Dumb for first polisher?

Rob T said:
If you are confident that detailing is something that you will continue to do long term (I think you are since you've been a member since 2009), I would definitely recommend going with a high quality polisher like the Flex or Rupes. No need to buy something twice. Plus, even if you decide that you aren't going to keep detailing or you decide you can't justify the price, you would have zero problem selling either of those polishers on the used market without losing much money.

Neither is inherently more difficult to use than the Griot's polisher. So no, it's not dumb to start with something as nice as the Rupes.
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^^^^What Rob T said, it's spot on.
 
Marina said:
And if I already made the hasty choice of getting rupes 21 mark II as my first machine, which would be a better companion machine: rupes mini, ibrid nano, or the griot's 3 inch?
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This is pretty much my combo
G21
Mini
Nano
I don't own a standard throw D/A
Unless you count my recently purchased 3401

I'd get the mini prior to the Nano
 
Any more opinions on mini vs ibrid? I want to be able to do every detail of the car (front bumper, etc). What would be sacrificed in performance if I chose griot's over mini?
 
Marina said:
Any more opinions on mini vs ibrid? I want to be able to do every detail of the car (front bumper, etc). What would be sacrificed in performance if I chose griot's over mini?
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I would guess speed of correction and comfort as groits vibrates like he'll and rupes is smooth as silk .
 
The ibird definitely. The size of the mini will prevent you from getting in some of the real tight areas. I have a PE 8. Great machine, but like the mini there are a lot of places you can't get to because of the size of the machine. I going to be selling my PE 8 and getting the ibird or the little Griot's pneumatic 3 inch polisher since I've got a compressor.
 
Was leaning towards the ibird as well, but after problems with the just received Bigfoot Mark II, not so sure anymore... looking for another option. Something working off the compressor is a possibility, have one sitting in the garage too :).
 
Marina said:
Was leaning towards the ibird as well, but after problems with the just received Bigfoot Mark II, not so sure anymore... looking for another option. Something working off the compressor is a possibility, have one sitting in the garage too :).
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What's the problems with your new mk2?
 
"So, I just got a Rupes 21 Mark II. I used it for 5 minutes with a nanoskin fine clay pad, turned it off for a couple minutes to add more lubrication to a spot, and when I tried to use it again it wouldn't turn on.

Next day it turns on again, but I'm not sure if it's working properly. With the polisher in the air, I turn it on, and it sounds as though it initially accelerates to a higher speed than it levels off at, and then it continues to work at that slightly lower speed. So, it accelerates but then slows down a bit and stays there. This happens at all speeds (1-6). Is this normal, and how it should start, and I just haven't payed enough attention the very first time I turned it on to hear it slowing down? "

From the Rupes Problems Thread. Also, it did not look new out of the box.
 
Marina said:
"So, I just got a Rupes 21 Mark II. I used it for 5 minutes with a nanoskin fine clay pad, turned it off for a couple minutes to add more lubrication to a spot, and when I tried to use it again it wouldn't turn on.

Next day it turns on again, but I'm not sure if it's working properly. With the polisher in the air, I turn it on, and it sounds as though it initially accelerates to a higher speed than it levels off at, and then it continues to work at that slightly lower speed. So, it accelerates but then slows down a bit and stays there. This happens at all speeds (1-6). Is this normal, and how it should start, and I just haven't payed enough attention the very first time I turned it on to hear it slowing down? "

From the Rupes Problems Thread. Also, it did not look new out of the box.
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I would call rupes or email Dylan directly . I know they are soft start . Maybe what's happening is the speed is over shooting due to it having no load ,and settling on the correct speed ?
 
I believe the reduced power when free-spinning is normal, mine does it too. It is designed that way to prevent it from exceeding the max safe rpm since it has no load on it when held in the air. As for it not turning on after using it a few minutes, that doesn't sound normal. Did you buy it from AG?
 
Yes, got it from AutoGeek.com. I sent Dylan a pm a couple of days ago, but haven't received a response so far. Will call autogeek or rupes customer service today.

It's just that the practice car for my first detailing attempt is a daily driver and is not garage kept. Thus, I don't want to spend a bunch of time washing and prepping it for compounding only to have the Rupes stop working on me AGAIN.

I did a lot of reading prior to the purchase, and felt as though I was buying this EXCELLENT tool, and scoffed at my husband's suggestion of just getting a cheap machine from harbor freight tools. Now it feels as though Rupes is just overhyped((.

If before I was all set on getting the ibird as my second polisher, now I'm starting to doubt my choice and am looking for other options.
 
Marina said:
And if I already made the hasty choice of getting rupes 21 mark II as my first machine, which would be a better companion machine: rupes mini, ibrid nano, or the griot's 3 inch?
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Really depends - the nano is going to be far more versatile, but costs far more. You can still get a lot done with the LHR75E mini so it comes down to budget and how crazy you want to get about polishing intricate details.

Mini runs 100mm pads
Nano runs 40 and 70mm pads
 
Crazy). Everything needs to be perfect. Even if only for the very first detail on the new car (have 2 to practice on before that one).

Difference in capabilities of short vs long neck?
 
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