Vibration

K

kennyg

New member
Wow, been polishing my car for the first time with the PC and my hands are killing me. The machine is fine until I turn it up to 6, the vibration is so high I can barely hold onto the screw in handle. I am using the 5 inch backing plate it came with and the 6 inch counter weight. Is the heavy vibration at a 6 normal? I am using 6.5 inch LC pads. Going to try the 5 inch counter weight.
 
kennyg said:
Wow, been polishing my car for the first time with the PC and my hands are killing me. The machine is fine until I turn it up to 6, the vibration is so high I can barely hold onto the screw in handle. I am using the 5 inch backing plate it came with and the 6 inch counter weight. Is the heavy vibration at a 6 normal? I am using 6.5 inch LC pads. Going to try the 5 inch counter weight.
Click to expand...
Yes. Or at least it is for me. The difference between 4 and 6 is quite a lot.
FWIW, I only use 6 for removing bad flaws. Most of my polishing is done at 4 or 5.

Charles
 
I agree with CharlesW. You shouldn't have to go above 5 unless you have some serious problems. Even if you do have some major problems they can be corrected on a low speed just may take some time and extra passes. The PC is moving at 6 and I don't think changing anything is going to make that much of a diffrence.
 
Ok, just checked it again. The backing plate is not quite 6 inches more like 5.75 inches. Without the pad on it, there is no vibration at 6. Guess I'll keep it down at 4-5. It's not very productive at speed 6 if my hands are falling off.
 
I usually always run at speed 6. I guess I got used to the vibration or something. I will be getting a 6" Counter weight to see if that increases or decreases the vibrations. It's tolerable now but if I could decrese the vibes it could be better. I have also heard that removing the handle and just holding the head of the machine makes it easier on the hands.
 
I get the same thing if I use the PC at setting six. Have heard from other members that it helps to get the larger counter weight. I do not have the larger one. I do not run it at six but when I do it really is for short periods of time when it is considered thru the whole course of the detail.
 
budman3 said:
I usually always run at speed 6. I guess I got used to the vibration or something. I will be getting a 6" Counter weight to see if that increases or decreases the vibrations. It's tolerable now but if I could decrese the vibes it could be better. I have also heard that removing the handle and just holding the head of the machine makes it easier on the hands.
Click to expand...
I don't know what kind of vibration you get with the 5" weight, but I still get quite a bit of vibration with the 6" weight at speed 6 with 6.5" pads. Oddly, when I use 4" pads with my 6" weight I get almost no vibration at any speed.
 
Finished the polishing and sealant today. Ran the PC and speed 4. SSR 2.5 and SSR 1, plus one coat of EX-P. Also, wash, and clayed. Took me 3.5 hours. Lot of work but it looks very sharp, Emerald Green. Didn't too good at getting out the scratches but the shine is fine. Might try a cutting pad next time or just work the polish in longer. I used a finishing pad for the EX-P and buffed it off with a microfiber towel, took only about 45 minutes total. All in all I am very please with the PoorBoys products and process. Everything wipes off very easy even in cold weather. I plan to add a few more coats of EX-P and top with wax. Not bad for a first timer. Now for my Suburban, that is another story. Based on the time to do the Escort I would say it will take me 7-8 hours to do the Burb. just exterior. Does that sound about right??
 
I use mine on 6 almost all the time when polishing. As long as you're using the right pad, counterweight, and backing plate, you shouldn't have any problems...but maybe it does take some getting used-to.
 
I would add a couple of things to keep vibration down:
-make sure pad is perfectly center
-keep pad very clean
-watch water level: some products say NO water, and the pads will vibrate if they get gummed up or damp; other products say mist; then you should mist when drying out
 
Some DC members use impact absorbing gloves to lessen vibration. Personally, I use Ringers Gloves CT half-finger model. Here is an old thread that discussed this topic - 5hrs w/a PC, can't move my fingers...

[Note: Some products require higher PC speeds to properly break down the abrasives. SSR2.5 is one of these products - run your PC at speed 5+ and do not prime your pad with water.]
 
awd330 said:
Some DC members use impact absorbing gloves to lessen vibration. Personally, I use Ringers Gloves CT half-finger model. Here is an old thread that discussed this topic - 5hrs w/a PC, can't move my fingers...

[Note: Some products require higher PC speeds to properly break down the abrasives. SSR2.5 is one of these products - run your PC at speed 5+ and do not prime your pad with water.]
Click to expand...
While I don't use gloves, I did see some half finger motorcycle gloves at Wal*Mart today. Our Wal*Mart has a motorcycle section in their automotive department. The gloves were less than $25.

Charles
 
I took my handle off. Now I just wrap my hand over the head of the PC and it is so much easier on my hands and it helps to keep the pad flat.
 
Porkanbeans said:
I took my handle off. Now I just wrap my hand over the head of the PC and it is so much easier on my hands and it helps to keep the pad flat.
Click to expand...

This is what I do as well. :bigups
 
I use a 5 inch plate with a 6 inch counter weight and 6 inch pads. I find this combo runs very smooth on 6. Also try not using the handle on the PC. Holding the machine by the handle really increases the vibration. Hold the machine by the head with one hand and the rear with the other hand. This cuts the vibration in half for me.
 
Porkanbeans said:
I took my handle off. Now I just wrap my hand over the head of the PC and it is so much easier on my hands and it helps to keep the pad flat.
Click to expand...
Just wondering....once the handle is off...do you find that the top part (head) of the PC is a little loose? is this normal? Mine just wiggles back and forth a bit and it's brand new.
 
BlackSunshine said:
Just wondering....once the handle is off...do you find that the top part (head) of the PC is a little loose? is this normal? Mine just wiggles back and forth a bit and it's brand new.
Click to expand...
I also noticed the plastic wiggles when i remove the handle from the Pc and it sounds like a box of rocks in a tin can..
 
joe.p said:
I also noticed the plastic wiggles when i remove the handle from the Pc and it sounds like a box of rocks in a tin can..
Click to expand...

Although I don't use the handle I keep it on the machine. I feel safer that way. Just in case I need to grab on quickly before I drop it or something on the car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top