Favorite Pads & Size on the BigFoot LHR 21 Mark II ?

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TwistedAutoDetail

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Hey guys. Im sure it's been discussed, but I was wondering what pads you guys all prefer to use on your LHR Bigfoot 21?


I was exclusively using CG's pads on a Torq 10FX, but just converted to the Rupes machines.

I was looking at what pad system to go with, and I see that the obvious choice would be the Rupes Branded Blue, Green, Yellow, White 7" pads to go with the 6" backing plate.


However... their pads are insane expensive compared to say the Lake Country CCS or even Thin Pro's.


I know it "may increase vibration" ... but what are your thoughts on running different pads with this machine?

I already blew the budget out of the water on getting my machines, so when I go to re-stock on pads if I can cut some costs I really need to.


Also... (sorry to ramble on) .. how do you feel the Rupes Brand pads seem to hold up durability wise?

13876557_1677802369108953_7943257921876486974_n.jpg
 
Favorite Pads & Size on the BigFoot LHR 21 Mark II ?

Have you ever heard the saying "Don't go buy a Bentley, with Cadillac money"
Well you already bought the Bentley. Lol. Now what kind of tires are you going to buy for it...
Ideally, the Rupes MKll Polisher would be best suited with matching everything, pads + polishes etc. But if you're looking to remain open to using your choice of pads I can try to help you with a bit of info on the ones I've chosen to go with.

Btw, I don't own the Rupes, I have the Boss21. So keep that in mind.. I'll do my best to show you how a couple different pads compare up close.

This is a 6" LC HD Orbital Foam Pad. Notice the actual measurement of the face on this pad, it's 6.5"

View attachment 51247

Yet the backing/velcro is only 5 1/8th so it's a 6" pad made to fit the 5" backing plate. I happen to really like the fact that these pads are on the bigger side as opposed to smaller..

View attachment 51248

Now here's a Rupes 7" Pad. The face measures 6 7/8ths.

View attachment 51249

Backing/velcro measures 6 1/8th, to fit the 6" backing plate.

View attachment 51250

Here's the thickness of both pads side by side. They're both 1 1/8th thick, but the Rupes pad is about 1/16th thicker.

View attachment 51251

Here's the 6" LC HD Orbital up next to the 7" Rupes pad. They're almost the same size.

View attachment 51252

Some people have said they've experienced short life from the Rupes pads [mainly the Blue and Green pads]. The LC HD pads don't get those sort of complaints. I've been very happy with them myself. They also run very smooth on the long stroke polisher.

Now getting back to you having bought the Bentley, I mean Rupes.. As you know by now, everything's expensive if you want to stick with its proper recommendations, even the optional 5" Rupes Backing Plate will set you back $44.99, and that's the sale price! [reg. $49.99]

Rupes pads are $12.99 each for 7" size.
LC HD Orbital Pads are $13.99 each for 7"

Congratulations on your upgrade. You can run with the big dogs now. No one said it was going to be cheap. Lol.
My advice is choose your pads wisely, but don't skimp just to save these last few bucks.. You're already in too deep.
 
Thats some great info right there my friend! Thank you a ton.

Im not new to polishing, just to these machines. I greatly appreciate it...

So with the 6" BP on my Rupes 21, would you recommend ordering the 7" LC HD Pads, or the 6" pads?

It seems as though either Rupes pads are undersized, or the LC pads are oversized. LOL.
 
Get some Rupes pads for both your Rupes machines.
 
Re: Favorite Pads & Size on the BigFoot LHR 21 Mark II ?

Eldorado2k said:
Congratulations on your upgrade. You can run with the big dogs now. No one said it was going to be cheap. Lol.
My advice is choose your pads wisely, but don't skimp just to save these last few bucks.. You're already in too deep.
Click to expand...

So, so true. It still stings though.

I want to buy a Flex PE-8. All you get is the polisher. I started shopping to put the needed item in my cart (1", 2", 3" backing plates, pads for each size and you know you can't buy just 1 pad for each size) and the price is almost 150 bucks. Oh yeah and the polisher in not in the cart yet. I wonder am I better of buying a ibrid nano. At least it comes with everything.

Sheeesh.
 
Favorite Pads & Size on the BigFoot LHR 21 Mark II ?

TwistedAutoDetail said:
So with the 6" BP on my Rupes 21, would you recommend ordering the 7" LC HD Pads, or the 6" pads?

It seems as though either Rupes pads are undersized, or the LC pads are oversized. LOL.
Click to expand...

Yea that's the thing... Personally I currently want the biggest pads I can have, but I've yet to pull the trigger on a good set of 7" LC Orbitals because I currently have enough pads, so it's more of a want than a need right now. [not to mention a good set isn't going to be cheap!] lol.

So for the time being, I like the fact that these current 6" LC pads are about as big as the 7" Rupes pads. I can only imagine how much bigger the 7" LC pads are going to be.

That 2nd Rupes polisher you bought is made to run 4" pads? If so, I would stick to the 6" backing plate your Rupes 21 came with and equip it with 7" pads.
Just my 2 cents.
I'm sure Rupes owners will be able to post their thoughts based on their experience with the polisher.
 
Re: Favorite Pads & Size on the BigFoot LHR 21 Mark II ?

i bought the mark II 15 it is great i would stick with the pads. its all 1 system for a reason
 
Re: Favorite Pads & Size on the BigFoot LHR 21 Mark II ?

runrun411 said:
So, so true. It still stings though.

I want to buy a Flex PE-8. All you get is the polisher. I started shopping to put the needed item in my cart (1", 2", 3" backing plates, pads for each size and you know you can't buy just 1 pad for each size) and the price is almost 150 bucks. Oh yeah and the polisher in not in the cart yet. I wonder am I better of buying a ibrid nano. At least it comes with everything.

Sheeesh.
Click to expand...

They sell a Flex PE8 starter kit that includes 3 BPs and a ton of pads. Just FYI:
FLEX PE8 Kompakt Rotary Polisher Complete Starter Kit
 
TwistedAutoDetail said:
I know it "may increase vibration" ... but what are your thoughts on running different pads with this machine?

I already blew the budget out of the water on getting my machines, so when I go to re-stock on pads if I can cut some costs I really need to.
Click to expand...


This topic comes up often enough, usually it's about using the RUPES polishers with non RUPES pads AND non RUPES products and my recommendation follows along the line of the title of my RUPES how-to book,

300_4_book.jpg



Note the title isn't how to use the RUPES polishers... It's how to use the RUPES Paint Polishing System


That is, RUPES is a system, not a tool. If you decide to go RUPES then go big and get the entire system.

Why?

Because the system works. That's a fact. Once you become an expert with their system then start experimenting with non RUPES pads and products and then IF you have success more power to you. If however you run into problems, you know how to recover and that's to get back to the system.


My 2 cents for what it's worth...

Congrats on the new tool.



:dblthumb2:
 
Mike thank you a bunch. I value your opinion greatly, as well as those that posted in here. I'll definitely purchase the Rupes brand pads to go with it.

Wanted to also say thank you on getting my order shipped to me in such a timely fashion. I'm a firm believer in AutoGeek now. 100%.

Thank you a bunch good sir! It's awesome to hear from "the man" himself, Mike Phillips.

Have a great weekend, and I'll be placing another order shortly to get the quantity of pads I'll be needing. What came in my kit is definitely enough to get me going with this system, but of course additional will have to be bought!

-Matt
 
I have the Rupes 21mkii and while I do have all the Rupes pads, I find that I do like the the lake country HD orbitals and well the the thinpro pads and the occasional meguiars microfiber pad. I only use the mark21 with 6.5-7 inch pads. If I need smaller I also have a g21 set up with a 5 inch backing plate so I can use 5.5-6 inch pads. All of the same ones listed. However, I do use the BOSS microfiber pads on the G21.
 
I use Rupes pads on my Rupes machines. The lack of durability of the green pad has been well documented, so take it easy on the greens and don't get them too hot. I like to use Meguires microfiber pads on my Rupes especially when using CarPro Essence. Only use Rupes polishes with Rupes pads. The solvents in some polishes (Menzerma) will cause Rupes pads to delaminate. YMMV.
 
Buff and shine uro tech pads are very similar to rupes pads, I can't tell the difference ( but I am not a pro). Look for a 12 pack and save big when buff ans shine go on sale. I can only comment on the yellow and white because I have yet to do any heavy cutting with my rupes.
 
Re: Favorite Pads & Size on the BigFoot LHR 21 Mark II ?

When I got my Rupes, I started with the Zephir (blue), and Keramik (yellow) gels and foam pads. I already had their microfiber pads on hand and was already using them with my other tools and products.
 
The boss microfibers work great on the Rupes.

Meguiar's polishes and compounds work with the Rupes pads. I would recommend picking up the Rupes polishes as well including the UHS system.
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
This topic comes up often enough, usually it's about using the RUPES polishers with non RUPES pads AND non RUPES products and my recommendation follows along the line of the title of my RUPES how-to book,

300_4_book.jpg



Note the title isn't how to use the RUPES polishers... It's how to use the RUPES Paint Polishing System


That is, RUPES is a system, not a tool. If you decide to go RUPES then go big and get the entire system.

Why?

Because the system works. That's a fact. Once you become an expert with their system then start experimenting with non RUPES pads and products and then IF you have success more power to you. If however you run into problems, you know how to recover and that's to get back to the system.


My 2 cents for what it's worth...

Congrats on the new tool.



:dblthumb2:
Click to expand...

Hello Mike,

I bought a LHR15MKII with a few pads thinking It would work great with my current line of compound and polishes. I could never achieve the results that everyone are bragging about. The blue pad would leave some swirls and the yellow pad wouldn't buff them out. Tried different techniques, pressure without success. Very frustrating to say the least. Then I decided to give the Rupes compound and polish a try. Oh boy what a difference. Instant result without even trying.

I don't have enough experience with different pad/polish combo but if you're looking for a no-brainer solution, the Rupes system works very well.
 
My fav pad in the world now are Rupes yellow pads with Keramik. I can literally do a one step on my car and not even finish with the white pad it's that good
 
Re: Favorite Pads & Size on the BigFoot LHR 21 Mark II ?

idriveblackcars said:
My fav pad in the world now are Rupes yellow pads with Keramik. I can literally do a one step on my car and not even finish with the white pad it's that good
Click to expand...

Here is a 50/50 of a 34 Ford I used that combo on. The level of gloss I get from Keramik on yellow pads is ridiculous!

For even more defect removal, I use their yellow microfiber pads. Love them. Love everything about that system....
 
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