A Porter Cable 7424 is probably the best investment any detailer can make in my opinion. You’ll be completing better detail work in less time, while using less energy. The Porter Cable 7424 has quickly become the industry standard for both professional and weekend detailers alike. The PC 7424 is a very durable machine that comes with a one year warranty, only weighs 7lbs, can adjust the speed on the fly, is easy to hold and is very user friendly. The PC excels at removing swirls and fine scratches, when working in a polish. Unlike waxes, sealants and glazes, polishes have micro abrasive particles in them that require more pressure and heat to break down and be worked in to the surface evenly. Completing an equivalent job by hand is very difficult if not impossible throughout an entire coat or multiple coats. Your hand gets tired and you generate varying levels of pressure and generally complete far less passes. Can your hand operate at 6,000 oscillations per minute for hours on end?

The Porter Cable 7424 generates low levels of heat unlike traditional rotary buffers that can easily burn the clear coat or paint. This buffer oscillates in a tight random orbit motion, which creates safe levels of heat and it’s very easy to control. The buffer should be used with different textured pads that can help build optimal levels of heat for each step in your detailing process. For example a strong cutting polish should be used with a firm foam pad for maximum cutting power, while waxes are applied with a much softer pad. The Porter Cable 7424 has a dial to easily control the speed it operates depending on what step in the process you’re doing and to accommodate the skill level of the operator. Polishes are typically applied at higher speeds (4.5 – 6) while glazes, sealants and waxes are more commonly applied at speeds (3 – 4).

To further help new users get the most out of their Porter Cable 7424, we have step by step instructions in our Detailing Guide section for each step of the auto detailing process. Additionally you can contact us at Detailed Image with any questions. In summary I highly recommend the Porter Cable 7424 to anyone who wants to improve their detailing results!

Hand applications can be quite different then applications using a Porter Cable 7424. Hand applications exert pressure primarily through your fingertips while a buffer typically uses a pad 6.5 inches in diameter to distribute pressure. This much larger diameter allows you to apply more evenly distributed pressure over a much larger area. The pressure your arm will exert varies tremendously, especially when you’re applying multiple coats. Using the same number of passes and pressure over the entire vehicle by hand is nearly impossible. The Porter Cable buffer delivers consistent and smooth pressure at 2,500 – 6,000 OPM (oscillations per minute), depending on what speed setting you select. This means that in one hour at speed 6 the Porter Cable 7424 is estimated to produce 360,000 oscillations. The amount of passes you can do in one hour by hand is nowhere near 360,000, so you can clearly see the power of the Porter Cable 7424. The powerful 3.7 amp motor is encased in a dual-shock resistant casing and backed with a one year warranty. The oscillating motion of the PC 7424 is designed to replicate a hand buffing motion. The pad moves in a very tight oscillating motion that generates safe levels of heat while working a polish, glaze, sealant or wax into the clear coat. The ability to consistently generate safe levels of heat and pressure is especially important when using a polish that has abrasive cutting particles! Polishes with abrasives is designed to help permanently remove imperfections (i.e. swirls, fine scratches, water spots) which often provide the most dramatic improvement to your paint’s depth and gloss. Polishes need more passes and time in contact with clear coat to buff out scratches and other imperfections. Additionally polishes work into the surface better with a firmer pad and there are pads specifically designed for use with the Porter Cable polisher that help you achieve maximum results when polishing. The Porter Cable buffer is extremely easy and safe to use even for those who have never detailed before. This durable buffer has revolutionized the capability of weekend detailers so you easily obtain professional like results. In summary, the Porter Cable 7424 will save you lots of time and energy while significantly improving your detailing results.