Eldorado2k
Well-known member
- Nov 9, 2015
- 14,545
- 645
- Thread starter
- #41
Ok, I believe I've had enough time with the polisher now to provide a fair enough opinion about it so far.. I've been holding back until now, which hasn't been easy, but after being able to test it out 4 different times, I finally had that moment where it all seemed to come together.
Starting from the unboxing.. I took it out of the box, removed the backing plate so I could install the washer and this was the 1st thing that caught my eye. [notice the top left corner of the counterweight, small chips. Looks like someone at the factory had a good time dropping it a few times. Definitely doesn't look new.] Grr..
I wonder if the counterweight has anything to do with me totally agreeing with this statement.
I immediately remembered this comment and thought "wow he was spot on"
The lack of smoothness on this machine compared to the Rupes MK2 is considerable, to say the least... Sure I can use it with 1 hand, but I can use my HF DA with 1 hand as well, so that's nothing special.
View attachment 41740
1st thing I did was try it on my own hood using the sample of Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish that came with my order. Directions say to use a nickel sized amount to start off, so that's what I did.
View attachment 41741
Worked it longer than I usually would due to it being DAT.. Overall it wasn't the best experience due to me being so used to M205/SMAT. Things just felt too dry. There are some areas on my hood with very fine swirls, they weren't removed at all.. But I was short on time and left it at that.
View attachment 41742
A couple days later I decided to clay my trunklid and use M7 with the Boss yellow pad to get better aquatinted with the polisher. I did several applications, the whole time trying to get used to the variable trigger throttle and lock. I really didn't like how this worked at 1st, but I've kinda gotten used to it now.
Once again, there's only so much you can get out of the experience without correcting defects.. No fun yet. Lol.
Next day I tried it out on my friends boat. I had attempted to polish this boat in the past, and it was a huge PITA. This day I simply wanted to do a test spot.
Boss White Foam Pad w/Meguiars M67 One Step Compound.
View attachment 41743
Before:
View attachment 41744
View attachment 41745
After: Just 1 long cycle on speed 6 produced this. I was pretty pleased considering how difficult it was to achieve this with my HF DA.
View attachment 41746
But as expected, the foam pad loaded up fairly quickly + the evenings humidity set in and the results couldn't continue much further than my test spot of about 4'x3'
It was nice to see the Boss packed a good punch.
I can just imagine how much work it will be when the time comes for me to polish the whole 28' boat. I could already feel it after going over that section a few times with the same pad.. The Boss isn't exactly light, combine that with its lack of smoothness and this 28' boat will not be an easy task..
View attachment 41747
4th try: Finally I got a chance to try out on something normL, something with swirls, finally!
Toyota Tacoma before:
View attachment 41748
I used Megs Black Wax on Boss Yellow Polishing Pad/speed 4.5
After:
View attachment 41749
It's not perfect, nor was that the goal for this daily driver, but it sure is shiny now.
View attachment 41750
It was nice to finally be able to use it on a real vehicle in need of polishing. The 6.5" setup proved impossible on the Tacoma fenders. The long stroke & power also ripped the tape I had laid down right off the plastic fender covers
lol. I'll be looking into a 5" backing plate..
Sorry for the long post but it was a long time coming. Thx for reading.
Starting from the unboxing.. I took it out of the box, removed the backing plate so I could install the washer and this was the 1st thing that caught my eye. [notice the top left corner of the counterweight, small chips. Looks like someone at the factory had a good time dropping it a few times. Definitely doesn't look new.] Grr..
I wonder if the counterweight has anything to do with me totally agreeing with this statement.
I immediately remembered this comment and thought "wow he was spot on" The lack of smoothness on this machine compared to the Rupes MK2 is considerable, to say the least... Sure I can use it with 1 hand, but I can use my HF DA with 1 hand as well, so that's nothing special.
View attachment 41740
1st thing I did was try it on my own hood using the sample of Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish that came with my order. Directions say to use a nickel sized amount to start off, so that's what I did.
View attachment 41741
Worked it longer than I usually would due to it being DAT.. Overall it wasn't the best experience due to me being so used to M205/SMAT. Things just felt too dry. There are some areas on my hood with very fine swirls, they weren't removed at all.. But I was short on time and left it at that.
View attachment 41742
A couple days later I decided to clay my trunklid and use M7 with the Boss yellow pad to get better aquatinted with the polisher. I did several applications, the whole time trying to get used to the variable trigger throttle and lock. I really didn't like how this worked at 1st, but I've kinda gotten used to it now.
Once again, there's only so much you can get out of the experience without correcting defects.. No fun yet. Lol.
Next day I tried it out on my friends boat. I had attempted to polish this boat in the past, and it was a huge PITA. This day I simply wanted to do a test spot.
Boss White Foam Pad w/Meguiars M67 One Step Compound.
View attachment 41743
Before:
View attachment 41744
View attachment 41745
After: Just 1 long cycle on speed 6 produced this. I was pretty pleased considering how difficult it was to achieve this with my HF DA.
View attachment 41746
But as expected, the foam pad loaded up fairly quickly + the evenings humidity set in and the results couldn't continue much further than my test spot of about 4'x3'
It was nice to see the Boss packed a good punch.
I can just imagine how much work it will be when the time comes for me to polish the whole 28' boat. I could already feel it after going over that section a few times with the same pad.. The Boss isn't exactly light, combine that with its lack of smoothness and this 28' boat will not be an easy task..
View attachment 41747
4th try: Finally I got a chance to try out on something normL, something with swirls, finally!
Toyota Tacoma before:
View attachment 41748
I used Megs Black Wax on Boss Yellow Polishing Pad/speed 4.5
After:
View attachment 41749
It's not perfect, nor was that the goal for this daily driver, but it sure is shiny now.
View attachment 41750
It was nice to finally be able to use it on a real vehicle in need of polishing. The 6.5" setup proved impossible on the Tacoma fenders. The long stroke & power also ripped the tape I had laid down right off the plastic fender covers
lol. I'll be looking into a 5" backing plate.. Sorry for the long post but it was a long time coming. Thx for reading.
rops:
