This question is for Greg @ Detailed Image and other users of the Porter Cable 7424. I currently detail my own vehicles some of which or garaged and some that aren't. I have my Silver Nismo 350Z, son's Black Xterra, wifes blue Miata and our Honda Pilot.

The Xterra & Pilot are outside. I am using the following products so far and I am pretty happy with the results.

Pinnacle Car Wash Shampoo
Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant
Pinnacle Signature Series II Wax (Probably only use on the Z after doing the steps below.)

I washed my son's Black Xterra last weekend then used the Pinnacle Paint Cleansing Lotion followed by the Wolfgang DG paint Sealant. Really looks nice except for a few minor inperfections in the hood (looks like bird crap etching or water spots). My question is would the Porter Cable 7424 speed up the process and help save my back? Basically waxing the car twice by hand is a killer. What do you think? Other options to help me out?

 

I use the Porter Cable as well for my Z and other cars I detail. But I don't use Pinnacle stuff so I don't know how it would work with that product. I use Optimum Polish with it mainly and Zaino.

 

Your process is pretty good and should protect and shine the paint quite well. The only step you may want to add or use to replace the Paint Cleaning Step would be to add a light cutting polish. These polishes will help correct the clear coat by removing light surface imperfections such as fine swirls, oxidation, etc. The Menzerna PO106FF and Final Polish II are both great options for these steps. Paint Cleaners are very good but you can do basically everything the same and more with a light cutting polish.

I have a bad back so I find a buffer to be essential to my detailing efforts. Hand applications require far more energy (and back strain) in my experiences. The Porter Cable 7424 weighs under 7lbs, improves your results and saves you plenty of energy. The buffer can help you apply any polish, glaze, sealant and liquid wax. I highly recommend it to any detailer, especially if you don't like the strain on your back. Try looking at our Porter Cable 7424 Starter Kit if you want all the pads, backing plate and pad cleaning products you'll need in one place. Let me know if I can help you any further.

Greg @ Detailed Image

 

Thanks Greg. In the case of the Xterra hood with the etching I guess I could use the light polishes you recommend. The horizontal vehicle surfaces seem to take more of a beating and of course everything shows on the black. The buffer sounds like the answer to help take a bit of the work out of the detailing plus it allows you to get better results. I'll check out your packages. Thanks again.

http://www.detailedimage.com/blog/ca...er-cable-7424/

So is this what I would need to get started?

PO106ff Ceramic Clear Coat Polish - 16 oz

Porter Cable 7424 Starter Kit

Super Intensive Polish PO83 - 32 oz

 

Yes those two polishes would be ideal for removing light - medium surface imperfections. The bird drop etchings can sometimes go deeper but a lot of times they can be fully removed or at least significantly improved with the combination you have. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Greg @ Detailed Image

 

Then I could use the Wolfgang DG Sealant with the Pinnacle Wax (if I am really feeling frisky) to top it off correct?

 

Yes I would definitely use the sealant after and the wax is probably more optional.

Greg @ Detailed Image

 

The starter kit may look like overkill, but with multiple vehicles all the pads would be perfect. Applying a liquid wax with the PC takes no time at all. Applying the polishes for the first time may take a while to work out most of the swirls, but after the initial detail the followups are much less time consuming and effort. I always look at the PC as one of the better investments I have made in terms of time and savings.

Porter Cable

 

Thanks.

 

How does the Porter Cable 7424 compare to the UDM-1000 & the Flex XC3401?