7424XP and supplies for black paint

[raptorvid]

I've been searching, reading........then searching and reading some more. I think I've gathered enough info to move forward with my order, but I'd like someone with more experience to look it over real quick for me.



I was torn between the SP18VA and the 7424XP, but I think I'll go with the 7424XP since I'm working on black paint and I don't have a lot of experience with rotary polishers. I used rotary polishers back in the day when I helped out in a detail shop and a body shop when I was in my late teens/early 20s, but looks like a lot has changed since then.



Here's what I'm ordering:

1 - Porter Cable 7424XP

1 - 3.5" Dual Action Flexible Backing Plate

6 - Orange Lake Country 4 CCS Pads

1 - Dual-Action Hook & Loop Flexible Backing Plate 5"

6 - White Lake Country 5.5 CCS Pads

3 - Gray Finishing CCS Smart Pads™ DA 5.5 inch Foam Pads

3 - Griot's Garage Micro Fiber Polish Removal Cloths



I will be removing swirls, water spots, and small scratches from my wife's black 2004 Mustang. I will also be removing swirls, water spots, scratches, and minor oxidation from my daughter's black 1997 Honda Civic.



I was thinking of going with Sonus SFX-2 and Sonus SFX-3 or Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover and Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish followed by paste carnuba wax.



Any input before I place this order would be greatly appreciated.

 

[fins&chrome]

Yeah I know how you feel. I’ve just about narrowed my list and it looks REALLY close to yours except for the polish. I’m pretty much set with the PC is because of its capability to use 4” pads. But not being an expert I won’t even attempt to provide an opinion by fear of misleading you...cause all the info I have is what I’ve got by reading and reading too!

So, I’m as interested as you are to find out what the experienced detailers out there have to say.



Hello? Anybody have an opinion on this?

 

[raptorvid]

Ya, my head is spinning I've read so much info! I'm an I.T. guy and I thought we had alot of acronyms! I can't believe how many kinds of products there are now. Really makes it hard to make a decision. Then there is hard clear coats and soft clear coats and seems to be different products and procedures for each.



I'm anxious to place the order, but want to make sure I'm getting what I need. The last thing I need to do is screw up the wife's black paint on her prized Mustang. That would not be good! :scared:



I also don't want to start the job and find out I need something else. Most of these items I'm unable to purchase locally. Megs products I can find pretty much anywhere, but not pads and other brands.



I've color sanded and polished many cars and trucks in my younger years, but that was the old days with the wool pad. I also used the products provided by the detail shop and body shop, so I never had to make a decision there either. I figured this would be easy. Get some polish and a cheap polisher and make it shine. After all the reading I've done I've come to the conclusion that I'm clueless now.

 

[raptorvid]

My order I placed last week for some supplies just arrived today. Back in the day I had positive experiences with Beauty Shine products. I got some of their GS&R polish and Pink Carnuba #502 paste wax. Obviously I placed that order before I found this site, but since I already bought it, I may as well give it a shot. Maybe I'll just get the 7424XP and some green pads for now. I've read they work well with all-in-one products. Does anyone have experience with Beauty Shine products?

 

[keito]

Got my PC 7424xp last night via UPS.

Waiting for the supplies tonight.

I'm going to use it on a black car also, but its always garaged.

I have minimum defects/swirls.

I haven't read any reviews on it, but I went with Pinnacle XMT 360

and XMT 180 Carnauba wax and Lake Country 5" backing plate and LC CCS white 6.5" pads.

I'm retiring my old Snap-On rotary.

 

[Kean]

Got my PC 7424xp last night via UPS.

Waiting for the supplies tonight.



I'm going to use it on a black car also, but its always garaged.



I have minimum defects/swirls.



I haven't read any reviews on it, but I went with Pinnacle XMT 360



and XMT 180 Carnauba wax and Lake Country 5" backing plate and LC CCS white 6.5" pads.



I'm retiring my old Snap-On rotary.

....just a tip. You may want to consider 5.5" and/or 4" pads if you decide to buy more of them in the future. I haven't had a chance to try the newer XP but I can tell you that 6.5" pads are really inefficient with the older version. Some folks will even argue that 5.5" is pushing it and they will opt for the 4". I have tried 6.5" pads in the past and found it too easy to bog the machine under relatively light pressure. .....the PC has a forced orbit but not a forced rotation. With enough weight/drag, the rotation will slow or stop causing the head to simply "jiggle".

 

[raptorvid]

The more I read the more I think I'm going to just go with the Hitachi rotary. I think I'll get frustrated how slow the PC is. Besides, my hands don't do well with vibration. Makes them go numb. I can't imagine what they would be like after hours of hanging on to the PC.

 

[Accumulator]

The more I read the more I think I'm going to just go with the Hitachi rotary..

See my post on the other thread you have going. Remember that my comments are coming from somebody who also worked with rotaries back in the days of single stage paint and wool pads

 

[gilwood]

Can anyone give me some recommendations on what to use on really dull paint? The hood is really dull, but the rest of the paint is fine. The hood was repainted after an accident a few years ago. I'm also planning on buying a PCXP for this job.

 

[Dan]

I think your selection looks pretty but why bother with two pad sizes? Go with the 4" if you need something agressive. The bigger pads might be more useful if you were thinking about getting a rotary down the road. As far as polishes go I'm a big fan of the #83/#80 combo or #82 if you don't want fillers. The new #105/#205 is getting some really good reviews too but overall I think the megs stuff is the most newbie friendly and its priced very well in the sampler sizes from ADS. Meg stuff is just very middle of the road, but in your case, that is exactly what you need. Also, if you are only doing a few cars, you don't want a bunch of products sitting around and going bad.

 

[Accumulator]

gilwood- From that pic, about all I can determine is that you have one serious problem. Sorry, I know that's not much help, but I've seen your posts on other threads and I suspect you're not getting much helpful feedback.



It could be anything from oxidation to paint failure :nixweiss



I'd sure plan on using 4" pads if you're trying to tackle that with a PC, and I dunno if it's something that can be fixed without a repaint.

I think your selection looks pretty but why bother with two pad sizes? Go with the 4" if you need something agressive.//

I agree :xyxthumbs

.. As far as polishes go I'm a big fan of the #83/#80 combo or #82 if you don't want fillers. The new #105/#205 is getting some really good reviews too but overall I think the megs stuff is the most newbie friendly and its priced very well in the sampler sizes from ADS...

I've never been a big fan of #83 but that's just me. I do like #80 but I get generally better results with M205.



Another recommendation I make quite often is 1Z Paint Polish. It's very user-friendly and quite mild. Maybe *too* mild for many jobs, but it's not a bad way to get into machine polishing. If spending more than a day on a detail isn't your cup of tea, then 1Z Paint Polish topped with Collinite is a good way to go.

... Also, if you are only doing a few cars, you don't want a bunch of products sitting around and going bad.

Eh...a lot of my products are many years old and I hardly *ever* have anything go bad.