The Rupes BIGFOOT LHR 21E is heading to the USA!!!

[imported_WhyteWizard]

From the Rupes website about the Bigfoot: "The antispinning feature prevents the high speed rotations avoiding scratches"



What does this mean in practice? Does the pad spin or not? Is the spin kept down or eliminated completely?



Robert

Does anyone have an answer to this? I can see some real advantages to not letting the pad spin, particularly if you want to use the machine - blasphemy follows - to remove polish. We could move the machine in a squeegee sort of pattern keeping the most contaminated edge moving into the polish and the least, or trailing edge just wiping up the residue. Of course, as the pad moves over the paint less and less residue will make it to the very far trailing edge.



So?



Robert

[RaskyR1]

Does anyone have an answer to this? I can see some real advantages to not letting the pad spin, particularly if you want to use the machine - blasphemy follows - to remove polish. We could move the machine in a squeegee sort of pattern keeping the most contaminated edge moving into the polish and the least, or trailing edge just wiping up the residue. Of course, as the pad moves over the paint less and less residue will make it to the very far trailing edge.



So?



Robert

The pad still spins, and it spins well, but Rupes designed it to slow it down a little, which Kevin has a fix for.

[Kevin Brown]

From the Rupes website about the Bigfoot: "The antispinning feature prevents the high speed rotations avoiding scratches" What does this mean in practice? Does the pad spin or not? Is the spin kept down or eliminated completely?



Robert

Does anyone have an answer to this? I can see some real advantages to not letting the pad spin, particularly if you want to use the machine - blasphemy follows - to remove polish. We could move the machine in a squeegee sort of pattern keeping the most contaminated edge moving into the polish and the least, or trailing edge just wiping up the residue. Of course, as the pad moves over the paint less and less residue will make it to the very far trailing edge.



So?



Robert

The pad still spins, and it spins well, but Rupes designed it to slow it down a little, which Kevin has a fix for.

[dan_s2k]

can you ship to canada ??

[autoconcierge]

Using the above mentioned modified Rupes 21mm machine right now(Well I am posting so technically Richie is using it on a Black M3) even at the slower machine speed setting the cut with D300 and a cutting microfiber disc is really quick, removing some serious defects from the finish.



Viva La KBM.....................

[Bunky]

Well, Rupes makes both a 21mm and 15mm stroke version of the machine; I would imagine the 21mm is mainly intended to be used for the cutting/compounding stage, and the 15mm (or other smaller stroke machine) for better finishing.

This is my question. From what I have read, the 21mm would not finish as well as a smaller stroke.

[Legacy]

This is my question. From what I have read, the 21mm would not finish as well as a smaller stroke.

Guess you need to get both Al.

[imported_WhyteWizard]

A 50% increase in cutting as a result of letting the pad free float seems like a lot. Is there a way to test that? Can we have two machines set up to try side by side?



Robert

[Kevin Brown]

A 50% increase in cutting as a result of letting the pad free float seems like a lot. Is there a way to test that? Can we have two machines set up to try side by side?



Robert

I should have said I saw a best guess of 50% increase in speed of cutting. Me.



Can`t vouch for anyone else or how they buff.



One thing you`ve got to know Bob... If I write it I regards to theory, methodology, or polishing results, I was diligent in verification of my opinion.



Nothing to lose or gain by the claim, give it a try if you get your hands on a machine. All you need to do is try it as built, then add the spacer, try it again. Sometimes it takes a few back & forths to notice the difference.



For me, the difference was immediately apparent.

[imported_WhyteWizard]

Kevin,



Awhile back I suggested a test of the actions of different machines. Trying to standardize for the actions and trying to keep everything else equal. Different people will of course get different results because of different skill levels and techniques. I, for example, almost never tape an edge because the way I work, the pads and backing plates I use, the way I vary speed and pressure based on the size of my contact patch makes taping no longer necessary. To someone watching it on video, it looks scary, in reality, the results speak for themselves.



The test I was suggesting goes like this.



I would put the backing plate of the machines on a scale and hold the machine in place, two fingers on the cord or back of the machine to keep it level, maybe a block of some sort to hold the non working end up. Then, add weights to the head of the machine - probably a bag filled with shot in the correct amount - to make sure all the machines had the same downforce.



Then, figure out a pad and an amount of product to use and run the machines, all flat out, for a given time taking the temperature of the panel before and after. My thinking is, the heat generated lets us know where the machines stand in terms of how much Friction/work is being generated.



This test wouldn`t show which machine was necessarily best, because in practice, different people will get different results with each and someone who`s very skilled with a random orbital might get a better result in less time than, for example, someone like me who uses two different machines and might be less skilled. I`ll be at SEMA again this year but I`m not doing demonstrations so maybe I can drop by the 3D booth with my machines and we can collaborate. I would of course expect to use 3D products.



What do you think?



By the way, you should understand, I`m very interested in the machine, it looks great, I like the simplicity of the design, and I`m always looking for better, faster and easier ways to get work done. If I didn`t think you could be helpful in that regard I wouldn`t be talking with you.



Robert

[autoconcierge]

I am working on a Phantom BlackAudi RS5 at the moment and the paint is on the hard side, and Richie and I finished cutting out the defects I talked with Kevin and he wanted feedback on how the the LHR 21 would do for the medium and finish polishing steps.



I tried Sonax Perfect finish with a Black 80 PPI pad and got terrific results, of course a softer jet Black finish like the M3 in the shop with this car will also tell more and I will post those results when I have them. I am suprised on the correction ability of this machine at it`s lowest settings (Speed 2-2.5) and it is very smooth.

[C. Charles Hahn]

I am working on a Phantom BlackAudi RS5 at the moment and the paint is on the hard side, and Richie and I finished cutting out the defects I talked with Kevin and he wanted feadback on how the the LHR 21 would do for the medium and finish polishing steps.



I tried Sonax Perfect finish with a Black 80 PPI pad and got terrific results, of course a softer jet Black finish like the M3 in the shop with this car will also tell more and I will post those results when I have them. I am suprised on the correction ability of this machine at it`s lowest settings (Speed 2-2.5) and it is very smooth.

Man, I hope customs releases KB`s shipment soon! The more I read, the more I want one in my hands.

[chrisguga]

Is this unit likely to receive a price break at some point? I do a car per month at most, usually for family or friends, and occasionally for a car show type car. It`s hard for me to justify ~$400 for a machine I`ll use so little, but I am in the market to upgrade from my Porter Cable so I can chew through defects more quickly. These daily driver cars often take 3-4 steps of compounding to get to a reasonable finish. I don`t have that kind of time.

[RaskyR1]

Is this unit likely to receive a price break at some point? I do a car per month at most, usually for family or friends, and occasionally for a car show type car. It`s hard for me to justify ~$400 for a machine I`ll use so little, but I am in the market to upgrade from my Porter Cable so I can chew through defects more quickly. These daily driver cars often take 3-4 steps of compounding to get to a reasonable finish. I don`t have that kind of time.

I`m pretty sure MSRP on the LHR21e is over $700! You can thank Kevin for bringing it to the US under $400!!! How much more of a price break do you expect???





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[chrisguga]

I just wonder if it`s worth nearly 300% more than a GG6 or maybe Dewalt or Makita Rotary.