Rupes LHR21ES and non-Rupes pads

rattlerskin

rattlerskin

New member
I know this has been talked about a lot on here, but I figured I would show my example of a LC white CCS pad after being used on my last detail with my LHR21ES and 5" BP. The pad was nearly brand new, having been used on one other car before the Mustang I was working on. I was testing out the Rupes pad, a tangerine hydro, and the CCS white when I started noticing blue foam particles laying on the panel. I shut off the polisher, and imagine my surprise at how quickly this pad was shredded.

Anyway, I figured I would post this here to remind people to always check their system and don't trust you are safe just because the pad is stuck to the backing plate.

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Good point. That problem is more for the Hi-Gloss pads. The blue, Instant Rebound Foam is extremely soft (softer than the standard blue pad foam) and could cut easily when subjected to the large stroke, high-dynamic force imparted by the 21.
 
You gotta realize the Rupes' guys spent a lot of resources engineering this as a system. The pads had to be balanced and strong due to the larger throw.

I know its a hard pill to swallow to replace all your pads if your getting a Rupes. But, the machine really does work best with their pads.
 
Swanicyouth said:
You gotta realize the Rupes' guys spent a lot of resources engineering this as a system. The pads had to be balanced and strong due to the larger throw.

I know its a hard pill to swallow to replace all your pads if your getting a Rupes. But, the machine really does work best with their pads.
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Someone was paying attention!

I too will be switching to pure Rupes pads.
 
The Rupes pads are more durable. You couldn't pick a more fragile pad than the one you used. The design (raised velcro) is the weak point. I have torn those pads using a GG6 much less with a Rupes21.
 
I try to see if their compound work ( say ) with LC pads at DF, but they were way too busy there.
 
One problem I have that I'm sure most of you have experienced is the Rupes pads are a bit larger and much heavier than standard 5" pads, so getting the system to keep spinning over curved panels becomes quite a fight sometimes. It would be nice of they could match the size of the thin profile 5" Hydrotech pads with the durability of the Rupes pads.
 
Have you tried the Rupes MF pads? I'd not the I highly suggest you do. I do not have any issues with the Rupes pads that I have on curved panels. I have some in both sizes so no issues here.
 
I have destroyed several hydro tech tangerine pads with my duetto. I could only imagine how much more likely the 21 would be to shred pads.

I really like the way the rupes pads work with the duetto.
 
Evan.J said:
Have you tried the Rupes MF pads? I'd not the I highly suggest you do. I do not have any issues with the Rupes pads that I have on curved panels. I have some in both sizes so no issues here.
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I haven't tried the Rupes MF pads yet, only Megs MF pads. How do you compare the cutting/finishing of the Rupes MF to Megs MF? I need to use more of the Rupes green pads on these single step corrections, but i'm so used to everything else I have so I guess I just need to cut the umbilical and move over to Rupes stuff.
 
rattlerskin said:
I haven't tried the Rupes MF pads yet, only Megs MF pads. How do you compare the cutting/finishing of the Rupes MF to Megs MF? I need to use more of the Rupes green pads on these single step corrections, but i'm so used to everything else I have so I guess I just need to cut the umbilical and move over to Rupes stuff.
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They work really well. However they have a little less cut the the meguiars pads but work great with the Rupes as they are suppose to.

After attending Todd's class on the Rupes (should be on YouTube) I will be making the switch to Rupes pads. I do have some but not enough. Everything was designed to work synergistically together and that's how you can reach the maximum potential of this machine.

Remember to let the throw of the machine do all the work. You should have no pressure in the head of the machine when using it.

I would also was the video from detail Fest that Jason Rose did on the meguiars MF system. He does an excellent job of explaining the Meg's MF system and how the pad and hook and loop material work and what can make those fail pre maturely
 
so are we saying that the rupes only likes rupes pads? I was under the assumption that the Megs MF pads were a match made in heaven.
 
Woob said:
I run 5.5 B&S Pads and they do get chewed up.
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Same, mine were the B&S Microfiber though, my LC CCS run amazing with the rupes. CG hex logic also don't like rupes... Which is a shame because they are honestly my favorite pads hands down.
 
Sometimes I wonder if my rupes 21 is off balance. I've had the speed control module replaced under warranty by AG also. In an attempt to achieve the "smoothness" that others are raving about, I bought a bunch of Rupes foam and MF pads. I keep reading about others saying B&S foam and MF pads are great, but the MF pads vibrate like hell every time I use them. Meg's MF pads are a lot better, but not a "match made in heaven" smoothness. Even thought the cut is great and definately noticeable over a standard DA, the smoothness is not always there. Sure takes the fun out of using the rupes sometimes. Anyone else having this problem?
 
J504 said:
Sometimes I wonder if my rupes 21 is off balance. I've had the speed control module replaced under warranty by AG also. In an attempt to achieve the "smoothness" that others are raving about, I bought a bunch of Rupes foam and MF pads. I keep reading about others saying B&S foam and MF pads are great, but the MF pads vibrate like hell every time I use them. Meg's MF pads are a lot better, but not a "match made in heaven" smoothness. Even thought the cut is great and definately noticeable over a standard DA, the smoothness is not always there. Sure takes the fun out of using the rupes sometimes. Anyone else having this problem?
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Are you using the standard BP and pads with the 21 or have you switches to the smaller backing plate and pads?

nezff said:
So basically I couldn't use any of the lake country ccs or flat pads I have purchased? I would have to throw those out?
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If you have another machine I would use them or you can sell them.
 
Imagine taking a rock and tying a string to it....

Start with a string that is 5 feet long... hold on to it, and spin it above your head. If the rock isn't too big, you won't feel too much force...

Now extend that string to 20 feet long, and twirl it above your head at the same rate. The force of the rock will be much greater and you might pull your shoulder out of socket...

The more you increase the stroke of a machine, the greater the force you place on every part of the system.

On a standard 8 mm / 5/16" stroke, most of the vibration and unbalance is absorbed by a foam pads on cushioning effect.

When we talk about a 21 mm stroke, slight differences in weight aren't as effectively canceled.

Can you use other brand pads on the Rupes? Sure, many do and many love it!
It is my personal opinion that the Rupes' pads deliver superior results and superior polishing comfort when exposed to the large throws of BigFoot polishers.
 
It doesn't suprise me that the white pad with blue cushion self-destructed. I've killed a few with my PCXP. These things were made for rotary only (IMHO). I switched to Buff & Shine pads now and I'm in the process of killing off all my remaining LC and Megs (except the 4" Megs burgandy ones - they rule on headlights!)
 
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