Is the BigFoot 21 Deluxe Kit worth it?

[fotomatt1]

I'm seriously leaning towards the Rupes BigFoot 21 for my next DA, but I'm curious if the Deluxe Kit is worth buying? I know it's huge savings over buying everything retail, but is it worth buying for Rupes entire "system" or should I just get the machine, some Megs microfiber pads and stick with the Prima products I've been using. If any of you have purchased the kit, please let me know your feedback? I'll probably wait for the next no-exclusions sale to purchase, but I want to be ready to buy when it pops up! Thanks in advance.

 

[Velocitybts]

This is purely my opinion: I will say I have the Flex 3401.
I just purchased the Rupes 3" and have been reading up on it.

1. I would suggest the 15 not the 21 and here is why---- the 21 is the large one, so unless you are only doing large flat panels then the 15 will serve you much better. The 15 will let you run 5.5-6" pads. Run the RUPES pads only. Or the Megs MF ones (i think I read that on here and they work great). The smaller the pad, the more you can work it in tighter spaces and the doors and curvatures will be easier.

2. they both have the same motor, so no power loss or size diff, the throw is not quite as high, but a lot higher than the 9 of the Flex.

3. Read up on the threads for which speeds to use. They said not to use over a 3-4 on the 3" or it will start tearing the expensive pads. So less is more in some cases. Technique is everything.

4. Package--- the RUPES system is really good, also are others, look at the chart for paint hardness for cars and see what others are using for your car, might be a good start. Mens FG400 followed by Mens SF4000 or the Rupes is what I use. Both are stellar, however look at the prices, and see if its a value to you for what you want. If not, then just get what you need. 3-4 cutting pads for one car if not switching 1 pad per 2 panels. Keep them clean is the key. Same for the Polishing pads too. Blue Rupes and the yellow is what you likely need most of. White is good for waxing.

5. Enjoy, you will likely love it.

Hope this helps, I am sure others will chime in.

 

[Mastercraft241]

Stick with the rupes system if you detail as a hobbyist. Much more enjoyable IMO.

 

[fotomatt1]

Stick with the rupes system if you detail as a hobbyist. Much more enjoyable IMO.

How so? And 15 or 21?

 

[fotomatt1]

This is purely my opinion: I will say I have the Flex 3401.

I just purchased the Rupes 3" and have been reading up on it.



1. I would suggest the 15 not the 21 and here is why---- the 21 is the large one, so unless you are only doing large flat panels then the 15 will serve you much better. The 15 will let you run 5.5-6" pads. Run the RUPES pads only. Or the Megs MF ones (i think I read that on here and they work great). The smaller the pad, the more you can work it in tighter spaces and the doors and curvatures will be easier.



2. they both have the same motor, so no power loss or size diff, the throw is not quite as high, but a lot higher than the 9 of the Flex.



3. Read up on the threads for which speeds to use. They said not to use over a 3-4 on the 3" or it will start tearing the expensive pads. So less is more in some cases. Technique is everything.



4. Package--- the RUPES system is really good, also are others, look at the chart for paint hardness for cars and see what others are using for your car, might be a good start. Mens FG400 followed by Mens SF4000 or the Rupes is what I use. Both are stellar, however look at the prices, and see if its a value to you for what you want. If not, then just get what you need. 3-4 cutting pads for one car if not switching 1 pad per 2 panels. Keep them clean is the key. Same for the Polishing pads too. Blue Rupes and the yellow is what you likely need most of. White is good for waxing.



5. Enjoy, you will likely love it.



Hope this helps, I am sure others will chime in.

I looked at the paint hardness chart and MINI has no entries. :-(

 

[swanicyouth]

If your detailing your own car and friends only - IMHO it's not worth it.

But, not because of the accessories - but because of the machine. Compounding or heavy correction of your own car should be once in a lifetime thing per car. You should get the 15 instead...its a lot less $$$, the pads cost less - and your not likely to see a huge difference between the 15 & 21

The 21s stock BP is too big for the casual user & changing to the smaller BP adds another $50 to the price of the already costlier machine.

I like the Rupes finer polishes - but the more aggressive they get - the more they dust.

The Rupes 15 or 21 is not a good idea if its going to be your only DA.

 

[expdetailing]

fotomatt,
I'm guessing you already have a pc, gg, or meg's da. You can convert that to your curved body lines/ tight areas/ & window polisher by aqcuiring smaller backing plates if you go with a rupes. If your set on a rupes, get the 21 if you have the other da to use w/ smaller backing plates.
If you don't have another da, get the flex and be prepaired to swap backing plates in and out per car till you can get another machine.
What I just wrote does not address your question asked. I just thought I would give you my line of thinking, since everyone kind of stirred the pot on the whole rupe 15 vs 21.
I bought rupes pads and polishes but have not used them. Lake Country just came out with their own version. It's basically a copycat. I hear others have had success using menzerna polishes, and someone wrote he was using someone elses pads. If I recall, I think he used buff n shine.
By the way, if you get the 15 and after a while know you could have gotten the 21, well, then you could buy a 21. I vote, just buy the 21 now, and get the whole package. It's all color coded. They took the thinking out of it for us.

 

[fotomatt1]

fotomatt,
I'm guessing you already have a pc, gg, or meg's da. You can convert that to your curved body lines/ tight areas/ & window polisher by aqcuiring smaller backing plates if you go with a rupes. If your set on a rupes, get the 21 if you have the other da to use w/ smaller backing plates.
If you don't have another da, get the flex and be prepaired to swap backing plates in and out per car till you can get another machine.
What I just wrote does not address your question asked. I just thought I would give you my line of thinking, since everyone kind of stirred the pot on the whole rupe 15 vs 21.
I bought rupes pads and polishes but have not used them. Lake Country just came out with their own version. It's basically a copycat. I hear others have had success using menzerna polishes, and someone wrote he was using someone elses pads. If I recall, I think he used buff n shine.
By the way, if you get the 15 and after a while know you could have gotten the 21, well, then you could buy a 21. I vote, just buy the 21 now, and get the whole package. It's all color coded. They took the thinking out of it for us.

Thanks! This is what Kevin Brown at buff daddy suggested. I have an original PC7424 (not an XP). He said I should put a 3" pad on that for curves and tight areas, and go for the 21. He also thinks the 21 works great with a 5" backing plate. This sound like the right thing to do?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I'd go with the Bigfoot 21, get the 5" backing plate so you can use 6" pads and stick with the Rupes "System" of pads and products.

I find I can tackle just about any paint using the blue cutting pads with the Zephir Gloss Compound and then follow that with either the yellow pads and matching polish or the white pads and matching polish.

The Rupes Blue Cutting pads and matching compound can work miracles. Clean up afterwards is just a matter of paint hardness and thus which pad and product it will take to create perfection.

This custom paint job was tackled using only Rupes polishers, pads and products...


Rupes Polishers - Extreme Makeover - 1965 Chevy Streetrod

Duetto 21
What I asked Marco for when I was at Rupes in Italy, I politely asked Marco to build me a one-off Rupes polisher.

I asked for the guts of a Rupes Bigfoot 21 inside the body of the Duetto. To me this would be the perfect Rupes polisher. He laughed... but he didn't say "no". So I'm still waiting....

 

[Impressions]

keep dreamin buddy!

 

[fotomatt1]

I'd go with the Bigfoot 21, get the 5" backing plate so you can use 6" pads and stick with the Rupes "System" of pads and products.

I find I can tackle just about any paint using the blue cutting pads with the Zephir Gloss Compound and then follow that with either the yellow pads and matching polish or the white pads and matching polish.

The Rupes Blue Cutting pads and matching compound can work miracles. Clean up afterwards is just a matter of paint hardness and thus which pad and product it will take to create perfection.

This custom paint job was tackled using only Rupes polishers, pads and products...


Rupes Polishers - Extreme Makeover - 1965 Chevy Streetrod

Duetto 21
What I asked Marco for when I was at Rupes in Italy, I politely asked Marco to build me a one-off Rupes polisher.

I asked for the guts of a Rupes Bigfoot 21 inside the body of the Duetto. To me this would be the perfect Rupes polisher. He laughed... but he didn't say "no". So I'm still waiting....

Mike,

Do you have any advice for MINI paint? Is it basically the same as BMW paint as far as hardness, etc? There were no entries for MINI on the Paint Hardness Chart. Do you think the Rupes system will work ok for it? Some have suggested Megs MF pads on the Rupes machine with Menzerna products.

Thanks,
M

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Mike,

Do you have any advice for MINI paint? Is it basically the same as BMW paint as far as hardness, etc? There were no entries for MINI on the Paint Hardness Chart. Do you think the Rupes system will work ok for it? Some have suggested Megs MF pads on the Rupes machine with Menzerna products.

Thanks,
M

I've never used a chart.... I do a test spot and go from the results and experience.

I'm not a big use of MF pads but that's just me... I either use foam on a dual action polisher or jump to wool on a PE14 and just get the chopping over with...

I don't believe Mini Cooper's are known for having hard paint and quite frankly, it would be the least of my worries.

 

[Velocitybts]

Mike is the most knowledgeable so run with what he says. I was referencing the hardness chart, due to the combinations people mentioned that worked for them on that specific vehicle. The Rupes Zephyr with the blue pad would work just fine for you. The yellow pads with diamond. Diamond is my fav, just use Menzerna FG400 for my compound. Test spots are what you should do anyway, but being that you are trying to just by what you need, I would say stick with the Rupes products, starting with the Blue pass then going to yellow. ALL the people mentioned different sizes, just remember Mike said 21 but get the 5 inch backing plate which is extra so you can run 6" pads. Essentially the 15 with option of the larger pads also. Not a bad idea. I run 5-6 inch pads for all but trim and bumpers for me, so the 15 is what I would go with, but if you have the extra, go with the 21 and buy the extra 5" plate. Best of both worlds. JUST remember, changing out pads is the key, always use and keep a clean pad and you will get the best results.

 

[fotomatt1]

Mike is the most knowledgeable so run with what he says. I was referencing the hardness chart, due to the combinations people mentioned that worked for them on that specific vehicle. The Rupes Zephyr with the blue pad would work just fine for you. The yellow pads with diamond. Diamond is my fav, just use Menzerna FG400 for my compound. Test spots are what you should do anyway, but being that you are trying to just by what you need, I would say stick with the Rupes products, starting with the Blue pass then going to yellow. ALL the people mentioned different sizes, just remember Mike said 21 but get the 5 inch backing plate which is extra so you can run 6" pads. Essentially the 15 with option of the larger pads also. Not a bad idea. I run 5-6 inch pads for all but trim and bumpers for me, so the 15 is what I would go with, but if you have the extra, go with the 21 and buy the extra 5" plate. Best of both worlds. JUST remember, changing out pads is the key, always use and keep a clean pad and you will get the best results.

Don't you think the blue pad is too aggressive for a pretty new car?

 

[af90]

Don't you think the blue pad is too aggressive for a pretty new car?

The condition of the paint determines aggressiveness, far too many new cars have quite a bit of defects in the paint.

 

[expdetailing]

My car is a 2012 dodge minivan. Meg's ultimate Compound and an orange Cobra pad really didn't do much to the swirls. I stepped it up to a grittier compound and a mf pad on a pc, and it worked wonders. I don't think a blue pad is too aggressive. I'm guessing you have some major swirls/cob webbs. No?

 

[fotomatt1]

My car is a 2012 dodge minivan. Meg's ultimate Compound and an orange Cobra pad really didn't do much to the swirls. I stepped it up to a grittier compound and a mf pad on a pc, and it worked wonders. I don't think a blue pad is too aggressive. I'm guessing you have some major swirls/cob webbs. No?

Actually I just have some minor swirls and that's it. My MINI only has about 4000 miles on it....not a daily driver and it's garage kept. I detailed it by hand the week I got it with clay bar, Pinnacle Paint Cleansing lotion and Prima Epic sealant. I just want to step up my game a bit before I put it away for the winter. I also have a brand new Subaru Outback on order and I want to detail it as soon as I get it home since that will live outside.

I'm just torn between the 15 and the 21 and the kit or not. I also plan on putting a 3" backing plate on my PC7424.

Is the blue Rupes pad safe on clear coat?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Is the blue Rupes pad safe on clear coat?

Every time I teach a Rupes class one of the first things I do is take a clean, blue foam cutting pad and pass it around the class and ask everyone to fell how coarse and sharp the blue foam feels.

The overwhelming word uttered by those standing there is....


Wow!



Here's my article on this, some topics just deserve their own article....


Mind Blowing - Rupes Blue Foam Cutting Pad and Zephir Gloss Coarse Gel Compound


Something that was absolutely mind blowing at SEMA was demonstrating the Rupes Duetto with the Rupes COARSE blue foam cutting pad on a BLACK demonstration panel.

The paint was flawless and looked like we just removed a show car wax.

Did this over and over and over and over again for 4 day in a row, thousands of eyeballs watching under incredibly bright lights.

Here's a picture or the Rupes Duetto with their coarse, blue foam cutting pad and our black demo panel.

Anyone watching we would first have them FEEL a clean, blue Rupes foam cutting pad.

They would always say,

WOW!



Because it feels so aggressive and scratchy. Then do the demo, wipe off the residue and voilà --> almost a show car finish.


Can I get a witness? We had plenty of forum members stop by the booth and watch the demo.


Here's a closer look at these pads....

Here's' the deal, after using the Rupes system now for over two years, (since AG broght the Rupes line into the AG store), I pretty much always start with the blue paint and the Zephir Gloss Compound.

Why?

Because after detailing cars for 30+ years I like doing this kind of work but I also like to get in and get the job done. I know a lot of detailing personalities like to showcase how many steps they can do, like 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 steps...

Me?

If I can do the job and get great results in 3 steps that's what I'm doing. It's called working smarter not harder.

So I cut with the blue pad and the compound and then do the polishing with either the yellow pad or white pad and corresponding polish, whatever it takes to maximize gloss and clarity, and the go to wax.

KISS = Keep it Simple Simon


Another reason I use the blue foam cutting pad is because out of all the pads it tends to rotate best. Just use all the pads for a hald dozen cars or so and you can figure this out on your own too or take my word.

RUPES COMPLETE PAINT POLISHING SYSTEM

RUPES offers a complete polishing system to go with their polishers including 4 different liquid with color matching caps to go with forum different foam buffing pads offering different levels of aggressiveness or non-aggressiveness.

From the most to the least aggressive...

Zephir Gloss - Coarse Compound - Blue Lid & Blue Foam Pad
Zephir Gloss is engineered to be used with the aggressive blue foam cutting pad to remove deeper below surface paint defects while polishing out to a hologram-free finish. Zephir Gloss is aggressive enough to remove down to P1500 sanding marks.

Quarz Gloss - Medium Cut Polish - Green Lid & Green Foam Pad
Quarz Gloss is engineered to be used with the medium aggressive green foam polishing pad to remove medium depth below surface paint defects while polishing out to a clear, high gloss finish. Quarz Gloss is aggressive enough to remove down to P2500 sanding marks.

Keramik Gloss - Fine Cut Polish - Yellow Lid & Yellow Foam Pad
Keramik Gloss is engineered to be used with the soft yellow foam finishing pad to remove fine or shallow below surface paint defects while polishing out to an LSP-ready, flawless show room new finish.

Diamond - Ultra Fine Cut Polish - White Lid & White Foam Pad
Diamond is engineered to be used with the ultra soft foam finishing pad to remove maximize gloss, clarity, depth and shine. Diamond Ultra Fine Cut Polish is an optional step for anyone looking to create a true show car finish.

On Autogeek.net

Rupes LHR21ES Random Orbit Polisher

Rupes Zephir Gloss Coarse Gel Compound 500 ml.

Rupes Quarz Gloss Medium Gel Compound 500 ml.

Rupes Keramik Gloss Fine Gel Polish 500 ml.

Rupes Diamond Ultra Fine Gel Polish 500 ml.

RUPES Color Matched 7" Foam Buffing Pads

All RUPES Polishers, Pads and Polishes

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

For anyone readng this into the future...

One of the very cool things about our detailing classes her at Autogeek is you get to buff out really cool cars using all the tools you read about in the blogoshere...

This gives you plenty of hands-on time with each tool so you can know which tool you like the best and works for your style of detailing.

We hold our classes three times a year, same time each year...

Last weekend of January
First weekend in May
Last weekend in September


The classes always fill up so when you decide to attend don't wait till the last minute to get signed up....


Autogeek's Detailing Boot Camp Classes


And you just never know who will be in your class... at one of my classes I had the Engineer behind the Rupes Bigfoot polishers here himself!

VIP Guest Marco D'Inca from Rupes at Autogeek's Detailing Boot Camp Class


Here' s Marco D'Inca head of engineering for Rupes, he and his colleague Andreas and myself standing in front of the 1940 Chevy Sedan we also buffed out in the class when going over the Flex Power Tools.

At my class coming up in a few weeks, Bob Eichelberg, the President from Flex Tools North America will be my special VIP guest and the TV crew from My Classic Car will be here filming the class for a TV episode.


Fun stuff....


:dblthumb2:

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I asked for the guts of a Rupes Bigfoot 21 inside the body of the Duetto. To me this would be the perfect Rupes polisher. He laughed... but he didn't say "no". So I'm still waiting....

Now THAT would be awesome!