I'm confused - Porter Cable units

[Thriller]

It doesn't always take very much, but I'm confused. Today is the first time I ever noticed Canadian Tire carrying PCs - they list two for similar prices, but one is 6" and the other is 7" - http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/pr...=1213063557851 and http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/pr...=1213063557846

Now, I've looked at Porter Cables site and have seen the 7424 and 7336 - http://www.deltaportercable.com/Prod...4272.4288.4296

However, I haven't been able to locate a 7" unit like Canadian Tire lists. Could it be a discontinued product? I was at the one store today and they had neither. Unfortunately neither their web site nor their shelves give the actual PC model number.

I'm betting the 6" one is the 7424 and is what I want - this is the first time I've seen them available north of the border...of course, I haven't been looking hard yet.

On a related note, when I procure one of these, what else will I need to outfit it? I'm thinking of middle of the road - not just the bare minimum so I don't have to run back, but also not going crazy. I'm referring primarily to pads / bonnets / whatnot. I think I'm starting to get a grasp of the Meguiar's products now - most, if not all, of what I have can be used with a DA, so I should be OK that way and I can slowly expand my product line.

Thanks.

[Holden_Caulfield04]

Re: I'm confused - Porter Cable units

They're both very similar units with the 7424 model being the latest. If there is no price difference, get the 7424.

However, there are more options out there now for D/A or orbital buffers. These include the Ultimate Detailing Machine, Flex 3401, Meguiars G220 (correct me if I'm wrong). They all have increased power and offer greater potential for correction of swirls and marring. The PC has more limited abilities.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: I'm confused - Porter Cable units

You have some classic cars you're working on, do you also have some newer cars that you're going to want to remove the swirls out of?

Regardless, the PC is a great tool, it will always outperform the hand and it's a no brainer to choose it over working by hand.

That said, our new G110 has more power and the way this affects you and anyone reading this is that when you're trying to remove defects whether they are swirls out of clear coats or dead oxidized paints off of older single stage paints, the G110 is going to make your buffing pad rotate better which means its going to remove defects better.

Removing defects means removing paint, that always sounds bad in one aspect but that's the truth, that's reality.


Where the rubber meets the road...
The step that is gong to take the longest is the defect removal step so any machine that offers more power than the Porter Cable unit is going to enable you to do the job better and faster.

Just trying to share some experience gained from using these tools for decades and teaching people for decades on how to use them.

More power means doing a better job faster while still having a clutch for safety reasons so you don't burn or swirl the paint.

[the other pc]

Re: I'm confused - Porter Cable units

It doesn't always take very much, but I'm confused. Today is the first time I ever noticed Canadian Tire carrying PCs - they list two for similar prices, but one is 6" and the other is 7" - http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/pr...=1213063557851 and http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/pr...=1213063557846

....

The 7” polisher is a Porter-Cable 7428 rotary polisher, and is a completely different animal from the 6” polisher, which is a member of the 7424/G100/7336/7335 family of machines that everybody calls “the PC.”

Rotaries are much more powerful, much more aggressive and require much more experience and skill to use safely.

The 7428 was discontinued after Black & Decker acquired Porter-Cable.


PC.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: I'm confused - Porter Cable units

I would go with the 7424. You will need at least the following;

1 w7006 pad (to remove wax)
4 w8006 pads
3 w9006 pads
4 microfiber bonnets

This should get you going and hold you for a while.

[Thriller]

Re: I'm confused - Porter Cable units

Thanks for the responses. I know there are other units out there, and I'd love to get my hands on a Meguiar's unit, but I've been banging my head against a wall trying to find one. None of the local outfits that are listed as carrying Meguiar's products have the machines (OK, I haven't done an exhaustive search, but I have been to / talked to a number of them and they don't have them. This was just the first opportunity that I've actually seen one listed.

Mike - right now, I have the '41 and most of the '62 that have single stage paint. The Wildcat is bc/cc. My Sierra and the Rainier are developing issues from not having been very well looked after, so a machine would be nice. I do have a Simoniz orbital polisher. Regardless, these vehicles are big and anything that can speed up the process / make it easier would be welcomed.

Thanks again.

[Tim Lingor]

Re: I'm confused - Porter Cable units

Hey,

There are subtle differences between them. The original PC Dual Action Polisher was the 7424. The 7336 is the same motor, same everything except it comes with a 6" counter weight whereas the 7424 comes with a 5" counter weight. In the end, I sure never felt a difference in using either machine and I have several of each.

The G110 is the newest Meguiar's unit and is designed for the North American market where as the G220 is a European version as it is designed for their voltage system. It has more power over the G100 which was a PC 7335 with a 5" Counter Weight. However, it too was a great machine!!!

If you can locate a 7424, a 7336 or a Meguiar's unit, I highly suggest you buy it as you will love it!!

Tim

[TxRado]

Re: I'm confused - Porter Cable units

Hey so does the G220 have more power than the G110?

[maarten22]

Re: I'm confused - Porter Cable units

does anyone know it the G110 will take the european 50 hz or only the american 60hz??

[Tim Lingor]

Re: I'm confused - Porter Cable units

Hey so does the G220 have more power than the G110?

Morning,

The G220 has the same amperage as the G110. However, the G220 does have a slightly higher OPM for each speed setting. For example:

G110 Speed 5 = 5550 OPM
G220 Speed 5 = 5750 OPM

In the end, you most likely would not notice that slight increase in OPM.

I hope that helps!

Tim

[Mike Phillips]

Re: I'm confused - Porter Cable units

Mike - right now, I have the '41 and most of the '62 that have single stage paint.

Sure would like to see a pictures of these two cars, both of which would be pretty easy to rub out by hand and if the paint is thin at all be sure to be careful around any edges or high points.

The Wildcat is bc/cc. My Sierra and the Rainier are developing issues from not having been very well looked after, so a machine would be nice.

For these clear coated cars, machine polishing is the way to go if you want to remove swirls and if you're planning on keeping them up in the future after working on them.

[HagFan]

Re: I'm confused - Porter Cable units

Don't forget you'll need a backing plate to attach (velcro) and support the pads. I'd get two of those because if it fails your machine is useless.

[Thriller]

Re: I'm confused - Porter Cable units

Thanks Mike and Hagfan...hopefully I'll be able to get to the store that supposedly has one in stock so I can figure it out. Both the Rainier and the Sierra need work...they've been somewhat neglected...down the road, after the Wildcat has been judged, it will get driven more, hence more likely to gain issues with the paint. Right now the biggest hazard is the little people in my life dragging hands across it...sigh.

For Mike's benefit, here are the other two cars after my first foray into Meguiar's products last year.





Both of those were taken after having gone through the first phases of the paint care cycle (not enough time to have done any maintenance).