I'm DUMBFOUNDED! A FLEX 3401 vs. Rupes LH19 Rotary.

DanaDetailingPros

DanaDetailingPros

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Went to a regular clients today for a roof only job for a Christmas gift for her roommate. I already had a pretty good idea what shape the roof was in. She had sent pictures and described the rest of the car was fine. After a good decon I went straight to a blue Rupes foam with the 3401 and 3D ACA 510 After a small test area I felt It was definitely going to need the rotary! I first tried a Blue wool/Corse w/same compound. And it didn't produce as good of results as the BEAST! HUM..... OK I then went for the old school wool w/same compound. Still not the results I got from the Beast! Now I am really DUMBFOUNDED!!!! So I went back to the BEAST and the blue Ruped pad and just finished off with very nice results. But WTH I even laid into it with the wool pretty good! Not just flat either! So it took 4 good long slow passes to clean it up! I was hoping the rotary (1 good pass) and finish up with the 3401.

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Very interesting.

Sometimes these things happen.

I consistently out cut the 3401 with my Porter Cable. The only reason I could come up with was my familiarity with it. That's for heavy correction though. The 3401 works great for me with one steps or cleaner wax jobs - even though I typically use the 7424xp or the Rupes Duetto.

How did you like that blue pad with the 3D?
 
dlc95 said:
Very interesting.

Sometimes these things happen.

I consistently out cut the 3401 with my Porter Cable. The only reason I could come up with was my familiarity with it. That's for heavy correction though. The 3401 works great for me with one steps or cleaner wax jobs - even though I typically use the 7424xp or the Rupes Duetto.

How did you like that blue pad with the 3D?
Click to expand...

That Pad is a work horse. I'm pretty stingy with my HDO CCS Blue's But I tried 205/Cuttmax and Fast correcting cream and the ACA 510 was the strongest musket:)
But I'm almost embarrassed to say how long it took. 3.5 hours but that included decon/Bilt H. then Slick N Slide foam C. and wipe down dusting a bit. She gave me a nice 50% tip though.
 
DanaDetailingPros said:
That Pad is a work horse. I'm pretty stingy with my HDO CCS Blue's But I tried 205/Cuttmax and Fast correcting cream and the ACA 510 was the strongest musket:)
But I'm almost embarrassed to say how long it took. 3.5 hours but that included decon/Bilt H. then Slick N Slide foam C. and wipe down dusting a bit. She gave me a nice 50% tip though.
Click to expand...

I was VERY impressed with how fast the DA Coarse with the blue coarse rupes wool pad leveled the paint. I was also impressed with the amount of dust it produced - would have been perfect if that's what I was going after - dust!

But my muskets of choice are indeed the 3D offerings. As of today it's the ACA500. I do plan on picking up the Rupes pads again at some point, but this time I'm going to use them with my 3D abrasives.

I don't know why I didn't do that before...
 
dlc95 said:
Very interesting.

Sometimes these things happen.

I consistently out cut the 3401 with my Porter Cable. The only reason I could come up with was my familiarity with it. That's for heavy correction though. The 3401 works great for me with one steps or cleaner wax jobs - even though I typically use the 7424xp or the Rupes Duetto.

How did you like that blue pad with the 3D?
Click to expand...

Flash Gordon said:
Nice job. Your already getting pro results
Click to expand...

dlc95 said:
I was VERY impressed with how fast the DA Coarse with the blue coarse rupes wool pad leveled the paint. I was also impressed with the amount of dust it produced - would have been perfect if that's what I was going after - dust!

But my muskets of choice are indeed the 3D offerings. As of today it's the ACA500. I do plan on picking up the Rupes pads again at some point, but this time I'm going to use them with my 3D abrasives.

I don't know why I didn't do that before...
Click to expand...

Yea I'm just fortunate you guy's all steered me with the GOODS! I'm almost out of 3D One 16oz and will most likely grab a gallon. As for the Cuttmax and 205 I'm sure they will have there day. Just not on such a brutal job! Only one I didn't grab was the Menzerna 400.
 
DanaDetailingPros said:
Yea I'm just fortunate you guy's all steered me with the GOODS! I'm almost out of 3D One 16oz and will most likely grab a gallon. As for the Cuttmax and 205 I'm sure they will have there day. Just not on such a brutal job! Only one I didn't grab was the Menzerna 400.
Click to expand...

If you already have the Cutmax, you can skip the Menzerna 400. I liked the sonax Ultimate Cut and Cut & Finish more than I liked the Menzerna.

The 400 has a very strong solvent that gives me a really bad headache. That is the main reason I tend to use 3D and Optimum polishes and compounds.

The 3D ONE covers so many bases for me though. I find it fun to use. Makes me look forward to going to work!
 
DanaDetailingPros said:
Yea I'm just fortunate you guy's all steered me with the GOODS! I'm almost out of 3D One 16oz and will most likely grab a gallon. As for the Cuttmax and 205 I'm sure they will have there day. Just not on such a brutal job! Only one I didn't grab was the Menzerna 400.
Click to expand...

If you already have the Cutmax, you can skip the Menzerna 400. I liked the sonax Ultimate Cut and Cut & Finish more than I liked the Menzerna.

The 400 has a very strong solvent that gives me a really bad headache. That is the main reason I tend to use 3D and Optimum polishes and compounds.

The 3D ONE covers so many bases for me though. I find it fun to use. Makes me look forward to going to work!
 
dlc95 said:
If you already have the Cutmax, you can skip the Menzerna 400. I liked the sonax Ultimate Cut and Cut & Finish more than I liked the Menzerna.

The 400 has a very strong solvent that gives me a really bad headache. That is the main reason I tend to use 3D and Optimum polishes and compounds.

The 3D ONE covers so many bases for me though. I find it fun to use. Makes me look forward to going to work!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the glowing review, I’m sold. FG400 has long been my go-to first step for moderate to heavy correction, and yes, the VOCs are… noticeable :laughing:. I’ve used Speed a few times for quickie once-and-dones, but it never caught my attention like D151 Reconditioning Cream did a decade ago, or — even more strikingly — the DAMF system on a PC did after years of cursing the “old ways.”
 
That rupes blue is a HEAVY cutter for me, doesnt get much use here though.
 
I'm weighing whether just getting a 3D ONE gallon and been done with it! Or 32oz and speaking of speed! Now that to me is pure joy to use. I can dam near blow it off when it's dried. Nice a$$ results also!
I swear resupplying product to me is like buying new underwear. NO GLAMOUR:(
I just saw the prices. It's really a no brainier if your using almost 32oz a month. $50 for 32oz and $150 gallon. So basically buy 3 get 1 free!
 
DanaDetailingPros said:
I'm weighing whether just getting a 3D ONE gallon and been done with it! Or 32oz and speaking of speed! Now that to me is pure joy to use. I can dam near blow when is dried. Nice a$$ results also!
I swear resupplying product to me is like buying new underwear. NO GLAMOUR:(
I just saw the prices. It's really a no brainer if your using almost 32oz a month. $50 for 32 and $150 gallon. So basically buy 3 get 1 free!
Click to expand...

Nice breakdown!

Right now, my volume is good with just the 32oz bottles. Hope it changes though!

I do use it at work too. Right now I bring my own, but I'm going to have the boss order me a bottle or two.

I have the 65 Oz jugs of the Optimun polishes. I didn't realize how little you use of their products. Probably going to off them. I use 3D more often anyways.
 
Prices won't be going down anytime soon. I would order the gallon if you can swing it. Justify by telling yourself your hedging against inflation
 
dlc95 said:
Nice breakdown!

Right now, my volume is good with just the 32oz bottles. Hope it changes though!

I do use it at work too. Right now I bring my own, but I'm going to have the boss order me a bottle or two.

I have the 65 Oz jugs of the Optimun polishes. I didn't realize how little you use of their products. Probably going to off them. I use 3D more often anyways.
Click to expand...

Flash Gordon said:
Prices won't be going down anytime soon. I would order the gallon if you can swing it. Justify by telling yourself your hedging against inflation
Click to expand...

He should get you a bottle! Your not in the charity business at work:)
 
dlc95 said:
If you already have the Cutmax, you can skip the Menzerna 400. I liked the sonax Ultimate Cut and Cut & Finish more than I liked the Menzerna.

The 400 has a very strong solvent that gives me a really bad headache. That is the main reason I tend to use 3D and Optimum polishes and compounds.

The 3D ONE covers so many bases for me though. I find it fun to use. Makes me look forward to going to work!
Click to expand...

Out of 3D ACA 500 or 510/Sonax Ultimate Cut 6 Plus and Cuttmax and anything you would recommend-grab for the worst correction job your faced with what would you prefer Dic?
 
Flash Gordon said:
Prices won't be going down anytime soon. I would order the gallon if you can swing it. Justify by telling yourself your hedging against inflation
Click to expand...

I really scored! $125 for a gallon and no tax. $14 shipping but got a few thing no one else had and they did.CDS
 
DanaDetailingPros said:
He should get you a bottle! Your not in the charity business at work:)
Click to expand...

Well, I'm probably shifting to an independent contractor. I need to find a way out of having to apply those ceramic coatings. Every time I do a car with them it's a complete disaster. Plus, I can charge a little more and have time to tend to much business at home.
 
DanaDetailingPros said:
Out of 3D ACA 500 or 510/Sonax Ultimate Cut 6 Plus and Cutmax and anything you would recommend-grab for the worst correction job your faced with what would you prefer Dic?
Click to expand...
A 510 since I'm down on that and also grabbed a 32 oz of the Ultimate Cut 6. I also found a detail Body Shop supplier on the other side of the coast and I noticed from there narrowed selection and mostly only available in gallons that they stock the most favorable lines. They had 3D One and Speed only and carried 3M Perfect it in 1, 2 and 3 I have 2 and wish I had 1 to put it head to head with what we are talking about. I did grab 3D ONE in a gallon from them and saved me $25 which was the best price anywhere! So now I get to try a new compound. Ultimate Cut 6:)
 
DanaDetailingPros said:
A 510 since I'm down on that and also grabbed a 32 oz of the Ultimate Cut 6. I also found a detail Body Shop supplier on the other side of the coast and I noticed from there narrowed selection and mostly only available in gallons that they stock the most favorable lines. They had 3D One and Speed only and carried 3M Perfect it in 1, 2 and 3 I have 2 and wish I had 1 to put it head to head with what we are talking about. I did grab 3D ONE in a gallon from them and saved me $25 which was the best price anywhere! So now I get to try a new compound. Ultimate Cut 6:)
Click to expand...

Ask for a sample. 3M makes great compounds
 
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