I am going to be purchasing a porter cable random orbital buffer here soon to clean up my black '96 Z28. Which model is better, the 7336 or 7424? Where is the best place to buy one of these buffers? Thanks!

Jeff

 

They are the same machine with different counter weights. No real difference. You can get them for about $100 from Lowe's.

 

Lowes only carries part number 7336, but it there for 99.99

7336= 6 inch counter weight for 6 inch backer plate
7424= 5 inch counter weight for 5 inch backer plate

In car detailing, the 6 inch backer plate is most standard

You will have to purchase the velcro backer plate and Lake Country pads of different textures from a place online like www.topoftheline.com

 

I purchased the PC 7424 from www.sportscarcare.com . The owner is very easy to work with, and very good prices too. His came with two 6" counter weights along with the 5" counter weight. When detailing, most prefer to use a 6.5" pad, which works best with the 6" counter weight.

EDIT: He bumped up the price $20. I bought mine for $120. Now he's selling them for $139.95.

 

A different perspective on counterweights. I use the 5" counterweight, and 7" Propel Pads. The pads are designed to be used with a 5" BP. the 7/5 combo also allows for easier mobility around tight areas like mirrors and bumpers/lights. They also eliminate the chance of cookie cutting the pad, by providing additional backing on the pad, about 6.25 inches of backing on a 7" pad, this gives better than 1/2 inch on each side of the BP for safety. When backing matches the width of the BP, the chance of you centering that pad on the backing, and the pad not moving at all, are very slim, this is where cookie cutting starts, and pad failure ensues. Whatever pad and plate combo you select, make dang sure your backing on the pad, extends well beyond the backing plate width....