I thought my Porter-Cable was the ultimate cleaning machine when I purchased it a couple of years back.
My Ryobi rotary had stayed in its case before that because I was nervous about using it. According to many posts on various forums many problems could be caused... vast experience was needed... the risk of burning/swirling/hologramming/marking was huge.
I didnâ€â„¢t think I would have the skill or experience to use it anywhere, so the idiot-proof PC seemed the better answer...until recently.
Now I've done several cars with the rotary, and it's an absolute essential tool to be used along with the PC.
My daughter and son-in-law bought an old Nissan Terrano 4x4 a couple of days ago for fishing and generally getting out in the rough. The 1990 vehicle had been used for just that by the previous owner, and was badly scratched on the sides by branches and wild pigs (OK, maybe not the pigs). My daughter asked me to detail it since she knew I it would be a challenge from my immaculate Mercedes. Since it was in good condition underneath, even with the lack of polish and oxidation, so I took it on.
The PC did well over the areas that were not damaged, but made no difference to the scratched areas. But once I put the rotary over those areas - what a difference! It was like magic. I used a low speed - about 1500rpm, with a wool pad and Meguiar's DACP, and in a few passes under the machine's own weight the scratches completely disappeared!
None of the problems I thought would happen, ever did. It didnâ€â„¢t burn, scratch or wear the paint or cause more problems. I just kept the rotary constantly moving and worked the DACP almost dry, and the results were perfect. Didn't even need the PC over that again...the shine was perfect.
Not all the deep scratches came out. Some small ones that I could feel with a fingertip or nail were pretty permanent. But I got a 98% success rate, and my family were gobsmacked with the results.
My ongoing lesson - to use the rotary more than I used to, on areas that need it. Certainly beats working for ages on an area with the PC with no results. I'll be using the rotary much more now with this encouraging experience behind me.
Ken Silver
--------------
1999 Mercedes SLK, 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas). Finish detailing, then start all over again...
My Ryobi rotary had stayed in its case before that because I was nervous about using it. According to many posts on various forums many problems could be caused... vast experience was needed... the risk of burning/swirling/hologramming/marking was huge.
I didnâ€â„¢t think I would have the skill or experience to use it anywhere, so the idiot-proof PC seemed the better answer...until recently.
Now I've done several cars with the rotary, and it's an absolute essential tool to be used along with the PC.
My daughter and son-in-law bought an old Nissan Terrano 4x4 a couple of days ago for fishing and generally getting out in the rough. The 1990 vehicle had been used for just that by the previous owner, and was badly scratched on the sides by branches and wild pigs (OK, maybe not the pigs). My daughter asked me to detail it since she knew I it would be a challenge from my immaculate Mercedes. Since it was in good condition underneath, even with the lack of polish and oxidation, so I took it on.
The PC did well over the areas that were not damaged, but made no difference to the scratched areas. But once I put the rotary over those areas - what a difference! It was like magic. I used a low speed - about 1500rpm, with a wool pad and Meguiar's DACP, and in a few passes under the machine's own weight the scratches completely disappeared!
None of the problems I thought would happen, ever did. It didnâ€â„¢t burn, scratch or wear the paint or cause more problems. I just kept the rotary constantly moving and worked the DACP almost dry, and the results were perfect. Didn't even need the PC over that again...the shine was perfect.
Not all the deep scratches came out. Some small ones that I could feel with a fingertip or nail were pretty permanent. But I got a 98% success rate, and my family were gobsmacked with the results.
My ongoing lesson - to use the rotary more than I used to, on areas that need it. Certainly beats working for ages on an area with the PC with no results. I'll be using the rotary much more now with this encouraging experience behind me.
Ken Silver
--------------
1999 Mercedes SLK, 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas). Finish detailing, then start all over again...
