Question for PC users that switched to Rotary?

jw · 08-22-2007, 07:33 PM

I`m still having a tough time deciding if I should make the switch to the rotary or spend some more time with the pc. Does anyone that switched to a Rotary wish they wouldn`t of, or people who switched but still prefer the PC?

Thanks

**stiffdogg06** · 08-22-2007, 07:49 PM

I`ll let you know this weekend!

I get my rotary makita Friday!:buffing:

**imported_rydawg** · 08-22-2007, 08:51 PM

A rotary can do so much more than any other machine. Once you learn how to perfect a finish with a rotary, you will very rarly use the pc.

I have played with my pc to do correction but it has limits on what it can do. I would not even be a detailer if I did not have a rotary.

**gmblack3** · 08-22-2007, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by rydawg

A rotary can do so much more than any other machine. Once you learn how to perfect a finish with a rotary, you will very rarly use the pc.

I have played with my pc to do correction but it has limits on what it can do. I would not even be a detailer if I did not have a rotary.

:werd: I hate using my PC now. Too much vibration for me to deal with. Paint correction takes long enough on hammered cars with a rotary. If for some reason I could no longer use a rotary when detailing, I would think about not detailing anymore.

**imported_rydawg** · 08-22-2007, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by gmblack3a

:werd: I hate using my PC now. Too much vibration for me to deal with. Paint correction takes long enough on hammered cars with a rotary. If for some reason I could no longer use a rotary when detailing, I would think about not detailing anymore.

haha, I agree Bryan and you definatly know what I mean as you do a lot of correction work via rotary. I have spent up to 15 hours straight on a rotary with some jobs just to get 100% perfect. I could not see getting the same finish with a pc ever. You could never gain the clarity, extreme gloss, richness, sharpness, flaw free finish with a pc or random orbital. A pc can do some good correction to soft paint that has been taken care of but it still lacks big time in all the above.

I remember when my Hitachi went on a long break cause I overheated it too much and it started to shoot flames out (looked awesome and I was proud):spot and I had to finish with my pc. I was able to get some of the correction out but was lacking in sharpness and clarity BIG TIME. I took apart my Hitachi and repaired it and I finished the car to my likings.

**JasonD** · 08-22-2007, 11:00 PM

You`ve got some great opinions from rotary lovers so far, so don`t get mad at me guys, but I`m not in the same boat.

I have all of the popular detailing machines most people use: PC 7424, Cyclo, DeWalt rotary, and a Metabo. I even have a UDM on the way, which should be here any day now.

I initially bought the DeWalt rotary, and had a lot of trouble using it, and just plain didn`t care for it. I was told that the reason I was having negative results was because I was trying to use too large of a pad, and the DeWalt was too heavy, so I bought a Metabo, and used smaller pads.....same issues. I`ve watched every video I could find with tips on how to use the rotary, and used my two rotaries on several details. I have now become fairly good with the rotary (after a LOT of trial and error), and my final decision.....I don`t like it.

I`m not in a rush, and I don`t detail vehicles with extremely bad finishes. Most of my details are on fairly new vehicles that are kept up fairly well, and the rotary is overkill for me.

Even if I plan on doing a big polishing job, I would still rather grab my PC and/or Cyclo over the rotary any day.

**RCBuddha** · 08-22-2007, 11:23 PM

The rotary is just another tool in the arsenal for me. I love my PC and my Cyclo, but I keep the rotary around for those times when you need the speed and power. I found the rotary MUCH easier to use with 6" and smaller pads.

**jshillin** · 08-23-2007, 05:36 AM

Just made the switch about 6 weeks ago and haven`t looked back. My hitachi cuts cut polishing time practically in half...

**imported_Jakerooni** · 08-23-2007, 07:44 AM

Yea I don`t think I`ve ever seen a comment on here of anyone switching to a rotary that didn`t think it was by far the best move they`ve ever made. Rotary`s are not hard to use at all. Make the job much more effective and quicker. To me it`s called using the right tool for the right job. the PC can do it but at so much more effort and time why?

**imported_smprince1** · 08-23-2007, 08:53 AM

I find the rotary is much better for deep correction in both terms of effectiveness and speed. On some finishes, I still need to use a PC to make the paint hologram free, but working finishing polishes with a PC is fine.

**kapinnn** · 08-23-2007, 09:09 AM

+1 on the rotary. I`ve been using it for a few months but what a difference! I would have picked one up much sooner if I knew how easy it is to use. If you are having trouble with flat pads skipping you might want to change to Edge Wave or LC CCS pads, they skip a bit less. That`s the only issue I had with the rotary.

I only use my PC for LSPs and carpet cleaning.

**steck** · 08-23-2007, 09:55 AM

i have to agree with another poster here...the PC now feels like a loud, vibrating, cranky thing now after using a quiet super smooth hitachi rotary !

**doc-rice** · 09-24-2007, 11:45 PM

A question from a new PC user: in general, how much time is saved by using a rotary vs. a PC? I`ve detailed the equivalent of 3 vehicles (quite a lengthy process when you`re talking about hard clear and paint that`s never been cared for) and today I started thinking that my time is pretty important to me. If I`m going to be doing a few friends` cars, it might be worth it to just spend $200 on a rotary, practice a bit on some junkyard pieces, and save some time in the long run. If I can save even 2 or 3 days worth or work, I think it might be worth it.

**tod071** · 09-25-2007, 12:35 AM

Learning how to use the rotary only adds to your experience in detailing. I don`t think anyone replaces a PC/UDM with a rotary. Its an addition to the PC/UDM and cuts the time to correct drastically. It has cut my time in correcting some pretty bad jobs. I think learning the rotary will only make you better and faster at paint correction.

**Junebug** · 09-25-2007, 11:15 AM

I`ve got a PC and a Makita. Unless I need to do some serious corrections, I`ll use the PC with an yellow - orange pad. The polishes I use finish down LSP ready and I apply a wax with the blue pad and I`m done. If I use the rotary for the same process, I find that it`s not as easy, I have to watch for trim and moldings, the actual time spent per panal is about the same and I can man-handle the PC in more places. Please note, that the cars I detail are daily drivers and beaters, the customers are not taking it to the car show and they and I are more concerned with keeping the clear coat as thick as possible. To them, a few stray scratches that you only see if you tilt you head under the lights at the gas station - well, they ain`t a big deal.