Work has been generous with overtime so I am on the fence as to what to buy next from Autopia. I mainly do family and friends vehicles....
I tossed the rotary idea in Jan and went with a Rupes LHR15. Thanks to "The Driver"s post in my 'Do I need a Rotary' thread.
Griots 6" DA *(2nd gen)
Griot's 3" DA (2nd gen)
Flex 3401
Rupes LHR15
I took the backing plate off of the Griots 3' and put it on the 6" for now. To me, the 3" Griot's is only good for wax application.
I have interest in the Rupes mini LHR75 or Rupes 21 Or anything else that I may be missing that anyone suggests.
Does the 21 really correct that much faster than the 15? (but then theres the expense of another 5" backing plate)
Is the mini worth the cost or is a converted 6" Griots good enough?
Thanks for any input,
Shawn
I had the exact setup you had with the exception of a few other polishers. I got rid of the GG3 for the exact reason you stated, it was basically a low power sander or a wax spreader. The mini BLOWS it away and can beat a pc no problem as well. If I were you and were doing a good amount of corrective work then I would say sell the GG6 an put the funds towards a 21. I did this an couldn't be happier. You need to be good with the rupes though, if your comfortable with the system then it does pay off for sure. Plus with the new UHS it may make life even easier for those simple/cliche corrections.
The 21 does correct faster but more so in extreme cases. I work very hard on my technique and pride myself in taking jobs other detailers couldn't or wouldn't do. The case of point of the waterspot removal was just that. The 21 will shine when cutting is most paramount, that said it's very rare you will encounter that type of situation. Can you correct faster on normal corrections? Yes, probably by about 15-20% if you really get the hang of it. Personally, this is just me speaking. For regular corrections I prefer the 15 because even though it is slower it is the smoothest. I truly enjoy polishing with the 15 because it really feels like I'm gliding over the paint. The 21 isn't bad but I don't always need a bazooka for a knife fight.
Ultimately it all comes down to do you want it, do you need it, will it help your productivity and earn you a higher rate and of course are my machines now capable of really bringing the result that I would want in a finish from a really bad finish. I knew with the GG6 there was no way I would be able to achieve the results
I wanted to get out of some clients cars. Don't forget to factor in technical stuff. I own a rupes 21 knowing that I can kill any waterspot, just as I own a 75E because I know I can get into the tight technical spots (Ie under spoilers, around mirrors) because thats the caliber of work I want to display.
Lastly an this is just me again, I love the 75E. For standard tight areas like P cars or GTR's it's great but make no mistake about it, if you are dealing with classics and very complex automobiles the rotary is still the best tool for precision work. One of my more recent challenges was a Volvo P1800. I tried to use the mini but the chrome bumpers just kept edging it because of the DA throw. Eventually I had to switch to Pe with a 3inch bp an a steady hand to carve out around the chrome bumpers and rounded headlights. Again I'm just trying to put things in perspective.
Also, always remember with a rotary you can use an extension, where as a DA your stuck with the length you have. (Unless you are running a dynabrade setup). I can't count how many times an extension has saved me from uneven work.
My overall input is this,
One, if you doing regular cars and you want to speed up work go for the
Rupes 21 now.
Two, once you get more clients and you get more technical work got a
small rotary like new
flex kompact or even a
flex pe14 if you can. Keep in mind you can now rock a 1,2 or 3 inch bp with an extension that basically means you can get into anywhere (Da throw will
always limit you in super tight areas).
Three, once you have enough saved away and you want a creature comfort then get a
Rupes Mini 75. It's an amazing tool and very helpful for basic tight work.
Edit: One last thing, I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH. If you buy any type of rotary down the road, please make sure it has soft start and a minimum rate of 800 or below. If you don't on some cars it's bit scary. Soft start and a low speed will not only save your butt, but allow you to maneuver in very tight spots.
