Porter Cable 7424XP

[cfilly]

I have the Megs DA that you put in your drill to use. I am thinking about getting the 7424XP to achieve more paint correction. I have some serious swirls in my paint from not taking care of it properly. In the last year I have tried to take care of the paint more. Will the 7424XP remove swirls and scratches with the right pad/compound combination? I tried UC with my DA and it didn't remove everything. I'm hoping that if I get the 7424XP and the right pads, I can get my paint back to looking new. Any suggestions or comments? TIA

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: Porter Cable 7424XP

to MOL cfilly

Yeah the PC7424 has the power to remove swirls and scratches, I've used a g100 & 7424 for years and have had great success with them. Technique is key and the right products and pads. I along with many have hade some fantastic results from a wax to full paint correction!

Check these articles out.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?33-How-To-Articles

And these how to video's.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?134-How-To-Videos

Have you any pics?

[larry0071]

I have the 7424 also, and while I can eventually get to the desired results, I'm finding that I wish I had a bit more power available for those tough jobs like the Grand Prix I spent over a week on. A forced rotation dual orbital polisher is in my future.

.....After I get the Karcher automotive chassis power washer system.

[The Guz]

Re: Porter Cable 7424XP

I have the Megs DA that you put in your drill to use. I am thinking about getting the 7424XP to achieve more paint correction. I have some serious swirls in my paint from not taking care of it properly. In the last year I have tried to take care of the paint more. Will the 7424XP remove swirls and scratches with the right pad/compound combination? I tried UC with my DA and it didn't remove everything. I'm hoping that if I get the 7424XP and the right pads, I can get my paint back to looking new. Any suggestions or comments? TIA

First off welcome to MOL. For an average enthusiast, the porter cable is more than enough to maintain your car(s). It is a good DA that can yield good results. I would recommend you get a 5" backing plate and 5.5" pads to get the most out of the porter cable.

I have the 7424 also, and while I can eventually get to the desired results, I'm finding that I wish I had a bit more power available for those tough jobs like the Grand Prix I spent over a week on. A forced rotation dual orbital polisher is in my future.

.....After I get the Karcher automotive chassis power washer system.

For a detailer that does a lot of work then yes I agree with you. A DA such as the flex or the rupes would be a good choice. I know you had some hard clear to deal with on the Grand Prix but some meguiar's MF pads and either D300 and M105 have worked very well for me on the hard GM clear using a porter cable.

[cfilly]

Re: Porter Cable 7424XP

Thanks for the reply stang! I've been on here for almost a year, but I haven't posted a lot. I mainly read and get tips on how to improve the looks of my Tahoe. I also wanted to ask you if you had any recommendations on which pads I should get? I don't really have any deep scratches, just some swirls and surface scratches from the car washes . I used to take it through the automatic ones because I really didn't care, but now I do, and I hope it's not too late! TIA

[larry0071]

I have the Megs DA that you put in your drill to use. I am thinking about getting the 7424XP to achieve more paint correction. I have some serious swirls in my paint from not taking care of it properly. In the last year I have tried to take care of the paint more. Will the 7424XP remove swirls and scratches with the right pad/compound combination? I tried UC with my DA and it didn't remove everything. I'm hoping that if I get the 7424XP and the right pads, I can get my paint back to looking new. Any suggestions or comments? TIA

First off welcome to MOL. For an average enthusiast, the porter cable is more than enough to maintain your car(s). It is a good DA that can yield good results. I would recommend you get a 5" backing plate and 5.5" pads to get the most out of the porter cable.

I have the 7424 also, and while I can eventually get to the desired results, I'm finding that I wish I had a bit more power available for those tough jobs like the Grand Prix I spent over a week on. A forced rotation dual orbital polisher is in my future.

.....After I get the Karcher automotive chassis power washer system.

For a detailer that does a lot of work then yes I agree with you. A DA such as the flex or the rupes would be a good choice. I know you had some hard clear to deal with on the Grand Prix but some meguiar's MF pads and either D300 and M105 have worked very well for me on the hard GM clear using a porter cable.

I've never used the micro fiber pads. I was using the Meguiars foam red and tan pads. Red for the ultimate compound and tan with the ultra polish. I got where I needed to be, but it took a lot of time.

[The Guz]

Re: Porter Cable 7424XP

I've never used the micro fiber pads. I was using the Meguiars foam red and tan pads. Red for the ultimate compound and tan with the ultra polish. I got where I needed to be, but it took a lot of time.

I know the feeling. I used foam + M105 on my 02 camaro and it took some time. I'm still not satisfied in some areas. I will probably hit them again with the MF cutting pad on those area's. I didn't have the MF pad's at the time I did mine. My dad also has an 02 camaro and this time around I used the MF cutting pads + D300 and that worked just right. Much better than foam with less passes. It would not hurt to have them in your arsenal.

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: Porter Cable 7424XP

Thanks for the reply stang! I've been on here for almost a year, but I haven't posted a lot. I mainly read and get tips on how to improve the looks of my Tahoe. I also wanted to ask you if you had any recommendations on which pads I should get? I don't really have any deep scratches, just some swirls and surface scratches from the car washes . I used to take it through the automatic ones because I really didn't care, but now I do, and I hope it's not too late! TIA

Hey cfilly you need to start getting on here and being a regular member and start posting more to get help and give help or your thoughts on a subject because we all are on here to learn, everyone has something to bring to the table.

As for pads I've used Meguiars, lake country(LC) and a couple more but think each one has it's pro's and con's, right now I've been using the flat LC's but plan on trying these lake country's ccs pads and like GUZ stated the 5.5 pads are great for the 7424 or G110.

http://www.autodetailingsolutions.net/lake-country-ccs-five-and-a-half-inch-foam-pads.html

Also it's very important to clean your pads often either after every panel or I will clean sometimes after every other application when using cleaners. There's 3 different ways to do this, 1) is to clean on the fly. http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...Fly&highlight=

2) is to use a foam brush that is intendeed for cleaning the foam pads. http://www.autodetailingsolutions.net/e113.html

3) is which I also hope to get. The pad cleaner! http://www.autodetailingsolutions.ne...asher-wpw.html

And my opinion is to get a 6pk deal and to get 4)polishing pads & 2) finishing pads and if possible purchase you a seperate light cutting pad(LC is orange) because their's going to be a time you will need just alittle extra bit to help in removing a swirl or a light scratch, then switch to the light cutting pad to remove the swirl or scratch and then go back to the polishing pad and go back over area to remove any marring from the cutting pad if there was any.

Hope I've help! But I think the 7424 or G110V2 is a very good choice and if you do get it look at ADS or AG sometimes they have great deals for the DA with the 6 PK deals.

Also I like to stay with meguiars products because it's what I know and if I run out of a product I can run to a discount autoparts store and go to their paint and sanding section and pick me up some M105/M205/M26/M07 and so on, and of course the new products at wally world with the SMAT products UC/ UP/ UW you get the idea, don't get me wrong the other brands are great but again I stick with what I'm happy with and you can't go wrong with Meguiars products.

Again if you have any questions just ask because there's no dumb question except the one that wasn't ask, and their as you know are a munch of great and talented guys on here that will answer and give opinions on.

[cfilly]

Re: Porter Cable 7424XP

So I finally have my 7424XP. I also ordered a backing plate and some pads based on your recommendations stang...thanks buddy! I got the LC orange pad as well. The only types of products that I have in my arsenal are Megs with the exception of Bleche White. I also have the MTM Hydro Foam Cannon(My kid loves it when I use the foam cannon). I noticed in your post that you mentioned M105 and so on. If I was wanting to use the M105, which pad should I use with it? How does the 105 compare to UC? I used the DA with the red pad and UC, but I was unable to get out most of the swirls. Any advice? TIA

[The Guz]

Re: Porter Cable 7424XP

First question that I have is what type of car are you working on? The reason I ask is because some cars have harder clear than others and take a little more work to get the desired result. To answer your question regarding UC and M105, UC is derived from M105. M105 will give you more a little more cut. What other pads did you get other than orange? You would want to use UC or M105 with the orange pad. Also be sure you are using just enough pressure and a slow arm speed to fully work the area.

[cfilly]

Re: Porter Cable 7424XP

The Guz---I am working on a 2010 Chevy Tahoe, Summit White. All of the pads that I bought were Lake Country 5.5". I bought the following colors:1 orange, 1 green, 2 white, 1 black, 2 blue. I am working on a 2010 Chevy Tahoe, Summit White. Thanks for the info!

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: Porter Cable 7424XP

Hey cfilly

Start with a test spot, and the least aggressive product to get the job done. Work on a section about 18''X18''. After claying I'd start with UC and the green heavy polishing pad and don't forget to prime your pad! then apply 3 drops of UC and apply about 12lbs to 15 lbs pressure with slow arm speed and set your DA to spped 5. Make sure to over lap each pass by 50% and do 4 to 5 cover passes, work your product until it turns some what clear but don't dry buff, if you don't see a trail of semi wet product apply maybe another drop or 2. (remember cover passes are starting verticle overlapping passes in the 18''X18'' area and when getting to the end of area start doing horizontal overlapping passes) And don't forget to clean your pad on the fly and/or use a foam pad brush, cleaning the pads are very important in your outcome and could couse more swirls if not cleaned.

Use a micro fiber towel folded 4 ways and break the layering of product with a twisting motion and then rub lightly in circle motions or back and forth motion, what ever your technique is. And check your area, if you have a high powered light you could also use that. If you see some improvement then you can apply a 2nd application and do your process again and recheck. If not satisfied instead of applying a 3rd application you can step up to another level of aggressivness like M105 or switch to the orange cut pad and continuing with the UC.

After you have decide which product and pads are removing the swirls and light scratches, I would go to M205 or Ultimate Polish(UP) and use the green heavy polishing pad (because of the fact that you more or less do have a hard clear) with the UP or M205 (up to you) because both are cleaner polishes and if you had to use the orange cut pad with either UC or M105 you need to step down with a polish pad and I always like to follow up with a cleaner/polish to start cleaning the surface more and remove any marring if any and just to help add more shine and glosss to your white paint.

And since you are working with white paint I would diffently try (it wont hurt anything just take more time and could result in more gloss) A pure polish like M05 new car glaze or M07 show car glaze(I know M07 is more for single stage but with white paint I'm after shine,gloss and a whiter white!) and apply with foam applicators and just use a back in forth motion, like your trying to push it in to the pores of your paint!

And last your favorite LSP, and this is just my opinion (because this seams to be a back in forth opinions) but use either NXT tech wax 2.0 or M21 Synthetic Sealant 2.0 & top with a carnubua wax like M26 Hi- tech yellow wax liquid or paste/ or what you have or Gold Class! But just my opinion is for M26 for the simple fact of what it does and does it very well!

Hope I've helped and other's will post in and give their favorite combo's and what ever you do post them before and after's cuase we all would love to see your progress

[The Guz]

Re: Porter Cable 7424XP

GM is typically known to have hard clear. But as Daniel pointed out a test spot is always good practice. You may need to go over the area a few more times to get those deeper swirls out. Being a white car it is harder to see while you are polishing and it takes a little more work with moving your eyes and head in different angles.

Speaking from experience, I have an 02 camaro that has hard clear. M105+ornage pad gave me a little more cut than UC+orange pad. I still have some areas where I had to go with a microfiber cutting disc+M105 to fully remove the swirls and scratches. I followed up with M205+white pad. That's just my experience with GM clear and it may work for you as well. But I would start off with a test spot as Daniel pointed out to find the right combination for you.

Good luck and keep us upated.

But before you do it is a

[cfilly]

Re: Porter Cable 7424XP

Thanks for all the tips and info guys! I am ready to get to work on it, but we are getting snow in South Louisiana! As soon as all of this weather is over, I am going to do a full detail and take LOTS of before, during, and after pictures. We actually had some snow last week, and the parish(county in every other state) decided to dump sand all over the bridges and on some highways. Needless to say, I discovered that I now have a few chips on the front of my Tahoe. I have been doing some research on how to fix them, but I am not to comfortable with wet sanding etc. Have any of you ever used Dr.Color Chip?

[Top Gear]

Re: Porter Cable 7424XP

I agree with the other guys. You won't look back, cfilly A big part of the improvement will be moving from holding an unstable drill far away from the surface, to holding something lower to the surface that was designed for polishing work. With hard paint/clear, the worst step by far will be the compounding, perhaps with multiple passes per area. But then, that's also a benefit in a way, because with something more powerful, like a high-speed buffer, you might be invited to overwork the paint/clear. The dual-action design, more of a shaker than a rotary, has an element of safety built in - if you follow the instructions and guides (like the Meguiar's videos) you basically cannot hurt anything. The polishing and waxing steps are easy, fast and fun by comparison, a payoff for all the earlier work.

Oh, and I've used a paint/clear pen for temporary fixes. I try to have a pro paint "blender" sand and airbrush the chips and major scratches out, say once a year or whatever, which is a perfect (more or less) and permanent fix.