Test drive - NEW RUPES Mille and Rotary Buffer by Mike Phillips

Mike Phillips said:
I use the word nimble to describe this lightweight, compact rotary buffer.





From memory, and I tried to watch the clock as I tackled this project. Yancy moved the clock for the recent RUPES class so I had to keep reminding myself to look over at the vending machines instead of the wall by the workbench.


Waterless wash - about 20 minutes - Glenn and Billy did this on the Friday before the RUPES class.

Claying - about 30 minutes - I think Billy did parts of the car but other parts had not been touched so I re-clayed the entire car plus the glass, bumpers and chrome and stainless trim.

Test Spot + pictures - About 30 minutes - takes a little time to do the work plus capture pictures.

Compounding - About 4 hours. The below is from memory.

45 minutes for the roof
A few minutes for the A-pillars
5-10 minutes for each sail panel.
An hour for the hood - had to work around the vacuum activated and spring loaded cowl induction air intake.
About 30 minutes for the trunk lid.
15 to 20 minutes for each of the 6 vertical side panels, (front fender, door, rear fender - passenger and driver sides).


Polishing - About 5 hours. I divided up the car like detailed above and of course for any polishing step you have to bring up your level of care when wiping off polish.

Sealing - About 30 minutes to spray on and wipe-off the P808 Protective Sealant


I also wiped down all the door jambs, around the hood and trunk jambs. Wiped the tires down with Tuff Shine Tire Cleaner and applied BLACKFIRE Tire Gel


For the entire process approximately 11 hours. Then I took the after shots


Also just to note - I rand the rotary buffer on the 1 speed setting for the entire compounding step. That's 450 RPM. Jason didn't have the new RUPES wool pads for the RUPES rotary buffer, (had them for the Mille), so I used a new lambswool pad from Lake Country. This one with the foam interface. My prediction for the future for this tool is smaller pads, not the traditional huge pads most people have historically used with rotary buffers. Smaller pads are easier to control and are also a lot easier on the tool.


Lake Country 6 inch Lambswool Cutting Pad


New_RUPES_0023.JPG




Thanks for the questions...


:)
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Thanks for the overall write up above at the different posts. Really appreciate the time break down of the different steps listed here. This will be a good standard or guide which to use to check my progress. Very nice to have somewhat a rough idea of timelines by others!

Tom
 
TMQ said:
I have a Rupes 15 mk II. Would you think the Mille be good fit...? I was thinking Flex for the hard stuff, ie unfinished rotary compounding stage, gel coats on boats and if needed-- fast work on car paint. Is this doable? Or go with the rotary to make a set between Rupes 15 and the new rotary? I'm not sure which would be the next logical step at this time. Really liking the thought of having a Mille...

Tom
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Mille covers all that.


lane5515 said:
Have you used the new Makita DA in forced rotation mode? If so, how does it compare to the Mille?


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I just know the Makita’s da mode is well useless and the forced rotation is better than the 3401 and almost as good as the Mille.
 
Question---If I get the Mille, would that take over what the 15 mkII use to do? In other words---Toss out the 15 mk II and replace with Mille?

Tom
 
TMQ said:
Question---If I get the Mille, would that take over what the 15 mkII use to do? In other words---Toss out the 15 mk II and replace with Mille?

Tom
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They two very different tools. I don’t need to state the obvious there. However since the Mille I did sell off my Duetto and 15MKII as well as I personally felt the Mille did everything better. I still have the 21 MKII and Mini, no overlap there.
 
Agree with this---In general all dedicated tools and dedicated products tends to perform better.

Tom
 
Ronin47 said:
They two very different tools. I don’t need to state the obvious there. However since the Mille I did sell off my Duetto and 15MKII as well as I personally felt the Mille did everything better. I still have the 21 MKII and Mini, no overlap there.
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Thanks...what I needed to know! Thinking...thinking...

Tom
 
TMQ said:
Thanks...what I needed to know! Thinking...thinking...

Tom
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If you like or own a 3401 the Mille is a nice addition or upgrade. If you only into long throw type polishers and don’t like a 3401, I suspect the Mille will not be for you. I enjoy both long throw and forced rotation.
 
Ronin47 said:
Mille covers all that.




I just know the Makita’s da mode is well useless and the forced rotation is better than the 3401 and almost as good as the Mille.
Click to expand...
I just purchased the Makita, the Mille took too long to come to the market. Is the Mille good enough to sell the Makita off and purchase the Mille?

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DETAILROOKIE said:
I just purchased the Makita, the Mille took too long to come to the market. Is the Mille good enough to sell the Makita off and purchase the Mille?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Autogeekonline mobile app
Click to expand...

I tend to not encourage anyone from changing their machines as we all have different criteria, techniques and preferences. If you can afford to add the Mille then by all means yes. If not, the Mille is the nicer tool, very well thought out. What Rupes have done for the long throw they have done to the gear driven.
 
Ronin47 said:
I tend to not encourage anyone from changing their machines as we all have different criteria, techniques and preferences. If you can afford to add the Mille then by all means yes. If not, the Mille is the nicer tool, very well thought out. What Rupes have done for the long throw they have done to the gear driven.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the quick response! Ill wait to see the price and see if I can afford to add it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Autogeekonline mobile app
 
Ronin47 said:
I tend to not encourage anyone from changing their machines as we all have different criteria, techniques and preferences. If you can afford to add the Mille then by all means yes. If not, the Mille is the nicer tool, very well thought out. What Rupes have done for the long throw they have done to the gear driven.
Click to expand...

how did you get the millie already? where do you live at?
 
Ronin47 said:
Autogeek isn’t only with American members, theres a few guys on here with Mille’s.
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yes, I'm well aware of that, I was in the UK myself before coming over to the states a few years ago. I was just asking where you were from.
 
Mike, when you get a chance can you shed your thoughts below.

In coming spring I'll be getting 2 boats to polish. Question---

1. Would the new Rupes rotary be up to the task of compounding gel coats with wool pads?
2. And would the new Mille be able to polish/handle gel coats or would a flex be a better tool?

Thanks...

Tom
 
TMQ said:
Mike, when you get a chance can you shed your thoughts below.

In coming spring I'll be getting 2 boats to polish. Question---

1. Would the new Rupes rotary be up to the task of compounding gel coats with wool pads?
Click to expand...

Yes but you would want to use a small wool pad. I have not seen the RUPES wools pads for their RUPES rotary but I know they are small.

Lake Country is working on a new selection of small wool pads.



TMQ said:
2. And would the new Mille be able to polish/handle gel coats or would a flex be a better tool?
Click to expand...

My experience is the RUPES BigFoot 21 with the RUPES coarse blue foam cutting pad and the RUPES Diamond White Ultra Fine Cut Polish creates the best results on gel-coat.



:)
 
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