Which is THE best polisher

powerontap

Senior member
 Montreal
Porter cable has been around for so long. How about I launch the debate on which polisher is best. Flex XC 3401 VRG anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yht1uHJLNlQ
 
Buy a unit that fits good for your hand/arms, buy one that is priced within your budget, buy one that is not made in China. You'll figure it out.
 
20ducks said:
Buy a unit that fits good for your hand/arms, buy one that is priced within your budget, buy one that is not made in China. You'll figure it out.

Good common sense 20ducks. Maybe my question should of read: If pricing and ergonomic differences are not significant, which polisher gives the best results?
 
powerontap said:
20ducks said:
Buy a unit that fits good for your hand/arms, buy one that is priced within your budget, buy one that is not made in China. You'll figure it out.

Good common sense 20ducks. Maybe my question should of read: If pricing and ergonomic differences are not significant, which polisher gives the best results?

None...the product and the user determine that.

However, the overwhelming favorite of car care enthusiasts is the Porter Cable 7424. It is my weapon of choice as well.
 
Guess I'm still hoping to read more technical comparisons on how they perform mechanically; orbital movement differences, noise levels, weight, etc...

What has always been may not hold up when ingenuity fuels product improvement. Have some of you experienced the more recent offerings?
 
There is also the law of diminishing returns. This is, afterall, a $150~200 investment. Buy one from a brick and mortar and you can take it back if you think it is underachieving. What experience do you have with this type of equipment? What pads, products etc., have you used or are using?
 
20ducks said:
There is also the law of diminishing returns. This is, afterall, a $150~200 investment. Buy one from a brick and mortar and you can take it back if you think it is underachieving. What experience do you have with this type of equipment? What pads, products etc., have you used or are using?

I'm actually looking to buy my first quality polisher, that's why I wished I could benefit from other members experiences. The Flex seems to be a step forward in design, cutting down on time and effort to get results. If some of you use it (or use a different model than the Porter, comments are welcomed).
 
Flex XC 3401 VRG

Less vibration than a PC. Yes
Faster? Yes.
Safer? No.
Worth approx $279? I will consider this to replace my PC when it burns out. If it is your money, absolutely.

Considering the amount of square inches of our Z4 roadsters (or even the coupe) this isn't going to save your hours. All depends on how you use it and what products/process you use. What is your experience and what products/techniques do you use when detailing your car(s)?
 
Can't speak for the others but the pc is the best gadget in my tool kit bar none. solid, well built and just does the job. I don't need anything else tat is lighter, faster, greater orbit or has bluetooth connectivuty, or whatever developments bring
 
20ducks said:
Flex XC 3401 VRG

What is your experience and what products/techniques do you use when detailing your car(s)?

My technique (with this car) has been to work by hand in 4 steps. Using; 1) clay bar, 2) swirl remover, 3) glaze and finally a 4) wax/sealant. I now wish to use a good polisher (specially for the second step; removing the swirls/minor scratches, where I can't get good results by hand). Since the color is silver, the finish and shine actually looks quite amazing. You can only see some swirls with a direct light over the paint (but I know they're there!)

Been using foam pads for application and Dragon Fiber buffing cloths for removal and polishing. Products are from Blackfire except for the swirl remover which was McGuiars. Will probably get some Z-5 for that second step next time.
 
Back
Top Bottom