NEW Porter Cable 7424XP Polisher -- Basic Porter Cable 7424XP Polisher

    The pad does not rotate in the conventional sense, it oscillates. This "jiggling" occurs at such a high rate that the eye can not see any pad movement. This is normal. This is the way the polisher is designed to work. This polisher is not designed for heavy compounding and may not fully remove scratches, deep swirls or paint imperfections. To completely remove swirls and scratches, consider a professional, circular polisher such as the Makita 9227, or DeWalt 849.

    This is the stock machine as it comes from Porter Cable. It has one medium density white pad which is permanently attached to a backing plate. The single white pad supplied with the polisher may be sufficient for the week-end enthusiast but its not enough flexibility for the serious detailer nor does it allow you to use any of our hook and loop backed accessory pads.

    Should you decide to upgrade this machine to use any of our 6-1/2 inch or 7-1/2 inch Constant Pressure, Foam Pads, all you need is a 6 inch, Hook and Loop Backing Plate. 

    For more flexibility, see our 7424XP Ultimate Detailing Machine. While slightly more expensive, this machine comes with a 6 inch Hook and Loop Backing Plate and one CCS, White Foam Polishing Pad. This hook and loop backing plate allows you to use any of our hook and loop backed foam polishing and finishing pads.

7424XP Features & Specifications

• 4.5 amp motor, 120 VAC 50-60 HZ
• Variable Speed 2,500 - 6,800 O.P.M.
• Random, swirl-free action
• 100% ball and roller bearing construction
• Spindle thread size - 5/16-24
• One white foam polishing pad (permanently attached to the backing plate)
• pad changing wrench and side handle included
• Length 11-1/2 inches
• Weight 5-3/4 lbs.

Personal Note: Several years ago, before I invested in a machine polisher, I took delivery of a new, deep burgundy vehicle that I swear was dealer prepared with a Brill-O Pad! The finish was a mass of swirls. Repeatedly polishing the finish, by hand, over a period of 3 to 4 months, I was able to create a pristine, swirl-free finish. After my burgundy car experience, I invested in a machine polisher. I started with the predecessor of this orbital, Porter Cable 7424XP because I was inexperienced in using a polisher and did not want to harm my car's finish. It was the best car-care investment I ever made. I was able to achieve better results in 20 to 30 minutes of machine polishing than I could in months of hand polishing. If you're serious about keeping your car's finish vibrant and swirl-free, I strongly recommend investing in a machine polisher.

Answers to commonly asked questions:

1. Q:  The pads on my polisher do not rotate/move. Is it defective?
   A: No. The pads do not rotate, they oscillate. They are moving but they are moving at a speed too fast for the eye to see. This is the way the machine is designed.
2. Q: The center, metal casing of my machine gets very hot. Is this normal?
   A:  Yes, this is normal. The light grey, metal casing between the two darker grey, plastic end caps gets very hot in normal operation. Always grip the machine using the darker grey plastic end caps.
3. Q: How many extra pads do I need?
4. A. Waxes and polishes should not be applied using the same pad. Because polishing is cleaning the surface, polishing pads can cake with residues and grime before the entire car is polished. I typically use two White Foam Polishing Pads to polish my car and one Red or Gold Foam Finishing Pad to apply the final liquid wax or paint sealant. Note: Changing pads requires a 6 inch Hook and Loop Backing Plate which does not come with the Basic machine.

Warranty:

    This polisher has a three year warranty from Porter Cable that will be honored by any Porter Cable Service Center (Keep your sales receipt to verify the date of purchase). Service Centers are listed on the back of the Instruction Book that comes with the polisher or you can call Porter Cable at 1-800-487-8665 to locate your closest service center. We will gladly exchange out-of-box defectives (I can't remember every having one) but once the machine is used it must be returned to a Porter Cable Service Center for service.