Tried the rotary

Thomas Dekany

New member
for about 2 seconds!

I picked up a fender from a bodyshop (the only one that would fit on the back seat.)



first picture: no swirls or cobwebs. Just wiped it with Meg's Quick Detailer.



tn_116_1616.jpg




Scrubbed with Scotchguard :D - back & forth about 10x to create this



tn_116_1617.jpg




2 passes with Menzerna ip and Edge 2000 blue polishing pad.



900/1200rpm - Buffer wanted to jump out of my hands on the curvy areas at times but it wasn't too bad. Does need some getting used to.



tn_116_1621.jpg
 
try a little more product if it is jumping...if you use a PC now, I think people tend to not use enough product when making the switch to the rotary for the first few times.
 
Jumping around or not, don't you think the results are worth it?



Next up, scour some sections of your fender with rubbing compound, 1500 grit, 2000 grit, 3000 grit.



It is also very useful to deliberately explore areas like:

(1) buring paint on flat areas and high points, through speed or pressure or both

(2) using too agressive a compound for the job

(3) introduce holograms

(4) exploer differences and advantages of wool vs foam

(5) explore "rotary recommended" polishes vs DA/hand polishes with the variety of pads in your arsenal



This will quickly teach you "how much is too much". Then you can explore ways to deal with correctable mistakes.
 
Bretfraz showed me how to do the rotary a while back...definitely more work than the PC but the results can be awesome.
 
good job , keep that pad flat & work it w/ your upper torso & not your arms you can loose balance and get it to hop. Make sure theres plenty of product on the paing... & keep it looking good
 
That's what I wanted to see!



So, what would you say was the biggest differencd between the PC and the rotary?



Hope to have mine by Christmas if I'm lucky.
 
Very nice first effort!



I agree with Gonzo, intentionally use the rotary to inflict damage so you will learn the limits.
 
scottabir said:
try a little more product if it is jumping...if you use a PC now, I think people tend to not use enough product when making the switch to the rotary for the first few times.



thanks very much for the suggestion. i'll try using more and see what happens.
 
Scottabir makes a good point,

If you find the rotary jumping its because the pad is too dry and not "prep'd" enough, try adding a little more product or wet the pad with water or a qd.
 
Gonzo said:
Jumping around or not, don't you think the results are worth it?



Next up, scour some sections of your fender with rubbing compound, 1500 grit, 2000 grit, 3000 grit.



It is also very useful to deliberately explore areas like:

(1) buring paint on flat areas and high points, through speed or pressure or both

(2) using too agressive a compound for the job

(3) introduce holograms

(4) exploer differences and advantages of wool vs foam

(5) explore "rotary recommended" polishes vs DA/hand polishes with the variety of pads in your arsenal



This will quickly teach you "how much is too much". Then you can explore ways to deal with correctable mistakes.



Wonderful of you to give me pointers. I'll follow all of them.



BTW, I wasn't complaining. Even this ""polishing"" pad got rid of the swirls with ease! I can't wait to get good with it. The time it will save me will be huge!



Thanks again for your help.
 
6']['9 said:
good job , keep that pad flat & work it w/ your upper torso & not your arms you can loose balance and get it to hop. Make sure theres plenty of product on the paing... & keep it looking good



thank you thank you thank you.



I am a massage therapist so I have proper body mechanics down - At least it is a start.
 
MongooseGA said:
That's what I wanted to see!



So, what would you say was the biggest differencd between the PC and the rotary?



Hope to have mine by Christmas if I'm lucky.



that I am used to the pc and no experience with the rotary. :D



2 things - first I have to retrain myself to """keep moving""" the rotary. Second the "hopping"" although in my case it was more of a slide. The panel is pretty small, and there is not an inch of flat surface. I think that will do it.



You will get one 4 Xmas.
 
Scottwax said:
Very nice first effort!



I agree with Gonzo, intentionally use the rotary to inflict damage so you will learn the limits.



Thanks Scott! I agree with both of you about damaging the paint. I did the experiment at 2:45am and had to get up early to massage all day so I just wanted to do something with the makita quickly finally. It truly was a no effort effort to remove those swirls.
 
L33 said:
Scottabir makes a good point,

If you find the rotary jumping its because the pad is too dry and not "prep'd" enough, try adding a little more product or wet the pad with water or a qd.



It had to be the not prep'd enough the pad. I sprayed it with Meg's QD, but a look at the pad showed how there were only a few small patches of ip on the pad. Live and learn/



Thanks for your suggestion.
 
"You will get one 4 Xmas"



Do you know something I don't? Are my parents hiding something from me? :p ;)



BTW, what's the deal with polishing around edges like the end of a panel? I had always read to 'avoid those areas' but I might have misunderstood a few of those posts :nixweiss
 
MongooseGA said:
"You will get one 4 Xmas"



Do you know something I don't? Are my parents hiding something from me? :p ;)



BTW, what's the deal with polishing around edges like the end of a panel? I had always read to 'avoid those areas' but I might have misunderstood a few of those posts :nixweiss



Remember I told your parents to get you a rotary for Xmas? I am sure they liked the "idea"



Edges are "thinner" is my understanding so one has to be extra careful. Maybe someone with experience will chime in.



I'll take a picture of the panel for you to see once I have time to work with the rotary on it and finished experimanting on it. I'll burn the paint, I'll work the edges etc...



Sunday maybe the day.
 
I already told my grandfather I wanted a rotary... :o Maybe I'll ask for a Makita from Grand Dad and the DeWalt from mom and dad ;)



My dadmust be a great actor. He doesn't want to buy me a rotary because he doesn't want me to burn his paint. Then when I told him that when I bought the rotary I would also buy some panels to work on. Then he said he didn't want me cluttering up his garage with practice panels :lol This is the same guy though, who will ask what my sister and I want for lunch and it has to be cheap because he has no more money (usually throws in something about being married and having kids haha ;) ) and we end up going to a restaurant and spending $60 on a 3 course meal... :rolleyes: He's too funny...



I told him that I'd polish his whole truck (which hasn't been washed in a month. I know, because I did it) for free if he bought me the rotary. This might not seem like that great of an offer, but according to my own price list, that job would run him well over the cost of the DeWalt, and the truck is dark green, 25 feet long, and has a cap on the back :shocked
 
Oh, BTW-



Obviously burning the paint is bad, and the paint is shot, but what happens to the pad you burned the paint with? Is the pad done for, or can it just be cleaned and used again?
 
MongooseGA said:
Oh, BTW-



Obviously burning the paint is bad, and the paint is shot, but what happens to the pad you burned the paint with? Is the pad done for, or can it just be cleaned and used again?



I have no clue since I have 0 experience with burning the paint. Good question though.



Your dad IS funny. I'd bet that you will get one from someone.
 
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