PORTER-CABLE Car 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 got this just to wax and polish my cars. if you're looking to use it for wood/metal working skip this review.The random orbital is much better than a circular polisher for applying and removing wax and polish since it will avoid burning the paint. This Porter Cable RO polisher is very well made, solid and powerful. With the right attachments you can connect virtually any polishing pads and make quick work of any wax or polish job. The way a random orbital works is the head rotates around a circular path (an orbit) and the pad itself is free spinning in the head, so in effect you get 2 potentially different inputs for the actual spin direction of the surface doing the polishing. In a normal buffer/polisher the head only spins, like the bit in a drill, so the center of the pad would be moving slow and the edge of the pad moves fast. The fast edge can create too much friction and you can damage the pain. A random orbital polisher is much safer for paint.In terms if the ergonomics of this polisher, it's not great. The unit is a mix of metal and plastic. It's fairly heavy for it's size and it's squared body is a little awkward to hold. Understand that this isn't some cheap, lightweight import tool. It's a well built tool that's really intended for daily use doing industrial work. It just happens to be perfect for this job too. It will last you a lifetime if you look after it. The handle on the side is included but optional for polishing. I don't use it.I'd recommend also getting the Porter Cable 6 inch hook and loop pad, then you can quickly attach any of the foam pads to do the waxing and polishing and then add a microfiber boot to do the buffing. With this RO polisher you can adjust the speed from slow to fast speeds very easily with a dial at the end. It has a short power cable so you will want an extension cord. Check on youtube or do some research on how to use a RO polisher to wax and polish vehicles if you haven't used one before. You need to select the right foam pad (which isn't included with this polisher) and the right wax for the job. You apply the wax to the attached foam pad and then put the foam pad on the surface to be waxed/polished, then you turn the polisher on and start at a low speed. This reduces the amount of wax that will fling off the pad.

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