The right Rupes for me? Duetto or 21?

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58Eldorado

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Hi,
I´m following this forum for a while now and I have decided that I want to buy my first really good polisher.
I´m an enthusiast and have a small collection of Cadillacs and Lincolns ranging from 1958 to 1978.
Most of my cars still have their original paint which is single stage paint.
I always keep my cars exceptionally clean and they have very very little swirl marks or scratches.
Now time has come to step up and make my cars even better and I want to invest in a Rupes polisher, but I just can´t decide which one I should get? I can definitely only buy one - no chance to buy another one.


My cars have some big flat panels but there are also a lot of curved areas and tail fins I have to polish. If I had the money I would buy a 21 and the 75 - but that won't happen.

I need the polisher mainly to keep my personal fleet of 7 classic cars in perfect shape and to polish another 2-3 Cadillacs I resell a year. I only buy cars with original paint.

So now I would be interested in you opinion - which one should I get? 21 or the new 12?
Your thoughts and tips are highly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
Gerald

btw - you can see my cars here:
Gerald Loidl´s Cadillac Website - everything about the 1967 and 1958 Cadillac Eldorado
 
You can't go wrong with either one. But since you mentioned that you will be using this with your personal fleet of vehicles with big panels and curved areas, I would personally go with Rupes 21. This way your able to use the 6" backing plate and have the option to use a 5" backing plate as well.
 
Thanks for your tip! I'll think about it over the weekend and place my order next week. Tough decision...
 
It is, I remembered when I was deciding between Rupes 21 and Flex 3401. I end up buying both lol.
 
I'd go with the Duetto, which I just bought myself then you can by a griots 3" with the extra money for the tight spots. The Duetto is a great tool. (I have an LHR 15 to compare it to)
 
Unless you plan to buy more than one machine, I would suggest getting the Duetto since it can be used in in tighter spaces.
 
Thanks everybody!
Can I get the same paint correction results with the Duetto as with the 21?
I would lean towards the 21 but I agree that the Duetto might be the polisher which would make more sense for me? If I can get the same results I will probably get the Duetto Deluxe kit...
 
58Eldorado said:
Thanks everybody!
Can I get the same paint correction results with the Duetto as with the 21?
Click to expand...
No.

If you plan on using 5" pads, go with the LHR15. When using a 5" backing plate on the LHR21 with 5" foam pads, it's not very smooth. 5" MF pads work great, however.
 
Ah o.k! Thanks!
I assumed that I could get the same results with the Duetto, but that it would only take a little longer...
If I cant get my paint as good as with the 21 I wont buy the Duetto... My goal is to get the paint as flawless as possible, no matter how long I have to polish...
 
58Eldorado said:
Ah o.k! Thanks!
I assumed that I could get the same results with the Duetto, but that it would only take a little longer...
If I cant get my paint as good as with the 21 I wont buy the Duetto... My goal is to get the paint as flawless as possible, no matter how long I have to polish...
Click to expand...
Plus, the 21 will keep the pad spinning much better when you use pressure. The Duetto has a "sweet spot" to keep the pad moving. Any tilting, the pad will slow down or stop. The LHR15 is a good compromise between the Duetto and 21. The 15 will be the smoothest with 5" pads. I still prefer the 21 over all of them, but then again, I have some good experience. ;)
 
FivePoint.0 said:
Absolutely.

I was referring to correction time.

FWIW, The LHR21 smokes the Duetto as far as keeping the pad rotating.
Click to expand...

I was just highlighting they both can do the job. The Rupes 21 can do it quicker. For an enthusiast that wants to spread waxes/sealants, paint cleaners, deal with some tight spots, etc. and not working on hammered cars all the time the Duetto can make more sense.
 
Bunky said:
I was just highlighting they both can do the job. The Rupes 21 can do it quicker. For an enthusiast that wants to spread waxes/sealants, paint cleaners, deal with some tight spots, etc. and not working on hammered cars all the time the Duetto can make more sense.
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure that it's strictly a matter of time. Also, I feel the Duetto takes very good technique to get the best results. I think the LHR15 is the perfect machine for an enthusiast.


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Ok - thanks everybody - I´m going to order a Rupes 21 + an additional 5" backing plate tomorrow.
Maybe I can invest in a cheaper 3" polisher (no Rupes) sometimes in the future for the tighter spots. Lets see how far I get with the 21...
Very difficult decision so far... ;-)
 
FivePoint.0 said:
I'm not so sure that it's strictly a matter of time. Also, I feel the Duetto takes very good technique to get the best results. I think the LHR15 is the perfect machine for an enthusiast.


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Click to expand...



Hello fellow geeks!

I'm new into the detailing world and have acquire great knowledge through the forum. I'm also debating between the Rupes polishers and must say that this thread has help me lots on narrowing down my decision. This will be my first polisher and wil be the first time I ever touch one.

I was debating between the Duetto and the 15es. From what I have read and watch through the different videos it seems as if the 15es is much smoother and easier to use. I drive a crossover which for the most parts has big wide panels and IMO making the 21 the ideal one to go for. But, having no background nor experience will give me an uncomforted on going with the 21.

After reading this thread I'm leaning more towards the 15. Though I have seen articles in regard to people complain gas it may buckle down under some circumstances ( which by what I have read it seems to be user error as to much pressure is apply to the machine) and that the power word isn't the best of things. Are all the cords across the rupes line the same?

Thank you for the input.

-fil


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58Eldorado said:
Hi,
I´m following this forum for a while now and I have decided that I want to buy my first really good polisher.
Click to expand...

Welcome to AutogeekOnline! :welcome:


58Eldorado said:
I´m an enthusiast and have a small collection of Cadillacs and Lincolns ranging from 1958 to 1978.
Click to expand...

Love the classic Caddies.... I've owned five 1959 Cadillacs and two 1960's, I kind of like the big fins.

I used to tow my drag boat to the lake with a convertible 1959 Caddy...


1970_Sanger_V_-Drive-Drag_Boat_013.jpg





58Eldorado said:
Most of my cars still have their original paint which is single stage paint.
Click to expand...

Hope you're treating them with some #7 for a maintenance polish, if not consider it....


58Eldorado said:
I always keep my cars exceptionally clean and they have very very little swirl marks or scratches.
Click to expand...


If they are in very good condition then you shouldn't have to do too much polishing and the Rupes polishers can handle your projects with no problem.

I'd highly recommend sticking with the Rupes foam pads and chemicals. For correction work on the single stage paint take a look at the green polishing pads and the Quarz Gloss Medium Cut Polish.


Quarz Gloss - Medium Cut Polish - Green Lid & Green Foam Pad
Quarz Gloss is engineered to be used with the medium aggressive green foam polishing pad to remove medium depth below surface paint defects while polishing out to a clear, high gloss finish. Quarz Gloss is aggressive enough to remove down to P2500 sanding marks.

Rupes_21_030.jpg



Lots of pictures of the 21, pads and products here,


The RUPES LHR21ES Random Orbit Polisher and Polishing System by Mike Phillips
 
You like the M16 I see....

78detailing-BG-IMG_4341.jpg


This is a traditional "Hard Wax" or "Heavy Wax". Be sure to apply a thin coat and you'll be okay... I used this stuff for years when I detailed cars full time. This was long before we had all the choices we have today.
 
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