New Metabo Rotary - Black BMW 740iL

[Totoland Mach]

I finally got a new Metabo PE12-175 and have to say, it is the best rotary I've ever used....absolutely the best! The shop has 2 DeWalts and after a few minutes of the dealer trying out the Metabo, he is going to sell the DeWalts and order another Metabo. Light weight, easy start motor, ergonomically friendly...all the right stuff for a production shop.

I also used a small backing plate for more control and to use the smaller foam pads on tight areas of the car: bottom portion of front/rear bumpers, mirror housings, A Pillars, plastic panels, etc. What a joy to use!

I also found that using a "moderate" polishing pad like the Meguiar's 8006 is more versatile and speeds up working on black cars. This black 740iL was identical to the last one I posted (except for a tan interior) and I finished the car in less than 1/2 the time of the other one....that's progress IMO.

Here's some pics!

Before Shots: Swirled pretty much everywhere, but no paint gouges.

Work in progress

A good area to show before and after was the trunk lip:

Side by side progress

Swirl removal of the trunk lip. I had already finished the lower portion (which is plastic)

Hood reflection with the garage door open

Outside shot after power washing BUT before applying #26

Another outside shot before my LSP

All-in-all, the Metabo is one of the nicest working tools I've ever used. With 2 sizes of backing plates, I can quickly switch pad diameters according to the work I'm doing.

Here's the work cart....loaded up and ready for work.

Toto

 

[Nica]

Toto

Glad to see you using the Metabo, I just gone one too. Very nice machine, it lives up to its reputation. So easy on the hands and you just don't get tired working on it...well that's what I've noticed.

Toto you always get the "special" vehicles don't you. You do great work Toto and I like the set up you got going, that little tray is very nice.

Keep us posted on the Metabo, I'm enjoying mine. I've heard some one say that what makes the Metabo such a great polisher is because it was meant to polish nothing else just polish....well it can grind too.

 

[ryandamartini]

next thing is to move to the edge2k pads

 

[P1et]

Don't let Ryan see that you're using Menzerna!!!

 

[Mike T]

Looks beautiful. Great job.

 

[Totoland Mach]

next thing is to move to the edge2k pads

I don't think Edge2K pads are in the bigger sizes for rotaries. As it is now, I can swap pads between the Metabo and the DeWalt, or use the 6" backing plate on one machine and the 8" on the other.

I do hope AG can carry the Menzerma line! If they do (hint, hint) stock a few of the gallon-size containers. We are going to phase out our 3M compound and use the Menzerma compound + 106FF as our 2 step process.

The cart: Let's see, I've got a bottle of Klasse, Meg's 83 (gallon on the lower shelf), the purple colored squeeze bottle is XMT Glaze with Carnuba, at the very left edge of the pic is XMT #1 (love that stuff for light work!).

I'm an Equal Opportunity product user!

Toto

 

[Nuke33]

I want to move up to a rotary at some point. Car looks great!

 

[Juztang]

How bad does it sling product on start up? Just wondering since it doesn't have a trigger. I've been thinking about getting one of these for a while now. I will probably end up selling the Hitachi and moving up to the Metabo. I think I will really like the light weight of the machine.

 

[Totoland Mach]

How bad does it sling product on start up? Just wondering since it doesn't have a trigger. I've been thinking about getting one of these for a while now. I will probably end up selling the Hitachi and moving up to the Metabo. I think I will really like the light weight of the machine.

It actually minimizes product sling at start up because it "ramps up" to the speed setting. This few seconds gives you time to hit your product line on the finish and spread it. The DeWalt is a torque monster in that regard. Pull the trigger and you are instantly there. I'm sure the body shop folks that use a big DeWalt can show me how...but the Metabo works great for me.

Also, we've had to repair the DeWalt's triggers 2 times as the trigger lock breaks. Hopefully, the maintenance on the Metabo will be better.

Another feature of the Metabo is the spline lock. I like to use big pads on big sheet metal and smaller pads for fender curves, bumpers, etc. Simply press the spline lock, spin the backing plate off and put on the one you want. Couple of seconds to change.

Toto

 

[Nica]

Another feature of the Metabo is the spline lock. I like to use big pads on big sheet metal and smaller pads for fender curves, bumpers, etc. Simply press the spline lock, spin the backing plate off and put on the one you want. Couple of seconds to change.

Toto

Hey Toto is that the red button on top of the machine? If that's the case that makes more sense now.

 

[ryandamartini]

I don't think Edge2K pads are in the bigger sizes for rotaries. As it is now, I can swap pads between the Metabo and the DeWalt, or use the 6" backing plate on one machine and the 8" on the other.

I do hope AG can carry the Menzerma line! If they do (hint, hint) stock a few of the gallon-size containers. We are going to phase out our 3M compound and use the Menzerma compound + 106FF as our 2 step process.

The cart: Let's see, I've got a bottle of Klasse, Meg's 83 (gallon on the lower shelf), the purple colored squeeze bottle is XMT Glaze with Carnuba, at the very left edge of the pic is XMT #1 (love that stuff for light work!).

I'm an Equal Opportunity product user!

Toto

Hehe I have no problem with ya using Menzerna, it is a great product, I just dont like manzerna advertising..

They do make 8" pads Toto!

The Edge 2000 Wave 8 inch Foam Pads

You know you wanna

 

[BILL]

It actually minimizes product sling at start up because it "ramps up" to the speed setting. This few seconds gives you time to hit your product line on the finish and spread it. The DeWalt is a torque monster in that regard. Pull the trigger and you are instantly there. I'm sure the body shop folks that use a big DeWalt can show me how...but the Metabo works great for me.

Also, we've had to repair the DeWalt's triggers 2 times as the trigger lock breaks. Hopefully, the maintenance on the Metabo will be better.

Another feature of the Metabo is the spline lock. I like to use big pads on big sheet metal and smaller pads for fender curves, bumpers, etc. Simply press the spline lock, spin the backing plate off and put on the one you want. Couple of seconds to change.

Toto

WHICH MODEL # DID YOU GET???/

 

[Woob]

I do hope AG can carry the Menzerma line! If they do (hint, hint) stock a few of the gallon-size containers. We are going to phase out our 3M compound and use the Menzerma compound + 106FF as our 2 step process.

Told ya! :righton: Menzerna is the way to go. If you ever go out in the sun, Optimum would be your best bet.

 

[Totoland Mach]

Bill: I got the PE12-175 model.

Nica: yeppers, that red button is the spline lock. Press down, spin off the small backing plate, spin on the big one and release the button...off ya go!

Right now, we are going to start phasing out some 3M stock (compound and glaze mostly) by using it up. Then, at re-order time, get some Menzerna if we can find it in the Gallon quantities (I know it exists, but none of the present distributors carry it in the big sizes).

Toto

 

[abrcrombe]

Nice review Toto! How do you like it compared to the festool?

 

[Totoland Mach]

Nice review Toto! How do you like it compared to the festool?

Now that I've used the Metabo on 2 cars, I'd have to say the Festool will be used less and less. The biggest reason for the Festool was plastic body panels and headlight lenses polishing. It's size and ability to switch from random to rotary and it's ergonomics are the biggest features.

The Metabo is a lot smaller and lighter than the DeWalts, plus I use the smaller backing plate with the 6" pads at low speed. I did the bumpers and plastic rockers with it this past weekend on another black 740iL and it worked fantastic. I'd estimate my time spent with these panels decreased by 50% because of the Metabo.

So, one side of my feeble brain says "Metabo" for everything, and the other side doesn't knock the Festool. If I had to choose 1 tool for everything, that would be a tuffie!

Toto

 

[BILL]

Bill: I got the PE12-175 model.

Nica: yeppers, that red button is the spline lock. Press down, spin off the small backing plate, spin on the big one and release the button...off ya go!

Right now, we are going to start phasing out some 3M stock (compound and glaze mostly) by using it up. Then, at re-order time, get some Menzerna if we can find it in the Gallon quantities (I know it exists, but none of the present distributors carry it in the big sizes).

Toto

THANKS:cheers:

 

[Nica]

Sounds to me that Toto is having lots of fun with his new toys, that's good.Thanks for sharing Toto, always look forward to your reviews and your pictures. I do hope that AG seriously considers the Menzerna products because I’ve heard nothing but good things from people that have used it...sorry not trying to pinch a nerve or anything like that, I know the Menzerna topic is really touchy. Don't get me wrong I'm happy with my XMT and that is the only polish I have so far but it's good to venture out and try new things. Please don't take offense to the Menzerna comment.