FAQ: How-to use a Porter Cable for detailing

Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives

Added to FAQ - Detailing Sticky

The following how-to describes my method for using the Porter Cable which may differ from others. I use the most popular model - PC7424.

In this how-to I am polishing the paint of a 1995 Mercury Mystique that us heavily swirled. Here is the surface to be polished after a clay:

1. Apply polish to pad
I apply the polish to the pad as shown below. Since the surface is heavily swirled, I am using an aggressive polish with the heaviest cut pad.

2. Apply polish to paint
I dab the foam pad on the area I am going to work on. My personal preference is to spray the foam pad with some detailing spray. (You can use water if you choose.) I find this helps the polish "last" a little longer - it doesn't dry as quickly and I can work with it longer.

3. I start at a low speed (~1000) and work the polish smoothly and quickly over the entire area to be worked. There is no need to apply pressure - just direct it. (The PC will not harm your paint unless you are using an extremely aggressive compound and pushing down for a long time.) I then turn up the speed to ~2000 - 2500 and work slower - about 1" per second from one end to the other. I then work back to where I started at the same pace overlapping about 2/3 of the previous pass. I continue this until the entire area is complete.

1st pass: driver side to passenger side
2nd pass: front to back
3rd pass: driver side to passenger side
4th pass: front to back

By keeping the foam pad slightly damp, it keeps the polish from drying out too quickly.

4. Repeat
Move on to the next section that needs to be polished and repeat steps 1-3.

5. Buff
I prefer to complete a panel - in this case the hood - then buff it all out with a clean 100% cotton towel.

6. Examine the paint
I examine the paint closely for swirls. Am I happy with the way it looks? Or do I want to remove more swirls? If you want to remove more swirls, repeat steps 1-3 until you are happy with the swirl level.

Note:
Depending on the agressiveness of the polish you used, you may need to follow with a light polish. Example: If you used Poorboy's SSR2.5, you should follow with Poorboy's SSR1. This will bring clean up the paint even further and really bring out the paint.

7. Apply sealant
Take you sealant of choice and apply with a finishing pad or by hand.

8. Clean your pads
Clean your pads immediately with a little dishwashing soap and warm water. Keep rinsing and squeezing until all the polish is gone from the pad. Do not let the pad sit with polish on it! Let pads air dry.

My review:
Like most people, I was scared that I would screw up my paint with the PC. It's actually very easy to use and the single best investment I have made. It has allowed me to remove swirls and reduce scratches like I could not do by hand. I practice frequently on my Mystique with a variety of polishes to try to find what works best for me. I've gotten better with practice and can remove swirls without much effort.

HTH!

Excellent how-to!

If you don't mind me asking, but is there a difference between a buffer and a PC? I have a non-used 10" buffer that I'd like to try out, but not sure about the results.

wowsers!

Originally posted by KerryKool:

If you don't mind me asking, but is there a difference between a buffer and a PC? I have a non-used 10" buffer that I'd like to try out, but not sure about the results.

Not too sure, but when I hear buffer, I think of a highspeed polisher that rotates freely on an axis. If you don't know what you're doing you can burn right into your paint. The PC (a polisher) rotates on a spinning axis (so it jiggles) and it's more user-friendly and gets awesome results.

If I'm not mistaken, you can get better results with a highspeed buffer, but there's tons more room for error

the pc is an orbital buffer/polisher. it should handle most detailing jobs on its own. a rotary buffer is used for tougher scuffs/surface defects that orbital simply cant get out but its also more prone to damage the paint too if u dont know how to do it. most detailers say forget the rotary and get lots of practice with an orbital like the portercable before trying to implement a rotary into your detailing tools. anyone correct me if i misstated something

Where can you get different cut pads for the buffer? It looks like they can range from heavy cut to least cut. Can you pick the different cuts at say a Pep Boys? I bought a 10in foam pad for my buffer from Pep Boys but IIRC there was only one to pick from not a whole selection of different cuts but I could be wrong its been a while. I'd hate to have to order these from somwhere and wait for it. I'd rather just pick some up.

Originally posted by KerryKool:
If you don't mind me asking, but is there a difference between a buffer and a PC?

Porter Cable is really a brand. Think of Kleenex, when the true term is facial tissue.

- Dual-action or orbital polisher -
Like the Porter Cable. It does spin, but when applied to the surface of the paint it appears to just vibrate. You don't see the pad spinning nearly as fast as it does when not on the paint. That is because it rotates and moves back and forth. If you place the orbital polisher on paint, it will begin to move across the paint on it's own.

- Circular / rotary / high-speed polisher -
This is the traditional polisher most body shops use. It spins on one axis. Because the pad spins on one axis at high speed, the pad must continue to be moved or it will burn through the paint. Not recommended for beginners / novices.

Originally posted by teamSVTour:
Where can you get different cut pads for the buffer? It looks like they can range from heavy cut to least cut. Can you pick the different cuts at say a Pep Boys? I bought a 10in foam pad for my buffer from Pep Boys but IIRC there was only one to pick from not a whole selection of different cuts but I could be wrong its been a while. I'd hate to have to order these from somwhere and wait for it. I'd rather just pick some up.

Post the brand and model # of your buffer.

Excellent write-up! I can't wait to get my hands on a PC!

Originally posted by GTO Pete:

Originally posted by KerryKool:
If you don't mind me asking, but is there a difference between a buffer and a PC?

Porter Cable is really a brand. Think of Kleenex, when the true term is facial tissue.

Porter-Cable makes all kinds of stuff. Saying "grab your Porter-Cable" is kind of like saying "Hand me that Sears."

At least if you ask for a "kleenex," almost everyone in the room will know what you're talking about.

Originally posted by RogerB:
Porter-Cable makes all kinds of stuff. Saying "grab your Porter-Cable" is kind of like saying "Hand me that Sears."

At least if you ask for a "kleenex," almost everyone in the room will know what you're talking about.

We're talking about detailing. When someone is detailing their car and says I use a porter cable, it's understood.

A: "How do you wax your car?"
B: "I use a Porter Cable."

It's generally accepted amongst detailers that Porter Cable (PC) is synonymous with dual-action or orbital polishers.

Originally posted by GTO Pete:

Originally posted by RogerB:
Porter-Cable makes all kinds of stuff. Saying "grab your Porter-Cable" is kind of like saying "Hand me that Sears."

At least if you ask for a "kleenex," almost everyone in the room will know what you're talking about.

We're talking about detailing. When someone is detailing their car and says I use a porter cable, it's understood.

A: "How do you wax your car?"
B: "I use a Porter Cable."

Whatever. When I saw the subject line, I thought "what the hell are they going to do with an air compressor?" (I didn't realize PC made orbital polishers.) Nevertheless, no context clue was provided in the subject line, as in your neat little couplet, above.

Of course, I'm smart enough to figure it out once I read the post, but wouldn't it be better to be clear from the start?

Quote:

It's generally accepted amongst detailers that Porter Cable (PC) is synonymous with dual-action or orbital polishers.

1. I have a dual action (orbital) polisher that is not a PC, and I bet I could find many more, if I cared to.

2. I'm not a "detailer." Nor am I a sommelier, barista, climatologist, physicist, or alcoholic. Consider your audience.

Meh. Whatever. It's not my post. Carry on.

Originally posted by RogerB:
Whatever. When I saw the subject line, I thought "what the hell are they going to do with an air compressor?" (I didn't realize PC made orbital polishers.) Nevertheless, no context clue was provided in the subject line, as in your neat little couplet, above.

Of course, I'm smart enough to figure it out once I read the post, but wouldn't it be better to be clear from the start?
...
2. I'm not a "detailer." Nor am I a sommelier, barista, climatologist, physicist, or alcoholic. Consider your audience.

Perfectly clear from first line in the first post of this thread states:

Originally posted by GTO Pete:
Added to FAQ - Detailing Sticky

I even provide a model # in the 3rd line:

Originally posted by GTO Pete:
I use the most popular model - PC7424.

Pictures of wax, a hood, etc.

After all that you have to nitpick? Give me a break.

Originally posted by RogerB:
Quote:

It's generally accepted amongst detailers that Porter Cable (PC) is synonymous with dual-action or orbital polishers.

1. I have a dual action (orbital) polisher that is not a PC, and I bet I could find many more, if I cared to.

Re-read. I'll requote and bold it for you:

Quote:

It's generally accepted amongst detailers that Porter Cable (PC) is synonymous with dual-action or orbital polishers.

And I'm well aware there are others. I don't know if others work the same, have the same features, etc.

I use a PC. I've only used a PC. Hence the title, in Aesthetics, with a link to FAQ Detailing, with the model #, with a detailed how-to, with pics, on how I use my Porter Cable. As requested by CEGers.

Rather than taking a stab like you did in your initial post, a simple PM with your suggestions would have worked.

Originally posted by GTO Pete:

Originally posted by teamSVTour:
Where can you get different cut pads for the buffer? It looks like they can range from heavy cut to least cut. Can you pick the different cuts at say a Pep Boys? I bought a 10in foam pad for my buffer from Pep Boys but IIRC there was only one to pick from not a whole selection of different cuts but I could be wrong its been a while. I'd hate to have to order these from somwhere and wait for it. I'd rather just pick some up.

Post the brand and model # of your buffer.

Ryobi RB100 10in orbital buffer 3200/min 120v

bump

Originally posted by teamSVTour:

Originally posted by GTO Pete:

Originally posted by teamSVTour:
Where can you get different cut pads for the buffer? It looks like they can range from heavy cut to least cut. Can you pick the different cuts at say a Pep Boys? I bought a 10in foam pad for my buffer from Pep Boys but IIRC there was only one to pick from not a whole selection of different cuts but I could be wrong its been a while. I'd hate to have to order these from somwhere and wait for it. I'd rather just pick some up.

Post the brand and model # of your buffer.

Ryobi RB100 10in orbital buffer 3200/min 120v

From searching the web, it looks like you can get an "applicator bonnett" and a "buffing bonnett". I'm not sure how effective this buffer is for polishing to remove swirls.