Buffer Polisher, Car Polisher for Car Detailing, 6-Inch, Orbital, Variable Speed (7424XP)

I am not mechanically inclined nor am I an auto hobbyist or detailer. I'm just a guy who likes to take care of his vehicles and maintain that new car appearance. Until now, I have been waxing our family cars the old fashioned way: with a lot of elbow grease and the sacrifice of valuable time. I tend to research the items in which I invest and my intended purchase of a random-orbital polisher was no different.Meguiar's and Griot's Garage are on-line sites that cater to auto hobbyists and detailers. A cursory check of their web pages reveals that they market the Porter Cable Random-Orbital Polisher as their preferred product. I concluded, therefore, that it must be a quality product, a prudent choice and purchased the polisher from Amazon. Having never used one, I paid close attention to the reviews of those who shared their knowledge and experience through comments here.Based solely on the comments submitted in previous reviews, I purchased the optional 6-Hole, Hook and Loop Standard Pad but didn't really know why it was necessary at the time of purchase. I also visited the Griot's Garage website and, as recommended, purchased the orange foam polishing pad and a wax removal bonnet.Upon receipt of all the items purchased, it became obvious why the aforementioned accessories are preferable. The polishing pad that comes standard with the Porter Cable is fixed to the polisher disk - requiring the entire unit to be removed from the polisher for cleaning. While it is certainly serviceable and can be fitted with a wax removal bonnet, cleaning of the polishing pad is far easier if it can be removed from the disk. You'll want to ensure that the polishing pad used to apply auto polish is cleaned after each use to remove fine particles of dried polish that can scratch a car's finish. For those as unfamiliar with the terminology as I was, "hook and loop" is the generic description of the fastener we commonly refer to by the brand name "Velcro". The optional Hook and Loop Standard pad has a surface with microscopic "hooks" to which a polishing pad that has one surface containing the microscopic "loops" can be affixed and subsequently removed with ease. The wax removal bonnet, like a fitted sheet, is attached over the polishing pad when the user is ready to remove the applied polish.Attachment of the handle is self-evident. The optional 6-Hole, Hook and Loop Standard Pad is attached by securing the slip nut on the polisher using the wrench that comes with the machine and inserting and rotating the threaded male-end of the disk into the female end on the polisher. The orange polishing pad that I obtained from Griot's Garage is then attached to the disk via their respective "Velcro" surfaces. The power switch is located on top of the polisher and the speed control is located at the rear.The machine applies a thin, evenly distributed layer of polish to the surface. I then fitted the polishing bonnet over the polishing pad to remove the dried polish. The job took about one-forth the time of doing so manually and with so much less exertion. The result was a deep, brilliant, showroom finish and an operator that wasn't "pooped out" to get that finish. Subsequently, I removed the bonnet and the applicator pad from the polishing disk and washed them thoroughly with cold water to remove any embedded polish and dried particles. They are both ready to be re-used. I couldn't be more satisfied with my purchase and the results that I achieved.I hope this helps answer most questions.

My first impression of the Porter Cable 7424XP was that it looked very study and also felt sturdy. Not one cheap look or feel about this polisher. This is also my first polisher I've ever purchased or used and it took no time to get the hang of it. I just used it today on the hood, roof, quarter panels and spoiler of my 2007 Mazda3, using Meguiar's Ultimate Compound, 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, a coat of Mother's Carnuaba wax and then a coat of 3M Performance Finish... the paint looks and feels like slick glass. The rest of the car is soon to undergo the same treatment.With my PC, I bought a Lake Country backing plate and 2 Lake Country pads, cyan and tangerine, one for compounds and one for polishes. This machine has made the detailing process for me so much easier than doing it all by hand. I still wax by hand, but the PC is also capable of applying and buffing wax. I'm just happy enough to be able to work the compounds and polishes with this machine now. It was very well worth every penny spent on it. And because it's easy to get used to, I seriously may consider detailing people's cars as a side job.If you're new to machine polishing, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the Porter Cable 7424XP. You can do no wrong with it and it will make detailing your vehicle so much easier. I'm very happy with this machine.EDIT: 12/23/12I just wanted to do a little follow up review since I've had the 7424XP for some time now. It's a solid machine and I just recently started applying my favorite sealant with this thing and waxing has never been such a breeze. Not only is waxing my car with this machine faster, but it lays down a nice, thin coat of my preferred sealant, so I'm not over-using the sealant. Most of us know that sealants are a lot harder to apply by hand than a traditional carnauba wax, that's because sealants are synthetic and engineered to last a lot longer, therefore they're more trouble to apply by hand and sometimes difficult to buff off. I use Menzerna Power Lock sealant and it goes on in very thin coats when using the PC 7424XP paired up with a Lake Country black finishing pad. I allow the sealant to dry for 20 to 30 minutes or so, which is about the time it takes to apply it to my Mazda3 when using the PC, if I'm not taking any breaks, lol. I then buff the residue off by hand and because it is applied in a thin coat, buffing by hand couldn't be any easier. My main point is that the PC is an awesome detailing weapon. I also do spot polishing for isolated scratches or stains here and there. I'd buy this polisher again if I had to. It's worth its weight in gold and is a plain solid tool. I couldn't be happier with it.

The Porter Cable 7424 orbital polisher is all it is advertised to be. The PC 7424 started out over ten years ago as a random orbit sander, but is now used extensively as an automobile polisher. I have taken my PC 7424 on a first use shakedown cruise and it has done a fantastic job with bringing the black paint on my ten year old car back to showroom condition. I had used one of those cheap plastic two-fisted machines I bought in an auto supply store with little success.The Porter Cable polisher is an affordable device that gives professional detailing results. It won't burn paint and accommodates a variety of cleaning, polishing and waxing pads. The PC 7424 makes detailing a car fun to do. I wish I would have had this little giant years ago when I was cleaning up my cars with a rag.I am not a professional detailer and I started using the polisher with little knowledge of how it should be operated. The Porter Cable 7424 comes with a foam applicator pad, a wrench and a very minimal instruction manual. I had to rely on my basic understanding of caring for automobile finishes and the directions on a bottle of Meguiar's car polish to get me started. Since the PC 7424's random orbit action just about eliminates damaging a painted surface it is very forgiving of trial and error use. This machine has a speed control in the form of a thumbwheel on the rear end so it is possible to go from 2,500 to 6,000 oscilations per minute (OPM). It seems to operate best somewhere between those two speeds.After my first experimental experience with the Porter Cable 7424 I found an excellent article on the Internet that provided me with an extensive explanation of how the polisher works, how to use it and lots of understandable advice. It would have been nice to have this information before I plugged in the 7424 for the first time. The article has polishing hints, pad cleaning instructions and many interesting photographs.The twenty-five page article by David Bynon (How to use the Porter Cable 7424 6" Orbital Polisher) can be found among others by going to this web site: [...] You can find the Bynon article(s) by clicking on Detailing Enthusiast from the list on the left side of the Web page.After buying the Porter Cable 7424 based on my own research, I discovered this machine was widely recommended by makers of car polishes and professional detailers. It is always good to know that a machine like this has a positive track record.

First off, I ordered this DA PC polisher on the 25th, shipped the following day and arrived in the morning of the 29th before I opened my shop. Thanks! I've been researching this DA polisher for quite some time now. Probably over a month. People have, for the most part, nothing but good to say about it. The professional detailers would say that it is a dated machine that lacks the power and inovation to keep up with the top tier polishers out in the market today. I also ordered a 6 inch backing plate to complete this polisher to fit my needs. This polisher does not come this a backing plate out of the box, and PC recommends only using a 6 inch plate. Initial thoughts out of the box: it looked like a solid quality machine. The plastic pieces feel durable. The cord is way longer than expected and made of highly flexible, almost rubber like, material. Again the cord seems durable. I did read the specs, cord length and weight, but the weight did surprise me. Its kind of heavy for a small machine. I'll get use to it. I don't like that it does not have a built in stand in the form of a square back to keep it from tilting over and possibly getting your pads dirty, just something to watch out for. Now for the kicker, literally. I'm kicking myself for not ordering the PC 7424XP sooner. I use a rotary because I thought it was the best/ fastest way to go. With a rotary you need skill and know-how and experience to get great results. In the wrong hands a rotary polisher can be dangerous. This DA polisher makes my life so much easier. I could probably get a beginner polishing paint with this polisher. As we all know that is not the case with a rotary. This polisher is very user friendly. The results it delivers are fantastic.

So one of the hardest decisions i have had to make to start auto detailing was what Dual Action Random Orbital should i get. Its tough getting started or even upgrading from a cheap one that you may learned on. Hopefully i can give you a little insight on this fine machine. With that said i do want to say i own this one and have around 6 months and have done some large time consuming jobs with it BUT i also do not own the other top brands like the flex, torque, ECT. To this day i have not looked back.I will start with the things i love about it.1) The size and weight - it is a very good size in the operational standpoint. I personally do not use the screw on handle mainly because i change hands to often for it, i just have one hand on the black and the other around the vent at the end. But its very accommodating and comfortable not to mention i can get in the smaller areas on cars like under the mirror because i do not have a long tail end. Just because its smaller does NOT mean it is less effective.2) Porter Cable as a company is a well tested large backing company. If i remember right they came around in like 1905 or so. like i said i did a lot of research. There is no to minimal maintenance to it. The unit is factory lubricated with enough high quality lube that it will last the life of the unit under normal use (commercial grade unit keep that in mind) and they only recommend you take it to one of their certified shops (every 100 hours of use... long time) so they can take it apart clean it properly and check for worn parts to ensure your safety.3) Having the speed setting as a wheel is wonderful. I have used my friends for a short time i did a 2x2 square like a month ago (i think he had the flex but could have been the torque) and it was nice but long i felt like i was reaching and it had a digital display with + - buttons. My personal opinion is that after i spread the product at a low speed i want to shut it off get in a good position set it to a functional speed and start it up, as his always starts on the lowest speed setting and while its on you have to crank it up. All in all i highly recommend this buffer and love using it and seeing the results i get out of it.The bad1) AS EXPECTED WITH EVERY UNIT NO MATTER THE BRAND is at low speeds it is a little tricky to control at first but its so slow its not a big deal or a deal breaker like i said its just the physics of these units.2) the pad that comes with it is a cheap foam pad that i personally don't use at all and its just easier to buy pads and backing plate with a hook and loop (Velcro) connection so you don't have to use your wrench every time you change pads. Again a small detail and you can get these buffers with other packages and i'm sure the stock pad wont hurt anything its just your typical wax / sealant padIf you want other video reviews i would recommend looking up Chemical Guys on you tube not only do they have extensive how to videos and great products but they have many reviews of the Porter Cable 7424xp and use it a good majority of the time in their shop / Class so you can see what this unit will do.I want to say i have no affiliation with Porter Cable or Chemical guys and was not asked to review or given anything to review this is a REAL HONEST REVIEW. If you have any questions feel free to ask!

I did tons of research on tools to polish my car before purchasing the 7424XP. I've had this for nearly a month and have almost completely reconditioned the paint on my car. With the right combination of pads and compounds/polishes you can get excellent results. The tool just works. I heard about vibration, noise and such about these (and other, similar tools) but I haven't had any problems with it. I find that vibration and other problems are typically due to poor technique and not the tool, just as with almost any tool. Noise levels are what you would expect with a tool like this, if anything I was pleased with how it was quieter than I expected (quieter than my palm sander, and quiet enough that my cat actually jumped up on the washer I was polishing while I was polishing it, this cat is scared to death of anything loud, like a vacuum).I have not used the handle; having it off to one side would make it too lopsided for me, that's why the Flex and GG have different grips. Speed 6 is only used for drying pads out and super heavy compounding. The cord is short, but I'd rather have a 6' cord as opposed to a 6" cord and putting a long cord on it would make it a bigger pain to deal with when I only need a 6' cord. The included pad is OK I guess, it'd be OK to use to wax a junk car or as a polishing pad, but it's too fine for compounding/buffing and too coarse for what I'd use to glaze/wax with.Here's a good piece of advice: get a backing plate and from the center out, put one stripe with a marker so that you can see if the pad is actually turning or not. If the pad stops turning, you're using too much pressure (with the exception of some products that don't need rotational action.I got into this expecting to buy the polisher and a few pads with moderate polishes; be warned, this purchase will all but require a substantial investment. I was hoping to come in under a couple hundred dollars but after getting the NEEDED backing plate, a compliment of pads and polishes I was on my way to double that.Comparing this to competing units, the Flex and Rupes are in a class of their own with the direct drive orbits; they won't bog down with pressure, but they will also burn the paint if you're foolish with them. The Meguiars and Griots are very similar to this (if I'm not mistaken, the Meguiar's is a modified version of this), where the Megs is too pricey for the same thing, and the GG has a better handle and higher RPM/OPM. The reason I didn't get the GG is because I couldn't justify the extra money, and the handle would get in the way of some tight areas I need to tuck the polisher into. Yes, the handle can be removed, but that's a hassle that I can avoid with this. Rotaries are the old-school way and are still needed for some serious paint correction, but a PC teamed with a SurBuf pad and the right technique (almost no pressure for the SurBuf) is very similar to a rotary with a wool pad. I'd still use a rotary for some things like velvet pads.I haven't tried sanding with this....yet.Another thing to note is that unless you're going to use 6" polishing pads or larger, the included weight is fine. I just tried using some 4" pads on a 3" backing plate and was surprised by the fact that it didn't have any real difference in vibration.cons?well, I'd like to see a better safety on the power switch; currently it's just a plastic ridge around the switch and I've bumped it accidentally when carrying it. The Dial seems fine, but The vents for the motor are at the very end, right where my hand naturally sits for most buffing operations. And I feel like I'll outgrow this quickly and move to a Flex once I get my technique down.

THANK YOU!!!

I got this just to wax and polish my cars. if you're looking to use it for wood/metal working skip this review.The random orbital is much better than a circular polisher for applying and removing wax and polish since it will avoid burning the paint. This Porter Cable RO polisher is very well made, solid and powerful. With the right attachments you can connect virtually any polishing pads and make quick work of any wax or polish job. The way a random orbital works is the head rotates around a circular path (an orbit) and the pad itself is free spinning in the head, so in effect you get 2 potentially different inputs for the actual spin direction of the surface doing the polishing. In a normal buffer/polisher the head only spins, like the bit in a drill, so the center of the pad would be moving slow and the edge of the pad moves fast. The fast edge can create too much friction and you can damage the pain. A random orbital polisher is much safer for paint.In terms if the ergonomics of this polisher, it's not great. The unit is a mix of metal and plastic. It's fairly heavy for it's size and it's squared body is a little awkward to hold. Understand that this isn't some cheap, lightweight import tool. It's a well built tool that's really intended for daily use doing industrial work. It just happens to be perfect for this job too. It will last you a lifetime if you look after it. The handle on the side is included but optional for polishing. I don't use it.I'd recommend also getting the Porter Cable 6 inch hook and loop pad, then you can quickly attach any of the foam pads to do the waxing and polishing and then add a microfiber boot to do the buffing. With this RO polisher you can adjust the speed from slow to fast speeds very easily with a dial at the end. It has a short power cable so you will want an extension cord. Check on youtube or do some research on how to use a RO polisher to wax and polish vehicles if you haven't used one before. You need to select the right foam pad (which isn't included with this polisher) and the right wax for the job. You apply the wax to the attached foam pad and then put the foam pad on the surface to be waxed/polished, then you turn the polisher on and start at a low speed. This reduces the amount of wax that will fling off the pad.

Mi carro quedó súper! es una gran herramienta y funcionó perfecto. Creo importante mencionar para cualquier posible comprador que en "mi opinión", las malas reseñas de esa máquina provienen de personas que no tienen la menor idea de como operar cualquier herramienta eléctrica (tampoco es como que haya mucho que saber). Por ejemplo, respetar su ciclo de trabajo, combinar su uso con una pulidora rotativa ordinaria para el trabajo de pulido más pesado, no utilizar NINGUNA HERRAMIENTA incluyendo esta porter cable al tope de su capacidad (máxima velocidad) por períodos prolongados y por supuesto utilizar los discos, pulidores y esponjas correctos. En mi caso solamente utilicé 3DOne (único producto, muy bueno por cierto) primero; con pulidora rotativa normal y con esponja naranja (de corte), segundo; mi porter cable con esponja azul (de acabado), por último; apliqué cera a mano y mi coche quedó increíble. Por supuesto que esta máquina es capaz de realizar el corte pero por su acción dual le va a tomar más tiempo ya que son equipos más enfocados a dar un acabado final, no se dejen engañar, confíen en esta máquina orgullosamente hecha en México. Mis recomendaciones personales: Acerca de las esponjas cualquier marca funciona bien (yo tengo dos kits de esponjas de bajo costo que me funcionan perfecto), utilizar el 3DOne, que es un producto excelente de un solo paso (para pulir) y finalmente (por lo menos en mi caso) encerar a mano con estopa/microfibra es "más rápido" e igual de efectivo que hacerlo con máquina. Finalmente, necesitarán un disco extra, el Neiko de 6 pulgadas me funcionó excelente (también lo encuentras en Amazon). Espero mi reseña les sea de utilidad para que sus autos queden como de exhibición!!

I’ve had this tool for many years now. It is well made and reliable. It has a decent weight and balance. I prefer corded tools for extended usage since I’m not tooling with the weight of a battery

I bought this for my 70yr old dad a yr ago as with age & arthritis he's finding it difficult to polish & wax his vehicle by hand. This has taken most of the hard work out of a big job. This machine is amazing, the design & speed make it extremely difficult to damage your paint so I would recommend for beginners. I've never used a power polisher & had no problem with this. I did watch several YouTube videos to clarify what I was doing but it was extremely easy to figure out. It worked great getting strange scuff like marks off the hood of my car & completely removed a few bad scratches.The vibration did not aggravate my dad's arthritis but when I used it I had bad tendonitis & a small torn ligament in my wrist - the vibration did aggravate that if I used the machine too long so it took a few weeks to do my entire SUV. But for a person without a wrist injury there shouldn't be a problem with the vibration.

Buena marca, buena calidad y en relación al precio es excelente y hace su función de manera correcta

Creo que esta es una buena pulidora doble acción por su precio, que no es alto. Es muy ligera y está bien balanceada. Permite incluso manipularla con una sola mano en ciertas condiciones. Las vibraciones se transmiten poco, a menos que se utilice un disco con extensión, ahí si vibra demasiado. Probablemente le haga falta una velocidad aún más alta, siento que entre las últimas dos no hay tanta diferencia. En general estoy muy satisfecho con la compra, sobretodo en el apartado del precio.