Rotary holograms
 

Hi guys,

I was wondering if any of you uses a rotary buffer to compound/polish cars? It seems nowadays only DA buffers are used to bring the shine back.

They're easier to use but they don't ''cut'' like a rotary. In the past I have repair some pretty good scratches with the wet sanding and rotary. The thing is, I can't find a way to have a show room finish with my rotary. There is always some holograms left (black cars are the worst). Ive tried going slow/fast use a different pad/compound but I can't get my STI to shine.

Should I just buy a random orbit and be done with it or is there really a secret to finish like a pro?
thanks for the help

http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/pa...5.jpg.html?o=0

As far as I know the only way to get show room shine from a rotary style buffer is experience. If you're insistent in keep a rotary buffer in your process, why not just supplement the rotary buffer for cutting/polishing with a random orbital for your finishing step?

I agree with you, but getting another tool sounds more like a ''band-aid'' solution to me..

See Junkman2008's posts on paint maintenance/rehab. Lots of good info.

My guess is that your pad(s) has some traces of grit during the final steps.

:icon14: Umm... the RO will solve all your problems and can completely replace your rotary. It will handle cutting/polishing/finishing. That's not a band-aid solution.

I was only suggesting to supplement the rotary if you insist on still using it. If you get a RO, you can dump the rotary completely. Or you can practice more with the rotary. A LOT more from what I can see.

Ok I didn't know that I could use the RO only! I tought it was more for polishing than cutting! What about the griot RO? are they good?

thanks JAR

An RO will not be as fast as a rotary when it comes to cutting. This is a fact due to the way the machine works (all else being equal; pads, compounds, etc.) However, unless you are a professional and every second counts, which you do not seem to be, you can achieve the same finish with an RO with much less risk than with a rotary.

DA is the way to go these days. I detail for a living. The Rupes polishers are my personal preference. They correct paint very fast.

You can accomplish a flawless shine with a rotary but it takes a lot of practice, proper pad and polish selection. The key to using a rotary is specific pressure and movement.

I use a rotary a lot with no holograms at all. It just takes practice!

And the simple fact you can accomplish the correction MUCH faster!

thanks for your inputs guys, i definitely need more practice. The swirls I can deal with that but the holograms, totally looks terrible!

Rotary buffers are outdated. DA polishers are much more user friendly especially for someone just detailing their personal car every so often to remove swirls. I can correct a vehicle faster with my Rupes polisher than I can with my rotary. The only thing I use a rotary for now is boats.

Griot’s Garage Random Orbital Wolfgang Duo

That would kit would remove all your holograms, light swirls and scratches.

That is mechanically impossible! ROFL

I have a hand full of machine polishers. While I do not advocate noobs using a rotary it is a machine that can correct faster then a DA

For anyone starting out I would recommend the PC7424XP: http://www.stayfreshcarcare.com/#!accessories/cpr3

Agreed with Ryan. The thing that makes a rotary a rotary is that it will continue to spin regardless of how much pressure you apply. So you can go at the paint hard and fast but if you're not well practiced you will burn the **** out of your paint. A DA cannot mechanically apply that extra pressure because the heads will stop. This is what makes them safe and also makes them slower.

Unless you mean you can get better results faster because the DA compensates for any mishaps from the rotary that you need to double back on, your argument is invalid :p

Very little pressure is needed to correct paint with my Rupes polisher. Now if your talking about a Porter Cable DA or something that isn't very powerful, then i would agree with you. A DA like the FLEX XC 3401 WILL NOT STOP UNDER LOAD