Porter Cable experiences and opinions needed

[charlaph]

I'm thinking of splashing out on a porter cable because I've just bought a new daily hack with swirled/scratched paint and I think it would clean up really well (it's my first ever car with metallic paint!). Thing is, once I've done the initial paintwork restoration, how much use will I get out of the P-C? Is it useful for general purpose polishing throughout the year, or is it overkill and would I be better off spending the £250ish on getting a bodyshop to sort it out for me?

Any opinions from people who have bought one would be appreciated - I'm thinking once I've bought it then I'll have it for my next car, and the wife's and so on so in the long term it'll be worth it, but how hard is it for a general purpose numpty to use and would I run the risk of wrecking the paint, even if I was careful? I've read the guides on the internet, but I'm really worried about knackering the paint - to the point where I'm considering buying a scrap panel and spare pads to practise with first.

Also, anyone imported one from the US? I know the warranty is only a year and I'm likely to get stung by customs, but at under £120 delivered from some places it's mighty tempting...I can't find them for under £140 in the UK.

[Smoothound]

This should be posted in the "Exterior" section mate.

If you take a look :

http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/forumdisplay.php?f=121

There's already a thread on Porta Cables

[charlaph]

Oop. Didn't even realise there was an exterior section, and I did do a search but nothing answered my query. Apologies.

[lee75]

I've just bought one from America for about £125 came with 3 different pads and polishing bonnet, didn't get stung by customs :D haven't had time to use it as the weather has been so shit:mad:
you can use it for polishing its a lot quicker:nod:

[Egon]

i'm in the garage right now using mine with my L plates on...:D

[jim22]

I've got one and it's an awesome piece of kit:thumbs: truly a big step up from hand polishing:nod:

[Robbie]

Ordered mine a week ago from Autopia and it still hasn't come yet. :( Could've been using it today as the weather is good enough.

Tracking number that Autopia have given me doesn't work on UPS site.

[lee75]

Ordered mine a week ago from Autopia and it still hasn't come yet. :( Could've been using it today as the weather is good enough.

Tracking number that Autopia have given me doesn't work on UPS site.

Thats who i got mine off took about 2 weeks to get here:)

[ZXSpectrum]

There is a kit on ebay that comes with everything. Portercabler, Hard Carry Case, loads of Sonus pads and all the polish as well as a tutorial DVD. ITs about £160 all in with postage. Think thats gonna be what i am going to be buying myself for a birthday prezzie... :thumbs:

Bugger, Just checked and it looks as if that one doesnt come with the transformer... Boy this is gonna get expensive. :(

You got a link to Autopia?

[lee75]

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/pcdepot.html
:thumbs:
theres $10 off the one i bought:rolleyes:

[steve 1200]

£200 on ebay and thats with transformer and lead. going to order one monday
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PORTER-CABLE-7424-DAS-PAD-KIT-TRANSFORMER-KIT_W0QQitemZ120113787857QQihZ002QQcategoryZ72201Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[lee75]

that £125 what i payed included delivery!
you can buy a transformer for £50 from screw-fix and they sell the plugs too!!
I've already got a transformer for my tools so it saved me a few quid just had to buy a plug £1.20:)

[Robbie]

Thats who i got mine off took about 2 weeks to get here:)

That's good to know. Most of the people on Detailing World seem to get them in 4-5 days. Hope it's here for next weekend.
:)

[Egon]

Got mine from autopia.Ordered on friday lunchtime (uk time) and it hit my fornt door on the monday...:eek:
If you go to uk deals and have a look to see if screwfix direct are doing a discount. i managed to get another tenner off by looking on there...
(i'll try and find the address....)

http://www.hotukdeals.com filter the screwfix and oooh, looks like a tenner off your 240/110tx....:thumbs:

[Egon]

Looking at www.cleanyourcar.co.uk they have a 230volt version coming out soon...

[Robbie]

Well I emailed Autopia for them to track my Porter Cable. Parcel Force tried to deliver it to me 5 days ago, but couldn't be bothered to stick a card through the letterbox. Its therefore been waiting for me to pick up at a local post office since last week. :annoyed:

[Egon]

theyre like that round my way too...i opened the door one day and there was a bloke putting a card through the door saying theyd tried to deliver...gits...

[Robbie]

Well I picked up my PC today so I can't wait to get started with it. Probably rain all weekend now. :wack: