[brandonjansen]

A couple weeks ago I order a Porter Cable 7424 XP DA polisher and full pad kit from autogeek.net. The kit included:

Porter Cable 7424 XP DA polisher and accessories (handle, counterweight, wrench, etc.)
5" Backing plate
5 CTS pads of my choice
Free gift included 2 waxing pads and a "How To" DVD and booklet
Pad Cleaner and Conditioner
2 Microfibre cloths

All this for only $199 shipped! I was pretty stoked with that pricing. Here's a link to the kit I bought in case anyone is interested: http://www.autogeek.net/hk7424.html

This weekend I finally got around to using it on the truck a little bit. Started off by getting the Mcguiars 3 step system including Ultimate Compound, Ultimate Polish, and Tech 2.0 Wax. Started off with the pink light cutting pad, speed level 6 and the Ultimate Compound and went over the entire hood and front fenders. From there used the white polishing pad, speed level 5 with the Ultimate polish and went over the whole area again. Then finally changed to the Red ultrasoft waxing pad, speed level 4 and applied a nice coat of wax to it. So far I'm very happy with the products and application. The Porter Cable is super easy to use (especially after using rotary buffers in the past) and pretty much idiot proof. The Mcguairs products are also very nice and easy to use.

The finish is as smooth as can be and is essentially a black mirror. So far I have 8 hours into the job and have completed the hood, front fenders, and passenger side of the cab. Yes it takes a long time to do it right, especially because I'm OCD when it comes to this stuff. But I'm very happy with the results so far. During the week or next weekend I'll continue to do the rest of the truck.

For anyone looking to get into the Do-it yourself polishing stuff I'd definitely recommend autogeek.net. The have great prices for all the products you will need and they have a great youtube channel fully explaining how to use every single product in many different applications.

Here's some pictures so far. Keep in mind these were all taken with my iPhone 4. It is much more impressive in person. When I'm all done I'll take some good pictures with my Canon T3i.

Mcguairs 3 step system products:


My polishing set up:


Hood results:



Passenger Side Results:

 

[ShawnC13]

Nice work. Like a mirror!!

 

[Pull Ya]

I think I saw one tiny little spec of dust on the hood---:158: LOL
Great job!!!!!!!!! Time well spent, looks super! Autogeek is a great place to get your products, but I wish their shipping was a little cheaper.
Jay

 

[TonyG-]

Great job on the truck!

 

[highlandchef]

Very impressive! I've never made the jump to using a polisher; I know they can screw things up quickly if you make a mistake.

 

[brandonjansen]

Nice work. Like a mirror!!

I think I saw one tiny little spec of dust on the hood---:158: LOL
Great job!!!!!!!!! Time well spent, looks super! Autogeek is a great place to get your products, but I wish their shipping was a little cheaper.
Jay

I happened to order at a time when then had a free shipping promo on so I saved a lot on that.

Great job on the truck!

Very impressive! I've never made the jump to using a polisher; I know they can screw things up quickly if you make a mistake.

With a rotary polisher yes, it's very risky. But a DA polisher like this is literally idiot proof. So easy to use and almost no risk of wrecking the paint. If you press too hard, it stops spinning. I'd highly recommend checking out the Porter Cable if you want to get into it. I love it!


Thanks everyone! I'll continue to post pictures as I do the rest of the truck. It's supposed to rain here all week so it will probably be put off until the weekend.

 

[Big Boi]

Great job bud. UC and UP are the little brothers to M105 & M205. A lot easer to work with, but cut a little less. I use them all the time.

Also, I'd top the 2.0 with some M26 paste, on a jeweling pad. It will give you an extra layer of protection, and make the black look richer

 

[Big Boi]

Are you on AGO?

 

[primo spaghetti]

great work.

a tip for the porter cable machine. drop down to 5.5" pads and 4" pads.

6.5 is a bit big for the free floating spindle design of the porter cable.

youll be able to compound at 5 with the 5.5" pads and will notice the machine feels like it has a bit more power and correction with the smaller pads.

keep an arsenal of the 4" pads for tight areas or areas where there are bodylines. the PC will stop oscillating on deep ridges or bodylines, but the 4" pads help here. This free floating spindle design is what makes it very safe to use.

IMO, a DA takes longer to get the results of a rotary, but it finishes down perfect without the holograms or "buffer trails" that a rotary can impart.

 

[brandonjansen]

Great job bud. UC and UP are the little brothers to M105 & M205. A lot easer to work with, but cut a little less. I use them all the time.

Also, I'd top the 2.0 with some M26 paste, on a jeweling pad. It will give you an extra layer of protection, and make the black look richer

Yes, I've used the professional series Mcguairs products before. They definitely do work very well. At this time my truck wasn't in bad enough shape to need a lot of cutting (just needed to remove small scratches from winter washing and such) so I thought I'd give these products a shot.

Here's a picture of my previous car that I used the profession series products on.



Went over it all once with the fine cut polish and light cutting pad and then again with swirl remover and a polishing pad. With the rotary buffer it still had a small amount of polishing swirls in it that I couldn't get out. But for 10 year old paint it came out pretty good. I definitely got a lot of compliments on it.

I'll look into the M26 paste with a jeweling pad. Thanks for the suggestion!

Are you on AGO?

Because I don't even know what that is I'm gonna say no :doh: What is it?

great work.

a tip for the porter cable machine. drop down to 5.5" pads and 4" pads.

6.5 is a bit big for the free floating spindle design of the porter cable.

youll be able to compound at 5 with the 5.5" pads and will notice the machine feels like it has a bit more power and correction with the smaller pads.

keep an arsenal of the 4" pads for tight areas or areas where there are bodylines. the PC will stop oscillating on deep ridges or bodylines, but the 4" pads help here. This free floating spindle design is what makes it very safe to use.

IMO, a DA takes longer to get the results of a rotary, but it finishes down perfect without the holograms or "buffer trails" that a rotary can impart.

Thanks primo! I've definitely noticed what you're saying about the pad size and power. For the really flat areas and the small amount of cutting I have to do to correct the paint these are working very well. But yes, when getting into the body lines and contours I definitely have to let up a lot to keep the pad spinning. Then I just end up going over it a few more times to make sure I'm getting the same results as the flat spots. I will definitely be ordering some smaller pads for the next time I do this.

Yes, fully agree on the difference between the DA and rotary. Honestly I'd much rather spend the time with the DA to avoid the holograms from the rotary. I'm also a lot more comfortable doing it with a DA on my new truck rather than risking burning the paint with the rotary.

 

[highlandchef]

With a rotary polisher yes, it's very risky. But a DA polisher like this is literally idiot proof. So easy to use and almost no risk of wrecking the paint. If you press too hard, it stops spinning. I'd highly recommend checking out the Porter Cable if you want to get into it. I love it!

Thanks for the info I didn't know that. Maybe I will need to make the leap.I've always been concerned the possible downside was more than the upside.

I'll practice on my wife's car first

 

[brandonjansen]

Thanks for the info I didn't know that. Maybe I will need to make the leap.I've always been concerned the possible downside was more than the upside.

I'll practice on my wife's car first

Haha, do it! I definitely thought about trying it out on my friends car first. I'm going to end up polishing hers anyway so I thought it would be a good test before taking it to my new truck. The scheduling of that didn't end up working out though so I just went ahead and did it. After watching a bunch of videos on autogeeks youtube page I felt pretty confident about the set up. But yes, with the Porter Cable there is only upside no downside. I definitely wouldn't have touched my truck with a rotary buffer.... that was a little to risky for my liking.

 

[highlandchef]

Well I am laughing about practicing on my wife's car but it also makes sense. She has a white car and while it won't get the results my black Ram will her's is a lot harder to screw up.

 

[brandonjansen]

Yes definitely. Black is definitely the toughest to polish, white is a piece of cake!

 

[primo spaghetti]

highland chef, you will have no issues with a DA thats not a forced action like the Porter Cable, Meguiars, Harbour Freight (cheapest) and Griots Garage.

this guys videos really make me laugh, but this is a good example of how idiot proof it really is....

part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XAqpOe9Zt4

part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7A5BCCb7Gg

 

[Chunkem]

highland chef, you will have no issues with a DA thats not a forced action like the Porter Cable, Meguiars, Harbour Freight (cheapest) and Griots Garage.

this guys videos really make me laugh, but this is a good example of how idiot proof it really is....

part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XAqpOe9Zt4

part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7A5BCCb7Gg

LOL,,,,,Thanks for sharing Primo......

 

[PaulMys]

Wow! that's amazing. Great job! And, LOL, settle my argument with the wife: in your second hood shot- I told her it is your reflection. She swears you took a reverse pic of yourself. I said "No, honey it is his reflection in the newly waxed hood" She says "Too clear, you can't convince me it is a reflection" She is Sicilian, so any help would be appreciated! LOL!!!

 

[brandonjansen]

Wow! that's amazing. Great job! And, LOL, settle my argument with the wife: in your second hood shot- I told her it is your reflection. She swears you took a reverse pic of yourself. I said "No, honey it is his reflection in the newly waxed hood" She says "Too clear, you can't convince me it is a reflection" She is Sicilian, so any help would be appreciated! LOL!!!

Haha, thanks!! It most definitely is my reflection. You can sort of make out that I'm holding my phone. If I just took a picture of myself you wouldn't see the phone (plus I wouldn't post it on the forum. Lol)

 

[PaulMys]

Haha, thanks!! It most definitely is my reflection. You can sort of make out that I'm holding my phone. If I just took a picture of myself you wouldn't see the phone (plus I wouldn't post it on the forum. Lol)

Hey, thank you Brandon! I showed her your reply, and then the pic again. She reluctantly said "yeah I guess" it is a reflection. Just the fact that she doesn't think it is a reflection is a testimony to your great work!!:smileup: Plus, you helped me win an argument with an Italian!

 

[brandonjansen]

Hey, thank you Brandon! I showed her your reply, and then the pic again. She reluctantly said "yeah I guess" it is a reflection. Just the fact that she doesn't think it is a reflection is a testimony to your great work!!:smileup: Plus, you helped me win an argument with an Italian!

Thanks again! I really take pride in my truck and the amount of work I put into it so I really appreciate the positive comments. Glad you won your argument as well lol.