PC vs. Oribital (aka, is ddetail wrong?)

Brenton

Brenton

aka PEI Detail
So this unnamed member said he/she prefers the PC--kicks the Rotary's butt. I've only ever used a Rotary, a DeWalt currently.
The PC is on sale locally with a pad here. I don't really have the cash, but do I have a need for a PC when I'm doing okay on a rotary?
 
I've used the PC over a year now, and I am very pleased with the results. I don't think the PC will out do the rotary, but in the wrong hands will do damage. We all have are own way of doing things. If you do have the extra money, and find a PC for a good price you should pick one up just to see how it works. It may be able to get some jobs done that the rotary want. It would be a good back-up tool for you to have.
 
The pc cannot achieve the results that a rotary can. The rotary can just cut the paint and remove swirls faster than the pc... in the right hands. Its all about product speed and pad combos. For a beginner or a weekend detailer the rotary is overkill. For a professional detialer a rotary is almost required. There are some defects that the pc cannot touch, thats when the rotary will step in.

Greg
 
PEI Detail said:
So this unnamed member said he/she prefers the PC--kicks the Rotary's butt. I've only ever used a Rotary, a DeWalt currently.
The PC is on sale locally with a pad here. I don't really have the cash, but do I have a need for a PC when I'm doing okay on a rotary?
Click to expand...
If you are proficient with a rotary, I can't see any reason for you to purchase a PC.
The rotary in the right hands can do so much more than a PC that there is no comparison. That includes both good and bad.:)
 
I've toyed with getting a PC for my brother-in-law as the folks above described it is good for the beginner.
But as you caught, my questions is: is there any reason to go backwards to PC?
 
PEI Detail said:
I've toyed with getting a PC for my brother-in-law as the folks above described it is good for the beginner.
But as you caught, my questions is: is there any reason to go backwards to PC?
Click to expand...
For the beginner or anyone less than proficient with the rotary, the PC is a fine tool. I'm sure not a beginner, but I was sure less than proficient with a rotary. The PC has been great for me.
IMO, the step backward would just be a waste of money for you.
Besides, if you need a PC, borrow your BIL's.:)

Charles
 
i have used a rotary for 12 years and recently bought a pc at work for the new help to use and learn control on. i used a few times and would take a rotary any day over a pc. like greg said a rotary cuts so much better when used correctly. i was actually a little dissapointed using a pc for the first time. it felt frustrating to use after so many years of a rotary. in my useless opion, if you have skills with a rotary, don't bother with a pc.
 
I agree with the others, if you are proficient with a rotary, I see no reason to purchase a PC.
With a rotary you are able to do a better job with correcting paint problems in a shorter amount of time. For a professional it is a win/win proposition

JHMO
"J"
 
Not to highjack the thread, but what exactly does being "proficient with a rotary" incur? What are the skills that are needed?
 
Sherman8r44 said:
Not to highjack the thread, but what exactly does being "proficient with a rotary" incur? What are the skills that are needed?
Click to expand...

I practiced on junker cars at first, and found I burned on a couple of edges, and stained some trimming.
For me, being proficient means under doing it, doing as little as possible, protecting the car, and knowing when to quite. I did a highly oxidized Spitfire recently, and it wasn't perfect. I couldn't get to every edge, and there were some marks and textures I couldn't get out. But I chose to stop before I ruined the car.
It means spending the necessary time, even if it means dirtying four pads you won't use to find the riht one.
Mostly, it is experience, which I don't have enough of. Some do, most don't.
 
Re:(aka, is ddetail wrong?)

ddetail is probaly not wrong for ddetail. Maybe the rotary he/she was using was one of the old heavy clunkers. Possibly the PC does whatever paint correction is needed for ddetail.
So, IMO, ddetail is right for his/her use, but it isn't necessarily right for everyone.

Charles
 
I'm already thinking I could of used the money I spent on my PC somewhere else. I love the machine, but it can't touch the rotary, just like others have said
 
Of those here proficient with a rotary:

Were any of you taught how to use it correctly or was it more like trial by fire?
 
For some of us who has not used a pc or a rotary, the pc is the way to go until the aquired skills to use a rotary are accomplished.

years ago one of the guys from the neighberhood tried to buff the door of a older eldorado and burnt the paint right off the door. ( by the way it wasn't me)

Meguiars has a 55 minute video on how to use a rotary, the video show's what could happen if the wrong techniques are used, and the video also show's how good it works in removing different type's of paint deffects.

P.S. PEI had a good suggestion, that is go and get an old fender etc and practice with it.
 
RTexasF said:
Of those here proficient with a rotary:

Were any of you taught how to use it correctly or was it more like trial by fire?
Click to expand...
I watched the Meguiars video about 30 times and then went to town on the family beater car (the taurus mentioned in my sig). It took me about a week, polishing every day, but I ended up getting pretty good at getting a bunch of stuff out without any visible damage. I'm also proud to say I have never once burnt paint on my cars, I don't run the machine above 1500 rpms and I always err on the side of caution. I had about 4-5 months of PC experience and I have to say it helped a lot.
 
RTexasF said:
Of those here proficient with a rotary:

Were any of you taught how to use it correctly or was it more like trial by fire?
Click to expand...

I was trial by fire, but it only took burning through a few junkers till I learned better.
 
My $.02 is that in experienced hands the rotary may very well be the only tool needed for 99.99% of all polishing needs. However, there are many LSPs that are not rotary friendly, and there are many people (like me), who prefer to apply waxes and LSPs by machine for the ease, consistancy and ability to lay down the thinnest coating possible. For that IMO, the PC is better suited than the rotary.
 
CharlesW said:
If you are proficient with a rotary, I can't see any reason for you to purchase a PC.
The rotary in the right hands can do so much more than a PC that there is no comparison. That includes both good and bad.:)
Click to expand...

I concur, I want to add that the PC is for mainly the enthusiast detailer. The rotary is a far better machine, quicker, less time and effort. I still us a GEM buffer tho.. :punk





RTexasF said:
Of those here proficient with a rotary:

Were any of you taught how to use it correctly or was it more like trial by fire?
Click to expand...

I was taught by a bodyman and by deatiling seminars that I paid to attend. I have been asked many times by other detailers for free lessons. I think a rotary sets the benchmark for professional detailers and those who use it well.
 
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