Porter Cable Advice

[jryce]

I am just get started using the PC and have a few questions.

Is it normal for the PC to get hot?
It seemed that the pad was almost stopping and I had to lift off any pressure that the unit had. I was careful not to apply any extra pressure and just let the machine do the work. Could this have contributed to the heat? I was using the orange pad during this process and started on 3 then changed to 5 as the video had suggested. When watching the video the PC looked very easy to use and seemed very smooth, not what I experienced. Also the video mentions that it should take several minutes to work the product in but when I applied the product it worked in really quickly even though I had used the suggested amount.

Hopefully some of the issues I am having will be solved as I get better at using the PC. Should I expect a big learning curve?

I have ordered the dvd so hopefully that will shed some light but any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

[blkyukon]

Originally Posted by jryce

I am just get started using the PC and have a few questions.

Is it normal for the PC to get hot?

Did you use the included washer? If not, the backing plate might be hitting the machine causing the excessive heat.

It seemed that the pad was almost stopping and I had to lift off any pressure that the unit had. I was careful not to apply any extra pressure and just let the machine do the work. Could this have contributed to the heat?

The machine is not direct drive so it's normal for to slow down it's spinning if you tilt it or use extra pressure.

I was using the orange pad during this process and started on 3 then changed to 5 as the video had suggested. When watching the video the PC looked very easy to use and seemed very smooth, not what I experienced.

What did you experience?

Also the video mentions that it should take several minutes to work the product in but when I applied the product it worked in really quickly even though I had used the suggested amount.

What polish are you using? The time to work in the polish will vary on the temp., humidity, size of the area you are working etc. Are you working under direct light like halogens? If not that will help you see the polish working in.

Hopefully some of the issues I am having will be solved as I get better at using the PC. Should I expect a big learning curve?

There is a learning curve but it is an easy machine to learn..it just takes practice to get comfortable with it.

Here is what I recommend when first starting to polish:


Here is what I do with any new polish I use for the first time ·

• Using a 1'x1' section - apply the polish the same as any other polish.
• Using little pressure and speed 4.5 - 5 work the polish in.
• Under direct light, check an area at each change in the polish and see how the paint looks.
• Repeat at each change until very little or no hazing is present (this will vary depending on the abrasiveness of the polish).

The reason for speed 4.5-5 and little pressure is, it goes through the stages slower so you can determine when it's broken down without under or over working the polish. Now that you know what it looks like when it's broken down you can increase the speed, pressure, etc. to get the job done.

My website also has a section on polishing that might help - Car Detailing - How to polish your paint to a high gloss finish

Good luck!
Charles

[jryce]

Charles thanks for the advice.

I will have to check if the washer was installed I am not sure if I saw one when I changed the backing plate.

What I experienced was that the PC would almost drag and not run across the paint smoothly.

I was using pinnacle swirl remover followed by pinnacle finishing polish then i was going to finish of with pinnacle series II wax.

I was working under a small halogen light.

In the end it made some improvements but i was left with some fine scratches.

Again thanks for the advice I will try your recommendations using a small test area.

I have bookmarked your site.

Jim

[vinnier6]

what brand of orange pad were you using, and what condition is the paint you are working on...

[blkyukon]

Originally Posted by jryce

Charles thanks for the advice.

I will have to check if the washer was installed I am not sure if I saw one when I changed the backing plate.

What I experienced was that the PC would almost drag and not run across the paint smoothly. I was using pinnacle swirl remover followed by pinnacle finishing polish then i was going to finish of with pinnacle series II wax.

Was that for both the polishes? How much polish were you using? Try using a bit more polish (about a dime size for a 2-3ft area) when you first start to help prime the pad. Once the pad is primed, then decrease the amount of polish per section (about a large pea size for a 2-3ft area).

I was working under a small halogen light.

In the end it made some improvements but i was left with some fine scratches.

Were the fine scratches like this:



If so then you need to break down the polish more by working it in longer.

Again thanks for the advice I will try your recommendations using a small test area.

I have bookmarked your site.

Jim

No problem. The test area really helps you understand the polish and how it works.

Good luck!

[jryce]

Originally Posted by vinnier6

what brand of orange pad were you using, and what condition is the paint you are working on...

I was using Lake Country.
The car is 2 years old so the paint isn't too bad lots of swirls.

[jryce]

Yes for both polishes.
I was using about a quarter size amount at first then I tried more but it turned my garage into a scene from Dexter, polish everywhere. At first I couldn't understand why all the taping and covering of parts. Now I do.

I will try again using a smaller test area as you suggested.

The image is pretty close to what the car looked like before. It did improve but in the end i had a few left. Do you think I am using the right products?

Again thanks for the help.

[killrwheels@autogeek]

heat = missing washer (almost always)

[jryce]

Originally Posted by killrwheels@autogeek

heat = missing washer (almost always)

Should the washer have come with the plate?

I just checked the PC and it looks like it doesn’t have a washer, the rivets are starting to wear.

I purchased the kit with the 5" backing plate. Should I use the black washer that was on the black backing plate that came with the PC?

Thanks for the help.

[08NBPTLS]

yes, the washer comes with the porter cable, not the extra backing plate you got. Put that washer on and feel the difference