Rupes 21 & Flex 3401 Comparison + Detailer's Paint Coating

Incredibly thorough write up Mike.


Thanks Mike... a lot of time goes into not only the work performed to the car, but then processing all the pictures and adding the text and links so a thread like this will actually help someone thinking about buying a Flex or a Rupes polisher.




I don't think this is a "comparison" of the two machines, as different pads and products were used.

Really?

The Rupes was used as intended by the designer and that is with the Rupes polishes and pads.

The Flex was used for the most part, IDENTICAL types of pads and equivalent types of polishes.

I actually don't think a person could get any closer in doing a fair and equal comparison.

But here, let me break it down and I encourage ANYONE to post their opinion now they would set it up? Heck... I would encourage anyone to duplicate this comparison and document it with an objective person plus the pictures that tell the story.



Major Correction Step
Here's Eric using the Rupes Quarz Gloss Medium Cut Polish with their GREEN aggressive foam polishing pad to remove the swirls, scratches and oxidation.

1932_Ford_Phaeton_063.jpg




Finish Polishing
Next Eric re-polishes using the Rupes WHITE foam pad with their Diamond ULTRA FINE CUT polish to really maximize gloss and clarity.

1932_Ford_Phaeton_076.jpg





Compared to...




Major Correction Step
Here's Eric using Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover with a 5" white Hybrid polishing pad.

1932_Ford_Phaeton_083.jpg





The polishing or minor correction step
Next up Eric is going to re-polish this side of the hood using the Wolfgang Finishing Glaze with the black 5" Hybrid finishing pad. Again, he's going to use and demonstrate the 10 @ 3 Technique for use with the Flex 3401.

1932_Ford_Phaeton_095.jpg




I guess a person could use the Rupes pads and polishes or the Rupes SYSTEM on the Flex Tool as well as the Rupes polisher.


Or I guess a person could do the comparison test by using The Wolfgang polishes and Lake Country Pads n the Rupes tools as well as the Rupes polisher.




Great documentation, nonetheless.


Thanks for the compliment...


:dblthumb2:
 
Nice write up on these tools and cool car!

Mike, have you had to use the Rupes blue coarse pad as of yet? I ordered myself a Rupes 21 earlier this week and will be using my LC orange/white/black flat pads for the most part. But, I also picked a small stack of blue Rupes 6" pads for extreme cases.
 
Nice write up on these tools and cool car!


Thank you.

I think this project, (working one-on-one with a forum member), and the write-up is one of the best I've ever written.

  1. Cool tools.
  2. Cool project.
  3. Incredibly cool car.

Try to find a write-up like this on any other forum.




Mike, have you had to use the Rupes blue coarse pad as of yet?

Of course!

Ever since we brought the Rupes line in over a year ago I've been using the Rupes Blue Coarse Foam Cutting Pad and sharing it with others.

I can't even begin to count how many times I made people FEEL the blue cutting pad at this last weekend's Mobil Tech Expo just to hear them say,

Wow!


The exact same thing I did at SEMA 2014, that is before showing people,

How AGGRESSIVE the foam feels!
How AGGRESSIVE the foam cuts!
And how NICE the foam with the Rupes compound finishes out.

It's amazing.


See what I wrote in this thread, post #13


Mike Phillips said:
Ok I have everything but the uber compound but my question is what rupes 15 or 21 will give me the mirror like finish..


Either or...

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 with the Wolfgang Uber Compound and after,

  • Sanding the panel
  • Making about 6-8 passes with the Rupes/Uber Compound
  • Then wiping off...
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...

Mike_Phillips_Demonstrating_Rupes-Duetto_at_SEMA.jpg



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 reside and voilà show car finish.


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


:)


I ordered myself a Rupes 21 earlier this week and will be using my LC orange/white/black flat pads for the most part. But,

I also picked a small stack of blue Rupes 6" pads for extreme cases.


In my opinion... the Rupes polishers are best used as a system...


Rupes Detailing Classes at Autogeek!



Rupes_Detailing_Classes_by_Mike_Phillips_01.jpg



Rupes Detailing Classes
[video=youtube_share;sndP0ijmvQU"]Video documenting the true before condition[/video]​





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.

Rupes_21_027.jpg


Rupes_21_028.jpg




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.

Rupes_21_029.jpg



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.

Rupes_21_030.jpg



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.

Rupes_21_031.jpg




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.

Rupes_21_032.jpg




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



:)
 
Ever since we brought the Rupes line in over a year ago I've been using the Rupes Blue Coarse Foam Cutting Pad and sharing it with others.

I can't even begin to count how many times I made people FEEL the blue cutting pad at this last weekend's Mobil Tech Expo just to hear them say,

Wow!

The exact same thing I did at SEMA 2014, that is before showing people,

How AGGRESSIVE the foam feels!
How AGGRESSIVE the foam cuts!
And how NICE the foam with the Rupes compound finishes out.

It's amazing.

That is exactly how I felt when I got my hands on the blue Rupes pads for the first time. Eager to try them out, thanks for the additional info.

In my opinion... the Rupes polishers are best used as a system...

:)

That is my plan as well, to get the whole Rupes system in place. I'm loving the Rupes 21 so far with just what I have for pads/polishes. I am slowly switching to their pads and eventually their polishes. Just need to use up what I have right now so it doesn't go to waste :)

Thanks Mike!
 
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