Porter Cable Random Orbit - Great Tool!

[Dane]

Just tried the Porter Cable variable speed random orbit polisher with Meguires Deep Crystal 1-2-3 system. I feel like an idiot for not getting this thing sooner My clear coat was starting to look bad after 2 years and only one wax job. Our well water is so hard it hurts and leaves residue even if you dry the truck fast after washing. My paint was feeling rough when drying and you could see white stuff in the surface clear coat - water spots mostly. I was dreading doing the big Dodge by hand cause my ol body don't respond kindly to abuse like it used to. Using the random orbit is soooo easy. Wiping the residue off after is easier also because the tool leaves such a thin layer of product. I'm going to try Meguiers microfiber pad for removing residue next so I don't have to do nothing by hand



Meguires wants $229 for the random orbit, but I got the sander/polisher from Amazon for $129. It's the same tool, only uses different mounting system for pads and sanding disks. That made it easier to justify spending the $ to the boss The random orbit comes with a sanding disk and one pad, I ordered 2 extra pads and use one pad for each product - cleaner, polish, wax.



Meguires.com web site only charged me for 2 of the 3 bottles (cleaner, polish, wax) when I ordered. Great system imo, paint didn't shine this good when new.

 

[PRout]

This sounds like a great unit.



Ive been considering getting one of the cheapos at trak auto, or wherever, but have been concerned about swirls, or using it so much and removing clear coat. Also, you probably would have to be careful when buffing edges or high spots.



Is the RANDOM ORBIT feature so that you dont get swirls?



Anyways, mine's white, and probably wouldnt show swirls much, but want to do the job right.



We used to swear by 3 coats of the cheap yellow bottle KIT liquid carnuba wax (easy to use - & basic) & Meguires deep crystal for the "wet" look. If the paint looked a little oxidized we would buff it out first with Blue Coral liquid polishing compound. Was a good combo.



Have always done the job by hand, but that takes all weekend to do a job that I felt was done right. - sheesh! Gonna have to pick up one of those babies. !



So, what are the best products to use nowadays? I know they have to have some new formulas out there.