Which Rotary to buy

J

jdlierle

New member
After using a PC for over 6 months :hairpull , and still seeing swirls, after hour after hour of work, I think I am going to try to go the rotary route to get better results.



Which of these 3 would you recommend for a part time Mobile detailing business possibly full time in the next year (2 cars a week)



1. Dewalt DW849 for $159 (no backing plate)



2. Makita 9227CX3 $163 (backing plate)



3. Hitachi SP18VA $99 (backing plate)



(Prices are from Coastal Tools)





How long do you think the average person takes to become efficient on a rotary to actually do customer cars? I plan to get a spare body panel to practice on (and burn the paint to know my limits). My neighbor has also offered their 93 red celica to practice on too.



I have optimum polish, optimum hyper compound, Megs 83 and 80, Propel pads (all of them) and Megs white and yellow pads. Probably should get the burgundy pad from Megs too. I believe they are the 6.5 size.



Can anyone make any suggestions for pads (sizes) and/or products I will need.



PS I have the Megs video, but nothing beats hands on experience. I live in Thousand Oaks, CA and does anyone know a good school or someone I could learn from for a day or two in the field in the So CAL area?



Thanks for any assistance



Doug



So Cal Shine Shop
 
all i have is the makita listed above and love it, it was hard to get used to it if youve never used one but if i can give you a tip it would be to declare your dominant steering hand if you will, as i had trouble trying to direct it with both arms, it will want to take off on you for sure, i use the trigger finger as my lead. its like part of my hand now. there are also many things you need to figure out compared to the likes of a pc as well, for starters i start at the top left of the hood by the windshield and work my way down, it sort of pulls the swirl marks from the buffer and compound down, this way i can minimize them the entire time, with a pc you dont have to worry about such actions, good luck and let us know which one you decided on going with.
 
3. Hitachi SP18VA $99 (backing plate)



(Prices are from Coastal Tools)





I live 5 min from there so I was lucky and handled all of them and that is the one I bought..





PS get the Edge 2000 pads.
 
I would put my vote in for the Hitachi as I got mine from coastaltool.com about 3 weeks ago. I've used it on 2 cars already. With me, however; I got the Pc and the rotary at the same time so I learned both at once. I didn't want to get to a "brick wall" and then have to order the rotary later. I used a makita once on a test hood and i couldn't tell you if there was a difference. Don't be afraid of the hitachi---it comes with a 5 year warranty. In fact, when I went to lowe's to buy my pc7336, i noticed they carry a whole line of hitachi tools which made me more comfortable about their reliability (even though they didn't carry the rotary).
 
Thanks for the tips and advice.



I heard the Excel Propel pads were good on both a rotary and PC, and and they have a pretty good selection of abrasiveness in their pads to choose from. Has anyone tried the Excel pads on a rotary.



I leaning strongly towards the Hitachi because it is lighter, both in weight and in the wallet. Sounds like a good first rotary, and the 5 year warranty is not bad, ( but what good does it do if the machine is in for repair when you need to do a car). But hopefully, if get more jobs I can get a 2nd PC and rotary, right after I get a commercial carpet extractor and a better (commercial) steamer. But from what I have read on hear, it sounds like a good machine, and I like where the handle is.



Any more tips would be greatly appreciated. This forum has been so beneficial in me in starting a small business. Thanks to everyone who contributes to this forum.



Since I am right handed, I am assuming that would be my trigger hand? Or am I *** backwards on this?



Hopefully in a about a 2 weeks time, I will have some experience a rotary and of course more questions. I'll probably run on down to Meguiars Weds. Night class and see if Mr. Phillips can give me some tips when they have a class.



Thanks again to everyone at autopia who share their knowledge and experience.



Doug
 
jdlierle said:
I heard the Excel Propel pads were good on both a rotary and PC, and and they have a pretty good selection of abrasiveness in their pads to choose from. Has anyone tried the Excel pads on a rotary.
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*raises hand* I have/use Propel Pads with the Hitachi. While both P1 and P2 pads work equally well, I like the P2's because they have a flatter top, which makes them better for attaching to a backing plate. Not that the P1's won't fit, but I had to buy a smaller backing plate to fit in the recess of the P1 pads. Patrick now is stocking "Erasure" pads, which I have yet to try, but I'm pretty sure they will work as well as the Propels.



I leaning strongly towards the Hitachi because it is lighter, both in weight and in the wallet. Sounds like a good first rotary, and the 5 year warranty is not bad, ( but what good does it do if the machine is in for repair when you need to do a car). But hopefully, if get more jobs I can get a 2nd PC and rotary, right after I get a commercial carpet extractor and a better (commercial) steamer. But from what I have read on hear, it sounds like a good machine, and I like where the handle is.
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The Hitachi is a really nice machine. I bought one on the recommendation of another forum member, and compared to my Harbor Freight rotary, the Hitachi much easier to use, and seems to remove defects much better. I also have a Makita, and Hitachi feels slightly lighter (to me). I think you can't go wrong with either.



Any more tips would be greatly appreciated. This forum has been so beneficial in me in starting a small business. Thanks to everyone who contributes to this forum.
Click to expand...



Patience, Practice and Concentration. I am still learning to control the rotary, especially on vertical panels. I have been only using the rotary on "beater" cars to practice on, so I would recommend finding a vehicle (or getting junk panels) where you can practice on without fear of paying for a repaint. Sling is another problem that occurs, so taping up windows and trim becomes a necessity, and blue painter's tape+newspapers make the job easier to do.



Product selection also is important, I am finding that certain products work better than others via rotary, while some products work better via PC.



Since I am right handed, I am assuming that would be my trigger hand? Or am I *** backwards on this?
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Yup, left hand on the handle, right hand on the trigger.



Hopefully in a about a 2 weeks time, I will have some experience a rotary and of course more questions. I'll probably run on down to Meguiars Weds. Night class and see if Mr. Phillips can give me some tips when they have a class.
Click to expand...



Cool, if I can make it down to the next class, come and find me, and I'll let you try out the Hitachi and the Makita.
 
I use a Dewalt 849, but I picked up a Hitachi 3 months ago and tried it out yesterday.



The Hitachi is lighter and quieter.. the only thing that gave me trouble was the trigger lock, but thats due to my big fingers.



The dewalt, well what can i say? Its a Dewalt.. tough as nails
 
RCBuddha said:
The Hitachi is a really nice machine. I bought one on the recommendation of another forum member, and compared to my Harbor Freight rotary, the Hitachi much easier to use, and seems to remove defects much better. I also have a Makita, and Hitachi feels slightly lighter (to me). I think you can't go wrong with either.
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Is your HF rotary the model that has electronic speed control with RPM readout?

I'm not surprised that the Hitachi would be of significantly higher quality, but I'm very surprised that it would remove defects much better.

If both machines are spinning a pad around at the speed you tell it to, how could one cause defects to be removed much better than the other?

If you have the other HF model whose RPM varies with load, then it would make sense to me that it would be hard to get as consistent with your work and reap inferior results.
 
ahains said:
Is your HF rotary the model that has electronic speed control with RPM readout?

I'm not surprised that the Hitachi would be of significantly higher quality, but I'm very surprised that it would remove defects much better.

If both machines are spinning a pad around at the speed you tell it to, how could one cause defects to be removed much better than the other?

If you have the other HF model whose RPM varies with load, then it would make sense to me that it would be hard to get as consistent with your work and reap inferior results.
Click to expand...



I have the other one, without the electronic speed control. There are no markings on the HF to designate what speed its running at; and the Hitachi just "feels" better. The HF isn't bad for the money, but you can feel the difference between a Makita or Hitachi vs. the HF. JME...YMMV....
 
I put in an order this morning for the Hitachi Rotary from Coastal Tools this morning. In about a week or so I should be able to start playing with it as I live on the West Coast. I went with it because it was the lightest, and I have medium to small hands so the trigger should be no problem for me. And at $100, it doesn't rob the bank when you consider how much it can make you. (Either does the Makita or DeWalt).



Do most people tape up the car (Window, trim, lights) when they use a rotary, I never ever did with a PC, but I know that is a completey different beast.



RCBuddha, I will probably try to get to the next open house on Wednesday night at Megs. I've been to a few Saturday Detail classes and they were so informative. It is a bit of a drive from TO, but it is so worth it.



I own the P2 Excel Propel Pads, what backing plate would you guys recommend to get for the rotary.



When I use Meg pads on a PC I use their pad, I think a 5" pad, and when I use the P2 pads they work better with a 5.5" backing plate.



Does anyone use a paint gauge, and which one, they look pricey?



Dang, I think I got to use the PC on a couple of details this weekend :(
 
Good choice on the Hitachi. I have a B&D rotary(same as 849) and the Hitachi. The weight savings pays off towards the end of the detail in a nice way.:) Having used both the Makita and the Hitachi, I'd like to take them both apart and look at the internals. They seem awfully similar.
 
jdlierle said:
Do most people tape up the car (Window, trim, lights) when they use a rotary, I never ever did with a PC, but I know that is a completey different beast.
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With a PC/Cyclo, your less likely to get the amount of sling a rotary can produce. Just take the time to tape up, you'll thank me later... ;)



Of course, if your technique becomes as good as Spoiledman's, you don't need tape ;) :grinno: :chuckle: :nana: :p



RCBuddha, I will probably try to get to the next open house on Wednesday night at Megs. I've been to a few Saturday Detail classes and they were so informative. It is a bit of a drive from TO, but it is so worth it.
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No problem, if you see my name on the sign-up, I'll be there.



I own the P2 Excel Propel Pads, what backing plate would you guys recommend to get for the rotary.When I use Meg pads on a PC I use their pad, I think a 5" pad, and when I use the P2 pads they work better with a 5.5" backing plate.
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*I* like the 6" backing plate I got from Autogeek, especially for the P2 pads. I also have a a 4 3/4" (I use with P1 and Meguiars pads) as well as a 3 3/4" (for the 4" Propel pads); they are both from Autogeek as well.
 
Count me in for another vote on the Hitachi! Granted my only other rotary was a Chicago Electric (Harbor Freight) but that being said, I find the Hitachi a joy to work with. Quiet,powerful and with a 5year warranty!!



For practice you might check with a local tow/junk yard and ask them if they will part with a hood or door panel for free. If not free, cheap. If not cheap, maybe offer a free wash or something.



I also second everyone who says go with the 6.5 inch pads. When I was first learing the rotary I had no idea what to buy/use so I let a vendor talk me into the 8 and 9 inch pads and sling city! The 6.5 are easier to maintain control with IMO.



Lastly, I think you asked about taping off? I do and don't. I will tape off things like rubber trim and the sprayers for the windshield washers, but for the window and wipers I just lay out a bic beach towel, or a bunch of the blue medical supply towels.



Hope something I offer is help to you
 
do you guys have the Metabo PE12-175



ive started out the rotary using this, and its awesome.. also the lightest rotary at 2.2kg
 
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