Electric Polisher's

[The Black Pearl]

Anyone use an electric polisher to buff their TB? I am looking the $50 - $60 range (ie..Simoniz brand).

[jauto98]

I just recently bought a Porter Cable 7336SP from Lowes for 100 bucks (just a thought), which is similiar to the 7424 which seems very popular with detailers on Autopia.org. Haven't had a chance to use it yet, but also need to get some pads. Also waiting on the Swirl Mark Remover/Cleaner from Zaino thats suppose to be coming out soon.

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

I also have the 7336SP; however I bought mine for about twice that price from Meguiar's because of their lifetime warranty as opposed to the 2 or 3 year one from Porter Cable (mainly because I use it professionally and run a greater risk of wearing it out from frequent use). It is the only random-orbit buffer I would recommend. The $50-60 ones (Simoniz, WEN, Turtle Wax, etc.) aren't really worth the money.

The entire point of a machine polisher is to create heat to increase the effectiveness of compounds and polishes (modern paint finishes soften slightly when exposed to heat, and the heat 'activates' the chemical elements in compounds/polishes). To create heat, a certain ammount of power is required. Obviously, by hand you can create some degree of heat. These inexpensive RO buffers can't create much more heat than you can by hand. They also typically larger and bulkier than the PC polisher is. The PC can create much more heat, and get into areas the WEN or Simoniz units can't even begin to.

I look at it this way: You get the PC 7336, and you're getting a good polisher for the car as well as a sander for other jobs. I used mine to sand all the cabinet doors in my kitchen when we re-finished them last year -- it worked like a charm. It's really a dual purpose tool, and a great investment since it is so rugged.

The one thing I will say for a 'novice' machine user, is do NOT start with a rotary. Sure, you can get a decent one for $30 from Harbor Freight, but they're REALLY dangerous unless you have a good fundamental knowledge of how to use a polisher on the paint. Get the PC; you'll love it. :m2:

:D

[The Black Pearl]

How do you post pictures???That PC 7424 looks like it can do some damage...

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

How do you post pictures???That PC 7424 looks like it can do some damage...

Believe me, it can't do damage unless you drop it on the paint upside down. I wouldn't hesitate to hand this polisher to a 10 year old and let them loose on the paint with it, assuming they could handle the weight.

That's the reason why you want a DUAL-ACTION or RANDOM ORBITAL polisher, not a rotary. The ROTARY can do some MAJOR damage; the 7336/7424 can't do damage like that.

I tell ya what, tomorrow I'll get mine out, set up the digital camera, and shoot a video of me holding the PC in one spot on the hood of my Envoy for ~30-45 seconds with polish at its highest speed, just to prove that it can't damage the paint. Will that convince you? :eek:

[Tommy]

How do you post pictures???That PC 7424 looks like it can do some damage...

http://www.tbecentral.com/images/forumpost/editorss.jpg

Then put the url to the image that you want to post.

[The Black Pearl]

Great I would like to see the video. Basically this polisher will just buff and not swirl more than what I have? If so its a Christmas toy for Dad.

In response to posting pictures, I got as far as putting in the url, but from where, do I have to upload the picture somewhere then copy the url, never done this, I'm new to forums and Internet.

Thanks guys for your help....

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

Great I would like to see the video. Basically this polisher will just buff and not swirl more than what I have? If so its a Christmas toy for Dad.

In response to posting pictures, I got as far as putting in the url, but from where, do I have to upload the picture somewhere then copy the url, never done this, I'm new to forums and Internet.

Thanks guys for your help....

Yeah, you'll have to upload the pics to somewhere. Here's a few options for free hosting:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Free+Photo+Hosting

I'll get on that video this afternoon. As far as 'just buff and not swirl' that's the definition of a random-orbital polisher. It doesn't go in circles, it more or less "wiggles" back and forth; doing almost like a half-circle in random directions.

A ROTARY polisher is the one to stay away from, as it does just move in circles and could harm the paint if you don't know what you're doing with it.

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

As promised, here's the video:

CLICK HERE (http://www.hahn-on-the.net/TBECentral/pcdemo.wmv) (WMV) 8.01MB

You might want to "Right Click, Save As" on this one for speed purposes. This will show you not only that the PC is perfectly safe, but also demostrates correct technique for working in a product such as what I used in that video.

Hope this helps you!

[jauto98]

As promised, here's the video:

CLICK HERE (http://www.hahn-on-the.net/TBECentral/pcdemo.wmv) (WMV) 8.01MB

You might want to "Right Click, Save As" on this one for speed purposes. This will show you not only that the PC is perfectly safe, but also demostrates correct technique for working in a product such as what I used in that video.

Hope this helps you!

WOW. Thats fantastics. Helps knowing that its nearly impossible to screw up as long as you have some sense. I can't wait to try out my PC. By the way, do you have any recommendations on PC pads? I need to order some.

We need more of these demonstrations so all of us can have nice, detailed TBs/Envoys. ;)

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

WOW. Thats fantastics. Helps knowing that its nearly impossible to screw up as long as you have some sense. I can't wait to try out my PC. By the way, do you have any recommendations on PC pads? I need to order some.

We need more of these demonstrations so all of us can have nice, detailed TBs/Envoys. ;)

What I was using in that video, and what I use almost exclusively, are the Meguiar's yellow foam "SoftBuff" W-8006 pads. There are a few applications with heavier compounding where I use one of their red cutting pads, or the white finishing pad, but those times are rare. Usually I complete the 'finish steps' (sealants and waxes) by hand, and heavier compounding just doesn't come up very often since DACP will take care of 99% of what I have come across.

Actually, DACP (on the exact same pad I just used on the envoy) held in one spot over a scratch for about that long is what turned this:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/professional/detailing/IMG_0019.JPG

into this:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/professional/detailing/IMG_0041.JPG

And that damage was caused because the car was scraped against another car in the parking lot where I work (that's my boss' car).

The one thing I will say is this. Don't get a Meguiar's backing plate, no matter what you do. I went through 3 of them (meguiar's replaces them for free thru the warranty) before deciding it wasn't worth it to have them fail in the middle of detailing a customer's car. I now use a 3M "Hook-it" backing plate, same size as the Meg's ones. I'll have to look closer to get the exact P/N but the velcro is much stronger; almost to the point where I have to fight to get the pads off, which I don't mind since it's better than the pad flying across the garage in the middle of buffing a panel.

Oh, and before anyone says it, yes I know the pad needs to be cleaned but I just got done using it yesterday on a customer's Cadillac DeVille. And also yes, I know there's a ding in the fender which I haven't had time to "Ding King" out yet. :laugh:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/professional/detailing/CUST_CADDY.JPG

[The Black Pearl]

I haven't had time to "Ding King" out yet. :laugh:

Great video thank you for taking the time on my question. I want one (polisher)...

Figured out what a "Ding King" is, does it work? I have a few door dings on my TB and they bother me and what is the difference betwwen the PC 7336/7424.



Thanks

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

Great video thank you for taking the time on my question. I want one (polisher)...

Figured out what a "Ding King" is, does it work? I have a few door dings on my TB and they bother me and what is the difference betwwen the PC 7336/7424.



Thanks

The Ding King works in some certain situations; I'm pretty sure it will work on that dent in my 1/4 panel. However, if the dent is any smaller than that or has a 'crease' in it, you'll need a professional PDR tech (something I haven't yet picked up on) to do the removal with some more sophisticated tools.

There is basically no difference between the 7336 and 7424 aside from what accessories are included; and you'll want to upgrade either with higher quality parts than the factory includes. For truly in-depth info (and more than you probably ever wanted to know) check this thread from Autopia.org:

http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14421&highlight=Resource+Thread

There are many choices, most of them good solid choices, for accessories. You will have to experiment and see what works best for you. In my situation, I settled on the setup you saw, a 3M backing plate and Meguiar's pads/polishes. It is the most effective in both cost and efficiency for my needs.

[Envoy Fan]

You can get a 7336 Porter Cable at Lowes for less than $100.00. Plus if you fill out the info at this web site, you can get 10% off the purchase price. I just told them I already moved. ;) You should still get the 6" backing plate.

https://www.lowesmoving.com/lowesmoving/registration.jsp

[The Black Pearl]

You can get a 7336 Porter Cable at Lowes for less than $100.00. Plus if you fill out the info at this web site, you can get 10% off the purchase price. I just told them I already moved. ;) You should still get the 6" backing plate.

https://www.lowesmoving.com/lowesmoving/registration.jsp


Thanks for the info, but I live in Canada so I have to look at the Bosch equivalent. There are no hardware stores that carry this item and its a special order$$$$$$.

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

Thanks for the info, but I live in Canada so I have to look at the Bosch equivalent. There are no hardware stores that carry this item and its a special order$$$$$$.

Hmm... well again it involves ordering but how about the Coastal Tool kit:

http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/port/7424_car_buffer.htm?L+coastest+jrnq9096fff6c2f6+11 15885714

[jauto98]

You can get a 7336 Porter Cable at Lowes for less than $100.00. Plus if you fill out the info at this web site, you can get 10% off the purchase price. I just told them I already moved. ;) You should still get the 6" backing plate.

https://www.lowesmoving.com/lowesmoving/registration.jsp

Thats the same exact deal I got when I purchased my 7336 from Lowes last week. I think its a pretty good deal. :D

[Envoy Fan]

Hmm... well again it involves ordering but how about the Coastal Tool kit:

http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/port/7424_car_buffer.htm?L+coastest+jrnq9096fff6c2f6+11 15885714

This is where I got my PC7424 from last year. Comes with some extras. This was before I knew about the Lowes deal. Quick shipping and reasonable ship charges.

[The Black Pearl]

02EnoySLEGuy. I just want to understand the sequence of applications (polish, wax etc.) and when you use the PC (prior to polishing, removing the polish, removing the wax or final step after removing the wax by hand).

In my case I used scratch X (I know now this was not a good idea), then I used Meguier's NXT wax all applied and removed by hand. both cars look good, better than anything on my street, but I still have some swirls and a few more new scratches (damn wall-mart parking lot, no matter how far you park you still get that one lonely person that wants to park beside you).

When wuld you use the PC and what products would you use? If it would not be to much trouble to list each item (wax, pad, backing plate, weight etc..) and step (polish, pad#???or remove by hand) that would be great. I'm working on getting a PC polisher.



Thanks

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

02EnoySLEGuy. I just want to understand the sequence of applications (polish, wax etc.) and when you use the PC (prior to polishing, removing the polish, removing the wax or final step after removing the wax by hand).

In my case I used scratch X (I know now this was not a good idea), then I used Meguier's NXT wax all applied and removed by hand. both cars look good, better than anything on my street, but I still have some swirls and a few more new scratches (damn wall-mart parking lot, no matter how far you park you still get that one lonely person that wants to park beside you).

When wuld you use the PC and what products would you use? If it would not be to much trouble to list each item (wax, pad, backing plate, weight etc..) and step (polish, pad#???or remove by hand) that would be great. I'm working on getting a PC polisher.



Thanks

That will take me some time to write up; but I can do that over this weekend since I'll have yet another customer car here to work on (a REALLY nasty 1992 Pontiac Grand Am). In the interim, I'll refer you to my thread on inventory/products:

http://forums.tbecentral.com/showthread.php?t=299

:D

[The Black Pearl]

I'm in no rush, I appreciate it.

I have to win a PC that the seller will ship to Canada on ebay. If I don't win it on ebay I'm going to the States for holidays and I already tried to map out some Lowes stores on the way. The PC goes for $300 here since it is a special order and from what I read I can get it for $100 US from Lowes.

One quick question about the PC. I'm looking at one that has a hose that hooks up to the PC. Can the plastic piece of the hose connector that is on the PC be removed? I don't need it and it may be one thing that could get in the way.

Thanks

Chris

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

I'm in no rush, I appreciate it.

I have to win a PC that the seller will ship to Canada on ebay. If I don't win it on ebay I'm going to the States for holidays and I already tried to map out some Lowes stores on the way. The PC goes for $300 here since it is a special order and from what I read I can get it for $100 US from Lowes.

One quick question about the PC. I'm looking at one that has a hose that hooks up to the PC. Can the plastic piece of the hose connector that is on the PC be removed? I don't need it and it may be one thing that could get in the way.

Thanks

Chris

Mind linking me to what you're talking about? I'm not aware of any 7424s or 7336s comming with a 'hose connector'.

Also remember, while getting a 7336 is only $100USD or less, you'll still ned to spend another $50-75USD on a backing plate and pads (you could get away with cheaper but I'd recommend getting a good set of pads and backing plate off the bat).

[The Black Pearl]

Here is what I'm looking at.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4380314636&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

I believe I can get the extras here in Canada.

Thanks

[jauto98]

FYI, I was just a Home Depot the other day and saw that they had the PC 7424 for $100 bucks. This was at a newer Home Depot. Now I wonder if its worth going with the 7336 from Lowes or a 7424 from Home Depot. Hmmmmm :undecided .

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

FYI, I was just a Home Depot the other day and saw that they had the PC 7424 for $100 bucks. This was at a newer Home Depot. Now I wonder if its worth going with the 7336 from Lowes or a 7424 from Home Depot. Hmmmmm :undecided .

You still will need to buy better pads, and probably will want a different backing plate at some point (I've seen the porter cable ones, they're "ok" but not nearly as nice as some other ones like my 3M). Only other consideration is the counterweight. I haven't used one with the "other" counterweight on it, but mine with the 6" counterweight is balanced just fine now that I have it dialed in. Takes some getting used to at first.

Either deal is fine though; good to know about HD, I have never seen porter cable tools there before.

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

Here is what I'm looking at.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4380314636&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

I believe I can get the extras here in Canada.

Thanks

That dust collector is an add-on kit, and will be removable. It looks like it's still just a plain 7336 when that gets removed.

[Gunny]

I have a Black & Decker Sander/polisher, 7", 2 speed, 3/4 hp.

Will this work if I get some decent pads?

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

I have a Black & Decker Sander/polisher, 7", 2 speed, 3/4 hp.

Will this work if I get some decent pads?

That description sounds like a rotary. I'd say don't use it, especially on your black paint. Get a Random Orbital unit first to learn on, THEN move up to a rotary once you have a feel for what you're doing. Polishing on automotive paint is a completely different situation than sanding wood or concrete; I just don't want to see you end up burning through your paint because of improper technique. :m2:

[XTREEME]

I finally had a decent day to polish up the blazer. I have a Waxmaster 10" 2-speed random orbital. (#99512). It works well for me for only being a $40 polisher.

http://home.comcast.net/~joelischynski/Tb5.jpg

[Envoy Fan]

Sweet ride. Looks good. Like your choice of beer also :D

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

Hey xtreeme, do you have two TBs?? Looks like a white one in the garage judging from that reflection....

[Dave]

I just Zainoed my 03 EXT today. I'll take pictures if it is not raining this week. It looks fantastic.

Two questions though.

1) What is good to remove wax from plastic parts (Not Zaino since it doesn't leave any residue)

2) Anyone notice a lot of chips in their paint? Mine has 35,000 miles on it, with mud flaps, running boards and clearbra and it still has some chips. It really sticks out on a green vehicle. Plus a couple door dings, one since it was around 1 week old (that makes me park my CTS V by itself)

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

1) It depends what you're talking about, you could either just use an all-purpose cleaner or you could re-dye it periodically with black spraypaint, shoe polish creme, or a specific trim dye product (Forever Black). Most of the time if it can't be removed by an APC or IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) it's permanently stained and must be dyed.

2) I notice the paint on the TBs and Envoys tends to be on the 'softer' side, more prone to damage than some other vehicles. Nothing a little touch-up paint and wetsanding can't fix every so often though. :m2:

[XTREEME]

Hey xtreeme, do you have two TBs?? Looks like a white one in the garage judging from that reflection....

The white one is the wife's Pacifica. I just noticed you can almost read the plate number in that reflection though. :D


I gotta work on a good sig pic that includes both the TB and the Vette.

[XTREEME]

I also just realized that the stock tailpipe really does look hideous. :o

Gonna have to stop at checker sometime soon and pick up a nice Chrome tip.

[XTREEME]

Sweet ride. Looks good. Like your choice of beer also :D

I've got Budweiser signs and stuff all over the place. :rolleyes: I run the beer gardens at our town's annual festival and have made good friends with the Bud boys. :)

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

I gotta work on a good sig pic that includes both the TB and the Vette.

How about a shot similar to the "TBSS/C6 ballet" video?? :eek: :cool:

[XTREEME]

How about a shot similar to the "TBSS/C6 ballet" video?? :eek: :cool:

Ha Ha. I know my C5 can do its part, but I'm not too sure about the TB though. :laugh:

[The Black Pearl]

The Black Pearl. Thanks Charlie, got a photo up......

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/blkpearl/04TB.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/blkpearl/MomsCar.jpg

[The Black Pearl]

What extras or what is a good combination of accessories do you require with the PC 7336?

If you can include stores that carry and sell the item great. I'm picking up a PC in June at Lowes. A road trip to the States....

[Envoy Fan]

What extras or what is a good combination of accessories do you require with the PC 7336?

If you can include stores that carry and sell the item great. I'm picking up a PC in June at Lowes. A road trip to the States....


Might want to read some of the threads in these links to get an idea of what accessories you may want to purchase.

http://www.autopia.org/

http://www.detailcity.com/

:m2:

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

Might want to read some of the threads in these links to get an idea of what accessories you may want to purchase.

http://www.autopia.org/

http://www.detailcity.com/

:m2:

Agreed. Also did you look at the link I already provided? PLEASE do some reading on your own of that thread. It has a very well-done list of PC accessories. Also refer to the thread I made about the products I use; it may give you a good idea what types of products you will need.

I'm a long-time member of Autopia, it is a very good site.

[The Black Pearl]

Agreed. Also did you look at the link I already provided? PLEASE do some reading on your own of that thread. It has a very well-done list of PC accessories. Also refer to the thread I made about the products I use; it may give you a good idea what types of products you will need.

I'm a long-time member of Autopia, it is a very good site.


I thought that this was considered reading...... :confused: Bottom line I did the Autopia and more confused then ever with all the endless options. I never used this polisher or any other and I would not know what I would be looking for.
ie.... here is some light reading that I found from Autopia that originated my original question. This is all fine if you know what it means.

5" or 6" pads, counter weight weights, hook and loop 3m Hookit pads
Meguiar's W-64DA backing pad is 5" diameter
Classic Motoring Accessories (CMA) VBP-6 backing pad is 6" diameter
Griot's Garage backing pad for their 7336 is actually Porter Cable 18001 6" sanding pad (Thanks to Len_A for this info)
3m Hookit pads - all these pads are yellow and NOT to be confused with Hookit II:
Hookit Disc Pad 05775 is 5" (tapered edge)
Hookit Disc Pad 05776 is 6" (tapered edge)
Hookit Low Profile Disc Pad 05755 is 5" (almost flat edge)
Hookit Low Profile Disc Pad 05756 is 6" (almost flat edge)
All the above pads are velcro backed.
Porter Cable sanding pads:
5" standard (solid) adhesive-backed (non-velcro) pad 13700 (comes with 7424sp, 7335)
6" standard (solid) adhesive-backed (non-velcro) pad 16000 (comes with 7336, 7336sp)
5" 5-hole Hook & Loop (velcro) pad 15000 (standard), and pad 15001 ("contour" type - softer, thicker for PC's really thin polishing pads)
6" 6-hole Hook & Loop (velcro) pad 18001 (standard) (comes with Griot's 7336 PC), and pad 18002 ("contour") (comes with Coastal Tool's 7424 bonus kit)
Porter Cable counterweights (see above for equipped models):
5" Counterweight 874011
6" Counterweight 699933

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

The point is the answers to all of your questions already have been discussed on Autopia, in more than just that one thread.

The block you just posted is describing different options for the polisher in terms of backing plates and pads. I was hoping not to dictate a setup to you because there is no "ONE" perfect setup. I can certainly tell you what I have, but it may not be the solution you're looking for.

Porter Cable 7336SP Dual-Action "Random Orbital" Sander/Polisher
6" Counterweight (as-stock)
3M Hook-It #05775 Backing Plate (5" dia.)
Meguiar's "Mirror Buff" W-8006 Yellow Foam Polishing Pads (6.5" dia.)

As for products to use, there are literally endless options, and a variety which are good for specific jobs of what you're trying to fix.

[Envoy Fan]

I thought that this was considered reading...... :confused: Bottom line I did the Autopia and more confused then ever with all the endless options. I never used this polisher or any other and I would not know what I would be looking for.


I was just as confused as you when I purchased my Porter Cable polisher. A lot really depends on what you want to do with it once you have it. What products will you be applying? With me it has been an evolution. I started with Megs products and after reading success stories on Autopia and Detail City have settled on a "recipe" that is working well for me. (None of the items I started with save for one am I currently using)

That said, the basic items Charlie has laid out will get you started very well.
Porter Cable 7336SP Dual-Action "Random Orbital" Sander/Polisher
6" Counterweight (as-stock)
3M Hook-It #05775 Backing Plate (5" dia.)
Meguiar's "Mirror Buff" W-8006 Yellow Foam Polishing Pads (6.5" dia.)

Also, I use the Meguiar's W-9006 White Finishing Pads (6.5" dia.) for applying waxes or sealants.

Plan on using one pad per product. It is a very good idea NOT to mix different polishes, etc on the same pad. The pads are washable. The Megs pads are available OTC at some larger automotive stores, whereas most of the other brands are mail order. :m2:

I have only been using the PC for about a year, so my level of experience is much less than Charlie. Plus Charlie does it for income, for me it is a hobby.
Bill

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

Very good point to keep in mind, Envoy Fan. You most likely never will stop trying new products; it's an ever-changing process because you'll become addicted to trying a range of products. I have my 'go-tos' and then my experimental bin, which I rarely talk about unless to provide a product review (I don't recommend products that I don't have faith in). When I started, the 3M line of polishes were popular over on Autopia, so that's what I used. Then, other boutique brands like pinnacle and blackfire were gaining popularity, so I tried those. Then I went for Zaino, Meguiar's, Mothers, Eagle One... the list goes on.

Right now I have some of the Poorboy's polishes and sealants (EX/EX-P, SSRs, Nattys) in my 'test bin' that I have yet to test. Those probably won't see introduction into my arsenal for customer cars due to cost, but I may use them on my personal vehicles depending on results. However I always tell customers "every vehicle I detail gets treated like its my own. Anything good enough for a customer vehicle is good enough for mine -- or in other words I use the same high quality stuff on your vehicle that I use on my own, and being an automotive enthusiast I don't settle for second best." :m2:

Also, as I said before, what works for one person may not work for another, since individual techniques and environmental conditions have a big influence on results. I tend to see a change in how I have to work products at the beginning of the season as compared to the end of the season since temperature patterns and humidity change over the course of that time, and in hotter more humid environments the products tend not to break down as well; thus forcing me to take more time per pannel. Also if I were to work with the polisher at a slower speed (as some folks who are less confident with the machine do... it took me 3-4 months before I was comfortable going over speed 4.5) the polish wouldn't yield the same results as I can get working at speed 6 and knowing exactly at what point to stop polishing. Again, it all comes with trial and error, and practice.

There is almost nothing you can do with one of these polishers that can't be corrected by re-working the pannel with the proper product/pad combo.

[Tommy]

What extras or what is a good combination of accessories do you require with the PC 7336?

If you can include stores that carry and sell the item great. I'm picking up a PC in June at Lowes. A road trip to the States....

I have a Lowes 5 mins from me here in PA. I can buy it for you and ship it by USPS. You can paypal me the money or send me a money order. :) Shipping vs gas money for trip to the states?? :confused:

Let me know.

[The Black Pearl]

I have a Lowes 5 mins from me here in PA. I can buy it for you and ship it by USPS. You can paypal me the money or send me a money order. :) Shipping vs gas money for trip to the states?? :confused:

Let me know.

Thanks...Let me see how my trip works out (Vacation - Disney). I managed to talk to the store manager in Virginia and he put one away for me. It looks like the store is 10 minutes from the hotel I am staying at.

[The Black Pearl]

I managed to pick up the Porter Cable 7336SP in Carlisle PA and now I am looking for a hook and loop backing plate. I am starting to understand what this all means now since I own one. I was thinking of putting a 5" hook and loop conversion kit on the 6" disk, its a stick on 5" hook and loop disk. Does anyone think that this would work with a 6" hook and loop pad? I'm having a problem locating a 6" hook and loop backing plate or conversion disk. I did find a 6" hook and loop Simoniz pads, I might try this out.

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

Whoa... whoa whoa. I think you're getting some terminologies mixed up here. What you need is an entire backing plate, no "conversion for a stick-on" or anything, just a simple hook-and-loop backing plate. For the PC the best pad size to use is 6.5", for which you need a 5" backing plate. My recommendation is to either find one at a local painters' supply by 3M (I'll get you the P/N tomorrow morning) or order one from an online site like autopia-carcare.com or properautocare.com for around $20USD.

As for pads, I would still recommend either Meguiar's pads (again, either local painters supply or order online) or Lake Country pads simply for their durability. :m2:

[SATBLS]

I use pads from Griot's Garage (http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L2=L2_1004&L1=L1_1000&Page=2) on my PC 7424 and I've been very happy with their performance and durability. :m2:

Of course, Griot's aren't known for their low pricing, so you could probably save a few bucks elsewhere.
But since they've worked well for me I stick with them.

[jauto98]

I like my PC 7336sp. I got my last sets of pads from Properautocare.com (www.properautocare.com), which are Lake County pads. They seem to be better, though I am not to fond of the fact that the pad fits the entire diamter of the backing plate. One false move and I could have some paint damage. Also more of a pain to place the pads compared to the Sonus pads I purchased from Autopia-carcare.com (http://autopia-carcare.com/). This year is probably the most money I spent in car detailing products in any year since I've started detailing my vehicles :worried: :eek: :D . Its an addiction, especially with the purchase of the PC. Once you buy the PC, you wanna buy some polishes, microfiber towels, detailing tools, etc... The PC is also good for apply Zaino, if you use it. You get ultra thin layers that provides better coverage than I could have done by hand. Good luck with your new toy!

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

I use pads from Griot's Garage (http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L2=L2_1004&L1=L1_1000&Page=2) on my PC 7424 and I've been very happy with their performance and durability. :m2:

Of course, Griot's aren't known for their low pricing, so you could probably save a few bucks elsewhere.
But since they've worked well for me I stick with them.

Hey, here's something else you might not know:

Griots doesn't make their own products. The pads are actually a relabeled product from another distributor which also makes pads like the Sonus SFX and Edge 2000 pads sold by some online retailers. If you look at them, they are all VERY similar, just like the flex backing plates griots sells -- actually a Lake Country product :eek: :yes:

[TexasTB]

I use the makita 9227cx3 close to $200 :eek:
http://www.toolup.com/imdir/product/makita/large/9227cx3.jpg