Next purchase... RUPES LHR 21ES or FLEX XC3401
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cghcgjxjian
New member
Any recommendations on compound/polish/sealant combos?
Accumulator
Well-known member
JCastro1085 said:
I too have one of those, along with a Metabo rotary. Doubt that I'll ever use them again, haven't touched either in a few years.
Huh, I thought the XPs were better in that regard, but the random "shaft breakage issues" have me kinda down on them anyhow. With the Griot's, you *can* bog it down with 6-6.5" pads, but it takes some doing and in practice it just doesn't happen *for me*.
NO argument there, that's why I bought mine and why it do like it. I just think that between that and the Rupes you'd be better off with the latter.
Accumulator
Well-known member
cghcgjxjian said:Any recommendations on compound/polish/sealant combos?
M105 or M101 on Meguiar's MF Cutting Disk
HD Polish on some flat foam polishing pad
FK1000P by hand
Junebug
JAFO
You may want to wait and see what the new Rupes machines will be like and sell for. I have a DeWalt rotary - the old battle tested one not that new plastic POS, a Cyclo that I got from Todd Helme - traded my Flex, and a PC and PCXP. I wish I had tons of cash and could get one of each like George but times are tight and I have learned to work with what I have. I am a part-time detailer and 90-95% of the time I just use the PCXP with MF pads and M101-105-D300. OMG...like isn't that machine supposed to be crap?! and you can't correct with something that old and weak, uh huh, right, move along keyboard detailer. Now, I'm sure there are better, faster, and nicer machines available. But, ask yourself this, how many cars do you do that actually require full correction? If you're just starting out and have polished a few cars and you see the difference, congrats, but, Joe Public just wants a clean shiney car and some wax. I have worked my butt off on daily drivers and I'm sure I impressed their owners with my attention to detail, but, most of the time it was overkill and they just wanted - you get it....
If you do this for a living you probably don't read my posts anyway, so, weekend warriors and part timers, read on - first, listen and understand what the guy wants, is willing to pay for and then explain the pro's and con's of paint correction. I'll bet, they just want a wash and wax, and oh yeah, can you get that coffee stain out too? Now, your little detailing heart is crushed, afterall - you can polish paint, you KNOW it will look better, you KNOW if it was yours what you would do. Been there, done that, it took a while but I got over it. Now, it's just a job, it's x number of hours times x dollars = more $ for the family. I could give a rat's arse if it had swirls out the ying-yang, if the customer doesn't care, I don't either.
Now, enough doom/gloom, enter the guy that DOES know and appreciate a detail, and can tell a swirl from rids and wants (spell that - pays) for correction. Those are the ones that make it worth doing. But, don't knock the volumn work, it pays the bills!
Now that I've got that off my chest and I hope maybe it will help a few new guys avoid mistakes I made. The Rupes vs Flex, like I said, I traded my Flex and altough I haven't used the cyclo that much, it's only because I haven't found MF pads for it, and it does a decent job with Orange pads. I just didn't like the Flex, it was loud and if I'm going to use forced rotation I'll use the DeWalt, at least it's quiet and spins the right way.
If you do this for a living you probably don't read my posts anyway, so, weekend warriors and part timers, read on - first, listen and understand what the guy wants, is willing to pay for and then explain the pro's and con's of paint correction. I'll bet, they just want a wash and wax, and oh yeah, can you get that coffee stain out too? Now, your little detailing heart is crushed, afterall - you can polish paint, you KNOW it will look better, you KNOW if it was yours what you would do. Been there, done that, it took a while but I got over it. Now, it's just a job, it's x number of hours times x dollars = more $ for the family. I could give a rat's arse if it had swirls out the ying-yang, if the customer doesn't care, I don't either.
Now, enough doom/gloom, enter the guy that DOES know and appreciate a detail, and can tell a swirl from rids and wants (spell that - pays) for correction. Those are the ones that make it worth doing. But, don't knock the volumn work, it pays the bills!
Now that I've got that off my chest and I hope maybe it will help a few new guys avoid mistakes I made. The Rupes vs Flex, like I said, I traded my Flex and altough I haven't used the cyclo that much, it's only because I haven't found MF pads for it, and it does a decent job with Orange pads. I just didn't like the Flex, it was loud and if I'm going to use forced rotation I'll use the DeWalt, at least it's quiet and spins the right way.
Accumulator
Well-known member
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-time="1384263760" data-cid="1428194" data-author="JuneBug">
..[I have]...a Cyclo that I got from Todd Helme..</blockquote>That's kinda cool provenance, especially for an old-school machine like that.
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
... I wish I had tons of cash and could get one of each like [Accumulator].. but ... ask yourself this, how many cars do you do that actually require full correction?</blockquote>And, heh heh, the sorta-ironic thing is that I virtually *NEVER* do whole-vehicle corrections any more! Just a handful of spot-corrections with my 3" pneumatic, and I didn't even use that one this year. All those polishers just sit on the shelf unless I'm doing a by-machine wax application, and 99% of the time I just do that by hand as it's a lot faster overall compared to getting out/putting away the polisher/pads/cord.
..[I have]...a Cyclo that I got from Todd Helme..</blockquote>That's kinda cool provenance, especially for an old-school machine like that.
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
... I wish I had tons of cash and could get one of each like [Accumulator].. but ... ask yourself this, how many cars do you do that actually require full correction?</blockquote>And, heh heh, the sorta-ironic thing is that I virtually *NEVER* do whole-vehicle corrections any more! Just a handful of spot-corrections with my 3" pneumatic, and I didn't even use that one this year. All those polishers just sit on the shelf unless I'm doing a by-machine wax application, and 99% of the time I just do that by hand as it's a lot faster overall compared to getting out/putting away the polisher/pads/cord.
Junebug
JAFO
It's funny, I was watching crap TV (reality shows) with my 15 year old daughter, and it's that show about hoarders. I'm thinking get the animals out and then call in the F4's with napalm on the house and owner. Then, I start looking around at all the "stuff" I have - detailing-wise.
Ok, how many of us have old polishes, compounds and especially waxes that we keep for-er-vah!?
I've been on a slim down and KISS agender to limit the stuff I have to stuff I actually use. I know, you keep brand x and brand y because one worked a little better on that weird car you did 5 years ago. I guess I'm worse when it comes to waxes - got a dozen - use maybe 2-3 on any regular basis. Honestly, I have to really hate it to get rid of it, that quart of Menzerna compound was used as a target for my daughter's .22 rifle training. She nailed it center mass on the second shot!
Ok, how many of us have old polishes, compounds and especially waxes that we keep for-er-vah!?
I've been on a slim down and KISS agender to limit the stuff I have to stuff I actually use. I know, you keep brand x and brand y because one worked a little better on that weird car you did 5 years ago. I guess I'm worse when it comes to waxes - got a dozen - use maybe 2-3 on any regular basis. Honestly, I have to really hate it to get rid of it, that quart of Menzerna compound was used as a target for my daughter's .22 rifle training. She nailed it center mass on the second shot!
Accumulator
Well-known member
JuneBug- Heh heh, yeah....I like visiting with my older products now and then (a whiff of ProWax and I'm a teenager again!) so I have plenty that'll get tossed out when they settle my estate.
Nice to hear your daughter put that Menzerna to good use!
Nice to hear your daughter put that Menzerna to good use!
RarasHouseOfWax
New member
RUPES!!!!