

 

[toml]

Yes it's the Meguiars #2, Fine-Cut Cleaner. It's rated a 5/10 with 0 being light cut and 10 being heavy cut.



Is this too harsh or just right? I picked it up at the autoparts store a week or two ago since I thought I might need it in the future.

John,



I wouldn't use the Megs #2. Per the abrasives' list, it is for rotary use only, and you typically don't want to use rotary-only polishes via PC. In regards to the Megs line of polishes, the most frequent ones I've seen mentioned here are #83 (DACP) and the less aggressive #80. However, there are a lot of other polishes as well.



Looks like Denzil will be helping you out. That's a great thing about this forum. :up :up

 

[BigJimZ28]

Sorry to hear about your accident. About the PC smoking, I wouldnt worry about it if your PC is brand new or recently refurbished. It could just be the grease used during assembly burning off, it is normal with power tools.

:shocked WOW is that a joke?

 

[LARGEBORE]

I had a disaster of my own. Put a mf bonnet on the white buffing pad that is supplied with the kit.. Got the pc up pretty high and the bonnet started to flare out and whip around on the surface of the hood. Put 5 scratches on the hood that will require wet standing.

 

[Bobby G]

I had a disaster of my own. Put a mf bonnet on the white buffing pad that is supplied with the kit.. Got the pc up pretty high and the bonnet started to flare out and whip around on the surface of the hood. Put 5 scratches on the hood that will require wet standing.

Not sure how a cloth bonnet could leave scratches. For future ref, though, you can't run a bonnet at a speed higher than 2-3. You're working against the basic forces of nature.

 

[whitejavaS500]

John, how new is your car? The AIO May have been cleaning up a previous filler. SInce AIO has no cut, it doesnt really take any swirls out, so either somehing had to be stuck in the pad (small pebble, little bit of dirt) or you were just cleaning a hidden mess. But I'd reccomend you watch the free Autogeek PC videos, buy products that'll cut your swirls, I reccomend the Menzerna Super Intensive Polish/Menzerna PO106FF combo.



Hope this helps,

 

[SpoiledMan]

John,



I wouldn't use the Megs #2. Per the abrasives' list, it is for rotary use only, and you typically don't want to use rotary-only polishes via PC.

The reformulated #2 which has been out for a couple years now can be used by rotary, PC or hand.

 

[charlesaferg]

Sounds to me that...



A. You're using the wrong counterweight.



B. You're pressing too hard. (RO polishers create the spinning by centrifugal force, and not by a direct spindle like a circular, so if you rpess too hard, all you're really getting is wobbling, and the pad sticks. You can literally grab the pad and all it will do is wobble and not spin, try it sometime - you'll see how it works from there.)



C. New German clearcoat paints are extremely tough, this is new within the past few years - get a polish specifically made for this. EG: Menzerna Nano-Polish.



&



D. CHECK THE COUNTERWEIGHT AGAIN. If the counterweight is the wrong size for the pad, the machine will make sounds like a Tsjechenigel getting hit by MG42 on Omaha beach. Clingity clank.

Bad.

 

[j0hn.H]

How do I check the counterweight?? I'm using a 5" pad holder with a 6.5" pad. Would the "stock" counterweight be right??

 

[SpoiledMan]

Sounds to me that...



A. You're using the wrong counterweight.



....



D. CHECK THE COUNTERWEIGHT AGAIN. If the counterweight is the wrong size for the pad, the machine will make sounds like a Tsjechenigel getting hit by MG42 on Omaha beach. Clingity clank.

Bad.

I' pretty sure that you're going to be the first person to be able to tell that the PC has the wrong CW on it by the sound. You do know that the CW system wasn't designed with the idea of a BP and polishing pad in mind right?

 

[toml]

The reformulated #2 which has been out for a couple years now can be used by rotary, PC or hand.

Thanks! Shows you what I know!

How do I check the counterweight?? I'm using a 5" pad holder with a 6.5" pad. Would the "stock" counterweight be right??

The counterweight is located in the bell housing and should be labeled. BTW, I have both the 5" and 6" counterweights, and honestly I didn't notice much difference when using the PC with an Excel backing plate (4.75" in diameter). Others, though, with more experience may have noticed a difference. You could always pick up the other counterweight when you make another detailing order.