UDM and PC users

A

aeronut

New member
Hey guys. Im a long term rotary user looking into a da polisher. Im stuck in between a porter cable and an udm. However the udm seems to have some flaws that need to be worked out, but other than that it sounds pretty good.

So essentially Im asking for your guy's opinions, porter cable or udm?
 
More or less looking for a da polisher to compliment the rotary. Something I can use on trickier areas or just final touch ups after Im done with the rotary.
 
Yea. I broke down and tried one myself today a Dewalt RO polisher. Trying to figure out what all the friggin hub bub was about with this UDM/PC craze.... After learning the proper ways of a rotary a loooong time ago and practicing ever since I'd say the only thing a UDM/PC is remotely good for is appling wax faster. If your good with your rotary don't waste a ridiclous amount of money for a virtually useless machine if you already know how to use a proper detailing machine. Unless you can justify the $125+ pricetag for a faster wax applicator.
 
Jakerooni said:
Yea. I broke down and tried one myself today a Dewalt RO polisher. Trying to figure out what all the friggin hub bub was about with this UDM/PC craze.... After learning the proper ways of a rotary a loooong time ago and practicing ever since I'd say the only thing a UDM/PC is remotely good for is appling wax faster. If your good with your rotary don't waste a ridiclous amount of money for a virtually useless machine if you already know how to use a proper detailing machine. Unless you can justify the $125+ pricetag for a faster wax applicator.
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If you used the dewalt RO im thinking of then of course you didnt like it. It does not compare at all to a PC, cylco or flex.
 
Coupe said:
If you used the dewalt RO im thinking of then of course you didnt like it. It does not compare at all to a PC, cylco or flex.
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:werd:

I'd say the only thing a UDM/PC is remotely good for is appling wax faster. If your good with your rotary don't waste a ridiclous amount of money for a virtually useless machine
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That was a rediculous comment to make having never used a PC or UDM.
 
Well Not sure what your thinking about then because the one I used was shaped just like the UDM had more power than the UDM and defiantly was in the same ball park price range. I tired getting it as close as possible for a fair comparison. It was the Dewalt DW443. I guess I just didn't know what I was supposed to be expecting out of it. Obviously using the rotary it wasn't going to get any scratches out. I was hoping I guess for some sort of "pop" in apperance. Nothing... Like I said it just applied wax faster. Please enlighten me coupe since you always seem to have all the answers what exactly does this do to make it worth the purchase that someone actually skilled in using a rotary can't do? I have it for a couple more weeks I want to give it a fair shake so what kind of test should I be doing?
 
The 443 is a great machine. Only thing i dont like about it is you cant change the BP.



What where you trying to do with it?



Remove major defects?

Remove medium defects?

Remove light defects?

Touch ups here and there after rotary use?

Doing a total paint resto with it?



How where you using it?



What sized pads?

What kind of cut pads where you using?

How big of an area where you using it on?

How fast or slow where you moving the machine?

What speed/s where you using?



Im assuming you where using it like a rotary and thats why you werent getting anywhere with it.



I use a rotary 99% of the time and 90% of that i use wool pads. I only use the PC/DA for light touch ups after the rotary or for areas that the rotary just isnt feasible. 9 out of 10 vehicles i dont even touch my PC/DA. Im definately not the biggest fan of D/A's but i do believe they have their place in this industry.
 
Well the supplier gave me this white pad to use. Don't think it could be any bigger than say 5.5" maybe 6". I tried on low speeds and then up'ed to about 4. I guess I was looking for some sort of actual visable difference going over it after my rotary. It does make putting wax on easier. But not $150 worth of easier. I can't see a more even coat I didn't notice a better gloss or shine to it. So far the only thing I've noticed is it cut about 10 minutes or so off a detail by applying wax faster. I guess I'm still under the impression that a PC/UDM/DA machine is nothing more than a lazy detailers way to put wax on or just a beginners machine to build confidence in the transition of hand polishing to actual machine polishing. There's just nothing this thing can do that a rotary will skilled hands simply can't do better, faster, more efficent, etc etc etc. If someone can give me a test to do to prove otherwise I'm all ears and would actually love to do it. Like I said I have two weeks to test it out to see if I want to make a purchase. Let me know what this should be able to do that my rotary can't
 
You *really* need to stop looking down your nose at DA users. It's becoming a noticeable pattern - this certainly isn't the first (or second) time you've expressed the sentiment. In this most recent post, you imply that DA users are either "lazy", "beginners", or both. You're entitled to your opinion, but if it involves belittling other members, you're encouraged to keep that opinion to yourself.



You love your rotary . . . that's great. In skilled hands, there's no faster way to a corrected finish. However, most of the people at Autopia using DA polishers are enthusiasts, not professionals (professional detailers are actually a tiny minority in the forums). A DA with decent power is the perfect tool for the vast majority of us. It may not work as quickly as a rotary, but with the right technique, it will do some pretty serious correction, if necessary. For pros, time is money, so a DA isn't always the best choice. For the hobbyist, safety > speed.



There's more than one way to skin a cat. Or, in this case, buff out a swirl . . .



Tort
 
Tort..... I could argue my point I guess. But also see yours. By your own mention most of the people on here are simply beginners and therefor do NOT fall into the "lazy" catagory. If your not lazy don't assume I'm calling you lazy. You know full well who and what you are (speaking to everyone reading this)



If I have a pattern that is noticable... Good. At least I'm consistent and reliable. I will keep it at a minimum. But seriously think of this as more of an educational experience than anything. Not only my feeble little opinion that may or may not make someone think. But for other die hard D/A users to educate me on what possible benifits these ungodly expensive things are. Which is truely the only thing I'm after. I figure with such a huge following there simply just has to be something I'm missing. But so far every single time I've either unknowingly or very intentionally said something to get some sort of response no one (But coupe that is) has even tried to retort me and praise these machines. And coupe isn't even a big D/A user by his own sayings. Call it a bit rough or whatever you will but I'm voicing my opinons in a manner to seek some education from some die hards. And apparently it's just not happening.



So Like I said. I'll keep it to a minimum. I will still offer the advise of a rotary simply being a much better option but in a less demeaning way. I personally don't like seeing people getting ripped off without knowing it. And I think the clever way the PC/UDM is marketed is doing exactly that. By keeping the simple education of a better option at bay and pushing something that works.... but at a much higher price. Again.. just my $.02
 
Jakerooni said:
So Like I said. I'll keep it to a minimum. I will still offer the advise of a rotary simply being a much better option but in a less demeaning way. I personally don't like seeing people getting ripped off without knowing it. And I think the clever way the PC/UDM is marketed is doing exactly that. By keeping the simple education of a better option at bay and pushing something that works.... but at a much higher price. Again.. just my $.02
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You dont know how to use the machine, thats the problem. No one is getting ripped off, you just dont know how to use it.



I and anyone else who has learned to use a PC/DA can do the exact same thing that you can do with a rotary, not as fast, but in the end the same amount of work.



I use my rotary for the speed not becuase it does a better job, its just faster.
 
Well, I decided to test a porter cable myself. Got one off ebay reasonably so I figured I myself would see if it would compliment my collection of tools.
 
I use a rotory. I use the UDM and a PC. I can finish with a rotory but sometimes it takes less effort believe it or not, to finish with a PC. By less effort I mean less mental effort. Less concentrating... more daydreaming or talking to my girlfriend..etc.. So I like to have all three of them.. If you are going to get a PC there is no reason not to just get the UDM. Its just better (except for the on/off issue).
 
Yeah I was pretty torn between the udm and pc. But in the end I figured the extra power wasnt worth it to me in the udm. If there are more serious imperfections the rotary is always right there.
 
Im not going to get into the other crap in this thread, but there is NO reason to get the PC over the UDM. Its a PC with more power. The issues are minor IMO. I touchy switch that you can adjust to not turning on by behavior modification and a shorter cord.
 
I like the rotary over the PC for the moment, and only say this because I haven't spent the time to learn how to use the PC like I have with my Makita. I felt that way when I first started with the rotary, too. We all know the pros and cons of the PC/UDM. If not, do a search. But this beating a dead horse thing is getting sorta old.
 
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of threads where you can plainly see some serious corrective work from those using ONLY a PC. The UDM is only that much better- a more powerful PC. So I know one can correct paint a lot faster with a rotary but I've also seen, and experienced, the results of many more rotary attempts by someone with less than perfect skills. How many posts have we seen that show horrendous buffer trails from the last "rotary expert" who probably just slathered on a glaze to get the person out the door? With that being said- there are also some amazing rotary users who frequent this board as well and who post their amazing before and after pictures. As most have said- both tools remain an important part of any detailer's arsenal. Learn to use them both to the best of their abilities and you'll be in for many happy years of detailing. :xyxthumbs
 
For me, seeing (with my own 2 eyes, not pictures on a web-site) is believing as far as non rotary correction goes. I've only had the chance to witness 2 "pro detailers" attempt to fully correct a finish with a PC, but unfortunatly they were unsuccessful. If any PCer's do total correction down here in South Florida PM me. I'd love to watch.
 
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