Don't write off the rotary

KenSilver · 12-22-04, 11:08

I thought my Porter-Cable was the ultimate cleaning machine when I purchased it a couple of years back.

My Ryobi rotary had stayed in its case before that because I was nervous about using it. According to many posts on various forums many problems could be caused... vast experience was needed... the risk of burning/swirling/hologramming/marking was huge.

I didn’t think I would have the skill or experience to use it anywhere, so the idiot-proof PC seemed the better answer...until recently.

Now I've done several cars with the rotary, and it's an absolute essential tool to be used along with the PC.

My daughter and son-in-law bought an old Nissan Terrano 4x4 a couple of days ago for fishing and generally getting out in the rough. The 1990 vehicle had been used for just that by the previous owner, and was badly scratched on the sides by branches and wild pigs (OK, maybe not the pigs). My daughter asked me to detail it since she knew I it would be a challenge from my immaculate Mercedes. Since it was in good condition underneath, even with the lack of polish and oxidation, so I took it on.

The PC did well over the areas that were not damaged, but made no difference to the scratched areas. But once I put the rotary over those areas - what a difference! It was like magic. I used a low speed - about 1500rpm, with a wool pad and Meguiar's DACP, and in a few passes under the machine's own weight the scratches completely disappeared!

None of the problems I thought would happen, ever did. It didn’t burn, scratch or wear the paint or cause more problems. I just kept the rotary constantly moving and worked the DACP almost dry, and the results were perfect. Didn't even need the PC over that again...the shine was perfect.

Not all the deep scratches came out. Some small ones that I could feel with a fingertip or nail were pretty permanent. But I got a 98% success rate, and my family were gobsmacked with the results.

My ongoing lesson - to use the rotary more than I used to, on areas that need it. Certainly beats working for ages on an area with the PC with no results. I'll be using the rotary much more now with this encouraging experience behind me.

Ken Silver
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1999 Mercedes SLK, 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas). Finish detailing, then start all over again...

General Lee · 12-23-04, 12:43

Got any more pics? What a superb job!

Tackle the Interior, and hit up the engine compartment and this would be a fine candidate for the Extreme Detail Contest.

cheapshot · 12-23-04, 03:37

KenSilver, Very Nice Job! One question, why did you choose to use wool over foam pad?

Carl Anderson · 12-23-04, 03:46

Ken,
I now have 2 weeks experience with my Makita 9227 which I purchased for myself as a holiday gift. My experience is similar to yours. With the 6" foam pads, the rotary is very user friendly. And I was able to elimate most of the paint defects on my John Deer lawn mower that were resistant to treatment with my PC.

mtodde · 12-23-04, 04:25

Wow Ken...it looks like the vehicle was repainted! Very nice & wet.

NavindraLR · 12-23-04, 04:35

wow.. nice transformation... im surprised you didnt have to follow the dacp/wool pad combo with a lighter polish.. i would have expected light swirling from the wool, or micro marring

nice job none the less

salty · 12-23-04, 05:35

Nice work. Sounds like your getting the hang of the rotary. You hit it right on the head when you said " It certainly beats working for ages with the PC". Sometimes this is the problem though. The rotary makes such fast work of swirls and scratches that it is easy to go overboard. This usually happens on corners and edges and on molding and trim. Tape areas off and you look and fell like a pro.

If you used any filling products i would think you might have some swirls coming back. Wool and DACP might be a little too aggressive for a swirl free finish.

KenSilver · 12-23-04, 11:35

Quote:

Originally posted by General Lee

Got any more pics? What a superb job!

Thanks! Here's a few more.

Ken Silver
--------------
1999 Mercedes SLK, 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas). Finish detailing, then start all over again...

Here's the lefthand half of the hood completed:

The hood and front fender finished, with DACP ready to be wiped off the door:

G35stilez · 12-23-04, 11:45

That's some amazing work right there!

I use the rotary religously. It makes quick work of pretty much anything with the correct polish, pad, speed, pressure, and procedure used. But all of those elements can be finicky if you go to crazy in one area. It takes a bit to master, or get close to, but once you do, you pretty much will NOT turn back.

BTW: Nissan Terrano...funny, we call it the 'Pathfinder' in the states

KenSilver · 12-23-04, 11:49

Quote:

Originally posted by cheapshot
KenSilver, Very Nice Job! One question, why did you choose to use wool over foam pad?

Thanks! The main reason was that I was not being able to get or fit a foam pad on the rotary. It's actually a grinder with a rubber pad. To fit a foam pad I would have to glue velcro on etc, which was too much fuss at the time.

Also wool is more aggressive, and seemed to be more suitable for tough work. I doubt I'd use it on any of my better vehicles unless absolutely necessary.

Ken Silver
--------------
1999 Mercedes SLK, 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas). Finish detailing, then start all over again...

KenSilver · 12-23-04, 11:57

Quote:

Originally posted by NavindraLR
wow.. nice transformation... im surprised you didnt have to follow the dacp/wool pad combo with a lighter polish.. i would have expected light swirling from the wool, or micro marring nice job none the less

I was surprised too. I went over the area with my headmounted x10 magnifiers (very geeky with built-in lights!) and couldn't see any problems. It was a smooth fill.

Ken Silver
--------------
1999 Mercedes SLK, 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas). Finish detailing, then start all over again...

KenSilver · 12-23-04, 12:05

Quote:

Originally posted by GSRstilez
That's some amazing work right there!
I use the rotary religously...It takes a bit to master...

Thanks! Your comment about mastery might be right, but it was certainly the sort of thing that scared me off in the past. So many people made the rotary seem like a whirling dervish that had to be tamed over months of zen-like training.

Maybe my couple of years with the PC helped, but I didn't have any problems with the rotary right up. I just made sure it was alway moving, didn't run dry, and kept away from sharp corners and worn paint areas.

It turned out to be remarkably docile. Maybe 1500rpm makes the difference... any faster and and I could see we could be in trouble... a bit like Steve Martin in "the Jerk" where he runs off the hood of a car after starting the rotary up.