humor a noobie......

[2005tundra]

what is the difference between a porter cable....and a traditional style wen polisher. I realize that the pc has more power, but every forum says not to use the power and let the machine work itself.



Is the differnce mostly longevity of the motor? I am not a profesional detailer and only use the wen about 1 or 2 times a year.

 

[velobard]

What are you using it for? If you're using it for waxing, then the Wen ins probably fine. If you're expecting it to correct the paint, I have a hard time imagining that the Wen is going to accomplish much. Even a PC can meet its match easily enough, a lot of marring simply requires a rotary unless you plan to devote many hours per panel.



Also, the PC is well-supported on the market with backing plates, pads, etc. With the Wen aren't you limited to bonnets?

 

[Speed6 Guy]

If you use the PC it can do the work with very little pressure with the wen you don't need any pressure.Or very very little.

 

[velobard]

If you use the PC it can do the work with very little pressure with the wen you don't need any pressure.Or very very little.

Huh? You're saying the Wen is powerful enough to remove scratches without any pressure??? Where are you getting this from? :nixweiss



If you can remove scratches and swirls with a Wen that easily, please post some before and after pics along with your products and procedure used.

 

[Speed6 Guy]

Huh? You're saying the Wen is powerful enough to remove scratches without any pressure??? Where are you getting this from? :nixweiss



If you can remove scratches and swirls with a Wen that easily, please post some before and after pics along with your products and procedure used.

If you look at the original post you will see that they say nothing about scratch removal. So I just posted up my opinion on what I think of the two machines they asked about. The PC is the best tool in the shade tree detailers tool kit IMHO.



The wen is a waste of money.





:sign



LOL just kidding with you so please don't get mad.

 

[velobard]

LOL just kidding with you so please don't get mad.

As long as you'll forgive my sarcasm. My main concern was that some of the noobs around here are green enough to fall for stuff like that. Heaven knows I've seen ideas aroud here that are even farther out there. I'd toss out an example or two, but I'd probably hurt someone's feelings.

 

[2005tundra]

What are you using it for? If you're using it for waxing, then the Wen ins probably fine. If you're expecting it to correct the paint, I have a hard time imagining that the Wen is going to accomplish much. Even a PC can meet its match easily enough, a lot of marring simply requires a rotary unless you plan to devote many hours per panel.



Also, the PC is well-supported on the market with backing plates, pads, etc. With the Wen aren't you limited to bonnets?

So your saying even with a pc you may not be able to remove swirls. I don't get it? I have read post where people are removing swirls by hand. I am missing something. So you can remove by hand but not with a polisher (wen). Houston........we have a problem.

 

[velobard]

So your saying even with a pc you may not be able to remove swirls. I don't get it? I have read post where people are removing swirls by hand. I am missing something. So you can remove by hand but not with a polisher (wen). Houston........we have a problem.

What size is the pad on your Wen? Whichever one you have, I'm confident it's significantly biggger than your hand. Yes, you can remove marring by hand, but it takes a LOT of elbow grease and can easily turn into an exercise in frustration. The Wen moves faster, but I'm willing to bet good money that you can't get aggresive with it without bogging it down. You can apply more pressure in a smaller area with your hand. Take a look at the amps on your Wen. The PC is rated at 3.3, meaning it has more power than all but a small handful of relatively expensive random orbit polishers/sanders. The PC is particularly well-suited for polishing among RO sanders because it has a longer orbital "throw" than most other models. Rotaries, on the other hand, have a more aggressive action with direct drive motors and something in the neighborhood of 10 amps.



One caveat.....if you have the Wen rotary polisher, then what I'm saying can be tossed out the window. I'm presuming you have the RO version because that's what I've usually seen around. If you have the rotary version, read up on technique and be careful, it's easy to get a little carried away unless you have a clue what you're doing.

 

[2005tundra]

Not trying to sound sarcastic. Just trying to justify spending 150 on a polisher.



I was given a 10 inch random orbital polisher. I can really apply pressure while it is spinning.



Bu,I guess now I'm a little more confused than I was before I asked.



What are the differances again?



10 inch when no good because

....It bogs out? it doesn't.

....You can only use bonnets? So.

....But, you can really do some damage? I thought it couldn't take pressure.



Pc

...no one has told me why this is good and the other bad.

 

[BigJimZ28]

can your polisher remove defects like this ?

http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-...ou-find-my-test-spot.html?highlight=test+spot

 

[2005tundra]

can your polisher remove defects like this ?

http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-...ou-find-my-test-spot.html?highlight=test+spot

I guess that is what i'm asking..........

 

[velobard]

Not trying to sound sarcastic. Just trying to justify spending 150 on a polisher.



I was given a 10 inch random orbital polisher. I can really apply pressure while it is spinning.



Bu,I guess now I'm a little more confused than I was before I asked.



What are the differances again?



10 inch when no good because

....It bogs out? it doesn't.

....You can only use bonnets? So.

....But, you can really do some damage? I thought it couldn't take pressure.



Pc

...no one has told me why this is good and the other bad.

Your 10" Wen should do fine as a time-saver when waxing, but that's what it's meant for, not correcting paint. It just doesn't have the power. With a PC you can use pads from 4" for aggressive work up to whatever size you want to put on, although most folks would say the practical limit is probably about 6.5" or so. Another advantage of using pads instead of bonnets is that you can a much wider selection of pads for different types of work and preferences. Curved pads, flat pads, ones with special grooves. There's also a full range of firmness and textures.



While at least one member he's burnt paint with a PC, it's a truly rare event and not something you really have to worry about. It's a very safe and forgiving tool. It will bog down before you do damage to your paint if you apply too much pressure unless you really try unless you have something *really* unusual. Also, if you do any woodworking it's also good as a sander. You should be able to get one for under $150 with no problem. Look for either the 7336 or 7424. They're the same tool just with slightly different counterweights. If you choose not to buy one that's fine as well, you'll just have to work a lot harder if you plan on doing paint correction.

 

[2005tundra]

Your 10" Wen should do fine as a time-saver when waxing, but that's what it's meant for, not correcting paint. It just doesn't have the power. With a PC you can use pads from 4" for aggressive work up to whatever size you want to put on, although most folks would say the practical limit is probably about 6.5" or so. Another advantage of using pads instead of bonnets is that you can a much wider selection of pads for different types of work and preferences. Curved pads, flat pads, ones with special grooves. There's also a full range of firmness and textures.



While at least one member he's burnt paint with a PC, it's a truly rare event and not something you really have to worry about. It's a very safe and forgiving tool. It will bog down before you do damage to your paint if you apply too much pressure unless you really try unless you have something *really* unusual. Also, if you do any woodworking it's also good as a sander. You should be able to get one for under $150 with no problem. Look for either the 7336 or 7424. They're the same tool just with slightly different counterweights. If you choose not to buy one that's fine as well, you'll just have to work a lot harder if you plan on doing paint correction.

Thanks for all the info.



Just a couple more questions.



How often can you use a pc to get rid of spiderwebs before the there is a risk of eating away the clearcoat?



Are the two pc models you selected random orbit or do they just spin like mad.

Thanks in advance.

 

[velobard]

Thanks for all the info.



Just a couple more questions.



How often can you use a pc to get rid of spiderwebs before the there is a risk of eating away the clearcoat?

It depends. If you use an aggressive 4" pad with heavy compound, you don't exactly want to make that a regular event. If you're just doing light polishing, it's quite a bit safer. The trick here is to learn to maintain your car so polishing isn't necessary all that often.

Are the two pc models you selected random orbit or do they just spin like mad.

Thanks in advance.

Those are random orbit, also called dual action. BTW, they come with a white foam pad but it's really not good for much. Plan on buying a good velcro backplate and some foam pads.