New Rupes machine

Wow, about time Rupes came out with something to compete with the Flex PXE 80. I only took a quick look, but I like it. Some of us here on the forum have been opining for years about a polisher in this size with a trigger speed control, something more in the form factor of the larger polishers but in a smaller size, but these smaller machines always seem to have more of a "PC" layout, including the PXE 80. This one has a little more of an eccentric form factor, but cordless with a "throttle" checks a lot of boxes for me. As always price is a factor, which is guess is still unknown.
 
sf_car_guy said:
I find it extremely annoying that the battery system is not the same as the nano.
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I find it surprising that it`s taken this long for Rupes to follow-on, I mean how long has it been? The I-Brid Nano must have come out at least 5 or 6 years ago, I expected the whole line to be battery by now.
 
I do think it would have been a positive to use the same batteries.... maybe the smaller nano natteries don`t hold enough juice?? But it would have made sense from a consumer view for sure.
 
Silly Rabbit said:
So would users here reach for this more than the nano and let the nano stay in the box?
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Not a Nano competitor. Would replace the LHR75E and compete against the Flex PXE. The PXE is more a 3” machine as this is. It can use 1” pads.

The Nano is a smaller polisher. Will fit into a lot smaller places like:

Under door handles
Under spoilers
Front and side splitters
Interior trim.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Isn`t any polisher a "want" thing? We have a famous pro-detailer member here who used to correct cars BY HAND until Mike Phillips convinced him to try a machine (almost 20 years ago). I`m pretty sold on cordless tools in other applications, so if I was going to buy a new polisher, I`m 98% sure it would be a cordless one. However, I haven`t dumped any of my corded polishers, but I hardly polish any more.
 
True, for the hobbiest everything bought is in the name of the enjoyment of the hobby itself. For the business type every dollar spent is towards making the best profit for the business, so tools = effecient work.
 
Silly Rabbit said:
True, for the hobbiest everything bought is in the name of the enjoyment of the hobby itself. For the business type every dollar spent is towards making the best profit for the business, so tools = effecient work.
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I`m failing to understand what you`re getting at. Each "business type" detailer will have to make his own choice based on whether a cordless polisher will "make the best profit" for his business. If you are thinking about starting a business, some of the decision points for corded vs. cordless might be whether you are fixed or mobile, etc. etc. The initial objections to cordless tools were that the run time on battery was less than the recharge time, so even if you had an extra battery, you couldn`t work continuously. The ibrid nano addressed that because it was an "ibrid" (hybrid) that could be run corded or cordless, IIRC it also had a charge time approximately the same as the run time. As I alluded to, I expected the entire Rupes line would have gone "ibrid" by now, it`s been 5 years since the Nano came out. I notice this new unit says 35-45 minutes run time and 35 minutes charge time, and it comes with two batteries, so you should be able to work continuously, as long as you remember to put the spent battery in the charger when you put the fresh one in.

PS Of course the other thing is going to be the price point--it looks like the kit with the polishes, pads, towels is going for the equivalent of $732 in England--and that`s on sale. I think I`ll keep using my PC with the 3" backing plate.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I`m failing to understand what you`re getting at. Each "business type" detailer will have to make his own choice based on whether a cordless polisher will "make the best profit" for his business. If you are thinking about starting a business, some of the decision points for corded vs. cordless might be whether you are fixed or mobile, etc. etc. The initial objections to cordless tools were that the run time on battery was less than the recharge time, so even if you had an extra battery, you couldn`t work continuously. The ibrid nano addressed that because it was an "ibrid" (hybrid) that could be run corded or cordless, IIRC it also had a charge time approximately the same as the run time. As I alluded to, I expected the entire Rupes line would have gone "ibrid" by now, it`s been 5 years since the Nano came out. I notice this new unit says 35-45 minutes run time and 35 minutes charge time, and it comes with two batteries, so you should be able to work continuously, as long as you remember to put the spent battery in the charger when you put the fresh one in.

PS Of course the other thing is going to be the price point--it looks like the kit with the polishes, pads, towels is going for the equivalent of $732 in England--and that`s on sale. I think I`ll keep using my PC with the 3" backing plate.
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No, I was meaning as a hobby person, people like me don`t `always` look at the price point as the view, I mean you do, but with the hobby you want the toy. As someone running a business they look more at the tools as tools, maybe not so much as the toy a hobbiest would, so price is always a top priority. For people like me, this is my `golf, fishing, snowmobiling, etc. We enjoying and get a rush buying/using a new toy(s). So for me, as a hobbiest, the 74E will already do what this new machine will do, the sensible route would be to just keep what I have........:hmmm:
 
Silly Rabbit said:
No, I was meaning as a hobby person, people like me don`t `always` look at the price point as the view, I mean you do, but with the hobby you want the toy. As someone running a business they look more at the tools as tools, maybe not so much as the toy a hobbiest would, so price is always a top priority. For people like me, this is my `golf, fishing, snowmobiling, etc. We enjoying and get a rush buying/using a new toy(s). So for me, as a hobbiest, the 74E will already do what this new machine will do, the sensible route would be to just keep what I have........:hmmm:
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Oh, I`m sorry, I see what you`re saying now. It looks to me like it`s going to cost somewhere like twice what the corded version does. If I was new to the hobby (and presuming this machine gets good reviews), I would definitely consider it. In your case, maybe you could sell your corded polisher for half what you paid for it to offset the switch. For me, who hardly does any polishing anymore, it`s just not worth it, unless my better half decides she wants to do some polishing again.
 
The "unique" V-shape makes this tool, as stated, a design for either ergonomics and balance AND/OR easier accessibility into curves and recesses in automotive exterior panels. I guess I need to see it in action to understand this design shape. If you have not viewed the link in OP`s beginning post, you need to do so to see the "unique" shape of this polisher and what I am surmising/postulating for its design purposes.
I also see it is limited to a 3" pad/backing plate (75mm) and its 12mm throw makes this tool for what it is: spot correcting and polishing. The published 35 minute run time on a full charge MIGHT also be part of that intended purpose of spot polishing.

Are cordless polishers the "trend" for new detailing tools? I would say "yes" given the fact how much power is being generated through current (no pun intended!) battery pack technology. The downside is cost, limited run times, and overall polisher weight. The plus is not having to lug an electric cord everywhere or be limited to an electrical outlet location. That plus might be THE reason some detailer may NEED this tool or any cordless power tool. It might benefit mobile detailers or dealership/car lot detailers who may want to fix a spot in customer`s driveway or on a large car lot where access to an electrical outlet might be limited or non-existent.
I know those of you detailers who have migrated to cordless polishes mention not having to worry about draping an electrical cord over your shoulder to prevent scratching an exterior paint (just good, common-sense detailing practice) as being a big plus. Or stepping or tripping on the cord or having the male plug connector unplug from an extension cord at an inopportune time. If you`ve detailed long enough with corded polishers or worked with any corded power tools, you know what I am talking about.

Off topic, but here`s a detailing tip I`ve used with corded polishers. I use 3/4"-wide blue/red/green painter`s tape that you SHOULD have for taping off trim or seals while correcting and polishing to hold the male electrical connector end of the polisher into the female electrical connector of an extension cord and wind the tape around both connectors to keep them from coming apart. I know there are special connector tools you can add to cords just for this purpose, but if you don`t have one and rather than tying the two cords in loop knots to keep them together ( I do not like bending electrical cords in loops!), tape works just as well for me.
 
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