At work we switched to 100% DA for polishing scratching even 2000 grit sanding. I hate my Dewalt, I always get swirl marks, thought seriously about ebaying it to help pay for my new Porter D/A. But decided to keep it in case the part doesn't have the power to remove wetsanding. I plan on Dewalt for the early work and the parter to remove the swirl marks.
why people still using rotary?
- Thread starter regal
- Start date
OCDinPDX
Paint Ph.D
I self-taught myself with a random orbital, a fairly forgiving machine but there are times I would love to have the skill to run a rotary. I recently worked on a black Acura RL which has soft clearcoat but even with several passes with the RO, I couldn't eradicate the deeper scratches. I'm convinced a rotary would have made quick work of them and then finish up with the random orbital to get rid of the holograms.
I've got my eyes on the Makita 9227C as my next major detailing purchase.
I've got my eyes on the Makita 9227C as my next major detailing purchase.
Darkstar752
New member
I only use rotary. It corrects much faster and finishes down very well if you know how to.
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
regal said:
I'd want to get rid of it too if that happened! I actually know a couple Pros that use both and like the initial cut of the DA (via KBM) and then the follow up with a rotary.
imported_Danbo56
New member
I "grew up" using a rotary detailing Cadillac's and Buicks for a dealer in the late '70's. You can fly with a rotary machine on those big flat surfaces. But.... I nearly got fired for burning the egde of the front fender of a '75 Red Eldorado. I was flying a bit tooo fast!!!:buffing: DA= safer, slower
imported_Jakerooni
New member
regal said:
If you actually learned how to use your machine properly you probably wouldn't be saying that. As stated in almost every thread before this now. A rotary is faster and more efficent than the D/A when in the hands of someone that knows how to finesse it properly. I wouldn't get rid of the DeWalt just yet. It'll be your best freind one day with a stubborn clear coat or a boat that comes in. If you're always getting swirls and marring you really need to look at your pad/product combo. Something is obviously amiss there and I think once you switched that up a bit you'll have no more issues like that. the D/A's have come a very long way indeed but I don't think there at a point where you need to toss out the real work horse of the stable just yet. I use both very frequently these days. And glad I have both to choose from
SuperBee364
New member
Jakerooni said:If you actually learned how to use your machine properly you probably wouldn't be saying that. As stated in almost every thread before this now. A rotary is faster and more efficent than the D/A when in the hands of someone that knows how to finesse it properly. I wouldn't get rid of the DeWalt just yet. It'll be your best freind one day with a stubborn clear coat or a boat that comes in. If you're always getting swirls and marring you really need to look at your pad/product combo. Something is obviously amiss there and I think once you switched that up a bit you'll have no more issues like that. the D/A's have come a very long way indeed but I don't think there at a point where you need to toss out the real work horse of the stable just yet. I use both very frequently these days. And glad I have both to choose from
IMO, the important stuff is in bold. Giving up your rotary is like saying "I have found the wonders of the wrench! I no longer need a screw driver!" They just aren't equal replacements. There's no doubt that recent products have made a DA more versatile and capable than it was, but it's still no rotary replacement.
SuperBee364
New member
Aesop F1 said:
That's a two-sided issue, as well. There are some *very* well respected Autopians (several of whom are pros) that will *only* finish out with a DA. One of Megs famous instructors (his name fails me) simply will not finish out with a rotary.
I'm on your side of the fence on this one, though. I can finish out with a rotary *MUCH* better than a DA. I have yet to even come close to the gloss level I can get with a rotary by using a DA, if that made sense.
imported_detail1
New member
I like the FLEX.
But it all depends on what u r using the machine for. Are u a professional detailer that does this for a living? Or r u a weekend detailer that just wants to keep ur car loking great?
I have only used a DA bc I m afraid of misusing a rotary and buring the paint off. The DA is not that strong so I bought a FLEX and its perfect for me.
It's all about education, experience and needs.
But it all depends on what u r using the machine for. Are u a professional detailer that does this for a living? Or r u a weekend detailer that just wants to keep ur car loking great?
I have only used a DA bc I m afraid of misusing a rotary and buring the paint off. The DA is not that strong so I bought a FLEX and its perfect for me.
It's all about education, experience and needs.
autoconcierge
New member
Like anything, a rotary is hard to use well without experience as it is a touch you develop over time and you learn what speed, product and pads you need thru trial an error, also with the advent of the Internet with great information available like here on Autopia which is a GREAT source for anyone who takes avantage of the proper correcting techniques.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Aesop F1 said:
Works great for me using the Cyclo. Absolutely zero downgrading of the finish compared to the rotary. But that's *me*, on the paint *I'm* working on. I always wonder if the Cyclo is just so different from, say...the PC that *that* might explain it (I'm not always happy with the finish a PC leaves).
But then OTOH ScottWax gets a better finish via rotary than via Cyclo so :nixweiss (huh, the "nixweiss" emoticon isn't showing up)
Plenty of people claim they get a lot better finish via rotary, I'm just glad I'm not in that boat. I get holograms (very, very faint ones most of the time) and I simply don't like using my rotaries. Period. Don't like my PCs either for that matter. To each their own.
As long as the person in question likes the machine they're using and the results they're getting, well...IMO that's what counts. When others start insisting that somebody who's satisfied needs to do their detailing differently, that's when I start to
SuperBee364 said:
Are you just being political or did his name really slip your mind
Last I heard, Mike Phillips was still finishing out via the G-whatever DA machine that Meguiar's sells. And he's been using/training with the rotary for decades! It'll be interesting to see what he uses once he jumps ship and joins AutoGeek.
detail1 said:
Depending on the mindset of the user that shouldn't really be a problem. It does make a good argument for the careful use of an ETG though, at least if you aren't gonna be really careful.
But honestly, I've done more damage with the PC/Cylo than I have with the rotary. Heh heh, of course, had I been using the rotary in those cases it might've been even worse
Serious damage via rotary is most often a matter of the user doing something that they simply *never* should have done in the first place, it's just that DAs are so forgiving that people can get away with incredibly poor technique most of the time.
OTOH...
Danbo56 said:
Good heavens, I sure hope that wasn't original paint! Heh heh, the fact that you even think in terms of "flying fast" with a rotary sorta explains how it happened, huh
imported_Danbo56
New member
Accumulator said:
Works great for me using the Cyclo. Absolutely zero downgrading of the finish compared to the rotary. But that's *me*, on the paint *I'm* working on. I always wonder if the Cyclo is just so different from, say...the PC that *that* might explain it (I'm not always happy with the finish a PC leaves).
But then OTOH ScottWax gets a better finish via rotary than via Cyclo so :nixweiss (huh, the "nixweiss" emoticon isn't showing up)
Plenty of people claim they get a lot better finish via rotary, I'm just glad I'm not in that boat. I get holograms (very, very faint ones most of the time) and I simply don't like using my rotaries. Period. Don't like my PCs either for that matter. To each their own.
As long as the person in question likes the machine they're using and the results they're getting, well...IMO that's what counts. When others start insisting that somebody who's satisfied needs to do their detailing differently, that's when I start to
Are you just being political or did his name really slip your mind
Last I heard, Mike Phillips was still finishing out via the G-whatever DA machine that Meguiar's sells. And he's been using/training with the rotary for decades! It'll be interesting to see what he uses once he jumps ship and joins AutoGeek.
Depending on the mindset of the user that shouldn't really be a problem. It does make a good argument for the careful use of an ETG though, at least if you aren't gonna be really careful.
But honestly, I've done more damage with the PC/Cylo than I have with the rotary. Heh heh, of course, had I been using the rotary in those cases it might've been even worse
Serious damage via rotary is most often a matter of the user doing something that they simply *never* should have done in the first place, it's just that DAs are so forgiving that people can get away with incredibly poor technique most of the time.
OTOH...
Good heavens, I sure hope that wasn't original paint! Heh heh, the fact that you even think in terms of "flying fast" with a rotary sorta explains how it happened, huh
Yeah.... I was 17 y/o at the time. Young and dumb.... I did everything fast! I was red compounding a trade in thaty was pretty oxidized. I ran over the top edge of the drivers front fender. Got down to primer near the front corner. Sheeze.... it's 30 yrs later and I still remember That screw up!!!
imported_Detailing Technology
New member
How are you feeling about the FLEX compared to a PC or rotary?
Cleaning Fool
New member
I graduated to a Makita 9227 6 months ago. Using common sense and some training I got from my local detail friends, I wonder how I made it all this time with just a PC.
Barry Theal
New member
I think first you have to look at the level of knowledge and experience the detailer has before asking why do people still use the rotary. Its a fact that the right pad and combination with either can seriously remove defects. but truthfully I don't think a serious pro who is doing this day in and out should never give up a rotary. IMHO. I was always told a rotary can either make or break a detailer!