$ for $ best buffer

Deep18

Deep18

New member
Joined
May 18, 2013
Messages
69
Reaction score
0
Dollar for Dollar what's your pick? Rupes, Porter Cable, Flex, something cool I've never heard about. All around use (compounding, polishing, waxing/sealing).

Feed back please
 
I will say either the Flex or the Rupes.

No I will not get into a discussion on which on is better:nomore:
 
It's largely subjective and depends on your needs. If you are going to use it to correct paint once a month or less I think GG6 is your answer. If you correct paint once or more a week I think rupes or flex is your best bet.

The real advantage to the more expensive and powerful machines is that they save time. If you aren't doing this for money, saving less than an hour on a car isn't that big of a deal, if you are buffing out a car or two a day then saving the time is worth the extra investment.
 
I love my flex but have a rupes 75e mini with 4" coming for rids correction and intricate work. They are both awesome machines! I just wish rupes would make a forced rotation machine! Take your pick though as neither could be a wrong choice!
 
Dollar for dollar? GG6 for sure. Slightly better then the porter cable. And even if your detailing every day you will still be using it!
 
I love my Flex 3401 ... .but haven't tried all the Rupes offerings.
 
Since I only do detailing on the side I'll only speak for the beginners and casual users. The griots is definitely my pick. It has more power that competitor's machines and the lifetime warranty - just can't beat it for the money.
 
Makita rotary with a dynabrade head. Get the best of rotary and long throw DA
 
Rsurfer said:
How heavy is that set up?
Click to expand...

Bout 84 pounds! Haha
Probably close to 9lbs I'd guess. I had tried one at a bodyshop once, the dynabrade attachment feels wrong.

I also think the best tool depends on your needs. How often you use it, and how much you want to spend. For keeping up your own vehicles, the GG6 is obviously the cheapest choice. But if you like the finer things in life, definitely a flex or rupes.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using AG Online
 
Dollar for dollar, I'd say the GG6 has to be a great candidate for that prize.

I mean to say, for the price it succeeds at doing whatever job you have at hand, and has a lifetime warranty. That is pretty hard to beat!

Is it as smooth as the Rupes? Does it have forced rotation like the Flex? Can it correct as fast as either of them? Likely not.

Can you buy THREE of them and dedicate one to 4" (and 3"), another to 5½" and yet another to 6½" duty for LESS than a Flex or Rupes kit with backing plates to do all three? You BETCHA! (Actually the Rupes and Flex can not do all three.)

Will the Flex and Rupes correct faster?
Oh yeah. ;)

All the same logic applies to the choice of a random orbit buffer that applies to watches and cars. You can tell time with a $15 Timex, or a $15,000 Rolex... they both end in "ex". Just as you can drive to work in a Prius or a Tesla, both have batteries as their primary drive. Neither one will save you any 'time' getting to work, but the second choice makes sure you spend more TIME AT WORK. (To pay for it.) Whereas the secondary choice(s) of a buffer can indeed save you time. :dunno:

It's all a choice of more than functionality, it's a choice of "style". :D
 
Actually dollar for dollar, you absolutely cannot beat the Harbor Freight. Much more powerful than a Porter Cable 7424XP, slightly less powerful than a Griot Garage 6", and a third the price.
 
For the money ?
Can't beat the GG6.
Works as good as a Flex for a much better price.
Plus they give you a lifetime warranty on the GG6.
Try getting that with other companies.

Rupes can and will bog down at times but not the GG6, go figure. :)
 
Rsurfer said:
How heavy is that set up?
Click to expand...
The head adds 2# 5oz (with the Dynabrade backing plate--not a smaller one) to your favorite rotary. My old Hitachi weighs in at 9# 10oz making a 12# combo for me.
 
If you're starting out and want to see if detailing is a hobby you'd like to pursue, get the HF DA.

Otherwise, Flex 3401 with the Lake Country changeable backing plate kit. The 5" Hybrid pads are the only pads worth using on a Flex. With the 5" pad, the Flex is just as smooth as the Rupes.
 
$ 4 $ the GG6 has to win -

Power: top in class for a free spinning DA

Warranty: til death do us part...

Versatility: can accept pads from 3-6.5". It takes almost $700 in Rupes equipment to do that.

Price: pretty good. Also comes with a useable BP and bale handle.

User friendliness: pretty good. Chances are high the newest nooblet can take it out of the box and polish something without ruining it, burning through it, or leaving holograms all over it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top