Looking for second smaller polisher...

[custmsprty]

can you burn through the paint even on 1 setting ?

I don't think so but if you have something your willing to sacrifice to try it out I'm game. :buffing:

It's a very powerful machine and creates a lot of torque.

I learned through trial and error with my Mini smaller pads should be used at lower speeds. I initially blew out a few LC 3 and 4 inch pads. I never liked geometry in school but I get it now. Smaller diameter spinning at same speed as larger diameter, major heat build up. Wow, detailing made me see the geometric light!!! It only took 40+ years!!!

 

[asalesagent912]

I don't think so but if you have something your willing to sacrifice to try it out I'm game. :buffing:

It's a very powerful machine and creates a lot of torque.

I learned through trial and error with my Mini smaller pads should be used at lower speeds. I initially blew out a few LC 3 and 4 inch pads. I never liked geometry in school but I get it now. Smaller diameter spinning at same speed as larger diameter, major heat build up. Wow, detailing made me see the geometric light!!! It only took 40+ years!!!

I see your point. I have a rotary polisher but dont use it anymore for that reason. i now have the flex and am comfortable using it on customer cars knowing i wont burn through the paint. When i came across a video of mike showing the pe8 it caught my attention but was thinking about it having to much power. I just liked the idea of getting into tight areas and the price as opposed to the rupes mini. I guess i may have to consider the mini

 

[Ccrew]

can you burn through the paint even on 1 setting ?

You could, with an aggressive pad/compound. It's not like the PE-14 where the minimum speed is like 600 RPM, it's more like the 3403 and like 1300rpm on #1. While it's not going to zip right through at that speed it's a small pad and it'll heat up quickly if you're not mindful. An example, Full speed on the PE14 is speed 3 on the PE8.

 

[custmsprty]

You could, with an aggressive pad/compound. It's not like the PE-14 where the minimum speed is like 600 RPM, it's more like the 3403 and like 1300rpm on #1. While it's not going to zip right through at that speed it's a small pad and it'll heat up quickly if you're not mindful. An example, Full speed on the PE14 is speed 3 on the PE8.

Great info, thanks. Melted my daughters headlight in the blink of an eye with a Rupes yellow pad LOL!!! Kudos to the durability of Rupes pads, it was brown and tossed it in the washing machine and bam it was like brand new!!!

 

[asalesagent912]

You could, with an aggressive pad/compound. It's not like the PE-14 where the minimum speed is like 600 RPM, it's more like the 3403 and like 1300rpm on #1. While it's not going to zip right through at that speed it's a small pad and it'll heat up quickly if you're not mindful. An example, Full speed on the PE14 is speed 3 on the PE8.

ok thanks for the info. i guess its not worth trying to save 100.bucks. it could cost me more to paint someones panel .lol

 

[MIsnowman]

I don't think so but if you have something your willing to sacrifice to try it out I'm game. :buffing:

It's a very powerful machine and creates a lot of torque.

I learned through trial and error with my Mini smaller pads should be used at lower speeds. I initially blew out a few LC 3 and 4 inch pads. I never liked geometry in school but I get it now. Smaller diameter spinning at same speed as larger diameter, major heat build up. Wow, detailing made me see the geometric light!!! It only took 40+ years!!!

A larger dia pad turning the same rpm is going to have a lot faster surface speed out by the edge than the smaller pad. It seems like you would want to run the smaller pads faster? Maybe the smaller pads run at a lower setting are turning roughly the same speeds as larger pads run on a higher setting because there is less friction/resistance from the smaller pads?

 

[custmsprty]

A larger dia pad turning the same rpm is going to have a lot faster surface speed out by the edge than the smaller pad. It seems like you would want to run the smaller pads faster? Maybe the smaller pads run at a lower setting are turning roughly the same speeds as larger pads run on a higher setting because there is less friction/resistance from the smaller pads?

That hasn't been my first hand experience. Smaller pad less heat dissipation? I don't know the science behind it, but I wouldn't advise it.

 

[AGOatemywallet]

That hasn't been my first hand experience. Smaller pad less heat dissipation? I don't know the science behind it, but I wouldn't advise it.

Why would a 3" pad dissipate heat less effectively than the inner 3" of a 5" pad?

The 3" would have air circulating around the exposed outer edge; where the inner 3" portion of the larger pad would not

 

[custmsprty]

Why would a 3" pad dissipate heat less effectively than the inner 3" of a 5" pad?

The 3" would have air circulating around the exposed outer edge; where the inner 3" portion of the larger pad would not

It's the contact of the pad face and the paint surface where the heat builds up which is then in total contact with each other so how would heat dissipate. Case in point, I put a white towel on the hood of the red Camaro the other day hoping to cool the hood down. Came back 45 minutes later and it was still smoking hot under the towel because the towel held the heat in.

I can only comment on first hand experience of what I have observed while using these tools. If you can get to Mike's class or get your hands on a PE8 put that bad boy on the paint or a headlight with a 3" pad and turn it up to 5-6 and keep it in the same general spot for 3-4 seconds and see what happens. Do the same thing with a Rupes Mini and see what happens.

Disclosure: I'm not responsible for the results of the test rops: