Couple of questions/comments about my Rupes 21ES

ntwillie1

ntwillie1

New member
Joined
Feb 1, 2013
Messages
392
Reaction score
0
Hi all. I just got my 21ES a couple of days ago and today I finally had a chance to use it. Here are my first impressions from someone that is used to the PC7424:

1. I don't think the rupes is as smooth as I thought it would be based on the reviews I have read. Maybe I am just used to my PC or maybe I am just used to working with my 5.5" pads. This 7" pads are freaking huge. When you first get the machine started its a little weird because of the way the machine throws around. Once it's up to speed it's much smoother. I also noticed that the machine seems to run hotter than my PC.

2. It did do an excellent job at polishing my larger panels and removing water marks and light swirls. I used the green pad and the rupes quarz gloss medium gel polish.

3. The button to hold the trigger in a locked position is hit or miss with me. Half the time I couldn't get it to lock so I had to manually hold the trigger which was tiring. I'm going to have to figure that out a little better.

4. My biggest peave about it is that the quarz gloss medium gel compound I used today is absolutely the dustiest product I have ever worked with. I mean it looked like I had been sawing wood on top of my car.

5. What is the recommended best practice for cleaning my rupes foam pads?


Thanks
 
I don't use any of their products and I use the 6.5 inch pads with mine. Have you done the washer mod to yours?
 
ntwillie1 said:
3. The button to hold the trigger in a locked position is hit or miss with me. Half the time I couldn't get it to lock so I had to manually hold the trigger which was tiring. I'm going to have to figure that out a little better.
Click to expand...

I was having that same problem. I figured it out. Just start with your finger on the trigger then press the lock button ( so now your holding them both) then release the trigger and your good to go!
 
@ Pureshine - not sure if its just marketing but I had read somewhere not to use non rupe's products on their pads. I know if you buy the rupes kit from AG that comes with the pinnacle products that you don't get rupes pads so that kind of coincides with what they suggest. I haven't done the mod yet because it was my first time using it and i wanted to see how it felt. if you have a link on how to do the mod please pm me. Thanks.

@ El Flacco Taco - i like your name, hahaha. I will try your technique out. Thanks.
 
1) I've noticed that if the bolt holding the backing plate is even the slightest bit not tight, it can change the smoothness of the machine. Check for tightness.

2) excells on flat panels.

3) hold trigger down all the way then push lock in all the way. Let go of trigger. Works every time.

4) use optimum hyper polish, m205, or sonar nano polish. All much much better than Rupes polishes.

5) the same as any pad. They do clean pretty easily.
 
Thanks Camaro. I have to get me a smaller backing plate for my 5.5 inch pads and I already have m105 and m205 so I will work with those which are the ones I most commonly use. I figured since I got the kit and it came with all that I would try it but not really to happy with the dustiness of it.

Also, thanks for the advice on the bolt holding the backing plate. I will check it out shortly.

W
 
I use the yellow and white Rupes pads with Menzerna and Meguiars polishes almost every day and they perform excellent for me.
 
ntwillie1 said:
3. The button to hold the trigger in a locked position is hit or miss with me. Half the time I couldn't get it to lock so I had to manually hold the trigger which was tiring. I'm going to have to figure that out a little better.
Click to expand...


The reason it's a little different than most other tools that use a similar trigger and lock mechanism is because it's hinged on the opposite end than most other polishers.

Instead of being hinged at teh front it's hinged at the rear and in order for the lock mechanism to "lock" you need to have pulled the trigger all the way in. Same with other tools but it seems easier, at least to me, to pull and lock triggers that hinge in the front than the rear.

Just a unique characteristic about the Rupes design.

Here's some pictures that show what I'm talking about...

Well engineered design
The rear handle is well thought-out with the variable speed dial placed on the top of the body so you can easily adjust the speed on the fly using your thumb. The trigger lever is located on the bottom of the ergo handle and there is a trigger lock button on the left hand side to lock the on/off trigger into place while operating the polisher.

Rupes_21_006.jpg



The pivot point or the trigger lever is reversed as compared to most polishers, instead of hinging or pivoting at the front it pivots at the rear of the lever.
Rupes_21_007.jpg



This design takes advantage of a person's normally strong grip and control of their index and leading fingers.
Rupes_21_008.jpg



:dblthumb2:
 
ntwillie1 said:
4. My biggest peave about it is that the quarz gloss medium gel compound I used today is absolutely the dustiest product I have ever worked with. I mean it looked like I had been sawing wood on top of my car.
Click to expand...

I've used this combo a lot and have just not experienced a huge dusting problem. Try cleaning your pad more often in-between buffing out sections.

Dust is just spent product either on the pad or the panel. Keep both the pad and the panel clean and you'll cut down on the dusting of any product. Also don't buff to a dry buff, there should always be a wet film of product behind your path of travel.

I used Sonax with a 6" pad on the 21 just a few weeks agon and had incredible results, I talk about it here,

Bouncers Capture the Rapture Monster Truck Detail

Bouncers_Capture_Rapture_008.jpg







ntwillie1 said:
5. What is the recommended best practice for cleaning my rupes foam pads?


Thanks
Click to expand...


All the Rupes pads wash out really easy, they appear to all be open cell so water will flush through them easily.

There's a number of ways to wash out your pad, under running water and squishing them after soaking them in a bucket of pad cleaning solution after using them is pretty simple and works pretty well.


:)
 
Guys - thank you all for the responses.

Mike, you are probably right about working the product to much (almost to a dry buff). However, as far as pad being dirty the pad was brand new and it dusted like crazy on that first section of my hood. I have never seen anything else do that so extreme.

I plan on posting some pics of my work in the next 2 weeks or so. I have used the rupes for my hood and roof which had some light swirls and water marks. The rest of the car was in excellent condition so no paint correction there. I'm using gtechniq C1 and then I'm going to top it with Exov1. I can't wait.
 
ntwillie1 said:
Guys - thank you all for the responses.

Mike, you are probably right about working the product to much (almost to a dry buff). However, as far as pad being dirty the pad was brand new and it dusted like crazy on that first section of my hood. I have never seen anything else do that so extreme.

I plan on posting some pics of my work in the next 2 weeks or so. I have used the rupes for my hood and roof which had some light swirls and water marks. The rest of the car was in excellent condition so no paint correction there. I'm using gtechniq C1 and then I'm going to top it with Exov1. I can't wait.
Click to expand...


I'll pay more attention the next time I'm working with both the Rupes Pad and the Rupes polish and then try to remember this thread and update what I'm seeing.

One problem for me is I'm always stuck working in an air-conditioned studio...


:D
 
When I use my Rupes I have used the Rupes pads, LC Hydrotech pads, and the Megs Soff Buff pads.

The only one with issues with the Megs and they failed fast due to the backing plate cutting into the foam. The other two worked with no issues.

Did you prime the pad before you started using it?

I have a pad washer and that works great for me.
 
Ofcourse Rupes wants you to use their pads, but that's not the case. You can use any manufacturers pad on the machine. Most likely they don't manufacture the pads anyway as they are in the business of making machines.
 
Have the Rupes 21 with both backing plate and do not have the washer mod yet. I prefer the 5" backing plate and don't like the Rupes pads...at all!!. My favorite combos so far is a flat orange LC pad with Menz 2500 and Meg MF pad with Menz FG400. The Rupes pads are nice but VERY susceptible to overheating and the green one started disintegrating in small bits after the second panel. In comparison to the GG6 which I have, the Rupes is much quieter, does not lead to as much fatigue from vibration and has cut down my polishing time by 30-40%. I can litterally accomplish the same result in 3-4 passes (and finish it better) compared to 6-7 passes with the GG6. I did do a side by side for kicks using the same backing plate, pad and polishing compound. I rarely use the GG6 now (which has been fitted with a 3" backing plate)
 
So just wanted to provide a quick update. I did my second car using rupes on Monday. This time I primed the rupes foam pad prior to using the polish. I also made sure not to buff the product dry. And again it dusted like crazy. The machine does a great job removing swirls but I always have to wash the cars a second time afterwards. I haven't had this experience when using Meg's polishes.

I will be doing another car tomorrow and I will post back my experience once again. Once I run out of the rupes polishes I will not be buying them again.
 
Well, how about one more update. Did my third car, a 2013 Honda accord in orchard white. After inspecting the paint and finding it in very good condition I simply washed, clashed, polished, washed, IPAD wiped own, and then opti-coated. It came out awesome. What I really wanted to say was that this time I used the rupes 21es yellow pad w the keramik gloss fine gel polish (yellow top) and I got virtually no dusting. I guess it's expected since it is light cut product at best. I am happy w the results of the fine gel polish but as stated before, once I run through those polished I am done w the rupes polished for good.
 
BucboyInPa said:
I use the yellow and white Rupes pads with Menzerna and Meguiars polishes almost every day and they perform excellent for me.
Click to expand...

I was hanging with some other detailers and watching them work with the Rupes 21, they placed the Rupe's in the garage freezer to cool it down. Using this machine every day at your shop, what are you thoughts and observations concerning the heat of the tool itself?
 
Dr_Pain said:
Have the Rupes 21 with both backing plate and do not have the washer mod yet. I prefer the 5" backing plate and don't like the Rupes pads...at all!!. My favorite combos so far is a flat orange LC pad with Menz 2500 and Meg MF pad with Menz FG400. The Rupes pads are nice but VERY susceptible to overheating and the green one started disintegrating in small bits after the second panel. In comparison to the GG6 which I have, the Rupes is much quieter, does not lead to as much fatigue from vibration and has cut down my polishing time by 30-40%. I can litterally accomplish the same result in 3-4 passes (and finish it better) compared to 6-7 passes with the GG6. I did do a side by side for kicks using the same backing plate, pad and polishing compound. I rarely use the GG6 now (which has been fitted with a 3" backing plate)
Click to expand...

Stop making me want a rupes! It seems too good to be true. Sounds like a huge time saver.
 
KillaCam said:
Stop making me want a rupes! It seems too good to be true. Sounds like a huge time saver.
Click to expand...

It is!!! The best investment I made in 2013. Autogeek will price match the Autopia 15% off no exclusion sale TODAY ONLY! Go for it and call Bryan! I just got off the phone with him. Awesome addition to the AG team (and he did price match my order and free shipping over $75)
 
Since buying my Rupes 21 I have sold one of my rotaries and one of my Griot's da's. This machine puts the fun back into detailing. After some getting used to the Rupes pads are starting to find a place in my polishing process along with my mf cutting pads.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top