The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers by Mike Phillips

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The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers by Mike Phillips


The Air Test

In this picture, this RUPES BigFoot 21 is running on the 6.0 speed setting and is vibration free.

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I came up with a simple test ANYONE can do to test if a non-RUPES buffing pad is compatable with a RUPES polisher.

The RUPES engineers designed their pads specific to the RUPES tools and backing plates for the intended purpose of reducing and eliminating vibration. This means the size, shape, thickness and weight of the pads are such that when attached to the matching RUPES backing plate and RUPES tool there is zero or very little vibration.


The Air Test


First - Hold a RUPES polisher in the air without a foam buffing pad attached to the backing plate in the [ON] position on speed 6. You will feel the tool vibrating.

Second - Attach the correct size RUPES pad for the backing plate and matching RUPES tool and repeat the above. That is hold the tool in the air in the [ON] position on speed 6. You will feel no vibration and a very smooth operating tool.
​


Now after doing the above you know what vibration feels like with no pad and what zero vibration feels like with the RUPES engineered pad.



Testing non-RUPES pads for vibration

To test a non-RUPES pad for vibration and compatibility, repeat the test with the pad you're thinking of using and see if there is any vibration.


  • If no vibration, your choice, use or don't use the pad.


  • If you feel vibration you will know it's the pad, not the tool.


Engineered for no vibration

I've done my research and real world testing and what I've experienced is that what RUPES states is true and that is they engineered their pads, backing plates and tools to work together to eliminate vibration.


It doesn't matter to me what pad anyone uses on any tool I just wanted to point out that when RUPES states their pads, backing plates and tools are engineered to work together to eliminate vibration they mean it.


I've always been what I call a systems guy that is given the choice I prefer to use a system approach versus mixing and matching products, pads and tools from multiple brands.

I'm not saying mixing and matching doesn't work but I think you hedge your bet when you stay inside a system designed by the same company. I also know it's the nature of the beast for people to want to experiement and use pads other non-RUPES pads or pads they already own on their RUPES polishers. The Air Test will tell you real fast if a pad is compatible.




On Autogeek.com


RUPES Color Matched 7" Foam Buffing Pads

RUPES Color Matched 6" Foam Buffing Pads

RUPES Color Matched 4" Foam Buffing Pads



:)
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

Great info! Thanks Mike!
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

Mike-
Can you give us some examples of pads you have found to not be compatible with the Rupes machines?
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
I've done my research and real world testing and what I've experienced is that what RUPES states is true and that is they engineered their pads, backing plates and tools to work together to eliminate vibration.

I've always been what I call a systems guy that is given the choice I prefer to use a system approach versus mixing and matching products, pads and tools from multiple brands.
Click to expand...

The man speaks the truth and that's a fact. I remember the day I had the pleasure of being part of the Detailing Roadshow out here in California.. Your style is textbook precision, almost like a surgeon of auto detailing.:)

I remember you specifically saying the exact words you're saying in this post in regards to sticking to the manufacturers recommended system in order to achieve the results you expect when purchasing a quality product or tool.

And as far as the air test..



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I can personally attest that it's 100% true :)



Rupes builds precision machines, no doubt.



:dblthumb2:
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

Eldorado2k said:
The man speaks the truth and that's a fact.
Click to expand...



Thanks for chiming in and adding those pictures from the CR Roadshow class we held at Mel Craig's shop back in November.


I took the liberty of downloading your attached pictures and then uploading them to the gallery so they could be inserted for full viewing pleasure.


:dblthumb2:
 
The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

This is good to know! Just used B&S MF pads and had some vibration. Guess this is the Cause!
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

With the Rupes pads with the Rupes polisher being the best combination in terms of balance and vibration, how about compounds and polishes? I have the Rupes compound/polishes but would using other brands be a bad combination? How about if I want to use my Menzerna stuff with a Rupes polisher?
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

zero4 said:
With the Rupes pads with the Rupes polisher being the best combination in terms of balance and vibration, how about compounds and polishes?

I have the Rupes compound/polishes but would using other brands be a bad combination?

How about if I want to use my Menzerna stuff with a Rupes polisher?
Click to expand...


Great question and I'd like to chime in with my 2 cents...

The RUPES system works. Period. I document this in my RUPES how-to book and from every car I buffed out using the RUPES system as designed as intended to be used. I have also documented this with all the RUPES classes I've taught where many of the students have never used a single item from the RUPES brand until taking the class.

After establishing the above, while I do tend to use the RUPES system as a system I have used other brands for compounds, polishes and waxes and what I've found is that as long as the brand uses GREAT abrasive technology in the first place then the products have always worked very well with the RUPES pads and tools.

As professional courtesy to RUPES and as a best practice whenever someone asks me about purchasing a RUPES tool I strongly recommend also starting with the RUPES pads and product. Become an expert first with the RUPES paint polishing system and then if you so desire - experiment with other products and pads.

By starting out with the RUPES system and becoming both familiar and successful with it, then based upon your own real-world experience when you do go outside the system two things,


1: If the non-RUPES products are not performing you'll know it's the non-RUPES products and not RUPES fault.

2: You'll know how to recover from the undesirable results.


Hope that helps...


:)
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

Thanks Mike!👍🏽
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

Just to note...



I show the Air Test in all my classes, it usually blows everyone away to feel the difference in vibration with and without a pad.


I always tell people, if you're going to get into RUPES polishers then start with the entire RUPES system. This means get the matching pads and products for the RUPES tool you choose.

Many guys want to buy the tool but then use pads and product they already own. While this MAY work, it may not work and over the last few years I see people blame the tool when they're not getting great results when it's the pads and/or products they're using.

So when you make the decision to go RUPES go all in or don't go at all...


AFTER you become an expert with their system, THEN start experimenting with different pads and products because then if something goes wrong you have their system, (pads and products) to fall back on to save the day.

Also, get my book, it will completely flatten out the learning curve to using the RUPES paint polishing system.

I also show the Air Test on page 7 of the book.




How to use the RUPES BigFoot Paint Polishing System
for Production Detailing and Show Car Detailing

RUPES_Book_Cover_021.jpg




On Autogeek.com



How to use the RUPES BigFoot Paint Polishing System
for Production Detailing and Show Car Detailing


:)
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

Great job on the book Mike. I received mine the other day and have read an been studying it before I decide on rupes or flex. Leaning towards the rupes and it's system.
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

ha ha....I JUST got my Rupes 15 Mark II from a fellow member that sold it to me. I have a 2002 Camry that I painted a few years ago, and needless to say, it's in dire need of another paint job. The paint was faded and I basically don't care what the paint looks like, as it'll be weathered again an a month or so. I'm not a painter by any means, and I only paid $120 to do it myself....and it shows.

Anyway, not wanting to ruin my pads that came with the polisher, I used some cheap a$$ harbor freight pads because they are basically trash anyway. When i started polishing, i felt a lot of vibration. I was like....holy crap, this polisher sucks. No wonder why he sold it. I went to my Flex 3401 and it was like night and day...way smoother. Ok...something is wrong here. I went back to the Rupes, and again...a lot of vibration. So, i decided to sacrifice the worst pad that I had gotten in the package deal. I picked a yellow pad, sprayed some pad conditioner on it, slapped some HD SPEED on the pad, and went to town.

HOLY MOLY !!! Smooth action. No vibration. Like butter on a hot roll. Like when a sniper hits his target, sees the "Pink Mist", and pulls back the bolt to load another bullet. The smoothness of the action, the shell being ejected, the firing pin being reset, the next bullet being loaded into the firing chamber....the sensation of becoming ONE with his tool.

That was my experience with my Rupes in less than 5 minutes.

Now, i need to just get my method down on using this polisher. Using my method that i learned on my Flex is not going to work. They are completely different machines.

The Flex 3401= Rambo with an M-60. When you see him, you know he's gonna f**k s**t up !!

Rupes= James Bond. Classy, dignified, a real ladies man. Cool under pressure, but when he kills, he does it in a 3 piece Tux, and never breaks a sweat.
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

Rupes yellow pad is always such a joy to use...so smooth and effective.
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

Levithan9 said:
ha ha....I JUST got my Rupes 15 Mark II from a fellow member that sold it to me. I have a 2002 Camry that I painted a few years ago, and needless to say, it's in dire need of another paint job. The paint was faded and I basically don't care what the paint looks like, as it'll be weathered again an a month or so. I'm not a painter by any means, and I only paid $120 to do it myself....and it shows.

Anyway, not wanting to ruin my pads that came with the polisher, I used some cheap a$$ harbor freight pads because they are basically trash anyway. When i started polishing, i felt a lot of vibration. I was like....holy crap, this polisher sucks. No wonder why he sold it. I went to my Flex 3401 and it was like night and day...way smoother. Ok...something is wrong here. I went back to the Rupes, and again...a lot of vibration. So, i decided to sacrifice the worst pad that I had gotten in the package deal. I picked a yellow pad, sprayed some pad conditioner on it, slapped some HD SPEED on the pad, and went to town.

HOLY MOLY !!! Smooth action. No vibration. Like butter on a hot roll. Like when a sniper hits his target, sees the "Pink Mist", and pulls back the bolt to load another bullet. The smoothness of the action, the shell being ejected, the firing pin being reset, the next bullet being loaded into the firing chamber....the sensation of becoming ONE with his tool.

That was my experience with my Rupes in less than 5 minutes.

Now, i need to just get my method down on using this polisher. Using my method that i learned on my Flex is not going to work. They are completely different machines.

The Flex 3401= Rambo with an M-60. When you see him, you know he's gonna f**k s**t up !!

Rupes= James Bond. Classy, dignified, a real ladies man. Cool under pressure, but when he kills, he does it in a 3 piece Tux, and never breaks a sweat.
Click to expand...

Love the analogies!
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

Levithan9 said:
ha ha....I JUST got my Rupes 15 Mark II from a fellow member that sold it to me.

Anyway, not wanting to ruin my pads that came with the polisher, I used some cheap a$$ harbor freight pads because they are basically trash anyway.

When i started polishing, i felt a lot of vibration. I was like....holy crap, this polisher sucks. No wonder why he sold it.

I went to my Flex 3401 and it was like night and day...way smoother.

Ok...something is wrong here. I went back to the Rupes, and again...a lot of vibration.


So, i decided to sacrifice the worst pad that I had gotten in the package deal. I picked a yellow pad,


sprayed some pad conditioner on it, slapped some HD SPEED on the pad, and went to town.

HOLY MOLY !!! Smooth action. No vibration.

Like butter on a hot roll.
Click to expand...



So just to clarify for me and anyone else....


When you used the cheap Harbor Freight foam buffing pads on the RUPES BigFoot 15 Mark II polisher the tool vibrated like crazy.


Then when you used a RUPES YELLOW foam buffing pad on the RUPES BigFoot 15 Mark II polisher it was perfectly smooth.


Correct?



:)
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

That is correct, Mike.

I'm starting to view the Rupes polisher as a WHOLE system. Kinda like Apple. Got an iPhone? Your gonna use iMessage. Gor a Rupes polisher? Your gonna use Rupes pads.

I see my Flex as an Android based system....i can use anything. It might work, it might not. Rupes has just taken out the guess work on what WILL work.
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

Levithan9 said:
That is correct, Mike.

I'm starting to view the Rupes polisher as a WHOLE system. Kinda like Apple. Got an iPhone? Your gonna use iMessage. Gor a Rupes polisher? Your gonna use Rupes pads.

I see my Flex as an Android based system....i can use anything. It might work, it might not. Rupes has just taken out the guess work on what WILL work.
Click to expand...


Another good analogy.


:dblthumb2:
 
Re: The Air Test - Using NON RUPES pads on RUPES Polishers

Force pads work good on the duetto
 
Initially, I always thought the system approach might be a gimmick to only buy their products. However, I've changed my mind about that with Rupes. The Rupes pads definitely run smoothest on their polishers. It's a TUNED system. I haven't gone as far to only use with Rupes polishes, though. Rupes Polisher, Rupes correct backing plate size, and Rupes pads....yes.
 
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