Rupes vs other Dual Action Polishers

H

hamlyn

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2013
Messages
311
Reaction score
0
What does the Rupes polisher offer that a Porter Cable or Flex dual action polisher does not?

Is it simply the throw? Or does it present other benefits as well?
 
Less vibration...it's the biggest reason that I'll be switching over in the Spring. My hands are killing me!
 
long throw DA's let you cut faster, use less products and less aggressive products.
This produces a finer finish in quicker time.
The PC is a vibrator, I hate that machine. I couldn't Imagen using that jack hammer day in and day out.
 
i've been thinking about purchasing the rupes, but my gut tells me to wait till after SEMA. for some reason i keep imagining that Flex (or perhaps another company too) is going to come out with a large throw DA like rupes as well. we'll have to wait and see...
 
I just started using the Rupes after many years of using a PC and a year of using a Griots 6" (GG6). So, I'll give you my opinion.

My opinion is:

1. You likely can do anything you can do with a Rupes with a GG6. However, using the machines is a much different experience. First the Rupes is quieter, it seems much quieter to me.

2. Operating the Rupes is like operating a plush touring car. Its smooth, effortless, and well balanced. The other DAs feel more like an 89 Tercel. Either will get you there, one is just more pleasant.

3. The Rupes is faster. Merely because of the fact it has a bigger footprint (it is called a Bigfoot). You can cover more ground faster.

4. The Rupes has "cruise control". Push down on it, and it will speed up slightly. Not a big deal, but a nice feature none the less.

5. Rupes has a "system". While this may not be a big deal for Pros, for a new guy, you can get the correct pad and polish all designed to work together with the machine - all matched together. This takes the guesswork out of what polish / pads to buy. The Rupes pads are very good, I have one of their polishes on order. But, I suspect it will all work very well together.

6. The Rupes is less fatiguing. It requires little or no downward pressure due to the large stroke, you can polish longer without feeling beat up. You basically guide the machine around with the weight of your hand. Traditional DAs require you to use up to 15lbs of downward force to remove defects. This gets old when polishing a whole car.

After all that, the GG6 is more universal. You can use it with pads as small as 3". The smallest pad you can use on a Rupes 15 or 21 is 5". So, you may need another machine to polish small areas. The Griots also has a better warranty (lifetime vrs 1yr).
 
VISITOR said:
i've been thinking about purchasing the rupes, but my gut tells me to wait till after SEMA. for some reason i keep imagining that Flex (or perhaps another company too) is going to come out with a large throw DA like rupes as well. we'll have to wait and see...
Click to expand...
You don't even know :)
"long throws" are the wave of the future. Just like Meg's G100 the Rupes is being copied by everyone as we speak.
Go get a Harbor Fright DA and wait and see what comes out in the next 6 months


Sent while I was Detailing or something related to detailing ;)
 
Detailing by M said:
You don't even know :)
"long throws" are the wave of the future. Just like Meg's G100 the Rupes is being copied by everyone as we speak.
Go get a Harbor Fright DA and wait and see what comes out in the next 6 months


Sent while I was Detailing or something related to detailing ;)
Click to expand...

Maybe we will live to see the Harbor Freight "Large Foot"
 
swanicyouth said:
I just started using the Rupes after many years of using a PC and a year of using a Griots 6" (GG6). So, I'll give you my opinion.

My opinion is:

1. You likely can do anything you can do with a Rupes with a GG6. However, using the machines is a much different experience. First the Rupes is quieter, it seems much quieter to me.

2. Operating the Rupes is like operating a plush touring car. Its smooth, effortless, and well balanced. The other DAs feel more like an 89 Tercel. Either will get you there, one is just more pleasant.

3. The Rupes is faster. Merely because of the fact it has a bigger footprint (it is called a Bigfoot). You can cover more ground faster.

4. The Rupes has "cruise control". Push down on it, and it will speed up slightly. Not a big deal, but a nice feature none the less.

5. Rupes has a "system". While this may not be a big deal for Pros, for a new guy, you can get the correct pad and polish all designed to work together with the machine - all matched together. This takes the guesswork out of what polish / pads to buy. The Rupes pads are very good, I have one of their polishes on order. But, I suspect it will all work very well together.

6. The Rupes is less fatiguing. It requires little or no downward pressure due to the large stroke, you can polish longer without feeling beat up. You basically guide the machine around with the weight of your hand. Traditional DAs require you to use up to 15lbs of downward force to remove defects. This gets old when polishing a whole car.

After all that, the GG6 is more universal. You can use it with pads as small as 3". The smallest pad you can use on a Rupes 15 or 21 is 5". So, you may need another machine to polish small areas. The Griots also has a better warranty (lifetime vrs 1yr).
Click to expand...

Hahahhaa I just died at the 2nd one hahaha great comparative statement there xD

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using AG Online
 
Very good points and references. Thank you all.
I will wait for Sema before I decide to pull the trigger on a Rupes.
I have a Porter Cable 7424 and a Griots Garage 3 inch.

I read that Rupes will extend your warranty to three years if you register it.
 
Harbor Fright <--- funny. Must be an early Halloween reference.
 
hamlyn said:
Very good points and references. Thank you all.
I will wait for Sema before I decide to pull the trigger on a Rupes.
I have a Porter Cable 7424 and a Griots Garage 3 inch.

I read that Rupes will extend your warranty to three years if you register it.
Click to expand...

Where did you read that?Feed back please
 
The Rupes Bigfoot 15 is an awesome machine. However i'm one of the few people where the Rupes will NOT work well for me. My vehicle has large concave panels and the Rupes stops spinning every time i hit those areas. It's pretty frustrating. Convex panels are a breeze though.

cayenne1.jpg


The middle of the door area, between the headlight and hood, and D pillar are difficult areas for me.

I'm looking to trade my Rupes 15 for a Flex 3401. :xyxthumbs:
 
anonymoususer said:
The Rupes Bigfoot 15 is an awesome machine. However i'm one of the few people where the Rupes will NOT work well for me. My vehicle has large concave panels and the Rupes stops spinning every time i hit those areas. It's pretty frustrating. Convex panels are a breeze though.

cayenne1.jpg


The middle of the door area, between the headlight and hood, and D pillar are difficult areas for me.

I'm looking to trade my Rupes 15 for a Flex 3401. :xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...

Awesome looking ride. Since your car is in such great condition why would you need a Flex..Why not use a 4" pad on a GG6?
 
Detailing by M said:
You don't even know :)
"long throws" are the wave of the future. Just like Meg's G100 the Rupes is being copied by everyone as we speak.
Go get a Harbor Fright DA and wait and see what comes out in the next 6 months


Sent while I was Detailing or something related to detailing ;)
Click to expand...

if a HF version ever comes out and it's only a few more bucks then the current DA they're selling, i'm in lol...
 
There is a knockoff of the Rupes out already. Saw it on Facebook a couple weeks ago.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top