Rupes 15 on Vertical Panel

[mbpress01]

Being new to detailing and reading Mike's book and watching various videos, I could get the Rupes 15 to spin great on the horizontal panels and really do some serious correction with great results. I know Mike did a video on using the Flex on verticals but since that has forced rotation it is not the same. For the verticals on a car I just did, I found it incredibly hard to keep the Rupes 15 pad spinning and had to switch to the Rupes mini, which added huge amounts of time but worked.

Is there any comments/tips/videos specifically for the Rupes 15 with 6 inch pads that would help one keep the pad spinning?

Any comments appreciated.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Being new to detailing and reading Mike's book and watching various videos, I could get the Rupes 15 to spin great on the horizontal panels and really do some serious correction with great results. I know Mike did a video on using the Flex on verticals but since that has forced rotation it is not the same. For the verticals on a car I just did, I found it incredibly hard to keep the Rupes 15 pad spinning and had to switch to the Rupes mini, which added huge amounts of time but worked.

Is there any comments/tips/videos specifically for the Rupes 15 with 6 inch pads that would help one keep the pad spinning?

Any comments appreciated.

It's really going to come down to technique and the technique is going to be keeping the pad flat to the surface with just a little more than the weight of the machine as far as applied pressure to the head of the tool.

It's been a while since I watched this video so I'm not sure what's all in it but I did buff out the entire car so this means the veridical sides...

finish...

[video=youtube_share;v7FjGcMCTEg&hd=1"]RUPES Bigfoot 21 versus 15 [/video]​

The paint started out like this....

Ended up like this...

 

[CCC4me]

Being new to detailing and reading Mike's book and watching various videos, I could get the Rupes 15 to spin great on the horizontal panels and really do some serious correction with great results. I know Mike did a video on using the Flex on verticals but since that has forced rotation it is not the same. For the verticals on a car I just did, I found it incredibly hard to keep the Rupes 15 pad spinning and had to switch to the Rupes mini, which added huge amounts of time but worked.

Is there any comments/tips/videos specifically for the Rupes 15 with 6 inch pads that would help one keep the pad spinning?

Any comments appreciated.

Look up "Rupes washer mod". There are a few threads floating around about it. It (combined with some technique practice) is supposed to really help keep the Rupes spinning.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I just re-watched the time lapse video and while it does show me buffing the vertical sides there's really no tips or anything you can see that could help.

But it can be done as that car left here swirl-free and neither tool had the washer mod.

 

[swanicyouth]

I know you all will think I'm crazy - but, is your Rupes a brand new machine? I mean, is like the first few times you have used it?

Because I have noticed the machine loosens up after a while and spins better.

Also, I recommend Rupes pads and polishes - and not priming the pad. Only minimal amount of polish is required. So, pads don't become saturated and heavy.

 

[mbpress01]

Machine is a brand new machine and is only used for weekend warrior detailing. I only use the rupes pads polishes and follow their system exactly. I just bought the Duetto and will be getting rid of the 15 - leaves me with the 12 and the mini.

It is just too hard to work on verticals for a weekend warrior like me that only needs medium to light correction.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

If you're within driving range to Autogeek we're going to be using all Rupes on this project and it has a LOT of verticle realestate....


Sign up: 1965 Chevy C10 Fleetside Extreme Makeover!

 

[allenk4]

I know you all will think I'm crazy - but, is your Rupes a brand new machine? I mean, is like the first few times you have used it?

Because I have noticed the machine loosens up after a while and spins better.

Also, I recommend Rupes pads and polishes - and not priming the pad. Only minimal amount of polish is required. So, pads don't become saturated and heavy.

I suspect you subconsciously adapted your technique during the first several uses of the Rupes machine.

I found that the forced rotation of my FLEX 3401 actually caused my technique to suffer, because it will spin no matter what.

I only noticed when I later used my Porter Cable that I wasn't keeping the pad as flat as possible and I was loosing rotation.

 

[Tato]

allenk4, nice statement, I felt the same. The forced rotation can mistake the operator so it's always good to beware of technique. I felt the same when I got my Rupes, so adapting technique for Rupes improved my Flex polishing as well.

The 'Tips for Rupes 15 (I only have 21, but...) on Vertical Panel' are at the first line of Mike Phillips's answer in bold.

It's really going to come down to technique and the technique is going to be keeping the pad flat to the surface with just a little more than the weight of the machine as far as applied pressure to the head of the tool.

When you are polishing horizontal panels, the machine weight is enough to give the machine correct feel and release the spinning of the pad.

When you're polishing the vertical panels, the weight of machine will not be operating. Since the Rupes has an 'anti-spin' mechanism, if you don't give the machine the feel of it's weight being placed, it'll avoid spinning.

That said, when polishing vertical panels with the Rupes, try to simulate (with your hand on the head of the polisher) the weight of the machine, a little little bit more to keep the pad flat, and it'll free the spin for you.

The machine will teach you the right way, it's just a matter of placing it with correct message and it'll free the anti-spin mechanism.

Few times you do it right, the positive feedback (plenty of pad spinning) will teach your body and mind how to work the machine.

Hope that helps,

Kind Regards.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Being new to detailing and reading Mike's book and watching various videos, I could get the Rupes 15 to spin great on the horizontal panels and really do some serious correction with great results. I know Mike did a video on using the Flex on verticals but since that has forced rotation it is not the same. For the verticals on a car I just did, I found it incredibly hard to keep the Rupes 15 pad spinning and had to switch to the Rupes mini, which added huge amounts of time but worked.

Is there any comments/tips/videos specifically for the Rupes 15 with 6 inch pads that would help one keep the pad spinning?

Any comments appreciated.

What kind of car were you working on?

 

[mbpress01]

Thanks for all the comments. A major issue not previously communicated was that the Lexus GS 350 and the 2009 Caddy (the cars i worked on) have vertically curved panels (although the curve is somewhat slight). The Caddy got the full correction and the Lexus will be done after Mike's class in September.

It is probably my technique but the pad just stopped rotating no matter what i did. I pressed harder at times (didn't work) and then resorted to "tilting" the machine and only getting 30-40 percent of the pad on panel; i don't think i did any damage to the paint but the tilting worked ok. Finally, I pretty much gave up trying to be efficient and only did small sections (maybe 15 inches by 15 inches) very slowly with tilting and that worked but only immaterially better. I then switched to the rupes mini and that worked perfectly but took so much time I was basically ready to call it a day and call a professional to do the correction for me.

I mentioned that the Rupes 15 is a goner and will offload it at a loss (it is too heavy and just too hard for me to learn) and will try again with the Duetto that I think will definitely work better - at least for me. Other forum members have commented as such on the switch out. It seems very similar to the mini and theoretically will be easier to keep flat. I don't need heavy correction and don't do this for a living so having the best "handleable" machine is what i need.

Key for me is ease of use and efficiency.

Again comments appreciated of course.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Key for me is ease of use.

Then DO NOT consider the Flex 3401, especially on vertical panels. However, the 3401 will get the job done. Albeit, much more energy required.

The Duetto is a nice machine. I'd recommend doing to the washer mod.

 

[Bunky]

I think a lot has to do with body position and how you choose areas. The more you extend your arms the more it can cause aches and the more you move it outside directly in front of you can create more effort. The Flex and Rupes 15 has a longer rear end that say the Griot's so that can force you to want to rotate as you polish.

 

[mg6045]

The Duetto will resolve this problem for you. the huge chassis of the 15 makes it harder to balance the machine on a vertical panel. with the Duetto you can pretty much just hold the head with one hand and balance the back with the other (I know, sounds like the same technique with the 15, but trust me the Duetto is far more user friendly).

Add to that the fact that the 12mm orbit stroke is smaller, will also make things easier.

I would also recommend the washer mod, and yes the machine will loosen up as well as your technique will get better with it.

There was NO way I could polish out all the curves on a 5 series with the 15 effectively. But with the duetto I was able to do 85% of the car. The last 15% I finished with the mini.

I disagree about the rupes pads. I actually found LC Orange and Crimson pads to rotate easier on the rupes. (Low Pro pads of course).

Dont feel bad, when I bought the 15 and tried it the first time, it literally only stayed in my hands for about 15 minutes before I pulled out the GG6. I was pretty upset with my purchase. but I gave the duetto a chance and did the washer mod first thing on it and never looked back to the GG6. I think the Duetto is the machine to have.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

There was NO way I could polish out all the curves on a 5 series with the 15 effectively. But with the duetto I was able to do 85% of the car. The last 15% I finished with the mini.

Yet you'll get people saying it's your technique.