I think I'm going Rotary(Burn Question)

jw · 05-22-08, 10:58

After going back and forth for awhile I think I'm going to buy the Makita instead of buying smaller pads for the pc. Most of you suggested that I just go rotary. The only thing I'm really nervouse about is Burning the paint. Exactly how easy is it to burn the paint? I mean do you have to be holding in the same place fore ever or what?

Thanks

bwalker25 · 05-22-08, 11:08

I too would like to know this as I plan on saving up for a rotary!

BigJimZ28 · 05-22-08, 11:11

facts: if you always watch what you are doing and are take your time
you will be fine

F.Y.I. everybody who uses a rotary sooner or later WILL BURN THE PAINT
(I don't want to scare you but it will happen)

Legacy99 · 05-22-08, 11:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by jw

After going back and forth for awhile I think I'm going to buy the Makita instead of buying smaller pads for the pc. Most of you suggested that I just go rotary. The only thing I'm really nervouse about is Burning the paint. Exactly how easy is it to burn the paint? I mean do you have to be holding in the same place fore ever or what?

Thanks

Get a junk panel and practice, practice, practice.

toyotaguy · 05-22-08, 11:13

move faster than with the PC
tape off edges/trim
use a less aggressive pad/product combo compared to PC - orange and SIP = WHITE and SIP with rotary

SuperBee364 · 05-22-08, 11:14

It's easier to burn paint with a foam pad than a wool. Foam runs much hotter than wool. There are also parts of the car that you have to be *extra* careful on. Any painted plastic pieces have a much lower tolerance for heat, and are easily melted by the heat of a foam pad. To make matters worse, there's usually no warning. You'll be buffing, then all of a sudden notice that you just melted the plastic. If it's possible, get a plastic bumper off of an old junker, and purposely burn it with a foam pad. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to do it. Painted metal surfaces are much more tolerant. There are a few videos on youtube that show people pursposely burning through paint. But every car is different; what would burn one car might not another.

While you are learning the rotary, I would suggest using 1k rpm as your max, and always keep the pad moving on the paint. As long as you do those two things, you should be pretty safe from burning/melting anything.

joyriiide1113 · 05-22-08, 11:32

I've been rotory polishing for 3 years. I've burned paint 2 times. Both of the times happened at my 2 year mark. It'll ahppen, just be preppared, be careful, and definately tape off trim.

drew.haynes · 05-22-08, 11:34

Those of you who HAVE burned paint.. A - Was it a paying customer's car and how did they react? B - What did you do wrong that led to the damage?

Don't want to hijack but I figure I'm not the only one interested.

BigJimZ28 · 05-22-08, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by drew.haynes

Those of you who HAVE burned paint.. A - Was it a paying customer's car and how did they react? B - What did you do wrong that led to the damage?

Don't want to hijack but I figure I'm not the only one interested.

I am not a pro so it was one of my cars

I was day dreaming and hit some un-taped trim

2002 Z06 · 05-22-08, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJimZ28

facts: if you always watch what you are doing and are take your time
you will be fine

F.Y.I. everybody who uses a rotary sooner or later WILL BURN THE PAINT
(I don't want to scare you but it will happen)

Couldn't agree more.

07e90 · 05-22-08, 01:55

I think Superbees advice about wool is spot on, only time I've burnt paint was using a wool cutting pad, either the orange or yellow I don't remember. I didn't realize that part of the trunk I was doing was plastic and although I had no problem with the metal parts the plastic heated up without warning and burned the paint instantly. It was the result of getting too aggressive, my suggestion to keep in mind is knowing when to stop, accidents always seem to happen when we try and hit a spot one more time. If I have learned anything it's that you can't always safely make everything look perfect. Also always tape off trim and be very careful, I slightly burned the hard rubber trim on a beater I was practicing on. Although I did find a way to restore it, it took some work.

themightytimmah · 05-22-08, 02:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJimZ28

I am not a pro so it was one of my cars

I was day dreaming and hit some un-taped trim

It's always day dreaming lol... I've never burned a customer car but I have done it on jobs for friends once or twice because I got sloppy.

It usually happens when it's 95+ degrees out and the heat takes the focus out of me.