PORTER-CABLECar Polisher and Buffer, 6-Inch, Orbital, Variable Speed (7424XP)

I am not mechanically inclined nor am I an auto hobbyist or detailer. I'm just a guy who likes to take care of his vehicles and maintain that new car appearance. Until now, I have been waxing our family cars the old fashioned way: with a lot of elbow grease and the sacrifice of valuable time. I tend to research the items in which I invest and my intended purchase of a random-orbital polisher was no different.Meguiar's and Griot's Garage are on-line sites that cater to auto hobbyists and detailers. A cursory check of their web pages reveals that they market the Porter Cable Random-Orbital Polisher as their preferred product. I concluded, therefore, that it must be a quality product, a prudent choice and purchased the polisher from Amazon. Having never used one, I paid close attention to the reviews of those who shared their knowledge and experience through comments here.Based solely on the comments submitted in previous reviews, I purchased the optional 6-Hole, Hook and Loop Standard Pad but didn't really know why it was necessary at the time of purchase. I also visited the Griot's Garage website and, as recommended, purchased the orange foam polishing pad and a wax removal bonnet.Upon receipt of all the items purchased, it became obvious why the aforementioned accessories are preferable. The polishing pad that comes standard with the Porter Cable is fixed to the polisher disk - requiring the entire unit to be removed from the polisher for cleaning. While it is certainly serviceable and can be fitted with a wax removal bonnet, cleaning of the polishing pad is far easier if it can be removed from the disk. You'll want to ensure that the polishing pad used to apply auto polish is cleaned after each use to remove fine particles of dried polish that can scratch a car's finish. For those as unfamiliar with the terminology as I was, "hook and loop" is the generic description of the fastener we commonly refer to by the brand name "Velcro". The optional Hook and Loop Standard pad has a surface with microscopic "hooks" to which a polishing pad that has one surface containing the microscopic "loops" can be affixed and subsequently removed with ease. The wax removal bonnet, like a fitted sheet, is attached over the polishing pad when the user is ready to remove the applied polish.Attachment of the handle is self-evident. The optional 6-Hole, Hook and Loop Standard Pad is attached by securing the slip nut on the polisher using the wrench that comes with the machine and inserting and rotating the threaded male-end of the disk into the female end on the polisher. The orange polishing pad that I obtained from Griot's Garage is then attached to the disk via their respective "Velcro" surfaces. The power switch is located on top of the polisher and the speed control is located at the rear.The machine applies a thin, evenly distributed layer of polish to the surface. I then fitted the polishing bonnet over the polishing pad to remove the dried polish. The job took about one-forth the time of doing so manually and with so much less exertion. The result was a deep, brilliant, showroom finish and an operator that wasn't "pooped out" to get that finish. Subsequently, I removed the bonnet and the applicator pad from the polishing disk and washed them thoroughly with cold water to remove any embedded polish and dried particles. They are both ready to be re-used. I couldn't be more satisfied with my purchase and the results that I achieved.I hope this helps answer most questions.

I used this to sanding my shower room stone floor. It worked great.

My first impression of the Porter Cable 7424XP was that it looked very study and also felt sturdy. Not one cheap look or feel about this polisher. This is also my first polisher I've ever purchased or used and it took no time to get the hang of it. I just used it today on the hood, roof, quarter panels and spoiler of my 2007 Mazda3, using Meguiar's Ultimate Compound, 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, a coat of Mother's Carnuaba wax and then a coat of 3M Performance Finish... the paint looks and feels like slick glass. The rest of the car is soon to undergo the same treatment.With my PC, I bought a Lake Country backing plate and 2 Lake Country pads, cyan and tangerine, one for compounds and one for polishes. This machine has made the detailing process for me so much easier than doing it all by hand. I still wax by hand, but the PC is also capable of applying and buffing wax. I'm just happy enough to be able to work the compounds and polishes with this machine now. It was very well worth every penny spent on it. And because it's easy to get used to, I seriously may consider detailing people's cars as a side job.If you're new to machine polishing, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the Porter Cable 7424XP. You can do no wrong with it and it will make detailing your vehicle so much easier. I'm very happy with this machine.EDIT: 12/23/12I just wanted to do a little follow up review since I've had the 7424XP for some time now. It's a solid machine and I just recently started applying my favorite sealant with this thing and waxing has never been such a breeze. Not only is waxing my car with this machine faster, but it lays down a nice, thin coat of my preferred sealant, so I'm not over-using the sealant. Most of us know that sealants are a lot harder to apply by hand than a traditional carnauba wax, that's because sealants are synthetic and engineered to last a lot longer, therefore they're more trouble to apply by hand and sometimes difficult to buff off. I use Menzerna Power Lock sealant and it goes on in very thin coats when using the PC 7424XP paired up with a Lake Country black finishing pad. I allow the sealant to dry for 20 to 30 minutes or so, which is about the time it takes to apply it to my Mazda3 when using the PC, if I'm not taking any breaks, lol. I then buff the residue off by hand and because it is applied in a thin coat, buffing by hand couldn't be any easier. My main point is that the PC is an awesome detailing weapon. I also do spot polishing for isolated scratches or stains here and there. I'd buy this polisher again if I had to. It's worth its weight in gold and is a plain solid tool. I couldn't be happier with it.

First off, I ordered this DA PC polisher on the 25th, shipped the following day and arrived in the morning of the 29th before I opened my shop. Thanks! I've been researching this DA polisher for quite some time now. Probably over a month. People have, for the most part, nothing but good to say about it. The professional detailers would say that it is a dated machine that lacks the power and inovation to keep up with the top tier polishers out in the market today. I also ordered a 6 inch backing plate to complete this polisher to fit my needs. This polisher does not come this a backing plate out of the box, and PC recommends only using a 6 inch plate. Initial thoughts out of the box: it looked like a solid quality machine. The plastic pieces feel durable. The cord is way longer than expected and made of highly flexible, almost rubber like, material. Again the cord seems durable. I did read the specs, cord length and weight, but the weight did surprise me. Its kind of heavy for a small machine. I'll get use to it. I don't like that it does not have a built in stand in the form of a square back to keep it from tilting over and possibly getting your pads dirty, just something to watch out for. Now for the kicker, literally. I'm kicking myself for not ordering the PC 7424XP sooner. I use a rotary because I thought it was the best/ fastest way to go. With a rotary you need skill and know-how and experience to get great results. In the wrong hands a rotary polisher can be dangerous. This DA polisher makes my life so much easier. I could probably get a beginner polishing paint with this polisher. As we all know that is not the case with a rotary. This polisher is very user friendly. The results it delivers are fantastic.