RUPES Polishers Now Available @ Autogeek!

[Ryry11]

Ive researched the heck outta the 21 and i definately want it, and im so glad ill now be able to purchase it from AG, but i have one question to anyone out there that has used the 21. I thought I heard/read somewhere that with these polishers, you do not need to apply any pressure to the machine while polishing, it does the work for you. Now I'm sure there are certain situations where a little added pressure to the machine will help, but I'm talking in general over the entire panel/car you're buffing. Is this true for those that have used it? I'm a flex 3401 guy and I love the machine, and I find myself adding moderate pressure to the machine when I do correction work. Also, on the 5" backing plate, the website says that the 5" backing plate is not to be used on the 21, but everywhere else people are attaching the 5" backing plate to the 21. Any ideas?

 

[TroyScherer]

Why no mention of the: "washer mod"??

Just curious.



Bob

Bob,

I believe at this point the "washer mod" is aftermarket only...

Its what I consider the KBRM. "Kevin Brown Rupes Method" :buffing:

 

[FUNX650]

Ive researched the heck outta the 21 and i definately want it, and im so glad ill now be able to purchase it from AG, but i have one question to anyone out there that has used the 21. I thought I heard/read somewhere that with these polishers, you do not need to apply any pressure to the machine while polishing, it does the work for you. Now I'm sure there are certain situations where a little added pressure to the machine will help, but I'm talking in general over the entire panel/car you're buffing. Is this true for those that have used it? I'm a flex 3401 guy and I love the machine, and I find myself adding moderate pressure to the machine when I do correction work. Also, on the 5" backing plate, the website says that the 5" backing plate is not to be used on the 21, but everywhere else people are attaching the 5" backing plate to the 21. Any ideas?

This may help:

From this thread... http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-polisher-polishing-system-mike-phillips.html

A few thoughts and comments...


What makes the RUPES LHR21ES Random Orbit Polisher different from similar random orbital polishers?

The RUPES LHR21ES Random Orbit Polisher offers a huge 21mm long orbit or stroke. This is huge, or more technically this stroke is dramatically longer than the 8mm orbit offered by tools like the Porter Cable 7424XP, Meguiar's G110v2 and Griot's Garage 6" DA Polishers.

This longer stroke working together with the RUPES engineered system of precisely matched abrasive compounds and polishes to matched foam pads gives you a polisher that has the ability to remove all types of below surface paint defects quickly and easily and do it without creating excessive heat to the surface or instilling holograms at the same time.


Another unique characteristic in the design of the long orbit stroke with the matched compounds, polishes and pads is the ability to remove below surface defects without the need for extreme downward pressure to the head of the polisher during the buffing procedure.

Most other random orbital polishers rely on firm downward pressure to engage the pad and the abrasives against the paint in order to effectively remove small particles of paint and thus remove the defects. Not so with the RUPES design.

With the RUPES Random Orbit Polisher, you truly let the machine do the work while all you have to do is guide it over the paint.

Bob

 

[FUNX650]

Bob,

I believe at this point the "washer mod" is aftermarket only...

Its what I consider the KBRM. "Kevin Brown Rupes Method" :buffing:

Thanks Troy...

I posted that information before: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/58875-flex-3401-rupes-bigfoot-4.html

Just wondered why, currently, no one was mentioning it as a method to achieve 'unobstructed OPM's'.

Perhaps the aftermarket "mod" will become a RUPES OEM item.



Bob

 

[ihaveacamaro]

^ doubt it Bob for this generation at least, maybe next generation. From KB's article on another popular forum, he said that Rupes engineers firmly believe that the KB Washer Mod is not necessary.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Ive researched the heck outta the 21 and i definately want it, and im so glad ill now be able to purchase it from AG, but i have one question to anyone out there that has used the 21. I thought I heard/read somewhere that with these polishers, you do not need to apply any pressure to the machine while polishing, it does the work for you. Now I'm sure there are certain situations where a little added pressure to the machine will help, but I'm talking in general over the entire panel/car you're buffing. Is this true for those that have used it? I'm a flex 3401 guy and I love the machine, and I find myself adding moderate pressure to the machine when I do correction work. Also, on the 5" backing plate, the website says that the 5" backing plate is not to be used on the 21, but everywhere else people are attaching the 5" backing plate to the 21. Any ideas?

This is true, in general, you do not need to apply pressure when using the Rupes, especially the 21mm!! I have the 3401 too, and hate it!! YOU CAN USE THE 5" BACKING PLATE!! :dblthumb2: If KEVIN BROWN says you can use there, 'NUFF SAID!!! I'm gonna use the 5" BP with the 21mm for sure!! Add the KEVIN BROWN WASHER MOD, amd it will free up about 50% rotation!!

^ doubt it Bob for this generation at least, maybe next generation. From KB's article on another popular forum, he said that Rupes engineers firmly believe that the KB Washer Mod is not necessary.

Roshan, it may not be *necessary*, but, it does HELP!!

 

[ihaveacamaro]

This is true, in general, you do not need to apply pressure when using the Rupes, especially the 21mm!! I have the 3401 too, and hate it!! YOU CAN USE THE 5" BACKING PLATE!! :dblthumb2: If KEVIN BROWN says you can use there, 'NUFF SAID!!! I'm gonna use the 5" BP with the 21mm for sure!! Add the KEVIN BROWN WASHER MOD, amd it will free up about 50% rotation!!


Roshan, it may not be *necessary*, but, it does HELP!!

oh I have no doubt, and if I get one, I will be getting the KB washer mod as well. I'm just stating why I believe the washer mod won't be OEM for at least a little while.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

^ doubt it Bob for this generation at least, maybe next generation. From KB's article on another popular forum, he said that Rupes engineers firmly believe that the KB Washer Mod is not necessary.

And Marco, the R&D Manager told me why and not only did his reasoning make sense but he is the engineer or at least one of the engineers behind the design so how about giving him some credit.


:xyxthumbs:

 

[agpatel]

Anyone have any thoughts on the polishes and compounds?

 

[Pinpoint_Precision]

Mike will be doing a review on all the system this Saturday I believe on a Roll-Royce.

Check here:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/60442-rupes-lhr21es-random-orbit-polisher-polishing-system-mike-phillips.html

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Mike will be doing a review on all the system this Saturday I believe on a Roll-Royce.

Check here:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-polisher-polishing-system-mike-phillips.html

The owner for the car told me it might not be available. I think it's at a Rolls-Royce Dealership for servicing, so kind of out of my control.


I'm liquid though... when one project is delayed I have a back-up project waiting in the wings.


Wetsanding a 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Tomorrow morning I'm going to Grosso's Garage to do the initial cut on the first coats of clear on a 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass restoration project. To do the sanding I'm going to use the Rupes RH 156 Orbital Air Sander.

And I always like to open my projects up to others so anyone in the Stuart area that would like to learn how to machine sand a fresh basecoat/clearcoat paint job let me know.


I only have a few pictures of the car that I took last Saturday while it was being re-assembled but I'll for sure have more on Monday of this project.

I hate to pig up all the fun to myself plus I want to really put this Rupes sander to the test before my students use it at my next set of classes.

 

[FUNX650]

oh I have no doubt, and if I get one, I will be getting the KB washer mod as well. I'm just stating why I believe the washer mod won't be OEM for at least a little while.

I wonder how gracious the entire 'detailing community'
would be/is...If, for instance:

-A person is unable/unwilling to personally fabricate this RUPES "washer mod"...

-A person encounters any difficulties in purchasing: Just this "mod"...from one vendor (in particular)...
Without having to also purchase a RUPES polisher from this same vendor.


:idea:

For those that wish to do so...

Send your RUPES to me for a: "Custom-fitted washer mod"

Doesn't that sound like FUN(X)?!?!




Bob

 

[TundraPower]

:righton:

Need to find a creative solution to hide this from the wife....

I know right! Let me know if you think of anything good.

 

[FUNX650]

Need to find a creative solution to hide this from the wife....

I know right! Let me know if you think of anything good.

If this doesn't "work" on her:


____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Have her try this "medicine" on for size...(02.14.2013 is fast approaching)






Bob

 

[BrutalNoodle]

If you want to test out all of these tools, sign up for one of my classes and then you can test them all out before you buy and decide which tools are a best fit for you and your detailing needs.

I'm trying my best to work in the May class on my calendar, but I might be out of country at that point (Sept is more likely).

So let's pretend I'm a really cool neighbor, and I come to you and say, "Mike, I already owned a PC. I would like to start detailing part-time for extra income. Is the Rupes worth owning, or is it an overkill?"

I could also rephrase that and say - a start up mechanic came to you and asked, "Are Snap-On tools worth it? I already have Craftsman."

 

[feslope]

Anyone have any thoughts on the polishes and compounds?

I'm curious about this myself. I asked this question of the RUPES reps at MobilTech. They said that their abrassives technology is proprietary technology. I got the impression they really did not know or understand the question. Anyone here know if they are smat or dat?

 

[TimmyG]

21mm + 5" backing plate ftw!!!




exactly!!!!

Not just faster, better correction!

this + 999999999999999999999999999999999

 

[RaskyR1]

Anyone have any thoughts on the polishes and compounds?

I'm curious about this myself. I asked this question of the RUPES reps at MobilTech. They said that their abrassives technology is proprietary technology. I got the impression they really did not know or understand the question. Anyone here know if they are smat or dat?

I've used them on my test pans with various pads. I have test pans with both hard clear and super, super soft clear (the kind where towels marr the paint). Performed best for me on the harder clear.

Over all the seem to work very well, nice and smooth, little to low dusting, easy wipe off...actually reminds me a Scholl polishes a little.

From what I've heard they are SMAT with the exception of Diamond which is supposed to have both. This was not direct from Rupes, but from a trusted source.



While I agree with Mike on the "it shouldn't matter" what type of abrasives they use, I do feel that there are time where you may want to "short cycle" a SMAT polish (like M205) and this is something you wouldn't normally want to do with a DAT polish.

With the above being said, at this point I don't really see the Rupes compounds finding a place in my arsenal (D300 fits that bill), but the two finishing polishes likely will. Further testing is needed though.


Rasky

 

[FUNX650]

Anyone have any thoughts on the polishes and compounds?

I'm curious about this myself. I asked this question of the RUPES reps at MobilTech. They said that their abrassives technology is proprietary technology. I got the impression they really did not know or understand the question.

Anyone here know if they are smat or dat?

^^^Mark (FivePoint.0) seems to be pretty good friends with Kevin Brown.^^^

Are the polishes DAT or SMAT?

Each polish is a combination of both.

Also:

This is an email I got from Francesco(marketing for Rupes) that contacted their tech department....

"All our compound are made with a mix of different abrasive: the mix of zephir contains more diminishing than the other but, of course, we cant reveal the percentage because this is part of our industrial process"

And/Or:

Anyone have any thoughts on the polishes and compounds?

As for the chemicals?

Because my passion is for polishing paint I’m very focused on the performance side of compounds and polishes.
...post #7 of this thread...

So to answer your question about the compounds and polishes... they work great.

Are the polishes DAT or SMAT?

Doesn’t matter, at least it doesn’t mater to me. Neither Marco or Gionata told me and I didn’t ask.

Why?

Because no matter if it’s SMAT or DAT or SMAT/DAT when I use it I’m going to use good technique and I’m going to start like I always do on any car I’ve never worked on before and that’s is I’m going to do a Test Spot.

The results from my test spot will tell me if the products are working or not and if they are then I’ll simply duplicate the process I used for my test spot to the rest of the car. If I don’t like the results from my test spot then I’ll likely do some more testing and troubleshooting till I dial in a system approach that works and then get busy working on the car.

Whether I “know” or don’t know” if the abrasive technology is SMAT or DAT won’t affect what I do with my polisher. The only time “knowing” could be of help is if you plan on only making a few passes with DAT products but why would anyone do this in the first place?

I cannot think for the life of me a time when I only made a few section passes using a DAT product and then stopped buffing. It just doesn’t make sense for someone with experience. Now for someone without experience, they’re going to make mistakes whether they know or don’t know because “we” all make mistakes when we’re first starting out. That’s the benefit to a forum like this; if a newbie makes a mistake or is have trouble getting the results they’re looking for they can start a thread asking for help and our forum members will gladly chime in and help see them through to success.

Make sense?

But yeah I know… everyone wants to know…

What’s in the bottle?

Bob

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Bob, KB is my good buddy! I talk to him a good amount.