First I want to say this is a wonderful site with tons of great information. I was pondering the idea of picking up a rupes polisher to find out from many other sites and YouTube reviews how it does not perform any better than a harbor freight $60 da polisher. Many polishes compounds etc made almost identical from each other but vary so much in price. Basically Same stuff different label. But 5 steps when u only need 2 or 3.. I'm wondering does anyone else see what I'm seeing? Again I'm not putting any names down im just letting everyone know what reviews I have been reading and videos I have seen as well. This is what makes buying stuff so hard lol. I'm all about buying good quality and good stuff the first time because eventually you should have saved your money to buy the better one.
There has yet to be a Rupes that doesn't perform BETTER than a Harbor Freight buffer!
Yes, there are situations where a 21 or 15 will stop rotating due to the increased throw, where the 12 will not.... but even at a 12mm throw the Rupes Duetto has 50% more throw than any other DA out there.
Also, Rupes compounds and polishes are designed as a "system", with color coordinated products & pads. If you follow that system you'll use less product, and get great results.
That however is not to say that you HAVE to use their products with their pads. I certainly reach for other manufacturers compounds and polishes long before I reach for Rupes, (even when working with a Rupes DA) but I do have Rupes compounds and polishes.
Still don't know about the 5-step thing. :dunno:
You can buff a vehicle with as little as 1-step. Just use an AIO product, with a pad that provides the right cut for the paint you are working with, and call it a day.
Want that product to finish down a bit better? Then switch to a finer polishing, or even a finishing pad and work it down from there.
YES..... you CAN do a multi-step compound, polish, fine polish/jeweling process but most don't. Generally you can do anything out there with 2-steps and be done.
Product pricing though I agree with you on. It seems it's all over the ball park.
That said; unless you are looking at a boutique product, your better products are worth what you pay for them. Meguiar's makes great products in all price points, yet some would never pay what M101 runs, although it's worth every dime. Menzerna is more expensive overall, different type of product altogether (DAT vs SMAT) but it's cheaper than Wolfgang (which is made by Menzerna).
The only real thing that makes any sense is this. (
Paraphrased from Mike Phillips btw.)
Find what you like, and use it. Use it a lot, and use it often.
