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I had a Rupes unit after it died prematurely I just decided to try a different brand. Everyone has a story as to why they choose something. 5 people could have a great experience and the 6th might have a unit blow up... kinda like arguing Ford/Chevy.. to each their own Anyone who see my Corvette in person is welcome to do so at any time.. and can see results are results at any price. You have your opinion same as all the other folks around.. I am happy you get results your proud of like I do. Hell I'd use Baby Wipes and a Swiffer it gave me results I want... I have to impress myself before I impress anyone else. I try to highlight folks that you do not have to spend $$ to get results.. $$ does not always equal better, some can have the best of the best and still not achieve results. I keep myself grounded in reality and have spent a huge sum over the years, a mistake I would like others not to make
Went through a similar process and wound up getting the Rupes LHR12E and am very pleased. Reasonably lightweight and does a very good job isolating vibrations so it does not transmit to your hands/arms.
Here are the results of my recent work on my 2014 911
I purchased a Rupes LHR15 II and iBird Nano six years ago. Excellent quality equipment that makes paint correction more enjoyable--even for an amateur like me that just enjoys polishing. They were "wants" that I neded. ; )
Other factors worth considering is what you will be working on and what level of correction will be necessary. Nonmetallic Porsche black, as I understand it, tends to be softer paint whereas other paints are significanly harder. When I was shopping, I understood that non gear driven units tended to be a bit more “idiot proof” which was good for me.
I was able to achieve a decent level of correction with Sonax Percect Finish (mild) and Lake County Orange pads (also mild). Finished with layered Polish Angel Master Sealant topped with High Gloss Spray, plus a few beers and patience.
I had a Porter Cable for about 10 years until it died. LHR15 Rupes was the replacement and wow, what an awesome improvement. I can't say the paint was noticeable enough to call it an improvement, however the experience, the weight and balance of the Rupes, lack of vibrations, and variability of speeds really was head and shoulders above the old PC.
If double the cost (total guess) isn't a big deal, well worth it. If that bothers you, then get what you want and spend the rest enjoying the beers or the extra microfiber towels you can buy for the savings.
Have a Griots 6” DA, a Flex 3401, Rupes 15 Mk2 & a Griots BOSS 21. Nothing is smoother and more enjoyable & effective *for me* than the Rupes 15.
The Griots was perfectly functional, did a lot of good work with it. The FLEX 3401 Forced Rotation was a step up, a bit more effective and functional but also a bit of a rough ride, making for a bit of weariness after a few hours. With solid technique (which admittedly took some practice) the Rupes 15 is a smooth, effective & quick joy to use. The BOSS 21 is great for larger panels but even with a smaller 5” plate/5.5” pads, a little cantankerous in curves, tighter areas.
Rupes has since moved to a Mark3 version of the LHR15 with a progressive trigger (eliminating the Rupes ‘slow start’ feature) for even greater control.
Had a LHR12 Duetto for a short while, great machine but I liked the chassis of the LHR15 better, personal preference really.
If you wanna really enjoy polishing & enjoy great tools, the Rupes LHR15 Mk3 would probably be worth the $$ for you. If you just wanna be functional, plenty of machines out there will likely fit your needs.
Remember that this is all supposed to be fun so be sure to enjoy whichever way you go!
I had a Porter Cable for about 10 years until it died. LHR15 Rupes was the replacement and wow, what an awesome improvement. I can't say the paint was noticeable enough to call it an improvement, however the experience, the weight and balance of the Rupes, lack of vibrations, and variability of speeds really was head and shoulders above the old PC.
If double the cost (total guess) isn't a big deal, well worth it. If that bothers you, then get what you want and spend the rest enjoying the beers or the extra microfiber towels you can buy for the savings.
I would say that my one complaint about the Porter Cable is the vibration than cn make your hands numb with extended use.
I've buffed for probably 20 years without a Rupes. my first DA polisher was a Meguiars. it did everything i needed. however, probably 2 years ago i decided to splurge on a Rupes Mille and i love it.
it is absolutely not necessary, you can get great results with the cheaper ones, but it certainly is nice to use
When using my Griots G9 I dont comprehend what is happening OR Not Happening when the pad
appears to be stalling/not moving but yet I know its still moving........
I'm a an ole man amatuer who doesnt want to buy anymore polishers
Thank you to everyone, I am buying the rupes, forget about the extra money
We think you'll enjoy the Rupes machine! The LHR15 Mark III is the workhorse in our studio and is a highly effective & enjoyable solution even when using for many hours each day!
Paired w/ a yellow Rupes pad and Sonax Perfect Finish, it is a very smooth, enjoyable machine to use and this combio is capable of many 1-step polishing scenarios, finishing LSP-ready in many cases.
One of our most popular videos on Rupes Polishing is "5 Paint Correction Tips GUARANTEED to Produce Results!"
Additionally, our video playlist "Our Top Polishing Videos" encompasses all of our favorite polishing videos, the majority of which feature the Rules machine(s)
I like the Rupes I have. I actually don't use it that much but it is a very high quality machine. If I were buying a new machine I would probably go with the flex that has forced rotation, but Rupes is definitely very high quality.
The flex is a monster of a machine. I find it a little more tiring than the Rupes and the fact that it’s rotation is opposite is weird. For lots of real estate i dont it can be beat. For most I just grab the Rupes
The flex is a monster of a machine. I find it a little more tiring than the Rupes and the fact that it’s rotation is opposite is weird. For lots of real estate i dont it can be beat. For most I just grab the Rupes
I love my Flex, have done countless details with it over the years and aside from needing a new set of brushes a couple years ago it's never let me down....There's really not much it can't do, and at one time was the "IT" polisher like the Rupes is now. There's always something newer/faster/smoother/better on the market, but I figure if it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it ever dies, I'll try something else, whatever the current "IT" polisher is at the time... but I don't see the need for that any time soon.
08-02-2022, 01:29 PM
Do I need to spend the money for a RUPES DA polisher?
I try to highlight folks that you do not have to spend $$ to get results.. $$ does not always equal better, some can have the best of the best and still not achieve results. I keep myself grounded in reality and have spent a huge sum over the years, a mistake I would like others not to make
