The Porter Cable 7424xp Is The Best Car Polisher. Here's Why!

If you have attempted polishing a late model automobile by hand recently you probably discovered that minor blemishes don't rub out like they used to. The reason for this is the recent improvements in clear coat technology. The final factory finish is very hard, allowing it to resist minor scratching, swirl marks and water spot.

Don't worry. There's an easy solution

The improvements in clear coat technology, while beautiful and durable, present a new problem for automobile owners. The finish is so hard that it's nearly impossible to polish away minor surface defects by hand. That means you will need some sort of buffer polisher to correct the problems. Fortunately there's a great solution, the Porter Cable 7424. It's been a car enthusiast favorite for more than a decade, and it makes quick work out of clear coat defects, even on the high-tech ceramic finishes used by Mercedes-Benz.

Porter Cable's 7424 Polishers, including the newer 7424xp model, are dual-action polishers. What this means to you and I is no paint damage. Period! Unlike a high-speed buffer that uses a rotating pad, the polishing mechanism on the 7424 orbits. It literally circles like the human hand, only at super high speed. I've been using the machine for more than twelve years without issue. When used as intended, it's safe and easy.

There is no substitute. The Porter Cable 7424 is the car polisher most preferred by car enthusiasts.

As I mentioned, the Porter Cable (or "PC") is a dual-action polisher and it works like circular hand polishing. The big difference is that it works at a speed of 2,500 to 6,000 orbits every minute. That's how this machine knocks out scratches and swirl marks with ease. You'd have to have Superman waxing your car to do it better.

If you're skeptical, don't be. This isn't one of those cheesy car waxers you can pick up at the auto parts store for $29. Leave those machines on the shelf. An electric car waxer will do a pretty good job spreading wax, but that's where all similarities end. They can't match the power or the range of foam pads and polished that work with the PC.

There is a secret to getting top results with a dual action polisher. It's very important to use the right combination of polish and foam polishing pad. For the most part, you'll find foam polishing pads in three levels of coarseness: cutting, polishing and finishing. Cutting pads are what you use to remove damage. After cutting, you use a polishing pad to restore full gloss. The finishing pad has not polishing qualities at all. It's very soft and used to apply liquid waxes and glazes.

Polishing pads do not work alone. The actual work is performed by polish and you need to match the function of each polish with the appropriate pad. Polishes have different grades of cut, just like the pads. For example, a polishing compound is a cutting polish that removes damage. A compound that can take out 2000 to 2500 grit sanding scratches will do a pretty good job on heavy swirls marks and most water spot etching problems.

If you're confused about which polish to use to remove swirl marks, fine scratches and water spots, let me recommend Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. It's probably the best consumer grade product available today, and it's available at a great price online.

If you use Meguiar's Ultimate Compound to remove your scratches and other paint damage, it will look great, but you're not done. A second step is required. You'll need to finish the job with a fine polish that removes the slight clear coat hazing caused by the compounding step. The final polishing step is well worth the effort. You'll be rewarded with a bright shine. The second step product I recommend is Klasse All-In-One. This old-timer will put down a shine that knocks your socks off.

If your vehicle's paint finish is driving you nuts with swirl marks, scratches and water spots that simply won't go away, the solution is a Porter Cable 7424xp. It's a quality tool that gets the job done fast and easy. Plus, it's a high quality machine that will last a lifetime. Don't settle for one of the cheap knock-offs made in China when you can own an American original.

To learn how to use a buffer polisher, including the Porter Cable 7424, visit David Bynon's Guide To Detailing blog, a trusted source for quality auto detailing tips and information since 1999.

When David Bynon is not on Squidoo you will find him blogging about health care and senior's issues on MedicareWire.com.