Rotary RPM

[HenrikP]

whats the recommended range for opperating a rotary at (RPM) for different buff jobs (water spots, scratches, overspray etc.)?

[RogueM3]

Originally Posted by HenrikP

whats the recommended range for opperating a rotary at (RPM) for different buff jobs (water spots, scratches, overspray etc.)?

Anywhere from 1000-1600 seems to be the safe operating range. Alot of products also list the optimal RPM at which they should be used.

[lawrencea]

We always used 1400 to 1800 rpm.

[awahl63]

I usually stay around 1400 but go up to 1700 occasionaly

[Way2SSlow]

Originally Posted by awahl63

I usually stay around 1400 but go up to 1700 occasionaly

That's my answer as well.

[HenrikP]

when would 1500 or below not be enough or at what occasions do you guys use 1800 for instance?

[Anthony Orosco]

Paint correction - (etching, sanding marks, halo scratches) Foam cutting/wool pads and an rpm of nothing higher than 1800

Swirl correction - (Fine grit sanding marks, light marring, swirls from compounding) Foam polishing/lambswool pads and rpm between 1200 and 1500 (This step will most likely leave you with swirls also but they should be fine swirls and the next step should eliminate them).

Final polishing - Fine foam pads and an rpm of 1000

Product plays a big role here also. One can't expect a swirl free finish using a fine pad with an abrasive cutting agent. So a fine pad needs to be used with a fine product to get swirl free or close to swirl free results.

Anthony

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by Anthony Orosco

Product plays a big role here also...

So true, even with regard to the speed you use.

Note that 1Z polishes are used at much lower rotary speeds than is normal, around 800rpms. The abrasives break down too fast at higher speeds so you work the product at a low speed and then bump it up if you want to do some final burnishing after the abrasives have broken down. It seems weird to run it so slowly, but Ultra/Extra does some serious correction at the low speed.

[MachB5]

Today I did VW/Audi Paint. I ran at 1700 with a Yellow LC pad and OHC, then switched pads to WHite LC and PO106FF. I started 106FF at 1700 with some pressure at worked it down to 1100 with no pressure and very slow. My Hitachi has its dial within close reach of my operating thumb so it makes it easy to dial down or up on the fly. And I can usually tell what RPM I am at by sound. Came out with very clean paint.