question about electric buffer

I'm not an expert on this but......



The Porter Cable is a much more powerful machine than those el-cheapo ones...in fact I'd say that the el-cheapo's are a total waste of $$



The PC polisher is not a "buffer". The PC is intended for use in applying swirl mark removers and polishes. It seems to me that most novices, like me a year ago, have the mistaken impression that these machines are to be used to buff the surface while removing wax and that is not the case at all. In fact if you havn't used a polisher to help rid the surface of imperfections then there isn't much need for wax and buffing won't make any difference.



Here's a summary of what I've learned here and on DC in this last year.



A great shine comes from having leveled the paint. This involves removing dirt, other contaminates and scratches...large or small.



Achieving this is the result of a multi-stage process which involves washing, using clay to pick up the stuck on contaminates, then polishing out the scratches and other imperfections, and finally using a sealant or wax to protect the shine you've gotten through your intensive efforts in this process.



The PC is used to polish out the imperfections and the cheapo's just cant do the job. They are a total waste of $$...imo.



A rotary polisher does the best job of leveling/polishing the paint but they are dangerous to the paint and are best used by experienced professionals. The next best thing is the PC and that's why they are so wildly popular on these detailing sites. A PC can't get out the deep scratches that a rotary can but by using it with the proper abrasive products and with the right pads it will polish out most of the swirls and light scratches and do that job in a fraction of the time and work that doing it by hand would do. The PC is a great tool!



A year ago I'd never heard of a PC and I certainly shuddered from thinking about spending that much $$ on a "buffer". Now, having learned the "process" outlined above and having used my PC for almost a year, I wonder how I ever managed without one. I especially wonder how I managed to live 58+ years without having ever learned how to properly detail a car. Now I know and it's great fun to be able to do it right and have paint shine like never before.



Keep coming back here and you'll have a good time.:wavey
 
OK....thanks, i sorta understand it now.....

Well what would you guys recomend for an all-around tool? I'm in no way a professional detailer, i'm just starting out, and just doing my car and my parents cars....We've got some sort of buffer or sander or something (Its got a sanding pad 3M taped to it right now...my family isnt known for using tools for only what theyre designed for, LOL) which i know came with a few cotton attachments, but i'm not sure what it really is.......i dont think it has adjustable speed though. I'll find out about that and you guys can tell me if i should use it or not. Thanks
 
~One man’s opinion / observations ~



PC Accessories

http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14421



PC Usage

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



Definitive PC Thread

http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14421



Detailer's Dream: Porter Cable Random Orbital Buffer

http://www.roadfly.org/magazine/7/porter_cable_buffer.1.html



~Hope this is of some help~



Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/

justadumbarchitect * so i question everything*
 
speedingpenguin,



There are a couple of other PC quality orbital polishers on the market, but most people here use the PC because of the combination of power, build quality, and price. You might very well have a similar tool at home already (I know I've read here about several people using a Dewalt version of the PC and being very happy with it). However, post the make and model here to get some feedback on whether the tool you are referring to is a true substitute for a PC. Something like the little hand-held random orbital sanders by Black and Decker wouldn't work at all.



As for getting a PC, even if you're not a professional, I highly recommend it. I got mine this past xmas, and am amazed at how much easier polishing is with it. I can also get way better results with it than I can get by hand. Polishing didn't use to be fun, because it was so tiring and I got okay results, nothing spectacular. I have a 7 year old car that wasn't cared for properly at all before I found Autopia (swirls and scratches everywhere). Now, after getting a PC, it looks better than it's looked in years.



John
 
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