Edge 2000 pad failure, 2nd use.

[The Edge]

Originally Posted by budman3

What is the name of the PC? Porter Cable 7424 Dual Action Polisher. If the pads are not meant to spin, can you please name the two actions that this polisher does?

I honestly try not to get too involved in this stuff, but because it involves my pads and system, I feel that in this case I really must step in. Budman, I am not sure where you got that name from, but if we really go to the source which is Porter Cable, that is not the name of the machine, nor its action.
Porter-Cable - Products - Tools - Listing - 6 Variable-Speed Random-Orbit Polisher
The correct name is and I am quoting from Porter Cable's website
"6" Variable-Speed Random-Orbit Polisher"
This is not a forced rotation machine and works by oscillating or Orbiting not rotating. I also would like to shed some light on its operation as taken directly from the owners manual and again I quote (please feel free to read your owners manual)
" 6. DO NOT apply additional pressure. Allow the polisher to work under its own weight."

I know people want to use this machine the way they want, and there are quite alot of rumors about how to use it correctly, but it was made and designed as a sander, and then adapted to polish paint but was never designed as a defect removal tool That is what a rotary is for and Porter Cable makes a rotary tool for that use. People are pushing the limits of this machine and also have some misconceptions about its need to spin in order to work properly. It is my firm belief and I believe that the evidence from the machine's own manufacturer backs me up, that rotation is only a byproduct of the orbiting action and is not essential to the machines polishing ability. Our system has been tested and proven on this machine and when used properly will not only last, and do a great job, but reduce the vibrations and make the machine last and work even better and longer.

Thanks,

Aaron Krause (President & CEO)
Dedication To Detail, Inc.
777 Henderson Blvd.
Suites # 1 & 2
Folcroft, PA 19032
---------------------------------------
( Phone: (610) 583-4883
2 Fax: (610) 583-4885
* Email: aaron@dedicationtodetail.com
Website: www.edgepads.com

[budman3]

Originally Posted by The Edge

I honestly try not to get too involved in this stuff, but because it involves my pads and system, I feel that in this case I really must step in. Budman, I am not sure where you got that name from

I know this topic is about the Edge pads and the thread was hi-jacked into the PC rotation, but I don't have anything against Edge pads...

I got the name Dual Action Polisher right here from AG:
Porter Cable 7424 Dual Action Polisher

Dual Action Orbital Polisher Guide: how to remove swirls, scratches, & oxidation with an orbital buffer. Porter Cable 7424, foam pads, backing plate,

And they supplied this picture as well:


Here is another link on AG called "The Edge 2000 Dual Action Polishing Guide"
http://www.autogeek.net/edge-da-polishing-how-to.html

So those are my sources of where I am coming from... and from my experiences (and video proof) that the PC orbits and rotates....

I will agree that it may be difficult at times to get the pad to rotate all of the time but IMO the PC is most effective when it orbits and rotates.

[Nimble]

You know Aaron, I too have noticed that using the PC under it's own weight seems to work best. But I think that might partly be attributed to the spinning of the pad. Do you think that's correct? It seems to me that *any* pad, used under just the weight of the machine, would spin the pad decently. Do you agree with that? I've even tried a 7.5" pad and with just the machine's weight, the pad spins nicely.

[Nimble]

Originally Posted by budman3

I know this topic is about the Edge pads and the thread was hi-jacked into the PC rotation, but I don't have anything against Edge pads...

I got the name Dual Action Polisher right here from AG:
Porter Cable 7424 Dual Action Polisher

Dual Action Orbital Polisher Guide: how to remove swirls, scratches, & oxidation with an orbital buffer. Porter Cable 7424, foam pads, backing plate,

And they supplied this picture as well:


Here is another link on AG called "The Edge 2000 Dual Action Polishing Guide"
http://www.autogeek.net/edge-da-polishing-how-to.html

So those are my sources of where I am coming from... and from my experiences (and video proof) that the PC orbits and rotates....

I will agree that it may be difficult at times to get the pad to rotate all of the time but IMO the PC is most effective when it orbits and rotates.

I tend to agree, and *to me* the PC seems to be doing very little if I apply too much pressure and get the pad jiggling, instead of both orbiting and rotating. Just a thought.

[LazerRed1]

I think some of the confusion regarding spinning comes right from the Autogeek site. In the Guide to Orbital Polishing, it states the following:

"Dual Action polishers are characterized by the motion of the head. It spins on a central spindle, and this spindle rotates around an eccentric offset. A good metaphor for a dual action polisher is the earth’s orbit. The earth itself spins and it also orbits around the sun. Dual action polishers are also called orbital polishers for this reason."

"The rotating and orbiting of the pad produces what many refer to as a "jiggling" motion." (emphasis mine)

[The Edge]

Putting alot of pressure on the machine will both slow the motor down causing it to heat up more, wear out faster, and vibrate harder. Allowing it to spin under its own weight as intended may allow the pad to rotate a bit more freely but in no way is this a forces spin that creates the same kind of friction as a rotary machine. It will make it easier to work with and more comfortable to hold and will reduce wear on the pads as well.

[BlackCoupe]

Originally Posted by Nimble

I tend to agree, and *to me* the PC seems to be doing very little if I apply too much pressure and get the pad jiggling, instead of both orbiting and rotating. Just a thought.

And FWIW, they will also rotate in reverse.

[Nica]

Man this is an interesting post, keep the debate going please it's very informative.....I'm just a fly on the wall

[scottgt]

Originally Posted by BlackCoupe

And FWIW, they will also rotate in reverse.

ya i was drying pads with my PC today and pushed my hand down on it and notice it spins reverse

[budman3]

Originally Posted by scottgt

ya i was drying pads with my PC today and pushed my hand down on it and notice it spins reverse

Ya, as Aaron said that the spinning is a byproduct from the orbiting, so it spins freely. The motor doesn't power the spin rotation of the pads, the orbiting action makes the pad rotate. So that is why the PC pads spin freely with the machine off and rotary pads do not... So the PC pad can go either clockwise or counter clockwise depending on the situation, but it usually spins clockwise.