Need some help with PC pad decision

I

Inzane

New member
As I just got a PC 7424 (Coastal Tools Bonus Kit), I have no experience with a ROB or a rotary, so I'm starting fresh with no pads, etc. And man I'm torn on what pads to get.



Here's where my decision process is stuck: :nixweiss



If I decide to go 7.5" Lake Country, then either CMA or TOL are obvious store choices. The nice thing about TOL is if you buy SIX pads they give you the combined discount price of $53.70, or $8.95 each. Getting six would allow me to get whatever combo I want like: 2 yellow, 2 white, 2 black OR 2 yellow, 2 white, 1 orange, 1 black... etc. And their customer service seems great so far. The lady Irene there is super nice. As well they said they can do US Postal Service shipments for Canadians and their shipping quote for 6 pads was quite reasonable for me.



The only problem with TOL is the 7.5" LC pads are the ONLY thing there that I'm really interested in buying at this time, so I wouldn't be able to double-up on any shipping fees. CMA on the other hand (who will also ship US Postal) has all kinds of product selection and while I'm ordering pads I could obviously get a bunch of other stuff I need at the same time and possibly save on shipping by not ordering multiple times from different places and paying shipping on all these boxes crossing the border.



Also, I'm still torn on pad size (advanced 7.5" vs. 6.5" standard durofoam) and selection (I'm not yet sold on the usefulness of the orange pad, for example). Based on my searching here on Autopia some people seem to like the added protection the 7.5" gives from the backing plate hitting your paint. But some notice more vibration with the 7.5" pad. And even the CMA website states somewhere that the 7.5" pads are "more difficult to control" for the novice.



The nice thing about the DAP-KIT (6.5" pad kit, w/o backing plate) at CMA is it has basically everything I'd need to start off with for $49.95 (2 white, 1 yellow, 1 black, even a couple terry bonnets and wool pad if I wanted to try those), and the only thing missing would be a 2nd yellow pad. (I really think I should have TWO yellow pads)



For a novice beginner who has never used a machine for buffing/polishing before and is stocking up for the first time, which way would you recommend I go?



Thanks! :xyxthumbs
 
I bought from Irene yrs. ago when I first detailed. Customer service is very good, shipping a little more than some, but good selection.



I use my PC sparingly as I now use my Cyclo. Pad use is defined by what you need to accomplish. The 7424 leaves you with one option...it's an orbital polisher so it will apply polishes, sealants, and waxes. It isn't used as a swirl remover, scratch remover, etc. Thus, buy the polishing or application pads, not the cutting ones. Orbitals are safe because they do not generate enough heat to burn the paint, nor correct it.

Also, the pads, if cared for properly, will last quite some time. If you are doing your own vehicle, 6 pads is more than you need.



Please let me know if you have any further questions.



Robert Regan

www.wcdetail.com
 
WCD,



Why are saying the PC can't correct paint. From what I have read here on Autopia and hundreds of pictures I have seen posted you most certainly can correct paint with a PC (orbital). I just received a PC for Christmas and removed marring I had on the drivers door.



You also advise not to buy cutting pads. I removed the marring with a cutting pad and Megs DACP.



Do a search on the PC and you will see how wrong you are. There are some problems you will need a rotory for but you can do a lot with a PC.
 
I apologize for not being clear.



There are many polishes that will "fill" surface imperfections and with a PC it works great.



I suppose with the right product a PC can remove light surface problems, same can be done by hand.



There are 30 yr. vets in this industry who will argue that a rotary is the only way to truly remove and correct many surface problems.



However, in my yrs. of reading, training, and consulting, the common denominator is that you must use and do what works for you and brings you satisfaction.



Regards,

Robert Regan
 
Robert is right that a rotary is the only way to remove most serious paint defects, but a PC will remove most light to moderate problems with the right pad and compound/polish. It will take longer than a rotary though. Most detailing enthusiasts don't let their paint get bad enough that a rotary is mandatory, so I'd stick with just a PC.



2 of each pad should be sufficient.
 
If you keepyour paint is decent condition and you have the pc just for yourself I don't think you need two yellow pads.JMO
 
I'll use a rotary and a wool pad to correct most paint problems quickly... but the process will leave swirl marks, which I remove with a machine polish (no fillers) and a white foam finishing pad on the PC.



For me, the 'go to' product is AutoMagic's #76 GS-1 (http://www.clay-magic.com/16ounce_page.asp)



Speed #5, light pressure. Go slow, overlapping passes. Maybe 1" per second...



Mirror finish...



Good Luck.



Jim
 
WCD,



I didn't fill the marring on my door, I removed it. I know this because the water/alcohol I wiped the area down with would have removed any fillers. I also applied a coat of AIO and that also would have removed the fillers.



A read a post on here once and the person said you can get 80% of the problems with a PC and the right pads and polish/compounds. For the other 20% you need a rotary. When I read your two posts it sounds like you are saying that you can't correct anything with a PC.



I agree with Scott Wax, most light and moderate problems can be handled by a PC. The hundreds of before and after pictures I have seen on Autopia convinced me it was time to get a PC.
 
Quote: Need some help with PC pad decision?





~One man’s opinion / observations~



I agree with Scottwax most of the paint film surface ‘problems’ can be dealt with using an orbital buffer.



The rotary polisher is a great tool and with lots of practice (on an old panel brought from a junkyard) is a safe as an orbital.



Try these links: http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14421 PC Accessories



http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/detailing/forum.php?postid=1430487&page=1 PC Usage





~Hope this helps~





Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/



justadumbarchitect * so i question everything*
 
My intention is to learn the skills and acquire the pads & product to be able to utilize the PC to its maximum potential.



I don't doubt that the initial workhorse for my three cars starting off is going to be something like DACP + yellow pad.



I had assumed I'd need two yellow pads based on a couple scenarios:

1) starting off with the least agressive product to get the job done, try something like SMR/#9 + yellow. If that doesn't work, try DACP + Yellow. If I didn't have the 2nd yellow, that means stopping the job while you have to clean a pad so you don't mix product.

2) Stepping down to progressively lighter polishing steps. Maybe after using DACP, I'll need to step down to #9 or SFP. If it still requires yellow, again I need that 2nd yellow, for convenience.
 
Just a thought on pad size. I use both the 6" and the 7.5" on my PC and really favor the 6" for any compounding and polishing work I have to do. The 7.5" are only use for glazes and applying waxes/sealants. I just feel that I have much more control over the area I am compounding with the smaller pads....again, just a thought. Two of each (yellow, white, and black if you're ordering from CMA) kind should be plenty for starters. I wouldn't go with an orange pad, I wasn't that impressed.



And the PC will easily correct minor paint imperfections and will work wonders with moderate damage.



Here is just a little plug for one of my threads. An example of how well the PC can work. The "repair" work took me 20 minutes to half an hour at the most...the rest of the detail took about an hour total.



http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26390
 
These are real nice....just showed up on Saturday.

26dp_pad.jpg
26reardp_pad.jpg




I've never used a 7.5" pad on the PC...guess I need to try that.



I have some old pads that came from CMA. They measure up at 6.0" (actual) and I have some early Meg's pads that are 5.5".
 
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