By: Mitch | Last updated June 16, 2021 
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For an entry-level price of $119, the Porter-Cable 7424xp 6-Inch Variable Speed Polisher does a pretty good job. Although it is a cheaper polisher it has built a legacy of being one of the go to entry level pieces to get. Although you won’t get the luxury of low vibration or silent operations, but you will save a bunch of money.
For under $120 you get the following :
Which is a pretty standard, bare bones, beginning to polishing and compounding your car/truck/ whatever you’d like to polish.
Needless to say, the Porter-Cable 7424xp has a decent reputation on the Amazon store. Many customers said how ‘just right’ the size and weight to not burn them out quickly while polishing. However, with its lighter weight some users have had a longer polishing time when compared to other higher powered models. Porter-Cable impresses their customers with the product’s little to no fuss approach to a polisher. If you are looking for a low cost entry into paint correction this could be the right choice for you, however based on other entries into the budget polishing area we do have to say that there are better deals to be had, like the SPTA package which costs less and comes with more. The Porter-Cable 7424xp 6-Inch Variable has gained 4.7 stars out of 5 from 2,100+ customers – Quite amazing for an entry-level car polisher if you ask us.
This bare bones polisher does just what it is supposed to, and that is polish whatever you are working on. There is a pretty standard list of features for this unit such as:
Features
The Porter-Cable 7424xp 6-inch polisher offers a varying speed that you can adjust depending on what you like. It has a six-speed settings dial that lets you have 2,500 to 6,800 OPM (orbits per minute).
Additionally, the speed dial is placed a little beneath the casing to prevent accidental speed switching.
A long throw polisher finishes more corrections in an area without the help of high speeds and forced rotation. The Porter-Cable 7424xp 6-inch polisher has an 8mm throw and is considered one of many long-throw polishers.
A perky inclusion on this power tool is the pre-installed counterweight that makes the device very easy to grip on. It helps in making your work less difficult for your hands and arms.
The Porter-Cable 7424xp 6-inch polisher has a dimension of 14 x 6.5 x 6 in. and weighs 5.75 lbs. Quite heavy, but there are other bulkier models for sure.
We also noticed that this type of polisher produces less vibration and noise compared to other polishers out there. However, starting this tool needs a bit of a force as the switch cannot be toggled easily to prevent it from turning on or off accidentally.
Upon opening the box, an ergonomic handle can be found. You can install it on the head depending on if you are left or right-handed. Keep a good grip on it, and you will be polishing your car with great comfort.
If you are not interested in the handle, gripping on the head is an excellent alternative for better control and maneuvering.
The Porter-Cable 7424xp variable speed polisher includes a 6-inch polishing pad that offers less durability than its counterparts. It has a 10-foot-long cord, a wrench to assist in equipping your preferred polishing pad, and a manual to help beginners.
Brand Quality
Porter-Cable is a New-York based company known for manufacturing high-quality and highly reliable power tools, including car polishers, air compressors, pressure washers, generators, and air tools. It started humbly in a garage at Syracuse, New York, by R.E. Porter, G.G. Porter, and F.E. Cable in 1906. From a simple investment of $2,300, it eventually turned the tables for their business. The company managed to buy a plant on North Salina Street and soon started focusing on electric power tools production in 1926.
In 1960, Porter-Cable was bought by Rockwell International, where the downfall of the company was first seen. Many changes have been made, such as relocating the headquarters at Jackson, Tennessee, removing the “Porter-Cable” name, and creating numerous unreliable power tools to challenge other competitors that slightly tarnished its reputation. Currently, the Tennessee-based Porter-Cable is owned by Stanley Black & Decker, where tools are made in Mexico and China.
There are lots of companies that managed Porter-Cable, but the brand’s positive image has been unstable before because of mismanagement. Now that a more organized and competent company handles it, it slowly restored the trust of its customers and even improved the quality of the products as time passed by.
The Porter-Cable 7424xp 6-Inch Variable Speed Polisher is currently $10 off so the price is $119, which is pretty good. However , when compared to other budget level polishers the lack of things in the kit ensures you will need to spend more money to get your polishing started.
Switching the Porter-Cable 7424xp on/off takes a little bit of effort. Honestly, it is a great idea to avoid turning the polisher on or off by accident as we have seen that having the switch too close to where your hands are can cause issues with the unit being shut off by accident. Just a bit below the switch you will find a speed dial with six different speed settings. From a chill-paced 2,500 OPM into a trailblazing 6,800 OPM fast, the speed choice is yours.
Now let us fire this thing up. The first thing that we noticed was that although this is a cheaper unit, the vibration and noise from the machine wasn’t terrible. It was noticeably higher than the more expensive units, but that is generally how the world works.
Above everything mentioned, the biggest thing that we noticed was the maneuverability of the unit, it wasn’t that it was a super light unit but for some reason we could just move easier with it than some of the other models we tested out. With or without the ergonomic handle, you can easily control it in any direction you like and finish the job in no time.
Porter Cable can be reached via their contact us page , located at https://www.portercable.com/support
Our editorial staff evaluates products and services independently, but Best Review Guide may earn money when you click on links. Read our advertising disclosure.
