Porter Cable 7424

Dan:

You wet sanded the entire hull......by hand....!?...after you washed it.....and then you Waxed? How many advil did you eat???? You must have Popeye forearms by now.... :grin:
 
Dominic
Formula:
2- 16oz Diet Pepsi
2 - 800mg Ibuprofen
1 - 6 pack Miller Lite
And a good work out at the health club at 7am this morning.

And yes towards the end of the 9-4:30pm day the Porter Cable did start feeling a little bit heavy.
Side note it did keep this Irshman out of the pubs last night for St. Paddy's Day and I did get a good nite's sleep.
 
Anyone ever use the 7424 to sand the bottom of their boat? I recently purchased some sandpaper with felt that will attach to the buffing pad. I am planning to use it for sanding this spring.
 
I use the 7424 to do initial sanding on some of my wood working projects and it will remove marterial. I have never sanded the boat.

When you are done sanding and before you wax again clean the polisher very well. The left over sanding dust will ruin a finish quickly if you do not get it off.
 
As to doing the hullsides in the water, I am fortunate in that my marina has a service dock that floats about 4" above the water. I untie the service dock, push and pull it over to my boat, put some fenders out, make the service dock fast against the hullside I am working on, and go for it. Not as easy as pulling the boat out of the water to get it cleaned up, but the service dock is free. Haul/block/brace can run anywhere from $10-$20 a foot. That is a lot of diesel.

Skip
 
Finally got to use my new 7424 today. Holy Crap this thing is nice. Got the entire hull below the rubrail done this afternoon. Tomorrow I will get the transom and above the rubrail.

Bonus came in the mail today - I was able to order the fuel recommendation decals from my local Sea Ray dealer (they are $2.00 / each) to replace the worn originals. It's a little detail, but it was making the boat look older than she really is.

-CJ
 
Agreed on the Porter Cable. The first time I used mine a few years ago I could not believe I had wasted as much of my life as I had at that point waxing boats without it. After using it for a few years on the boat, two weeks ago I used it with one of these three stage kits to wax my black GMC Denali. Once again I was stunned at how well it works if you have the right pads and the right product. A must have for any boat guy as far as I am concerned, especially when you have 37' of Sundancer to cover.

If the weather cooperates I hope to do mine from the rub rail down on Sunday. But since we still have 4-8" of snow on the ground this may be a little ambitious.
 
I bought mine over the winter, along with 2 applicator pads.

Do you use lambswool buffing pads to remove the wax/polish after it hazes, or do you remove it by hand?
I would think that the random orbit action would not allow a buffing pad to do any removal, as a full rotary machine would...
 
Steve,
I think the lambswool pad may be a bit too aggressive for removing dried wax. I remove dried wax/cleaner/whatever by hand. Its a pain but I think I do a better job than the machine for removal. Application is a totally different story...the P/C has no equal. Just my $.02.
 
When I do the boat I use my old 9" buffer to remove the haze after applying with the Porter Cable. It speeds the process since I dont have to switch over the pads on one machine. The kit I bought for the car included a micro fiber pad cover for the porter cable and two micro fiber towels which I used to remove the haze.
 
"How much is a small amout of polish or wax". When I dot the applicator and start applying the product and cant see it anymore is that the time to start adding more? I get nervous when I dont see it making a haze on a 3 x 3 section. Also what speed is everyone using? Any advice ? :smt017
 
It looks like the model 7336 is the same as the 7424 but with a 6" dodad.????
 
TurtleTone said:
It looks like the model 7336 is the same as the 7424 but with a 6" dodad.????
Click to expand...

TT,

It looks like the both come with the polishing pad. The only difference I see is that the 7336SP comes with sanding discs...

Variable-Speed Random-Orbit Sander (6") with Polishing Pad
Model 7336SP

Close Window
FEATURES
• 3.7 Amp, AC Only
• Electronic variable speed 2,500-6,000 OPM
• Random, swirl-free sanding action
• Spiral/bevel gears
• 100% ball and roller bearing construction
• Standard Equipment: Sander, polishing pad #54745, sanding discs, wrench #48779, side handle, and operating manual

SPECIFICATIONS
Power: 120 VAC, 50-60 HZ/120 VDC
Motor Amps: 3.7
No-load Speed: 2,500-6,000 RPM
Spindle Thread Size: Accepts 5/16 - 24
Gear Drive: Spiral Bevel
Wheel/Pad Size: 6"
Length: 11 1/2"
Net Weight: 5 3/4 Lbs.
Shipping Weight: 6 1/4 Lbs.


6" Variable-Speed Random-Orbit Polisher
Model 7424
Close Window
FEATURES
• 3.7 Amp, AC Only
• Electronic variable speed 2,500-6,000 OPM
• Random, swirl-free polishing action
• Spiral/bevel gears
• 100% ball and roller bearing construction
• Standard Equipment: Polisher, polishing pad #54745, wrench #48779, side handle, and operating manual

SPECIFICATIONS
Power: 120 VAC, 50-60 HZ/120 VDC
Motor Amps: 3.7
No-load Speed: 2,500-6,000 RPM
Spindle Thread Size: Accepts 5/16 - 24
Gear Drive: Spiral Bevel
Wheel/Pad Size: 6"
Length: 11 1/2"
Net Weight: 5 3/4 Lbs.
Shipping Weight: 6 1/4 Lbs.
 
Okay based on this thread I decided that I needed a 7424. I just found a local tool supply company that had a PC 7336 out of the box they were willing to sell for $100, so I bought that. It does seem to be the same thing as the 7424 except that it comes with a sanding pad. I also got the #54745 polishing pad thrown in.

I can't see where anyone is using the standard #54745 polishing pad; is that true? Does it have any use in application on marine gelcoats? Or is everyone using the other pad kits they are posting about and not using the one that came with the buffer?

As I understand this thread, I still need to get about three different colors of pads and a hook/loop pad backing plate. I found this

http://properboatcare.stores.yahoo.net/gelcopadkitf.html

which seems to suggest that I need to spend another hundred dollars before I have the equipment needed to actually use the PC buffer on my boat. Is this correct? Is there a cheaper source or means to complete my accessories or is this about what I'll be spending no matter where I shop?

I want to order ASAP and try to get this done by Easter weekend. Mine does have some oxidation but I hope it is minor enough to not have to resort to more severe buffing techniques. I can't wait to give this thing a try.
 
I think your assessment of what you are going to be spending is pretty close. On a good note, you now have what you need to wax the boat for years to come. You also can use the machine and pads on the car and other things around the house. I use my 7424 to do the granite in the kitchen and fiberglass shower enclosures! works great! :thumbsup:
 
Used the Blue Pad to apply Starbright polish to hull last weekend.
Other pads seemed to washout well after using to apply polishing/rubbing compound but I am having trouble cleaning blue pad of the Starbright polish.
Any suggestions for cleaning it? Or should I just let it dry out and then try and wash?
 
About the pads.... for the 6" backing plate, there are standard and curved edge pads available, and choice of either 6.5" or 7.5" diameter. What are you guys using?

Thanks for all of your help :smt001
 
I use dish washing detergent to wash out the pads after I use them. Dawn has always worked for me.

I can't remember seeing a blue pad.. White, red, orange, and black...all with different abrasion proprieties. What is blue used for?
 
This may lead to marital problems in your home but when I get done with the porter cable I put the pads along with my buffing rags and my work clothes in the washer. You have to do this when you wife is not paying attention, but it works great. I let the pads then air dry (afraid if I put them in the dryer I may risk blowing up wth house with the fumes from the wax) and she would notice that. Seriously, they come out looking like new. I usually then run my work clothes in the washer a second time to "clean" the washer if you know what I mean.

Jon
 
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