Hi, My friend came by with a SIMONIZ rotary this past weekend that he picked up at Canadian tire at a 1/2 price sale-50.00 plus taxes. We decided to do a test run on my 1995 dodge red mini van. We used a white polishing pad that came with the rotary and MOTHER'S scratch remover as the polish cream. I would say, from our observation in sun light, we removed about 75% of all the swirls with one pass. I mean how in the world could you burn paint unless you are really not paying attention. Besides, to be on the safe side, you need to just lower the speed to 1500-2000 rpm and in my opinion, that should be as safe as a pc NO??? We both felt like the ROTARY MYTH was busted!
Rotary Scare Myth....busted!
- Thread starter musicdjs
- Start date
imported_Picus
New member
It is tougher to burn paint than people think....but then you run a foam pad over a thin edge at 1600 rpm.
Holden_C04
New member
It's when you get too confident that the real danger begins. It's not a monster, but a machine that requires respect from a knowledgeable person.
imported_weekendwarrior
New member
Holden_C04 said:
Listen to what this man says. I thought I was pretty good when I made my first burn as well.
imported_DetailDan
New member
This is your very first time using the rotary and you think you've busting some kind of myth? The majority of people who use a rotary will eventually burn paint, its part of the learning process. I also doubt you did much correction.
imported_themightytimmah
New member
You used a very mild polish and pad. Try the big guns out for size , it's very easy to do damage when you're shooting for 100%.
imported_JoshVette
New member
Yup, after 3 years of perfecting paint I finally burned my first car......:dig and it was pretty bad too.:wall
I've worked on some extremely expensive cars and done some extremely expensive detailing and thought I was on top of my game and then trashed the lower side skirt of an M3 by accident. It just happened, no bouncing, not much pressure, I was even being cautious but just the went from the wrong angle and next thing you know.... :help:
Lets just say humble pie doesn't taste great.
I've worked on some extremely expensive cars and done some extremely expensive detailing and thought I was on top of my game and then trashed the lower side skirt of an M3 by accident. It just happened, no bouncing, not much pressure, I was even being cautious but just the went from the wrong angle and next thing you know.... :help:
Lets just say humble pie doesn't taste great.
imported_Picus
New member
musicdjs said:
Well since you're convinced, I am not going to talk you out of it.
SuperBee364
New member
D&D Auto Detail said:
Yup, exactly. It's not a matter of *if*, it's a matter of *when*. And the "when" will come much sooner if you don't have the proper respect/fear. It also usually happens on plastic painted parts and edges.
I'm scared everytime I pick up a rotary. I hope I never lose that fear, really.
imported_shine
New member
If you're not scared the first few times picking up a rotary, then I'd be worried for you. Especially at 1500+ RPM. I'd recommend staying around 1000RPM tops, at first.
shine said:
I used it on my moms hood which was significantly swirled. Began the machine at 900rpm just to get a feel for it then SLOWLY pushed it up to 1500 and I honestly was not even scared. The machine flowed so well, and it didn't even feel like it was going to fast. I bumped it up to 1800, kept it moving as well. I feel VERY comfortable with it after just one use. But, like everyone said I am expecting to burn through something at some point. Its a learning experience. I might just buy a practice panel and burn through it just to see what it feels like.
jesselyons2002
New member
HTEC and a orange pad on really a 23yr old single stage paint gave me my first rotary burn easily.
imported_DetailDan
New member
evenflow said:
What pad were you using?
wannafbody
wannafbody
I'd never use an orange pad with a rotary. That pad is just too stiff. Large pore cutting pads are can be dangerous-that's how I burned an edge on my car. Soft pads are your friend with a rotary.
Todd@RUPES
Just a regular guy
This thread (which was emailed to me) kind of reminds me of the posts you always see on various high end car and (espically) motorcycle forums. Some kid posts about his dad's M5 and says its easy to drive fast or some 16 year old wants to know how to do a wheelie on a GSXR1000, then brags how easy it is...
Two days later somebody posts in the thread about how the kid is dead.
Is the rotary scary? Not in my opinion. Is it safe? Like anything, when used properly it is (for the most paint). However with a couple hours of under your belt you are no where near experienced enough to know how to use it...
The only way to lear how to use it properly is by using it, so you are on the right track. Nothing wrong with that part, the only part seems to be your attitude which could limit your potenital growth. You seem very boastful and your boastfulness has no merit (yet). Again this could be in the internet and you could be nothing like this, as I know it is hard to read "attitude" when reading words which cannot give the same impression as something that is said with emotion.
Sorry if I come across hardly, but I am being blunt.
If your goal is to prove that on some paint you can use some product and not burn the paint you succeeded. If you goal is/was to get over the fear of rotary polishing and instead try to improve you technique then perhaps I can give a couple pointers.
Read up as much as you can on this forum(some very talented people post here, guys that I am in awe of) and others (I think Meguiarsonline is a good place for factual information from professionals on machine polishing). Like anything you can only be as good as the time you put into it allows. If you want to improve you are going to have to do your own research and apply what you learn. There is no right or wrong way but only the best technique that works for you.
As Josh said, you WILL burn paint, wether a seem, lip, or edge. It will happen (Moore's Law, I think). A couple points... tape up any areas that stick out or are un even. Never directly buff an edge, but you can buff up to an edge. Paint can be VERY thin on edges (since it flows wet when sprayed the paint will "run" from the edges). The thinner paint will heat very quickly and can burn quickly. Also, since the paint is very thin, you risk "strike through" or actually removing enough paint to actually get to the layer underneather the paint.
I would advise you to go to a body shop and pick up a scrap body panel. Then do a bunch of research, then go out an hammer the panel. Find out what works, burn it on purpose... Just mess it up and have fun.
Goodluck!
Two days later somebody posts in the thread about how the kid is dead.
Is the rotary scary? Not in my opinion. Is it safe? Like anything, when used properly it is (for the most paint). However with a couple hours of under your belt you are no where near experienced enough to know how to use it...
The only way to lear how to use it properly is by using it, so you are on the right track. Nothing wrong with that part, the only part seems to be your attitude which could limit your potenital growth. You seem very boastful and your boastfulness has no merit (yet). Again this could be in the internet and you could be nothing like this, as I know it is hard to read "attitude" when reading words which cannot give the same impression as something that is said with emotion.
Sorry if I come across hardly, but I am being blunt.
If your goal is to prove that on some paint you can use some product and not burn the paint you succeeded. If you goal is/was to get over the fear of rotary polishing and instead try to improve you technique then perhaps I can give a couple pointers.
Read up as much as you can on this forum(some very talented people post here, guys that I am in awe of) and others (I think Meguiarsonline is a good place for factual information from professionals on machine polishing). Like anything you can only be as good as the time you put into it allows. If you want to improve you are going to have to do your own research and apply what you learn. There is no right or wrong way but only the best technique that works for you.
As Josh said, you WILL burn paint, wether a seem, lip, or edge. It will happen (Moore's Law, I think). A couple points... tape up any areas that stick out or are un even. Never directly buff an edge, but you can buff up to an edge. Paint can be VERY thin on edges (since it flows wet when sprayed the paint will "run" from the edges). The thinner paint will heat very quickly and can burn quickly. Also, since the paint is very thin, you risk "strike through" or actually removing enough paint to actually get to the layer underneather the paint.
I would advise you to go to a body shop and pick up a scrap body panel. Then do a bunch of research, then go out an hammer the panel. Find out what works, burn it on purpose... Just mess it up and have fun.
Goodluck!
Todd@RUPES
Just a regular guy
evenflow said:
GREAT idea... Also if you ever need tips or technqiues feel free to call and I will give you as much help as I can.