MisterShark
09-03-2009, 11:10 AM
I've been pondering the purchase of a Porter Cable 7424XP kit and mulling over the plentiful kit variation choices: I've decided that the 'Porter Cable 7424XP & Pad Kit' likely best fits my needs:
- Porter Cable 7424XP Polisher
- Porter Cable 7424XP Wrench
- Porter Cable 7424XP Counter Weight
- 5 Inch Backing Plate
- 2-CCS White 6.5 Inch Polishing Foam Pads
- 2-CCS Gray 6.5 Inch Finishing Foam Pads
- 1-CCS Blue 6.5 Inch Finessing Foam Pad
- 2 Cobra White Microfiber Polishing Cloths
- 12 oz. Pinnacle XMT Polishing Pad Cleaner
- 12 oz. Pinnacle XMT Polishing Pad Conditioner
- 1 Flat Wrench & 1 Counterweight
My needs are best identified/based upon these factors:
I'm not making a career out of this: it's just me and my 2 cars (and hopefully the wifey's happiness when I bring new life to her Sable's finish)
One car is a new 09 black RAV4, the other is a 2005 silver Sable that's been primarily through automatic car washes but has otherwise good paint condition (or at least it looks like it does: this silver hides flaws really well).
Wanna cut cost and time to a minimum but still have nice results
I'm new to detailing and especially detailing with a machineSo basically I'm going to be looking to use the PC along with a dummy-proof product that will help refine my Sable's light swirls (I think they're light but I can't really see them so who knows), clean and seal in as short a time as possible, hence my XMT 360 product selection.
I like and am comfortable with the product's instructions to: "Continue to polish even as the product dries. XMT 360™ disappears, leaving nothing on the paint but a clean, glossy shine".
Sounds pretty fool-proof as long as I use the correct foam pad for the job at hand.
So this brings me to pad selection.
The XMT 360 product page here on AG shows/instructs to use 3 different pads depending on the job at hand:
"Apply XMT 306 with a Lake Country CCS White Polishing Pad" (this appears beneath one of the page's embedded pics)
"Use an Edge Finishing Pad to apply XMT if your vehicle has minimal swirls" (I think this may be the scenario with the Sable but I'm unsure, as I've previously mentioned).
and finally at the bottom of the page, the directions read: "For the best results, use the CCS Green Polishing/Finishing Foam Pad by Lake Country"I'm really not too focused on the RAV as it's paint at this point is close to flawless (I've been washing it weekly and have applied Meg's Ultimate Quik Wax on 3 separate occaisions already since taking ownership 2 months ago), and plan to simply use a sealant applied with either a Blue Finessing or Red Ultrasoft Pad.
So I'm pretty much wondering what pads I should use with the XMT 360 for the Sable. I don't wanna be overly aggressive and cause more damage than I'll actually be looking to correct, so bear this in mind if you have a recomendation for me I guess .
Note on my abilities: I am very good at following directions carefully and am meticulous, so don't base your suggestions on the incorrect notion that I'm a complete bull in a china shop. I just don't want any unwelcome/unexpected surprises and always think it best to proceed with a slight bit of caution when one is new to something like finish correction with a machine.
Thanks in advance for your advice. I'm sure I'm placing an inordinate amount of importance on a likely simple issue, but it's in my nature to over-think things at times ;)
- Porter Cable 7424XP Polisher
- Porter Cable 7424XP Wrench
- Porter Cable 7424XP Counter Weight
- 5 Inch Backing Plate
- 2-CCS White 6.5 Inch Polishing Foam Pads
- 2-CCS Gray 6.5 Inch Finishing Foam Pads
- 1-CCS Blue 6.5 Inch Finessing Foam Pad
- 2 Cobra White Microfiber Polishing Cloths
- 12 oz. Pinnacle XMT Polishing Pad Cleaner
- 12 oz. Pinnacle XMT Polishing Pad Conditioner
- 1 Flat Wrench & 1 Counterweight
My needs are best identified/based upon these factors:
I'm not making a career out of this: it's just me and my 2 cars (and hopefully the wifey's happiness when I bring new life to her Sable's finish)
One car is a new 09 black RAV4, the other is a 2005 silver Sable that's been primarily through automatic car washes but has otherwise good paint condition (or at least it looks like it does: this silver hides flaws really well).
Wanna cut cost and time to a minimum but still have nice results
I'm new to detailing and especially detailing with a machineSo basically I'm going to be looking to use the PC along with a dummy-proof product that will help refine my Sable's light swirls (I think they're light but I can't really see them so who knows), clean and seal in as short a time as possible, hence my XMT 360 product selection.
I like and am comfortable with the product's instructions to: "Continue to polish even as the product dries. XMT 360™ disappears, leaving nothing on the paint but a clean, glossy shine".
Sounds pretty fool-proof as long as I use the correct foam pad for the job at hand.
So this brings me to pad selection.
The XMT 360 product page here on AG shows/instructs to use 3 different pads depending on the job at hand:
"Apply XMT 306 with a Lake Country CCS White Polishing Pad" (this appears beneath one of the page's embedded pics)
"Use an Edge Finishing Pad to apply XMT if your vehicle has minimal swirls" (I think this may be the scenario with the Sable but I'm unsure, as I've previously mentioned).
and finally at the bottom of the page, the directions read: "For the best results, use the CCS Green Polishing/Finishing Foam Pad by Lake Country"I'm really not too focused on the RAV as it's paint at this point is close to flawless (I've been washing it weekly and have applied Meg's Ultimate Quik Wax on 3 separate occaisions already since taking ownership 2 months ago), and plan to simply use a sealant applied with either a Blue Finessing or Red Ultrasoft Pad.
So I'm pretty much wondering what pads I should use with the XMT 360 for the Sable. I don't wanna be overly aggressive and cause more damage than I'll actually be looking to correct, so bear this in mind if you have a recomendation for me I guess .
Note on my abilities: I am very good at following directions carefully and am meticulous, so don't base your suggestions on the incorrect notion that I'm a complete bull in a china shop. I just don't want any unwelcome/unexpected surprises and always think it best to proceed with a slight bit of caution when one is new to something like finish correction with a machine.
Thanks in advance for your advice. I'm sure I'm placing an inordinate amount of importance on a likely simple issue, but it's in my nature to over-think things at times ;)