Stepping up to Rotary?

M

Mudman

New member
Hello All,

I wanted to seek some advice from you guys. For the last 8 years off and on I have been using a PC 7424 to detail my cars, along with cleaning up headlights on friends and families vehicles. I would say that I've gotten very comfortable with a DA polisher.

It's been a while since I've done any detailing, and after cleaning up my own headlights today, the itch has got me again. While the DA is awesome, I was hoping to compliment it with a rotary to step things up a notch and round out my tools.

While most of the duty for this rotary will be headlights, as it's about all I have time for, I'd like use it in conjunction with the 7424 on paint correction. The two buffers that have my eye are the Flex PE8 and PE14-2-150. I do not plan to do this as a business, just a hobby and to continue keeping my vehicles detailed.

Between the two Flex polishers, which would you say has a more practical application to a wider range of tasks?


Thank you,
Mud
 
Going to join in as I was thinking my next toy may be one of these machines also. Can you and has anyone used the PE14 with 3" or can you use it with the 1"-2"-3" pad system meant for the PE8.
 
The Hitachi SP18VAH 11 Amp 7 in. EVS Disc Sander-Polisher can be had for less than two hundred dollars and is a real workhorse. You can put whatever size pads you want on it.

Robert
 
trashmanssd said:
Going to join in as I was thinking my next toy may be one of these machines also. Can you and has anyone used the PE14 with 3" or can you use it with the 1"-2"-3" pad system meant for the PE8.
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I would go with the PE14, as you can run full size pads as well as smaller pads. The PE8 is meant to run small (1"-4") pads only.
 
Once you get into heavy paint correction with the rotary, you won't want to go back to the PC7424 to do those compounding steps on paint. You'll have the DA reserved for light polishing and wax applications. The PE14 is one of the best rotary polishers on the market. Lightweight, compact size, awesome choice. It is expensive though. The latest Makita 9237c and Dewalt 849x models are also great options, about 2 pounds heavier than the PE14 but lower priced. All are very capable and will accept smaller backing plates and pads to be able to spot polish which works great on headlights.

Between the PE14 and the PE8, I would definitely go with the PE14 and buy the smaller backing plate and pads to get into those tight spots.
 
WhyteWizard said:
The Hitachi SP18VAH 11 Amp 7 in. EVS Disc Sander-Polisher can be had for less than two hundred dollars and is a real workhorse. You can put whatever size pads you want on it.

Robert
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Thanks Robert I will look into it. I figure why not aim for the best one I can, it just means I'd have to save longer.
tropicsteve said:
if you've got the money, can't do much better than the flex rotary. money was an issue for me and I went with the older version of Makita 9237CX2 Variable Speed Polisher, another work horse, but much heavier than the flex. the backing plates come in many sizes also.
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I considered the Makita as well but like the Flex design better. Reminds me a lot of the Hilti drills I've got to try out.

Rsurfer said:
I would go with the PE14, as you can run full size pads as well as smaller pads. The PE8 is meant to run small (1"-4") pads only.
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Thanks, I was leaning towards the PE14. Just wasn't 100% because I have been so out of date on detailing for a while now. Most of the research I ever did was strictly DA because it was what I had.
EXPDetailing said:
Mudman,
I tried to PM you but it says you can't receive PMs. ?????
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Apologies, not sure why you can't. Possibly my low post count? I don't post much, most of my time here is spent surfing threads.
Loach said:
Once you get into heavy paint correction with the rotary, you won't want to go back to the PC7424 to do those compounding steps on paint. You'll have the DA reserved for light polishing and wax applications. The PE14 is one of the best rotary polishers on the market. Lightweight, compact size, awesome choice. It is expensive though. The latest Makita 9237c and Dewalt 849x models are also great options, about 2 pounds heavier than the PE14 but lower priced. All are very capable and will accept smaller backing plates and pads to be able to spot polish which works great on headlights.
Between the PE14 and the PE8, I would definitely go with the PE14 and buy the smaller backing plate and pads to get into those tight spots.
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Sure hope not lol. I'd like to use them in conjunction, not so much to replace one another. Having detailed a few hard paint cars, I came to want a rotary. The heavy paint correction is where I spend a ton of time with on the DA, if a rotary could cut that down I'd be really happy. I've got some back issues, so the less time I spend leaning over too long will be a huge relief.

The PE14 is rather expensive, but I'm okay with waiting longer to save up for a better machine. The lighter weight is also what drew me towards it.
 
I bought a Flex PE14 when they first came out almost a decade ago, and it was small and made a lot of grinding gear noise, which I did not like..

I also did not like that it starts out at 1100 rpm and then does not top out at 3000 like the Makita 9227c does..

I will stick with my Makita 9227c which soft starts at 600 and runs all the way to 3000, I put an adapter spacer on it and can get even a 2 or 3" pad and backing plate on it and get it into tighter spots and not have the body get in the way..

Yes, the Makita weighs 10lbs and I love the forearm/bicep workout I get from hauling it around for hours at a time..

The Makita has tons of power, will never make all those high pitched grinding gear noises, perfectly smooth, and can take on very dirty, nasty Airplane Imron paint and turn it into beautiful, smooth, glossy, paintwork..

My Flex PE14 has sat in the Cabinet for years and I never use it for anything..

Good luck with your research..
Dan F
 
I have a flex DA which I love after I moved up from the pc and this was before it was the xp version. However, what's wrong with the rupes DA? I know it's not a rotary, but people do rave about it. Thinking of upgrading to the rupes from my flex.
 
Stokdgs said:
I bought a Flex PE14 when they first came out almost a decade ago, and it was small and made a lot of grinding gear noise, which I did not like..

I also did not like that it starts out at 1100 rpm and then does not top out at 3000 like the Makita 9227c does..

I will stick with my Makita 9227c which soft starts at 600 and runs all the way to 3000, I put an adapter spacer on it and can get even a 2 or 3" pad and backing plate on it and get it into tighter spots and not have the body get in the way..

Yes, the Makita weighs 10lbs and I love the forearm/bicep workout I get from hauling it around for hours at a time..

The Makita has tons of power, will never make all those high pitched grinding gear noises, perfectly smooth, and can take on very dirty, nasty Airplane Imron paint and turn it into beautiful, smooth, glossy, paintwork..

My Flex PE14 has sat in the Cabinet for years and I never use it for anything..

Good luck with your research..
Dan F
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That's not the PE14, that's the older 3403 (I think).
PE14 is full sized, light, and a great tool. :-)
 
boxingfan30 said:
I have a flex DA which I love after I moved up from the pc and this was before it was the xp version. However, what's wrong with the rupes DA? I know it's not a rotary, but people do rave about it. Thinking of upgrading to the rupes from my flex.
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Lotta people love Rupes
 
I had a Makita and sold it, big mistake. If you do enough detailing, you will at some point need a rotary. I bought the older version of the DeWalt. It's heavy and starts at 1000 rpm but, I haven't found either to be a problem. I would go with the Makita unless you can find an older version of the DeWalt.
Couple tips: keep the speed around 1000 rpm, relax- don't white knuckle, tape trim and plastic, cover up around the windshield cowl unless you like cleaning polish splatter out of unforgiving plastic.
You may find it seems to take longer to prepare to buff, but, at the end of the day, your hands won't be numb and that's a big deal the older you get.
 
Junebug said:
I had a Makita and sold it, big mistake. If you do enough detailing, you will at some point need a rotary. I bought the older version of the DeWalt. It's heavy and starts at 1000 rpm but, I haven't found either to be a problem. I would go with the Makita unless you can find an older version of the DeWalt.
Couple tips: keep the speed around 1000 rpm, relax- don't white knuckle, tape trim and plastic, cover up around the windshield cowl unless you like cleaning polish splatter out of unforgiving plastic.
You may find it seems to take longer to prepare to buff, but, at the end of the day, your hands won't be numb and that's a big deal the older you get.
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I had a makita myself years ago, but I just didn't know enough of what I was doing so I sold it, this was before I got my PC and then moved up a step to my flex, maybe soon rupes now.

I can't comment from buffer experience, but as far as names go, it's hrd to beat a Makita or DeWalt and of course I own a flex that has held up well, so I'm sure their rotary is great as well.
 
boxingfan30 said:
I had a makita myself years ago, but I just didn't know enough of what I was doing so I sold it, this was before I got my PC and then moved up a step to my flex, maybe soon rupes now.

I can't comment from buffer experience, but as far as names go, it's hrd to beat a Makita or DeWalt and of course I own a flex that has held up well, so I'm sure their rotary is great as well.
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I have the newer Makita. Tons of pads to try it too.
My intent was to use it to put my Rupes to shame if the Rupes couldn't correct.
Well... The Rupes 15&21s did so well, I never used the rotary to do a car yet.

Headlights... the Rupes mini has brought a few back from the dead in minutes. This is what I would get if I were doing headlights.

I do use my rotary every time I do a detail though. It works great with my pad washer.
 
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