Mention to someone that you’re going to detail your car, and their reaction is usually sympathetic. “Oh, you poor thing! Your arms will be dead!” Despite this outpouring of sympathy, the person often requests that you detail their car when finished with yours - so much for the sympathy.

[singlepic=96,440,330]

In years past, detailing was a bit of a pain, especially if you didn’t have access to tools like the pros used, including buffers, magical compounds and waxes that were easy to remove. Buffer? Did I say buffer? No way, no how - those things are dangerous! My cousin’s best friend’s neighbor knew a guy who tore his mirror off and burned his paint with a buffer! Are you insane?

There’s a common misconception about random orbital buffers, especially with folks who aren’t real familiar with the finer nuances of detailing. Most confuse the random orbital buffer with a rotary (or direct-drive) buffer. Rotary buffers are more apt to cause damage, as they have more powerful motors, generate more heat, pressure and speed, and are usually used with more aggressive pads (including wool).

Rotary buffers can be found in just about any paint repair shop, and are often the preferred tool of “professional” detailers. Unfortunately, when used incorrectly they can introduce new swirls, damage paint and even remove trim and other permanent accessories. Rotary buffers operate with a heavy duty, high speed, direct drive motor - in other words, the buffing pad is attached directly to the output shaft of the buffer, much like a drill bit attaches to the motor of an electric drill.

The “spin true” nature of the rotary buffer can introduce swirl marks, especially if used incorrectly, which is why you often see so many cars driving down the road with massive “rotary ghosting” (my term) and other nasty operator induced swirl marks.

A Random Orbital Buffer (ROB) is a completely different machine. It has a much more forgiving personality, has less power, generates less heat, and does not spin in a true circular pattern. Contrary to what some naysayers would have you believe, the ROB can achieve results similar to those of a rotary, especially when used properly; but the main benefit comes from the ease of use and massive safety margin.

Porter Cable has been making a ROB for many years, and its most popular model is the 7424. Commonly referred to as the “PC7424″ (Porter Cable 7424), it has become the tool of choice for many detailers, both enthusiast and professional alike. Open any tool catalog, and you’re almost certain to find the PC7424 - it’s a popular and incredible piece of detailing machinery.

In addition to the PC7424, Porter Cable also markets a very similar machine, the 7336. Both machines feature the same basic “platform” - the main difference results from the backing plate size and counterweight size. We’ll talk more about that in a second.

Let’s start with the basics - both the PC7336 and PC7424 derive their power from a 3.7amp, 110v motor that’s capable of orbiting the backing plate in a random, elliptical motion at speeds between 2500 and 6000 orbits per minute. The motor drives a 5/16″ diameter spindle, to which a counterweight and backing plate are attached. The unit weighs approximately 6 pounds, and measures almost 14″ in overall length.

Users can adjust the speed of the machine by way of a small thumb dial, located on the back of the machine. A master power switch is mounted to the top of the machine, to ensure easy access. Porter Cable includes a stabilizer handle, which at the users preference can be attached to either “side” of the machine.

The primary difference between the PC7336 and the PC7424 boils down to the size of the counterweight that Porter Cable includes with the machine. The PC7336 ships with a 6″ counterweight and a 6″ backing plate, while the PC7424 ships with a 5″ counterweight and a 6″ backing plate with an integrated (non interchangeable) polishing pad.

Some folks will argue that the 5″ counterweight is fine for just about all uses, but I’ve found the 6″ counterweight smoothes the buffer action, especially when using larger foam polishing pads. It’s a personal preference, but should you decide you need a different counterweight, you can find them online for around $2. All you’ll need is a small TORX driver to exchange the counterweights - removal and installation is very straightforward.

Either buffer usually commands a street price that varies between $109 and $125, depending on the vendor. Keep in mind that the backing plate that ships with the 7336 or 7424 will not accept traditional Velcro-backed buffing pads. The 7336 factory backing plate is designed to accept adhesive sanding discs, while the 7424 has an integrated pad, so you’ll need to order a few accessories for your new buffer, which we’ll address in a paragraph or two.

[Gallery=10]

The most common question I’m asked regarding the Porter Cable buffer is, “Should I buy the one from Griot’s for $199? I hear it’s made specifically for Griot’s and that they include their own special backing plate.” While there’s nothing wrong with the Griot’s version of the PC7336, it is, in my opinion, horribly overpriced.

The Griot’s Porter Cable kit is nothing more than Porter Cable’s #97336 kit, which includes a plastic carrying case, dust collection accessories and a Velcro-backed Porter Cable backing plate, P/N 18001. The cost for the backing plate is approximately $10 at any major hardware store, and the #97336 kit usually retails for around $135 - $150. You make the call as to where you’d like to buy yours.

Ok, so now that we’ve got the basic buffer in hand, let’s make it “user friendly”. I’d suggest you purchase a Velcro-backing plate from an online vendor. Backing plates can cost as little as $10 and as much as $30, and are basically all the same - just make sure the backing plate has the proper arbor shaft and the “hook-style” backing plate.

Once you’ve got the backing plate installed, you’re ready to buy some pads for the buffer, and you’ll soon be on your way to your first “life changing detailing session.”

I’ve tried a ton of pads over many years, and I continually find myself being drawn to the foam pads that are manufactured by Lake Country Manufacturing (LCM). LCM sells their Duro-Foam pads through vendors like Classic Motoring Accessories and Top Of The Line.

There are many different styles of these pads - contour foam, memory foam, flat foam, and so on. Which ones you choose is a matter of personal preference; some people like the larger pads, while other prefer the smaller 6.5″ pads; some prefer the contour foam while others prefer the Duro-Foam. I suggest you buy a few of each and experiment on your own.

There are a few basics regarding pad selection - when using LCM pads, the pad color determines its intended use/purpose. A yellow pad is designed for “cutting” - it will be more useful at removing swirls, and other defects, and is best used with a compound like 3M’s Finesse-It II or 3M’s Swirl Mark Remover.

A white pad is designed for polishing, and is best used with 3M’s Swirl Mark Remover (milder action than the yellow pad) or a glaze like P21S Gloss Enhancing Paintwork Cleaner.

A black pad is designed for finishing, and is generally used with fine glazes or liquid waxes. LCM also sells a wool pad, which is designed for fast, aggressive cutting - I rarely use the wool pad, as it’s possible to introduce some swirl marks if used improperly. When buying pads, I’d strongly urge you to buy at least two of each. You don’t want to use different products on the same pads without cleaning them first. Having more pads is infinitely more convenient when performing a large detailing job.

Finally, as a general rule of thumb, I only use the Porter Cable ROB to apply products - I always buff the residue by hand, simply because the terry-style bonnets that are available for the Porter Cable ROB aren’t very efficient at removing residue.

For a complete “how-to” article on the Porter Cable ROB, feel free to refer to my Porter Cable Beginners Guide.

In closing, if you’re looking to really improve upon the quality of your detailing experience, and are hoping to make life a little easier, the Porter Cable Random Orbital Buffers are a can’t miss proposition. Porter Cable has been in the power tool business since 1914, and their attention to detail and quality is second to none.

I’m certain that if you invest the extra money in a Porter Cable (it’s really only about $30 - $40 more than a store brand buffer), you’ll thank yourself many thousands of times over. As far as buffers are concerned, the Porter Cable has no equal - it’s beyond top notch.

How well do you know your brakes? Do you trust them? Where were they made? When was the last time you had the rotors serviced? If you had to stop right now, would your brakes be up to the task?

[singlepic=202,440,330]

If you had to think for more than a second before answering any of those questions, you’re probably in dire need of some brake work. Other than your tires, no other single component is as critical to your vehicle’s performance than your brakes are.

Many the car owner has spent thousands of dollars building a high horsepower, monster motor and then crashed because his brakes weren’t up to the task of slowing all of that new found power. Quite simply stated, brakes can make or break your day.

Everyone from Formula One to the Major League Baseball Association has been experimenting with a metal-treating process called “cryogenics”. In case you’re wondering where you’ve heard that word before, think of the late Ted Williams and his nutty son, who claims that the former baseball great wished to be cryogenically (aka “frozen”) preserved.

Cryogenics is the process of slowly deep freezing an object and then slowly returning it to normal temperature. A “good” cryogenics shop will also heat temper the object after it has been frozen.

Roadfly was fortunate enough to wrangle a few moments of Mark Link’s time to discuss the cryogenic process and its benefits. Mark Link is the Vice President of Operations at Diversified Cryogenics; Diversified Cryogenics is located in Burnsville, Minnesota and can be reached by telephone at 1-888-323-8456, or via the web at www.frozenrotors.com.

Mark began by sharing some pretty convincing test data with us. “We’ve shown that cryogenically treated rotors will last 130% longer than untreated rotors and that drivers can expect longer brake pad life with improved braking system performance.”

That’s pretty impressive data, and Mark went to great lengths to explain how cryogenics makes this possible. According to Link, the cryogenic treating process is a one-time, homogenous process that permanently improves the performance of practically any metal item by refining the grain structure of the metal at an atomic level.

The freezing process literally aligns the carbon molecules of a metal object, resulting in an improved “lattice structure” of the carbon particles that is much stronger and more resistant to abrasion than untreated metal.

The process can be used on everything from aluminum baseball bats to spark plugs and is compatible with coatings like Teflon.

Mr. Link commented that the biggest benefactor of the cryogenic process has been the machining industry. Tool bits, cutting dies, and blades can be cryogenically treated to produce a much longer lasting tool that requires less maintenance. He further indicated that ball bearings and other high abrasion devices benefit equally well from the cryogenic process.

We asked Mark for more info about Diversified Cryogenics (commonly referred to as “Frozen Rotors”) cryogenic process and services, and he was more than happy to share information about their products and processes.

Frozen Rotors employs a handful of highly trained staff that is dedicated to providing top-notch products and service. They utilize a state-of-the-art computer controlled cryogenic processor that slowly, consistently and accurately lowers the temperature of an object to approximately -300F.

The computer accurately monitors the freezing process to within 1F - an amazing accomplishment by any standards. The object is then slowly returned to normal temperature and once at normal temperature is heat-tempered. Heat tempering ensures that the metal obtains the highest possible resistance to abrasion and is a perfect application for brake rotors.

[Gallery=19]

According to Link, cryogenic treatment benefits everyone who has brakes on their vehicles. The immediate benefits are improved and more consistent rotor life - Frozen Rotors has discovered that their cryogenically treated rotors outlast normal rotors by two-to-four times when tested side-by-side under identical conditions.

Further benefits include better braking performance and increased pad life due to less distortion of the contact area between the pad and the rotor. Distortion not only decreases the effective braking surface between the pad and rotor, but also results in cracking of the rotor, which many often refer to as “heat or stress cracking”. All of these problems go away once you have your rotors cryogenically treated.

The most common misconception that people have about cryogenically treating brake components is that it only benefits the racing industry. While it’s true that race teams do reap benefits from cryogenics, the general population can take advantage of the cryogenic process as well - think about how much money you’d save by doubling or quadrupling the life of your rotors.

Link explained that one of Frozen Rotors most common street applications is the Jeep Cherokee - apparently, the stock rotors are easily overwhelmed by the vehicle’s size. Frozen Rotors studies have shown a 100% improvement in brake life on most Jeep Cherokees when the vehicles have been outfitted with Frozen Rotors.

The bad news is that used rotors cannot be cryogenically treated - there’s simply too much risk that the rotor has already suffered from stress and cracking (perhaps on a micro-level). Frozen Rotors has a wide selection of new, cryogenically treated rotors - all you have to do is give them a call, and they’ll send you a set.

We finished by asking Mark a few basic questions including, “Do brake pads require or benefit from the cryogenic process?” Mark responded that cryogenically treated rotors do not require special brake pads, and that pads do not benefit from being frozen.

When asked about customers who wish supply existing rotors to Frozen Rotors, Mark indicated that Frozen Rotors can treat brand new rotors at a cost of approximately $55 per rotor (for most cars). He indicated that shipping charges are approximately $10 per rotor (each direction), and that the turn around time for treatment is approximately one week. Diversified Cryogenics can also machine your rotors for an additional charge (cross drilling, etc).

It was a true pleasure and an eye-opening experience to chat with Mark Link. Diversified Cryogenics definitely has an incredible service, and we would highly suggest that you consider having your rotors “frozen” - the service life expectancy is reason enough to have the work done, and when you factor in the increased performance, it’s a no brainer.

Call or visit Diversified Cryogenics today at 1-888-323-8456 or at http://www.frozenrotors.com. Your car, conscience, wallet and nerves will thank you - knowing that you have plenty of reliable stopping power is peace of mind that’s worth every penny.

You all know the drill - your mailbox is full of “pre-approved, no interest” credit card offers, your phone is smoking from all of the telemarketers who are eagerly telling you about their latest and greatest credit card offer, and the inbox to your e-mail program has more spam than the Hudson River has toxic waste.

More often than not, the claims are so ridiculous that you don’t even bother reading them, but every once in a while, you’ll get an offer for a credit card that actually sounds promising. Perhaps it’s a clever rewards program, or an enticing interest rate - but be forewarned, most of these special offers come with consequences.

“Read the fine print,” is often the popular tag line to most credit card ads, offers and commercials. But, there’s often so much to that fine print that consumers become confused, frustrated and eventually, complacent with the credit card company’s terms and conditions. And so begins the delicate dance that we often refer to as, “the charge card cha-cha”.

What Do Microsoft, Visa, MasterCard & Wal-Mart Have In Common?

Don’t think the credit card industry is crooked? Think they’re honestly interested in your well-being? Were you aware of the antitrust suit that exists against VISA and MasterCard, as brought on by the Department of Justice?

The DOJ introduced a case against credit card powerhouses VISA and MasterCard just a few years ago. The DOJ contends that VISA and MasterCard have knowingly and willingly created and maintained a “duopoly”, doing their best to prevent competition amongst themselves. In addition, the DOJ contends that the two have prevented thousands of banks and retailers from accepting the cards of competitors like American Express and Discover.

The DOJ further claims that efforts by Visa and MasterCard have caused the USA to fall more than 10 years behind Europe in the use of “smart cards”. Smart cards are computer chip enabled cards that store data, allowing users to make purchases and securely manage personal data in a variety of ways - all from a single card.

Attorneys from the DOJ allege that Visa and MasterCard had determined the smart cards would be too expensive to develop, and worked to stifle their development in the US market. Visa and MasterCard claim that no one in the US is interested in smart cards.

In addition to the antitrust suit that’s still pending against Visa and MasterCard, there is a second lawsuit pending from retail giant, Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart (and 18 other major retailers) claim Visa and MasterCard force them to accept debit cards. The debit cards often carry higher fees associated with processing the cards, and the retailers don’t like having to pay the higher fees. These costs, are in turn, passed on to consumers, which is why another lawsuit is in the works - this time from three individual New York residents who are claiming that it’s unfair to pass those costs on to consumers.

If it’s not yet obvious why we call all of this credit card nonsense “the charge card cha-cha,” you might want to go re-read the past few paragraphs again.

Visa & MasterCard: Looking forward to your interest.

Interest rates are how the credit card companies make their money, and according to recent figures, they’re making a lot of money…over $21 billion was earned in interest charges in the year 2000 alone.

Interest rates are often used to entice consumers into enrolling for a particular credit card - promises of “low introductory rates” that are often sub-prime (0%, 0.9%, 1.9%, 2.9%) get interest-laden credit card holders to quickly sign-up with a new card. However, those rates are often extremely temporary - some cards charge as much as 31.99% when the introductory interest schedule expires.

Consumers quickly became aware of this near-bait-and-switch routine, so credit card issuers went back to the drawing board in an effort to attract new customers (incidentally, the average cost for a credit card company to acquire a new customer is around $80 per cardholder).

The next logical step: credit card rewards! Use your card to buy everyday items, and they’ll give you something in return.

Credit card rewards programs are often more difficult to translate and comprehend than the interest rate debacle. The 30-second TV ad promises that within a few months, you and your loved ones will be vacationing at exotic locations - free of charge - just for using your VISA card. Other ads promise cash back, or rebates on big purchase items like cars; is it too good to be true? Usually.

Let’s take a look at a few of the more popular rewards programs - BMW Financial Services (BMWFS) offers rewards programs designed specifically for BMW drivers such as rebates on future loans or leases, additional mileage on lease allowances, or a variety of BMW merchandise.

General Motors offers the GM card, which promises rewards that are similar to the BMW card. Ford Motor Company, Subaru, and many other manufacturers also have programs similar to BMW and GM, but for this article, we’ll focus on BMW and GM’s programs.

Other credit card rewards programs such as the Shell MasterCard promise users free gasoline with every purchase, while other cards like the “Saturn Card” provide Saturn owners with the opportunity to finance Saturn goods and services under more favorable terms and conditions.

Let’s dive in to these cards and compare the pros and cons. Beware - we had to perform an exhaustive search, print hundreds of pages of paper and call all of the barely-legible phone numbers to get the skinny on these cards. We strongly suggest you do the same before jumping in to a credit card program. It pays to read the fine print, and it pays to do the research.

BMW VISA: Sinfully confusing and unrewarding.

BMWFS claims that by signing up for their “No Annual Fee BMW Platinum Visa Card” users will be able to easily accumulate rewards points. They further claim that there’s “no annual fee” and that with your points, you’ll be driving a new BMW for pennies on the dollar thanks to your smart shopping and charging habits.

Now for the fine print:

- Yes, the card is truly “annual fee free”, however, if you want to claim your BMW rewards points, you have to PAY an annual fee of $50 for the BMW Rewards Package.

- Yes, you do earn rewards points good toward the purchase of a new BMW vehicle, however, in order to claim the maximum $5,000 rebate, you’d need to spend $500,000 on your BMW card first. Points are earned at a rate of approximately 1% - spend $10,000 on your card, earn $100 in rebates. Not the best rate of return on an investment. $10,000 in a modest savings account would net four times the return.

- Yes, you can earn mileage credit, but in order to get an extra $1,000 worth of mileage credit, you’d need to spend $25,000 to earn the 25,000 points. For $25,000, chances are you could pay off the remaining lease monies.

- Spend $15,000 and BMWFS will give you a $100 credit toward their BMW merchandise including apparel and accessories. If you’ve ever seen “The Jerk” with Steve Martin, you’ll know that this is “a profit deal” - they “take in $15 and give away 50 cents worth of crap” (quoting Frosty from The Jerk).

- Spend $12,500 and BMWFS will send you a check for $100 worth of maintenance work. Now, you’re earning less than 1% for each dollar you spend, just like if you were to use your points to buy their merchandise (see above).

- BMWFS goes to great lengths to list 10 “benefits” of their Travel and Emergency Assistance program, but here’s where the fine print really becomes important. The services are nothing more than “concierge” services. In other words, if you thought that the bold-faced title “MEDICAL REFERRAL ASSISTANCE” would help you with your medical problems while on vacation, you guessed wrong. BMWFS will simply give you a list of medical facilities in the surrounding area.

- In fact, most of the 10 “services” could easily be obtained with a 30-second search of the yellow pages or the internet.

What about the stuff that really matters - the late fees, the service charges, and so on? Well, things don’t get much better. Here’s the skinny on what happens once the honeymoon is over and BMWFS has you in their clutches:

- Maximum reward rate: 1% of each dollar spent (1 point for every dollar). Winner: GM by 400%.

- 10.25% APR (this is a best case rate; your rate may be higher contingent upon your credit rating, history, risk, etc). Winner: GM

- Cash advances: 12.25% APR (as of 12/3/02) plus a 2.5% or $5.00 advance fee, whichever is greater. Winner: Tie - depends on the APR you receive from GM.

- Annual fee: No annual fee, UNLESS you want to use the rewards. Enrolling in the rewards program carries an annual fee of $50. Winner: GM.

- Late payment: $29, over-the-limit-fee: $29, returned payment: $29, copies of old receipts/slips: $5 each + $15 document delivery fee. Winner: Tie.

So, as you can see, the card isn’t all that it’s made out to be. Earning less than 1% in rewards for every dollar spent is not what we’d consider to be a smart financial move. And, these few pages of information only scratch the surface of what is and what isn’t covered or provided as a part of the BMWFS Visa - we printed more than 30 pages of “fine print” associated with the card and its programs. Hope you like reading legal disclaimers!

GM MASTERCARD: Satan’s slightly less-evil cousin.

GM’s program isn’t much better, but it is more forthcoming with its pros and cons. It clearly outlines the program benefits with only a few pages of information, and the rewards program is much more advantageous. Let’s take a quick look:

- 5% reward earned on every dollar spent with the GM credit card; rewards expire after 8 years. Winner: GM

- 5% reward on the first two balance transfers from another card; rewards do not accrue on cash advances. Winner: GM

- Annual Membership fee: $0, no fee to redeem awards. Winner: GM

- 9.99%, 13.49%, 15.49% (as of 4/1/03) APR, depending on your credit rating, history, risk and limit. Winner: GM, slightly.

- Cash advances: Normal APR applies, plus 3% advance fee. Winner: Tie - depends on the APR you get.

- Late payment: $29, over-the-limit-fee: $29, returned payment: $29. Winner: Tie.

GM rewards are redeemable in varying amounts; some vehicle lines are eligible for up to $3500 worth of rewards, while others are only redeemable for $1000.

THE FINAL WORD

While no one should start using their credit card with the hope of driving a free vehicle or “earning” enough rewards to buy gasoline for a number of months, the cards can be advantageous if you use them (and pay them off) on a regular basis. However, at the rate that they dole out points, we believe you’d be better off investing a few bucks here and there in a savings account or a short-term fund.

Finally, have you ever wondered where all of that spam comes from in your e-mail box? You might want to call your credit card company and request that they stop sharing your personal information with others, including:

- shopping and buying habits
- personal identifiers such as: credit history, address, phone number(s), e-mail address, occupation, and household income
- hobbies and interests (as gauged from purchases)

There’s big money in selling and renting information about you and your spending habits, and the credit card companies make certain they’re reaping the benefits of your personal data.

Not only do the financial institutions make money from your spending volume (2002 charge volume was $1.4 trillion), they also make money by sharing your personal details with anyone willing to write them a check. Big brother has nothing on the credit card companies - perhaps the popular “What’s in your wallet?” slogan should be changed to, “Who’s in your wallet?”