Todd@RUPES
11-01-2015, 08:29 PM
Some cars simply deserve to be perfect. The legendary Ferrari Daytona checks that box. What better to improve the appearance of the already stunning Italian supercar than to use the latest in Italian technology: The RUPES LHR 21 Mark II BigFoot Random Orbital Polisher.
The Ferrari Daytona is the muscle car of the fabled Italian brand’s line up. Testosterone fueled lines, a massive V12 upfront, and loads of tire twisting torque make this one of the most desirable cars of all time; and arguably one of the most beautiful.
Manufactured less than 2 hours away from Ferrari’s hometown of Modena, Italy, RUPES SpA has been making world-class tools for the better part of 7 decades outside of Milan. In fact, the first RUPES tools hit the market the same year Ferrari built their first road going car: 1947.
The Mark II versions of the RUPES LHR 21 and LHR 15 feature 30% more power and efficiency (closer to 40% but who wants to brag), improved electronic controls, more RPM, and a more rugged body. In addition, when teamed up with the careful RUPES BigFoot pads and compounds, these tools deliver legendary Italian performance that leaves other tools and countries scratching their heads.
The first order of business was to clean the Ferrari Daytona and prep it’s surface for polishing. It was carefully washed using a prototype RUPES soap and dried using waffle weave micro fiber towels. Compressed air made quick work of any lingering water. Cyclo’s classic twin-headed orbital polisher with Nanoskin pads removed any embedded contaminants from the paint. While the random orbital design of the BigFoot polisher greatly reduce the chance of damaging trim, it was taped none-the-less using 3M Green Tape.
http://i.imgur.com/xaezBHb.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/F1GJIUW.jpg
This classic Ferrari had seen better days. Using the calibrated inspection RUPES’ pen light highlighted the paint defects. Sadly, this car deserved much better.
http://i.imgur.com/PUlJq8b.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ilkXQgD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GZ8cSsk.jpg
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/1AgvYLy.jpg
RUPES offers a wide variety of pad and compound options to tackle a number of defects. Given the frequency and depth of these of defects, I elected to use the Mark II tool to its fullest potential by teaming it up with blue micro fiber cutting pad and Zephir compound.
RUPES micro fiber pads are slotted to aid in surface cooling and help balance the weight of the pad to the counterbalance of the tool. As you can see in the photo below, no matter which angle you mount the pads, you will always interface the cooling holes in the backing plate.
http://i.imgur.com/EjSh2Qr.jpg
To prime the pad, simply draw a thin coating of product over the face of the pad.
http://i.imgur.com/W9oJwy1.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/wxXbxEw.jpg
Use RUPES’ micro fiber pads on speed 3-4 for maximum effect. Work over the section 3-4 times using slow arm speed.
http://i.imgur.com/mgisicj.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Khas2pj.jpg
Optional: Although not officially recommended by RUPES, you can add a mist of water to the surface and continue to polish in order to increase the cutting power significantly.
http://i.imgur.com/8TGefAb.jpg
Spraying the surface with water will amp the cutting power significantly, but allow increase the amount of haze on the surface. However, the trade off was clearly worth it as the I was able to remove 100% of the defects in just 1-step!
http://i.imgur.com/VEvFfEw.jpg
Microfiber pads work best when they are cleaned of built-up residue. Use compressed air to blow out debris frequently. When the pad no longer blows completely clean, switch to a fresh micro fiber pad.
http://i.imgur.com/V1CLlJb.jpg
For polishing the detail areas, the RUPES LHR 75E “Mini” was used with a 100mm blue micro fiber pad and Zephir compound. Again speed for was used for about 3-4 section passes.
http://i.imgur.com/Tsevezw.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GUQC30B.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/TgKRRSS.jpg
After the initial compounding step was carried out, I switched to RUPES UHS Easy Gloss Compound and the UHS Foam Pad to refine the haze. Note: This haze likely wouldn’t have been present if I hadn’t used the water to amp the cutting power.
Start with 6 drops of product on the outer third of the pad and run for 30 seconds using firm pressure. Afterwards, use only 2 drops of UHS to reload the pad and run at speed 4-6 using light pressure for maximum effect.
http://i.imgur.com/HF9PPqs.jpg
The improvement in gloss was significant; The Ferrari Daytona began to look as good as it should.
http://i.imgur.com/FOmWImq.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dAQknw4.jpg
For the detail work, I decided to go with pneumatic LHR 75 BigFoot. The massive 15mm orbit and 11,000RPM make this not only one of the most powerful tools in the BigFoot line up, but one of the most powerful tools period.
http://i.imgur.com/DDhEg7s.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/myuoNhy.jpg
The improvement in gloss was MASSIVE. I was happy!
http://i.imgur.com/SPhmb9p.jpg
To be honest, I could have easily stopped here. I wanted to take the Daytona to it’s absolute potential so I elected to do a final polishing step using RUPES BigFoot Diamond White Compound and the white foam pad.
There is no real need to prime this pad, instead use three-pea sized drops and run at speed 4 for 3-4 section passes.
http://i.imgur.com/VxJU1qk.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/m7rLKay.jpg
For the detail areas I switched back to the electric LHR 75E “Mini”. Again using Speed 4 (all RUPES BigFoot tools are calibrated to deliver consistence performance relative to polishing area size). Working 3-4 section passes ensured complete breakdown (and easy removal) of the Diamond Ultrafine Polish.
http://i.imgur.com/OUWzvW3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3QKnXNi.jpg
After wiping off the polish I was greeted with a stunning finish. I decided to use BLACKFIRE’s amazing BlackICE montan wax (A wax I helped to design as the Director of Development for BLACKFIRE in a previous life).
http://i.imgur.com/rRNastB.jpg
Finally I wiped down the engine of the Daytona using a prototype RUPES detail spray and cleaned the leather of the interior using RUPES Leather Fast Cleaner.
http://i.imgur.com/vYqehsX.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1mo3Iun.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/cIHdnoD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/s264ysa.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/M4ftiDF.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/x7gubIF.jpg
Finally, all trim was replaced onto the now-stunning paint.
http://i.imgur.com/MysfMUS.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/PoxxHkt.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/IRMRqGf.jpg
While rainy weather prevented any sun shots, the Daytona was now perfect. Some shots using the RUPES’ penlight.
http://i.imgur.com/uiwyxqw.jpg
The Ferrari Daytona is the muscle car of the fabled Italian brand’s line up. Testosterone fueled lines, a massive V12 upfront, and loads of tire twisting torque make this one of the most desirable cars of all time; and arguably one of the most beautiful.
Manufactured less than 2 hours away from Ferrari’s hometown of Modena, Italy, RUPES SpA has been making world-class tools for the better part of 7 decades outside of Milan. In fact, the first RUPES tools hit the market the same year Ferrari built their first road going car: 1947.
The Mark II versions of the RUPES LHR 21 and LHR 15 feature 30% more power and efficiency (closer to 40% but who wants to brag), improved electronic controls, more RPM, and a more rugged body. In addition, when teamed up with the careful RUPES BigFoot pads and compounds, these tools deliver legendary Italian performance that leaves other tools and countries scratching their heads.
The first order of business was to clean the Ferrari Daytona and prep it’s surface for polishing. It was carefully washed using a prototype RUPES soap and dried using waffle weave micro fiber towels. Compressed air made quick work of any lingering water. Cyclo’s classic twin-headed orbital polisher with Nanoskin pads removed any embedded contaminants from the paint. While the random orbital design of the BigFoot polisher greatly reduce the chance of damaging trim, it was taped none-the-less using 3M Green Tape.
http://i.imgur.com/xaezBHb.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/F1GJIUW.jpg
This classic Ferrari had seen better days. Using the calibrated inspection RUPES’ pen light highlighted the paint defects. Sadly, this car deserved much better.
http://i.imgur.com/PUlJq8b.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ilkXQgD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GZ8cSsk.jpg
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/1AgvYLy.jpg
RUPES offers a wide variety of pad and compound options to tackle a number of defects. Given the frequency and depth of these of defects, I elected to use the Mark II tool to its fullest potential by teaming it up with blue micro fiber cutting pad and Zephir compound.
RUPES micro fiber pads are slotted to aid in surface cooling and help balance the weight of the pad to the counterbalance of the tool. As you can see in the photo below, no matter which angle you mount the pads, you will always interface the cooling holes in the backing plate.
http://i.imgur.com/EjSh2Qr.jpg
To prime the pad, simply draw a thin coating of product over the face of the pad.
http://i.imgur.com/W9oJwy1.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/wxXbxEw.jpg
Use RUPES’ micro fiber pads on speed 3-4 for maximum effect. Work over the section 3-4 times using slow arm speed.
http://i.imgur.com/mgisicj.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Khas2pj.jpg
Optional: Although not officially recommended by RUPES, you can add a mist of water to the surface and continue to polish in order to increase the cutting power significantly.
http://i.imgur.com/8TGefAb.jpg
Spraying the surface with water will amp the cutting power significantly, but allow increase the amount of haze on the surface. However, the trade off was clearly worth it as the I was able to remove 100% of the defects in just 1-step!
http://i.imgur.com/VEvFfEw.jpg
Microfiber pads work best when they are cleaned of built-up residue. Use compressed air to blow out debris frequently. When the pad no longer blows completely clean, switch to a fresh micro fiber pad.
http://i.imgur.com/V1CLlJb.jpg
For polishing the detail areas, the RUPES LHR 75E “Mini” was used with a 100mm blue micro fiber pad and Zephir compound. Again speed for was used for about 3-4 section passes.
http://i.imgur.com/Tsevezw.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GUQC30B.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/TgKRRSS.jpg
After the initial compounding step was carried out, I switched to RUPES UHS Easy Gloss Compound and the UHS Foam Pad to refine the haze. Note: This haze likely wouldn’t have been present if I hadn’t used the water to amp the cutting power.
Start with 6 drops of product on the outer third of the pad and run for 30 seconds using firm pressure. Afterwards, use only 2 drops of UHS to reload the pad and run at speed 4-6 using light pressure for maximum effect.
http://i.imgur.com/HF9PPqs.jpg
The improvement in gloss was significant; The Ferrari Daytona began to look as good as it should.
http://i.imgur.com/FOmWImq.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dAQknw4.jpg
For the detail work, I decided to go with pneumatic LHR 75 BigFoot. The massive 15mm orbit and 11,000RPM make this not only one of the most powerful tools in the BigFoot line up, but one of the most powerful tools period.
http://i.imgur.com/DDhEg7s.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/myuoNhy.jpg
The improvement in gloss was MASSIVE. I was happy!
http://i.imgur.com/SPhmb9p.jpg
To be honest, I could have easily stopped here. I wanted to take the Daytona to it’s absolute potential so I elected to do a final polishing step using RUPES BigFoot Diamond White Compound and the white foam pad.
There is no real need to prime this pad, instead use three-pea sized drops and run at speed 4 for 3-4 section passes.
http://i.imgur.com/VxJU1qk.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/m7rLKay.jpg
For the detail areas I switched back to the electric LHR 75E “Mini”. Again using Speed 4 (all RUPES BigFoot tools are calibrated to deliver consistence performance relative to polishing area size). Working 3-4 section passes ensured complete breakdown (and easy removal) of the Diamond Ultrafine Polish.
http://i.imgur.com/OUWzvW3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3QKnXNi.jpg
After wiping off the polish I was greeted with a stunning finish. I decided to use BLACKFIRE’s amazing BlackICE montan wax (A wax I helped to design as the Director of Development for BLACKFIRE in a previous life).
http://i.imgur.com/rRNastB.jpg
Finally I wiped down the engine of the Daytona using a prototype RUPES detail spray and cleaned the leather of the interior using RUPES Leather Fast Cleaner.
http://i.imgur.com/vYqehsX.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1mo3Iun.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/cIHdnoD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/s264ysa.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/M4ftiDF.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/x7gubIF.jpg
Finally, all trim was replaced onto the now-stunning paint.
http://i.imgur.com/MysfMUS.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/PoxxHkt.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/IRMRqGf.jpg
While rainy weather prevented any sun shots, the Daytona was now perfect. Some shots using the RUPES’ penlight.
http://i.imgur.com/uiwyxqw.jpg