Rotary vs. DA

M

Mirror Detailing

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Searched around and couldnt not find a topic like this. So I was curious I see some people will work a car with a Rotary for there first cut on a detail, then switch up to a DA(PC, Flex, etc) for the 2nd/3rd cut/finish. My question is what is the difference or better yet pros/cons to using the DA vs. the Rotary. Every detail I have done I work the first cut with my D849 at 1500-1800 rpms then when I am at the 2nd cut I bring it down to 1300-1500. Last cut for say 3M Ultrafina I work it in at 1k-1400 rpms. What would be the difference in doing the same steps just with a DA in place of the rotary on the last two?
 
My flex certainly has all the power I need.... And then some... Lol. And it sure came highly recommended on this forum from many pros before I bought mine

nonetheless... For a d.a. Polishers I'm absolutely loving the extra power it offers..it's probably the best d.a. money can buy.
 
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mixmaster209 said:
My flex certainly has all the power I need.... And then some... Lol. And it sure came highly recommended on this forum from many pros before I bought mine

nonetheless... For a d.a. Polishers I'm absolutely loving the extra power it offers..it's probably the best d.a. money can buy.
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I would say that you are correct in saying that the Flex has attributes that make it a better machine as for the DA polishers such as the forced rotation. I recently stepped up to a circular polisher for the correction time factor. I understand very well the process and use of the circular polisher. If I were going to purchase a new DA polisher, I would definitely chose the Flex.:dblthumb2:
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
A DA polisher doesn't have anywhere near the rotating power offered by a direct drive tool like a rotary buffer.

Have you ever used a DA polisher like a Porter Cable unit?

:)
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No, always used a Rotary for everything. Just always see some people swap between a DA and a Rotary in their details and was curious as to the pro/con difference in doing that!
 
Mirror Detailing said:
No, always used a Rotary for everything. Just always see some people swap between a DA and a Rotary in their details and was curious as to the pro/con difference in doing that!
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That's what I figured but didn't want to assume anything. There was a time when the chemical side of our industry wasn't as good as it is now and finishing with only a rotary buffer usually meant swirls in the paint even if they were very light. As most of us are perfectionist when it comes to creating a show car finish swirls are not an option and that's where switching from a rotary after the initial cutting steps are finished to a dual action polisher insured a swirl free finish.

When I started out the electric Porter Cable DA Sander had not been introduced to the paint polishing world yet and if my customer had a large air compressor I would use an air-powered DA Sander with a foam pad attached to it for the finishing or jeweling steps.

The Porter Cable was introduced to the paint polishing world near as I can tell by Meguiar's sometime in the early 1990's, before forums and the Internet was around. I have a "Brilliant Solutions" catalog that dates back to 1995 and it shows the Porter Cable DA Polisher with the Porter Cable badge in the catalog.

I don't have any older documentation than this although some may exist.

The catalog on the left dates to 1995
1995BrilSolCat001.jpg


1995BrilSolCat002.jpg


It's kind of fuzzy but you can see it says Porter Cable and then a few years later the same tool was badged with the Meguiar's logo.
1995BrilSolCat004.jpg



So maybe someday check-out a dual action polisher like the new PC 7424XP or even the Meguiar's G110 or the Flex 3401 VRG

:)
 
A lot of people will switch to the DA to ensure a swirl free finish. I base my polisher choice on how they react in my test spots. Size and shape of the vehicle may also be a factor for me.
 
I will have to look into one then soon. I generally have to go 1 step further with the rotary to remove swirls, and if a DA can save me time by not creating those swirls/holograms, it would be worth it!
 
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