Rupes 5 Inch 2000 & 3000 Grit Sanding Discs

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Rupes 5 Inch 2000 & 3000 Grit Sanding Discs


Tested out the Rupes Sanding Discs using the Rupes Duetto and took some pictures to show them in action.

Rupes 5" Interface Pad
This goes between the backing plate and the sanding disc to provide flexible cushion which helps the face of the sanding disc to maintain uniform surface contact when sanding curved panels. It can also help reduce the aggressiveness of the sanding action.

Misting some water from a clean sources onto the panel...

The #2000 disc on the 12 millimeter orbit stroke Duetto cuts fast!

The #2000 sanded the panel down very fast...

D.O.I. = Distinction of Image
How well or clear an image is reflected.

Now take note of the DOI of the reflected florescent tube light on the panel.

Sanded clear paint turns white

Re-sand one half with #3000

Sanded...

Less cut = less paint build-up on the sanding disc....

Gloss and reflectivity coming back. - D.O.I. increasing
The side sanded with the #3000 Grit Rupes Sanding Disc will sand out faster and easier while keeping paint temperature lower.

#2000 Grit Side

#3000 Grit Side

Ready to re-sand the #2000 grit side and then buff-out the sanding marks.

The Rupes Sanding Discs are similar to the Mirka Abralon Sanding discs in form and function. I like the 5" diameter size as it makes these discs more usable for thin body panels as compared to the industry standard of 6" diameter.



On Autogeek.net


Rupes Polishers, Polishes and Pads

 

[Andr3wilson]

To be honest I was kind of surprised they came out with the duetto as a sander. 12mm throw is huge.. Most sanders are around the 2-5mm. Super aggressive tho.

 

[Hoytman]

I am wondering, since the Rupes throw is much larger allowing for more aggressive cutting action through increased speed, if this won't be recommended only for more experienced users? Seems like a quicker way for those less experienced to make mistakes. I would like Mike's comments in that regard.

 

[Tato]

Hi, thank you for this another exciting topic.

Which was the speed of choice for sanding with this kit? Can you describe a little how was your technique?

Can't wait to see the 3000 grit side polished to a high gloss, maybe with Rupes MF pads and polishes? Should be great.

What about polishing one side with Rupes MF and other with Rupes Foam Pads?

It would be great to hear your considerations.

Thank you again,


Kind Regards.

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Thanks for putting this together Mike.

Looks like the whole RUPES system is a well thought out systematic approach in everything paint related.

 

[JSou]

Phenomenal. Want.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

To be honest I was kind of surprised they came out with the duetto as a sander. 12mm throw is huge.. Most sanders are around the 2-5mm. Super aggressive tho.

Meguiar's Unigrit Sanding and Finishing Discs are designed for use with tools like the Porter Cable and the Meguiar's G110v2 dual action polishers.

These have a 8mm orbit stroke or basically a 5/16" stroke.

Most finishing sanders are smaller in stroke, like 3/16".

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I am wondering, since the Rupes throw is much larger allowing for more aggressive cutting action through increased speed, if this won't be recommended only for more experienced users?

Definitely helps to have any kind of wetsanding experience...

Here's the real issue... this #2000 grit sanding disc on the Duetto cut like son of gun! I mean it cut fast!


The only time you would catch me using the #2000 grit would be on a custom paint job, that is a car that was painted at a local body shop by a custom painter that KNOWING the car is to be wetsanded was paid extra money for the below three things and thus sprayed extra paint on the car.

• Time
• Labor
• Materials

By doing this, the guy doing the sanding has some film-build to work with and a level or measure of safety margin.


"It's all about the film-build"


I would also ask the car owner if the painter is available to talk to and then drill-down, that is call the painter and ask him how much paint he sprayed? Also ask if he are anyone at his shop sanded and buffed the paint because this means they've already removed paint before I get my hands on it.

As for a factory finish, if someone wants to sand down factory paint the first question I ask is,

Why?

Once all the reasons are established then it's time to talk about #3000 Grit or #5000 Grit or CarPro Denim Orange Peel Removal Pads, not #2000 grit sanding products.

Seems like a quicker way for those less experienced to make mistakes. I would like Mike's comments in that regard.

Using a more aggressive sanding paper by hand or sanding disc by machine is always risking when working on a factory finish because a factory finish is,

• Thin
• Hard

Sanding is easy... that's putting scratches into the paint... the tricky part is getting them out without making a mistake...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

See the sanding marks removed here...

Rupes Microfiber Cutting Disc with Rupes Zephir Gloss Coarse Gel Compound

Here's the Rupes Zephir Gloss Coarse Gel Compound and the new 6" Blue Microfiber Cutting Disc on the new Rupes Duetto 12 mm orbital polisher.

:buffing:

 

[Andr3wilson]

Meguiar's Unigrit Sanding and Finishing Discs are designed for use with tools like the Porter Cable and the Meguiar's G110v2 dual action polishers.

These have a 8mm orbit stroke or basically a 5/16" stroke.

Most finishing sanders are smaller in stroke, like 3/16".

Correct!

I feel for levelling something it would speed the job up nice.

Person I block by hand more than machine, I just like the feel. Typically not doing large areas either (spots, nibs, etc)

Although the one element I need to ask, how does it feel compared to a palm style sander? More down to user preference I guess, but how did you find it to the comparable RUPES palm sander?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Although the one element I need to ask, how does it feel compared to a palm style sander? More down to user preference I guess,

but how did you find it to the comparable RUPES palm sander?

In our garage we have the 3M Orbital Air Sander, the Rupes Orbital Air Sander and my personal orbital air sander I brought with my from California my Dynabrade.

Here's the skinny...

All thread work great and the ergonomics of holding, using and sanding with a palm sander is much better and easier as well as safer than machine sanding with an electric polisher mostly used for paint polishing.

The big picture however is most people don't' own an air compressor with a large enough reserve tank capacity, let alone the air compressing power to maintain the tank capacity to use an air powered air sander.

Here's ours...

Ingersoll Rand Rotary Screw Compressor

But yeah... I like to sand with them. I don't like the stiff air line that goes with using an air powered DA sander.

Also, if any reps for any companies that sell air powered DA sanders are ever reading this into the future, please make it so the throttle is not a slide switch but use some type of ratchet steps in-between speed settings as these things are just way to easy to bump and adjust when your sanding.


You can see the Throttle next to my thumb on the underside of this 3M Air-Powered DA Sander

Out of the three above air sanders I found the 3M and the Rupes to work faster than my Dynabrade but my Dynabrade is a "finishing" sander, it has a smaller orbit stroke length.




3M Random Orbital 6 Inch Air Sander 20325

Machine sanding a 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass with the Rupes Air Sander

This is me using my Dynabrade when I wetsanded the Joker Truck

 

[ARTB155]

Can X Cut foam pads (150 mm) can be used with lower stroke DA Machine than 12 Duetto as I do not have that one.
From Rupes I have LHR 15 Mark II so I was planing to use X Cut Foam pads with Meguiars MT310 which is 8 mm stroke.
Also what machine speed is reccomended for these pads.

Thx

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Can X Cut foam pads (150 mm) can be used with lower stroke DA Machine than 12 Duetto as I do not have that one.

First, do you mean the

RUPES X-Cut Foam Sanding Discs



I just need to clarify because you wrote

X Cut foam pads


Without the word RUPES in the front and using the word pads instead of discs, I don't like to assume what you mean.



But if you do in fact mean,

RUPES X-Cut Foam Sanding Discs


Then the answer is YES you can use these foam backed machine sanding discs from RUPES with 8mm Orbital Polishers like the Griot's Garage 6" DA, the Meguiar's MT300 DA and the Porter Cable 7424XP DA.

From Rupes I have LHR 15 Mark II so I was planing to use X Cut Foam pads with Meguiars MT310 which is 8 mm stroke.

Yes you can use the Meguiar's MT300 to machine sand. Because of the long body it will be a little more awkward and cumbersome to sand with but it will work.

Also what machine speed is recommended for these pads.

Thx

You need to maintain pad rotation.


So mark your backing plate so your eyes can see pad rotation and then adjust the speed dial as needed to maintain pad rotation.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Just add....


I wrote the below article when shortly after Meguiar's introduced their Unigrit discs back in the fall of 2009. My article came out in May of 2010. It's actually the only article I've ever seen on the topic of damp sanding and it is more than in-depth... it's exhaustive.


All the tips and techniques I shared in this how-to article are just as accurate today as when it was written. All the tips and techniques shared in this article appley to ANY brand of sanding disc that is made to be used with water.



Damp-Sanding Tools, Tips and Techniques by Mike Phillips

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Just out of curiosity....


What are you working on?

 

[ARTB155]

Mike

Thank you for your reply.
Yes, I mean about Rupes X Cut Sanding Discs not pads (typing error) so you were in right direction.
I am working on a VW Golf 2005. hood as there are lots of scratches causes by the owner when he try to remove some spillage with scotch brite side of dishes sponge together with some dishes abrasive liquid (in my country it is called Arf and it is very abrasive and used for inox dishes washing).
As there is a lot of clear coat (hood was repainted by previous owner) I had plenty of "space" for sanding.

Thx

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Mike

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, I mean about Rupes X Cut Sanding Discs not pads (typing error) so you were in right direction.

Check.

I am working on a VW Golf 2005. hood as there are lots of scratches causes by the owner when he try to remove some spillage with scotch brite side of dishes sponge together with some dishes abrasive liquid (in my country it is called Arf and it is very abrasive and used for inox dishes washing).

As there is a lot of clear coat (hood was repainted by previous owner) I had plenty of "space" for sanding.

Thx

Good to hear... more paint is better when it comes to sanding....

 

[ARTB155]

Btw. few days ago I received your book about Rupes Polishing System and it is great - probably first in my country Croatia ...

Now looking for your other books to add to my collection.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Btw. few days ago I received your book about Rupes Polishing System and it is great - probably first in my country Croatia ...

Now looking for your other books to add to my collection.

Thank you!

It takes a lot of thinking work to write a book. It's real easy for everyone to post their opinion on a car detailing topic... try compiling an entire book filled with your opinion and then putting it out on the market for peer review worldwide.


Perhaps consider writing a short testimony and send it to Nick for the Autogeek store. Testimonies help others to decide whether or not to go for it.


[email protected]

 

[ARTB155]

Done...Nick will soon recive my email...so lets back on topic ..