Hi........I just purchased the Porter Cable 7424 PC and was wondering what would be a good set of pads to go with it. The backing plate I measured was about 6". Would I use the 5.5" pads? Or perhaps 6"? I saw some nice sets of Lake Country pads on Exceldetail's website. Would one of these sets be good? I am somewhat of a beginner using a PC.

My TL-S is an 08 and the paint is new without scratches. I just want to keep it looking nice.

Thanks for any help.........

 

Actually spring for another smaller backing plate and yellow cutting pad .. 2 white polishing pads .. thats all you should need.

Here is a link to his backing plate

http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/s...37932&pd=97903

Save the other PB to put on your cordless drill to spin dry the pads after you wash them.

Also grab the 8 oz sample bottles of Optimum Compound & Polish .. good price and lots for the weekender.

 

Oh .. and the 5.5" pads

 

I didn't look at his kits but for the weekender you usually don't need more than the above .. maybe add an orange pad .

 

i was going to say orange pad, white pad, black pad....2 of each should do....i use the orange for moderate swirl correction, white for light swirls and polishing, black for lsp....

 

Ya .. I didn't add the black pad as I do all my LSP by hand .. outside of PoliSeal ..

I just find too much waste in the pad ... which prolly doesn't matter if your only doing your own car .. and you still beed to do some by hand anyway as the pad won't go in all the areas.

 

Okay, thanks for the advice. I think I'll get the set that has the 5.5" yellow, white and black pads. And get the 5" backing plate. I guess the one I have which I measured just shy of 6" won't work with the 5.5" pads?

I've also seen those pad cleaning machines where you just put your PC in the top and turn it on.......cleans the pads really quick. Are they worth it?

http://www.autogeek.net/system-2000-pad-washer.html

 

Just make sure your pads are bigger than your backing plate.

 

Save your money ... I just use Dawn

 

Okay..........then I'll order the small backing plate. Thanx.

 

Is the washing machine okay for pads? If I use a liquid detergent?

 

On the Optimum C/P.......when is that used in the detailing process?

 

I normally start off with Optimum Compound in conjunction with an orange cutting pad for any severity in paint damage such as excessive spider webbing or paint defects. Then I move on to Optimum Polish on a white cutting pad, and finish off with a coat of UPP.

Not trying to thread-jack, however are there any cutting pads out there that are of a thicker density then the orange cutting pad. I find even with two pass’s I am unable to get out most of the defects on surfaces I am working with (that’s two passes with Optimum Compound)

 

Higher density or thicker pad?

 

Whoops, I meant to say a thicker more aggressive pad, other then the orange excel pad.

 

Theres always yellow, its actually less dense which allows more cell edges to come in contact with the paint, thus "cutting". Jess (I think) uses the yellow frequently.
Yellow is great on stubborn swirls and scratches, even better for water spots.