Hacks give rotarys a bad name.

[JohnKleven]

I first learned how to polish on a rotary buffer. I still use a rotary buffer 5-6 days a week. After reading through 1000`s of posts on online forums I find that people are very timid or afraid to use a rotary buffer. I know there are great alternatives such as Flex and Porter Cable which can also yield professional results. I do believe that the hacks you see in detail shops using their rotary polishing the side of a door with the edge of their wool pad with Extra Duty rubbing compound burning through paint have honestly given rotary polishers a bad name. Over many years I have hired and trained dozens of employees to use a rotary polisher properly. I think the people here on autopia want to learn proper polishing, and should have more sense than to operate a polisher like those hacks I described. If you do your research, you will see that with a little practice and direction anyone can polish with a rotary.





John

[AndyWax]

+1

I too learned on a rotary. My first solo job was on a big black suburban. I thought I did a great job. Then....... My brother wiped it down and exposed all the holograms I left behind. Sometime after that I again bit off more than I could chew and burned a few edges of another car. After that I vowed I would not touch another car, except my own, with a rotary until I could do it without causing damage and leaving behind holograms and marring. That was 7 years ago.

I can`t tell you how many times customers ask me not to use the rotary because of some hack they previously had a bed experience with.

[alloutdetailing]

I first learned how to polish on a rotary buffer. I still use a rotary buffer 5-6 days a week. After reading through 1000`s of posts on online forums I find that people are very timid or afraid to use a rotary buffer. I know there are great alternatives such as Flex and Porter Cable which can also yield professional results. I do believe that the hacks you see in detail shops using their rotary polishing the side of a door with the edge of their wool pad with Extra Duty rubbing compound burning through paint have honestly given rotary polishers a bad name. Over many years I have hired and trained dozens of employees to use a rotary polisher properly. I think the people here on autopia want to learn proper polishing, and should have more sense than to operate a polisher like those hacks I described. If you do your research, you will see that with a little practice and direction anyone can polish with a rotary.





John

Why don`t you post links or do a HOW TO on proper polishing? Would be a good Idea and might be able to give some directions.

[vtec92civic]

+3 i learned on a Rotary as well. I agree with you on the hacks giving the people who know how to use the tools properly a bad name. Hacks just run it for everyone. We all start some place and usually its on the bottom but the point is to learn and better yourself . . . . . changing the bad habits to good ones.

[Mindflux]

Why grab a tool with the ability to do damage when tools widely available do almost as good a job without as much risk? I`m not saying rotaries are always bad. I own and use one when needed. But I`ll grab a DA before hand. The mantra "start with the least agressive route" applies for hardware too and not just pads/products used.

[washburn]

This is why I want you to teach me John! See ya Monday.

[WaxManRonnie]

I practiced on junk yard hoods that I picked up. I`d turn around and sell them

for more than I paid. I did that for a few months before I had the guts to

do my first car.

[JohnKleven]

This is why I want you to teach me John! See ya Monday.

We`ll see you on Monday. Should be fun.



John

[MichaelSpoots]

I hear you. I see so many newer, large black Mercedes` luxury cruisers and black Audis around my parts that have the infamous buffer trails. Funny thing, apparently the customers think their rotary-using car care specialists are doing a great job! .



I think these rotary people should switch to DA work if they cannot do a job without the trails...

[imported_artikxscout]

I practiced on junk yard hoods that I picked up. I`d turn around and sell them

for more than I paid. I did that for a few months before I had the guts to

do my first car.

Lol that`s a pretty good idea... i wish i thought of that when i was in high school. would haved paid off my rotary too.

[XL Advantage]

Car Max used cars is horrible with black cars and buffer trails. They need to switch da`s. Go to their lot and you`ll see what I mean.

[efnfast]

I hear you. I see so many newer, large black Mercedes` luxury cruisers and black Audis around my parts that have the infamous buffer trails. Funny thing, apparently the customers think their rotary-using car care specialists are doing a great job! .



I think these rotary people should switch to DA work if they cannot do a job without the trails...

ain`t going to happen. a da takes longer than a rotary. most hacks are volume in, volume out, so there`s no way a da will fly for them.





and in the end, why would they change - 99% of customers don`t notice/care

[Junebug]

I recently did a black Honda Civic that Car Max had hacked, I used M105 and a PCXP, I spent a good 3.5 hours on it - but it looked great, and the owner was very happy. I use to have a rotary, and I don`t think I could have done it any faster, I`m pretty sure it would have been at least a 2 step process, maybe 105 then 85rd or Ultrafina.