the hype with pc?

KleanFreak

KleanFreak

I need more sugar!!!!!!
never used the porter cable but hear so much about it on these boards. Whats the deal?

I cant see it working any better than a good ol random orbit buffer.

All input I would like to hear.. If it sounds good enough I am considering buying one just too have as a handy tool.....
 
One of the biggest reasons so many chose the PC is that aside from being "foolproof" it has the variable speed drive and can easily be operated with one hand .....has many more applicator options....performs well enough to do some paint repair. IMO Nothing beats a rotary in HIGHLY SKILLED PROFESSIONALS hand but it is definetely the next best thing

Eric
 
Using a PC gives me peace of mind that I will not damage the paint surface. Easy to use and speeds up application of polish.
 
I think there are two trusted random orbit machines, the Dewalt 443 and the Porter Cable 7424 / 7336. I know for sure there is a huge support for the PC. Mainly because they make good and reliable products. Can any suppliers chime in?

EDIT Do you mean why use a PC Orbit Buffer or a Random Orbit Buffer?
 
CLOSE but much safer. The reason that the PC is safer is due to the RO motion whereas a direct drive rotary generates heat much quicker. A rotary in the right hands can do more than a PC but it can also do more damage. If you have a rotary and are very well versed in proper usage than the PC may not benefit you unless you just need something easier to work with. the PC weighs in much less than most rotary. unless the paint is severly neglected a PC will do just abot anything.

Eric
 
Opps my bad. Same results from a PC with a rotary? Possible. However its dangerous and very difficult to apply polishes / waxes with a circular action rotary. A PC is safe and is designed to midly polish / apply waxes. The rotary breaks down / heats up the surface.

You need to be very experienced and knowledgeable.
 
another thing, when using the pc do you use the edge of the pads when cutting like a rotary?

or

do you use it flat like a traditonal random orbiter?
 
Keep it flat?

im curious how would you get into the edges/angles like that on a hood or door of an older jeep cherrokee. Are they done by hand afterwards? Debating if i should get a PC or Orbiter
 
I've used a rotory for 10 years and use it 95% of the time. I'm to the point where I can do a black car and leave no holigrams/swirls that rotorys are famous for. I got a PC 2 years ago and use it for final polish as feel it does a better job at that than a rotory. I also use the PC for cars in good/excellent condition where a rotory would just take off too much clear coat.
 
I agree with shotime except I have used a rotary for longer ... probably cause I am older .
I find I can do scratch and swirl removal more quickly with a rotary ... and in most cases I can also get more shine using a rotary ... I have only had a PC for about 6 months and find I use it as part of the paint prep process ... one example:
1. Compound Power Cleaner with a rotary
2. DACP with a PC
3. Swirl Free Polish applied with a rotary
4. AIO applied by hand
5. UPP applied by hand
6. UPP applied with PC
This is just an example but what I have found is that I can achieve a swirl free finish almost all of the time by alternating the two machines.
Products and machine used may vary but this is just an example
One more thought ... a rotary should be used with the pad as flat as possible this will reduce the possibility of burning the paint and introducing new swirls.
Good Luck!
 
Attention ladies and gentlemen watch very closely as I piss off a large portion of the constituency here.

Personally I think if you take the time and learn the high speed rotary you will likely never use a RO (random orbital) again. But then again I have always preferred to learn to do things the way the real pros do. The rotary is simply more efficient and economical. It’s faster and uses less product, which if this is really your lively hood is your bottom line. I know how to thread pipe with a manual die and I guess it is safer, but I don’t use it because it’s slow and inefficient.

I have tried the RO out there and it’s my opinion that the only thing they do better is… well basically not do the job. I mean think about it. People call them safe because they don’t really work, right? When you remove paint defects and polish a car you need to heat up and abrade away some of the finish. There is no other way! I do not know how else you can look at it. OK, ok so you can apply a glaze with it and yes I guess a glaze does hide the spider webs, but only for a couple of days at best. And yes if you use a cutting compound with it you can remove some very minor imperfections and haze up the surface, and yes I guess it puts down a real even coat of sealant and wax. But you can do all of those things so much faster and better with a rotary.

I think being afraid of high speed rotaries is a mistake. Just go slow, be very aware and when you get it, and you will get it…you will feel good. It’s not brain surgery.

Just so you all know that I don’t have some personal axe to grind with the RO I will say one positive thing about it today… when it comes to sanding wood to a fine perfection they are tops, because that’s what they were originally designed and engineered for.

All that said... you know what could be a very useful application for the RO technology? A very small unit with say a 2 inch diameter pad for some of those very small areas that you can’t get except by hand. What do you think?

Peace:cool
 
I'm not sure it is fear as much as it is a comfort level to using the PC. I would agree that many of us fear the rotary due to the heat indroduction. The PC allows for a excellent finish without the worrries. I just did a 2002 Ford Focus painted Black, I used the PC and the results were surburb, with no swirls, nor maring and an absolute beatiful flawless finish. So much so that I recieved a $40 tip. I don't see the rotary as a time saver as much as it is a potential paint destroyer. The PC is pretty fool proof and I don't mind spending a couple extra minutes and an extra ounce of product to product effective results.

Sorry but I stand behind my PC for superior results. When clients tip, over and above orgininal costs, then that's speaks for itself.
 
I wouldn't say the rotary is a better tool ...
It is a tool ... much like a table saw, a jig saw and a hand saw.
A craftsman can achieve the same results with all of these tools but each tool can do certain jobs better than the other ... It is a lot more difficult to rip a board with a jig saw than a table saw ... but it can be done.
A rotary can do certain things like remove defects quicker than a PC ...
There are conditions and products that work better with the PC ... especially around ridges in the paint.
Everything that can be done with a rotary or a PC can and has at one time been done by hand.
Different products different types of paint.
I think sometimes we try to say a tool or a product is the "best" when what we should be saying is, "this tool (product or pad or machine etc) is a tool I can use to achieve the results, under these specific conditions, that my customers and I are looking for."
We are fortunate to have so many various tools and products available to us today so that all of us can keep our cars looking their best and have fun doing it.
I will get off my soapbox now!
 
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