Close-up pictures of the new Rupes Duetto 12mm Orbital Polisher

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Close-up pictures of the new Rupes Duetto 12mm Orbital Polisher



The introduction of cool new tools for machine polishing paint in our car detailing world is far and few between. I know out of all the products that are introduced, nothing gets a person's attention more than,

• New polishers
• New compounds, polishes, waxes and coatings
• New anything paint care related

Sure we get excited about all the other stuff but seriously, for me and I know I probably speak for the majority of you, when it comes to detailing it's mostly about the paint. And this means anything new being introduced that is related to making the paint look good is going to be of high interest.

I tell a story in my detailing boot camp classes for the last decade as an analogy to get this point across and ti goes like this,


Nobody goes to a car show, opens the door of Jim's Corvette, lifts up the floor mat and say,

Wow! You carpet looks great!


That just doesn't happen. What does happen is us car guys, and specifically us car guys with a detailer's eye, walk around and look at all the cars and say things like this,

Wow! What a great looking car and the paint is flawless!


Or sadly too often we'll say things like this...


Wow! What a great looking car but the paint is a swirled-out mess!


What makes or breaks a cool looking car is the paint. Period.


And that's why there's a lot of interest in any new tools for polishing paint as well as pads, compounds, polishes and LSPs. Basically anything for working on and perfecting paint.

Since the new Rupes polishers were introduced at SEMA this year I've been trying to get caught-up on a number of projects so I could take some good pictures of the new Rupes polishers and then share them on this forum so you guys can get a good look at them.

So here you go... the Rupes Duetto 12mm Orbital Polisher

The Tool Rest is a soft rubber so if you set the tool upside down on a body panel like the hood it won't slip off nor will it scratch the paint.

The On/Off switch is also a soft rubber and it's serrated or grooved so your thumb can easily grip it when turning the tool on or off.

The front head on the polisher also has some soft rubber spears and it gives the tool a sort of Transformer Robot look, (at least to me).

There are three opening slots for air flow...

The 5" backing plate is actually 4 7/8" in diameter...

And the tapered Rupes 6" pads fit onto the 5" backing plate perfectly...

Close up of the service tag on the underside of the tool...

The variable speed dial is located in the very back of the tool and adjusts from 1 to 6 with 1 being the slowest speed setting and 6 being the fastest speed setting.

The size is similar to a Porter Cable as is the shape of the tool body. Im a huge fan of the Porter Cable dual action polishers as I've probably been using these tools to polish paint as long as anyone in this industry and likely have more how-to articles and videos on how to use these tools than anyone in this industry.

As such, I'm also a huge fan of the shape and size of the Rupes Duetto 12mm Orbital Polisher.

So there you go... the new Rupes Duetto 12mm Orbital Polisher.


:xyxthumbs:

 

[TopThatDetail]

When does it go on sale

 

[RTexasF]

This is strictly random orbital not forced rotation correct?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

When does it go on sale

That's a question for someone in sales, check with Nick or anyone in Customer Care.

This is strictly random orbital not forced rotation correct?

Correct. Most similar to the Porter Cable in how it operates, not the gear-driven Flex 3401.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Use before you choose...

We will have these tools in abundance for my next detailing boot camp class which is January 25th and 26th.



First Detailing Boot Camp Class for 2014


At my classes you get plenty of hand-on time to use all the popular tools you see and read about in the detailing discussion forum world and at my classes you get to learn how to use these tool not on mundane daily drivers but the real deal...


Rupes Detailing Classes at Autogeek!


Before

Students learning to use Rupes Bigfoot 15 and 21 Orbital Polishers on a 1963 hotrod Ford Galaxie XLT

After

For this first class in January I'll be sure to have another cool car for everyone to try out the new Rupes Duetto, Rupes Mini as well as the Rupes 15 and 21 so you can see for yourself which tool is best for you and your style of detailing.


:xyxthumbs:

 

[Tresca]

How does this model compare to the Rupes 15 in terms of weight and ease of use. On the Rupes 15 it states to be used only with Rupes pads, can this model use other manufacturers pads?

 

[custmsprty]

I use my Rupes 15 with LC pads all the time. I don't own any rupes pads.

 

[Tresca]

Does the Duetto require the "washer mod" for the backing plate to be free spinning as it does on the Rupes 15 and 21?

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Does the Duetto require the "washer mod" for the backing plate to be free spinning as it does on the Rupes 15 and 21?

I heard it doesn't need it as much, but will still be beneficial.

 

[af90]

Is that a rocker switch (left to right) forward of the power switch?

 

[SR99]

I notice all the photos of the front portion are of the left side. Does the right side also have that slotted plug, and is that for a screw-in accessory handle that comes with it? Or maybe a U-shaped handle that attached to both sides?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

How does this model compare to the Rupes 15 in terms of weight and ease of use. On the Rupes 15 it states to be used only with Rupes pads, can this model use other manufacturers pads?

Does the Duetto require the "washer mod" for the backing plate to be free spinning as it does on the Rupes 15 and 21?

Great questions guys... I'll do my best to answer both below...


As for how this model compares to the Rupes Bigfoot 15 and 21.

My personal preference is I like and prefer the Porter Cable "design shape" of the Duetto and the Mini. This shape of tool is shorter than the Bigfoot 15 and 21. Personal preference and all that. I'll try to take a picture of the Duetto next to the 15 and 21 today for visual context.



As for using other pads, chemicals or modifying these tools...

Think of me as a Rep for Rupes, a Rep for Mothers, a Rep for Dodo Juice, a Rep for Flex, etc. My job is to share the "brands" we carry in a professional manner and in most cases that means sticking to message, their message and that tends to work out pretty good in the long run for all kinds of reasons.

Individuals can do as they please because they are only held accountable to themselves.

I will tell you this since you ask. I spoke with Marco D'Inca and Andreas, (Rupes Engineers), Francesco, the Marketing & Communications Manager, (in control of the message), Gionata, the Business Development Director, Guido, the President of Rupes, Chip, the US Market Development Manager and Torben the Sales Manager for North Europe, a number of times in our booths plus a couple of closed meetings and not a single one of them suggested or recommended modifying their tools with a washer or in any other manner.


Thanks for asking the question though as it gives me the opportunity to share the official Rupes message.


We like to be accurate, honest as well as helpful and friendly on this forum and questions like the above are a great way to get out the official information from the manufactures of tools and products available on Autogeek.net

Is that a rocker switch (left to right) forward of the power switch?

No, it's simply a raised portion of the switch to keep your thumb from slide off and past the actual switch.

I notice all the photos of the front portion are of the left side. Does the right side also have that slotted plug, and is that for a screw-in accessory handle that comes with it? Or maybe a U-shaped handle that attached to both sides?

The picture I took of the other side was out of focus, my fault.

To my knowledge the slotted plugs or screws hold the head cap on and snug to the body. I have not seen any type of handle for this tool in in my opinion I wouldn't want one and you don't need one.

I explain why in my article about handles for Porter Cable style dual action polishers here...

Handle? Or No Handle? - Using DA Polishers Without the Handle


Here are the three popular DA Polishers with their handles removed...

I also cover the handle topic in my how-to book, ebook and ibook...

Great questions!


:dblthumb2:

 

[wrx495]

:O!! I definitely cannot wait until it is sold alone! i am saving up to get this, the clay towel medium grade(maybe), and son1c's wax!

 

[wrx495]

mike! how smooth is this machine? i am definitely trying to watch all the videos i could on it but cannot really tell. and in terms of sound is it louder than the GG or about the same ?

 

[Tresca]

Hi Mike, The original PC 7424 had a 3.7 amp motor and is said to be under powered. The Duetto box in the picture indicates it is 3.5 amp motor.

Does the Duetto have sufficient power from your experience with the standard pad size?

 

[Selectchoice]

Looks like it should be a nice tool. Rupes is great quality and has some decent customer service here in Australia.

I've had a Rupes rotary polisher for years and it's performed faultlessly. Can't wait to add a Rupes DA or two to the family.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Here's some more pictures of the Duetto and a few of the Mini...

By the way, I let the guys try this tool out on my truck last night to remove sanding marks and swirls leftover from my last Detailing Boot Camp Class and then asked everyone what they thought and pretty much everyone said the same thing I've been saying...

• They like the shape - It's shaped like a Porter Cable basically and I like this too...

• They like how smooth it is...

• They like the correction power with a butt

• - You still have to use good technique as you can make the pad stop spinning like the Bigfoot 15 and 21 when you work around curved panels.

Here's the pictures...

Someone asked if this rib here is a switch and the answer is "no", it's block to keep your thumb from sliding forward and off the switch when powering the tool on.

For some reason these soft rubber ribs remind me of Transformers?

:xyxthumbs:

 

[wrx495]

Here's some more pictures of the Duetto and a few of the Mini...

By the way, I let the guys try this tool out on my truck last night to remove sanding marks and swirls leftover from my last Detailing Boot Camp Class and then asked everyone what they thought and pretty much everyone said the same thing I've been saying...

• They like the shape - It's shaped like a Porter Cable basically and I like this too...

• They like how smooth it is...

• They like the correction power with a butt

• - You still have to use good technique as you can make the pad stop spinning like the Bigfoot 15 and 21 when you work around curved panels.

Here's the pictures...

Someone asked if this rib here is a switch and the answer is "no", it's block to keep your thumb from sliding forward and off the switch when powering the tool on.

For some reason these soft rubber ribs remind me of Transformers?

:xyxthumbs:

thank you very much for your response to our questions mike! really appreciate it and definitely cannot wait to put in an order for this machine!

 

[wrx495]

i honestly always look at these pictures! i am really excited as the time is getting closer! hope pre -orders come up soon so i can just put whatever money i need towards it and then use the others i have left for some other things!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

thank you very much for your response to our questions mike! really appreciate it and definitely cannot wait to put in an order for this machine!

No problemo... it's what we're all here for.... customer support. Some people separate a phone call to Autogeek's Customer Care Staff from the AGO discussion forum when it comes to customer support but really it's just a different way of connecting.

i honestly always look at these pictures! i am really excited as the time is getting closer! hope pre -orders come up soon so i can just put whatever money i need towards it and then use the others i have left for some other things!

Delivery is getting closer!



:xyxthumbs: