What is vibration and why does it matter?

[EXPDetailing]

C`mon guys, consider the overall picture. Todd does not need to be picked on for what he said, rather the focus should go to Griots for copying Rupes` design.
I`ll write what Todd and everyone at Rupes would like to write about the topic of Griots copying Rupes` design, but can`t for PR reasons.
Even if Griots` new copied polishers are just as smooth as the Rupes, they do not deserve any props, for any reason, because they copied Rupes` design. It`s quite embarassing, if you ask me, that Griots downright copied the Rupes and that they appear near identical from the outside.
If you stand by the claim that Griots did not copy the Rupes, then why do they look so similar? It`s because Rupes` design was copied. Improvements here or there, or a bigger motor, or reason this or that--take a hike. Griots` new polishers were copied from Rupes whether you like it or not. This realy just shows that Griots can`t really make a stellar polisher on their own.
If I were from Rupes, I would be quite irritated that Griots did what it did, however, they do say that imitation is the biggest form of flatery, or something like that.

[Todd@RUPES]

I know I`m new around here but I just don`t get one thing.

Why does everybody around these forums expect every single manufacturer to back up every claim with hard evidence available to the consumer? Nobody seems to care that nobody else in any other industry does not do this.

Ford says they`re better than Chevy, do they give you proof? No. Coca-Cola says they`re better than Pepsi, do they give you proof? No. Does Samsung give you proof they`re better than LG? No.

It`s a given that any company is going to say their company and their products are better than similar products. Whether it`s marketing or fact is entirely irrelevant. It is the duty of the consumer to evaluate the options and formulate their own opinions. Marketing is to influence that and whether or not they disclose proof is part of their marketing choice.

On top of that, I`m pretty sure that Griot`s and other companies would not be too fond of a Rupes sponsored test and the data would be disputed anyway because Rupes paid for it. I`ve seen it a dozen times here already. People want proof, they`re given proof, and then it`s not good enough because it came from the OP.

Todd works for Rupes. It`s good to see employee pride in their products. Pride is a direct reflection of the company culture and, to me, makes me more confident in their products and services.

Anyway, if I offended anyone I apologize. This post was not intended to offend or insult anyone. I just really don`t get all the hostilities. Before anyone asks, no, I don`t own a Rupes. I`d like to one day but I don`t now so I have no experience for the basis of any judgement.

Keep doing what you`re doing, Todd. I actually appreciated the info and one day I`ll have to look more into the internals of all these polishers.

You didn`t offend me . In fact, thank you for the support. The intended point of my thread was to explain the important of vibration free running to large diameter orbital polishers and the amount of research RUPES has done to create the system. I certainly had no intention of being polarizing, speaking a debate, or failing to make my point. Unfortunately, as Chad pointed out, I did open the door for comparisons by making one indirectly myself.

I appreciate that the typical detailing customer is far more hardcore and far more educated than the masses that drink Coca-Cola, which is why I wanted to make an informative post about RUPES. That said, the vibration I am talking about, can easily be replicated by running our machine in free air off the the paint. When used with the proper BigFoot foam pads, the machine should exhibit near vibration free running to do the dynamic balance of the components.

When you operate a tool against the paint, particularly with a foam pad, the foam will absorb some of the vibration (it acts as a shock absorber). While these vibrations may be shielded from our hands (which is a good thing, since some medical research indicates that certain frequency vibration may lead to carpel tunnel syndrome and other side effects -how`s that for carefully written ), the unbalance that is placing stress on the machine still remains.

[EXPDetailing]

I forgot to add it took Griots 2 years to put out a copy. They couldn`t produce an original design in 2 years?

[XxBoostinxX]

I`m not 100% sure what 6+7" means?

The microfiber pads are available in 3 different sizes:

The 170mm pads with a 150mm mounting face for the LHR 21ES.
The 150mm pads with a 125mm mounting ace for the LHR 15ES/Duetto
The 100mm pads with a 80mm mounting face for the LHR 75E Mini and LHR 75 air driven polisher.

The one with the straight cut is the 170mm, the one with the beveled cut is the 150mm. There is a slight difference between the actually polishing face of the 170mm and 150mm pads, it isn`t 20mm. I believe both measure close to 150mm (about 6 inches), and the name difference is just to clarify the models.

In addition to the difference in mounting faces, both pads weigh different. The 170`s are a closer match to the 21`s counterbalance and the 150`s are a closer match to the 15`s counterbalance. However, neither is perfect and if you hold the machines is free air (off the paint) you will feel a slight buzz with the microfiber that you will not feel with the foam pads. If you plan on using the microfibers a lot we do have a different backing plate that will optimize the weight and dynamic balance should you desire.

Does this help?

I did notice a slight difference in vibration on my mini from going from a microfiber Rupes pad to a coarse Rupes pad a few moments ago. The coarse pad was a good bit smoother and a million times smoother than a Meguiar`s microfiber disc. I think my hands are still ringing from the Megs disc lol. Will the backing plate you mentioned for the microfiber pads be available on Autopia at some point?

Also saw the new Rupes Marine line coming out. I have some boats lined up in the near future. Hopefully that will available to us as well.

[Todd@RUPES]

I did notice a slight difference in vibration on my mini from going from a microfiber Rupes pad to a coarse Rupes pad a few moments ago. The coarse pad was a good bit smoother and a million times smoother than a Meguiar`s microfiber disc. I think my hands are still ringing from the Megs disc lol. Will the backing plate you mentioned for the microfiber pads be available on Autopia at some point?

Also saw the new Rupes Marine line coming out. I have some boats lined up in the near future. Hopefully that will available to us as well.

I`m honestly not 100% sure if or when the microfiber backing plate will be available at Autopia. I`m sure if you called Ray and begged him

One of the reasons we slotted the microfiber pads was to get the free air vibration closer to spec, so they don`t vibrate terribly, but certainly more than the near perfectly smooth foam pads. The second reason is that if you compare the curve of each slot to the venting holes in the backing plate you should find that no matter what angle you mount the microfiber it should be vented. They are also a 1-piece molded design instead of being glued together (these are actually made in a similar fashion to our backing plates).

The long orbital movement combined with the friction of microfiber can certainly get things a little toasty.

[ShawnF350]

I would like to see someone (or Rupes engineers) do a video of a glass on a table. Polish close to the glass with the Rupes Pads and compare another mfr pad to see how the water moves in the glass.
Maybe you could even show how the other polisher compares.

[Thomas Dekany]

I have also tested a newer polisher that I feel is equally as smooth - if Rupes is going to make such claims as above they should probably show actual test data to back it up.

Can you show actual data that backs what you are claiming?

It isn`t clear to me why you would come to this thread and question what Todd said in a forum that is sponsored by RUPES and the topic IS about RUPES.

[Swanicyouth]

Ok, so here you go.

I made this crappy video a few months ago with like 1 second of forethought with my iPhone. Basically, I was trying to show how close you can get to trim with the Rupes with 1 hand without it bumping all over the place.

Yes, the video sucks I know. But, you get the picture.

Rupes 15 - YouTube

[GearHead_1]

That`s pretty close.

[RDKC]

Ok, so here you go.

I made this crappy video a few months ago with like 1 second of forethought with my iPhone. Basically, I was trying to show how close you can get to trim with the Rupes with 1 hand without it bumping all over the place.

Yes, the video sucks I know. But, you get the picture.

Rupes 15 - YouTube

Pretty impressive if you ask me.

EDIT: How close, not the video. lol

[Angus]

Ok, so here you go.

I made this crappy video a few months ago with like 1 second of forethought with my iPhone. Basically, I was trying to show how close you can get to trim with the Rupes with 1 hand without it bumping all over the place.

Yes, the video sucks I know. But, you get the picture.

Rupes 15 - YouTube

Wow, that`s totally impressive. Makes me wonder how close I could get one handing my Flex 4301?

[XxBoostinxX]

Wow, that`s totally impressive. Makes me wonder how close I could get one handing my Flex 4301?

There was a video on YouTube a while back of a guy doing two free handed motions with a Rupes. One was one handed like Swanicyouth`s and the other was what he called the "yo-yo". He let the polisher go out onto a roof by the cord and pulled it back. It was pretty impressive.

I have tried the one handed method with the 21es and it did fine, but with 3401 and it didn`t go so smoothly. The 3401 just tries to jump all over the place.

[XxBoostinxX]

I`m honestly not 100% sure if or when the microfiber backing plate will be available at Autopia. I`m sure if you called Ray and begged him

One of the reasons we slotted the microfiber pads was to get the free air vibration closer to spec, so they don`t vibrate terribly, but certainly more than the near perfectly smooth foam pads. The second reason is that if you compare the curve of each slot to the venting holes in the backing plate you should find that no matter what angle you mount the microfiber it should be vented. They are also a 1-piece molded design instead of being glued together (these are actually made in a similar fashion to our backing plates).

The long orbital movement combined with the friction of microfiber can certainly get things a little toasty.

Paging Mr. Vega.... Mr. Vega!

[ShawnF350]

Todd , do you feel that altering the shroud or adding a washer throws off the balance of the machine for faster rotation?

[RaysWay]

Paging Mr. Vega.... Mr. Vega!

I`m on it.