Rupes vs. Flex vs Rotary

[don40vette]

If you want to do serious correction a rotary is the only way to go.
If you are going to wet sand, a rotary is the only way to go.
After claying a dark color car, the flex 3401 vrg da.
In my experience using the rupes bigfoot, half your time running it, it is doing almost nothing.
I own all three and have many years using a rotary, tons of hours with the flex da, and rupes for me is a waste of my time.
Im not here to offend the rupes lovers but it just doesnt do it for me.

[Billy Baldone]

Great post. You have added much to the forum.......

[DogRescuer]

I can't touch your level of experience. I own the 3401 but was considering switching to a rupes for one reason it's smoothness. I'm having such a hard time with the 3401 wanting to run away on me. Your thoughts?


If you want to do serious correction a rotary is the only way to go.
If you are going to wet sand, a rotary is the only way to go.
After claying a dark color car, the flex 3401 vrg da.
In my experience using the rupes bigfoot, half your time running it, it is doing almost nothing.
I own all three and have many years using a rotary, tons of hours with the flex da, and rupes for me is a waste of my time.
Im not here to offend the rupes lovers but it just doesnt do it for me.

[don40vette]

Thanks Billy,
The rupes is a fine machine but for me half the time it is doing nothing but making noise.
Let me add that rupes folks invited me to come to their facility and use the machine. That was a great gesture but this is not how I make a living.
The thing that bothered me most was they say no matter how hard you try you cant stall the machine. My machine is excellent at stalling whether on a flat surface or a curve.
Im going to try and use the machine to wet sand with and see how it does there.

[don40vette]

Hey Dog R
Give it a chance. Let yourself get accustomed to it. Its a machine with really good power.
The Flex and Rupes are both smooth machines

[dlc95]

Gotta use what you like, man.

It's my opinion that the Rupes system takes quite a bit of time to get used to. It could be me...

I've struck through paint with my selection of pad, and compound on the 7424xp - the very first time I used it. This is after years of using a rotary without ever burning or striking through...

A lot of it is the technique I've developed. It's contrary to what is typically taught.

I do agree with sanding marks. I can do it with a random orbital, but the rotary is the fastest.

[CarolinasFinestDetailing]

Theres more than one way to skin a cat.

[custmsprty]

To the op, their is another way to look at the Rupes too.

I mastered the Rupes 15 first time I used it. And I came from the PC.

This was the first vehicle I ever corrected and used my Rupes on and approximately only the 7th or 8th vehicle I ever corrected with a da machine:

Knocked it out in one step to glorious swirl free perfection with FG400 and orange pads.

The Rupes tools are super easy to use if you let the machine do the work.

I look at it like this:

Rotary = sledge hammer

Flex = 3401 ball peen hammer

Rupes = rubber mallet

The Rotary and Flex power through things and the Rupes finesses them. When it comes to thin clear coats, I prefer to finesse them to preserve as much of the clear coat as possible.

I realize in some instances a rotary or the flex is needed, but I have neither and have never missed them.

The Rupes tools are more than capable, I did this entire beast of a truck including washing and drying, full correction and LSP sealant in 8 hours start to finish.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w421/custmsprty/chevy1_zpsf327bf4d.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/custmsprty/media/chevy1_zpsf327bf4d.jpg.html)

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w421/custmsprty/chevy2_zpsec84cfd9.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/custmsprty/media/chevy2_zpsec84cfd9.jpg.html)

Totally swirl free after 7 years of never being detailed and years of oxidation, courtesy of Rupes gen 1 15

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w421/custmsprty/chevy2_zps5e1794ea.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/custmsprty/media/chevy2_zps5e1794ea.jpg.html)

Mirror finish in one step with Rupe gen 1 15 from bird poop to this:

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w421/custmsprty/chevy6_zpsa1487b1e.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/custmsprty/media/chevy6_zpsa1487b1e.jpg.html)

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w421/custmsprty/chevy5_zpsed97e5fa.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/custmsprty/media/chevy5_zpsed97e5fa.jpg.html)

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w421/custmsprty/chevy_zpsb410a9e7.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/custmsprty/media/chevy_zpsb410a9e7.jpg.html)

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w421/custmsprty/20131224_163726_zpszlmfmey1.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/custmsprty/media/20131224_163726_zpszlmfmey1.jpg.html)

[WRAPT C5Z06]

The 3401 is awesome, but let's not forget, it's still an 8mm throw. A 15mm or 21mm DA has the *potential* to out cut the 3401, no doubt.




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[don40vette]

dlc95 you said you struck through paint with my selection of pad, and compound on the 7424xp - the very first time I used it.
It doesnt even spin. I'm pretty sure if I tied the machine down with rope, turned it on, went to bed, got up the next day, it still would not burn through the paint

[don40vette]

custsmrty, I agree with you except using a rotary or flex it will take much less time which you cant argue.
If you can do that truck in 8 hours with a rupes, a flex does it in 6 hours and a rotary in 4 hours.
Kinda like wetsanding and starting out using 3000 grit versus 1000 grit. You will finally get there with the 3000 but it will take much longer.
And of course you wouldnt be done starting with 1000 but we arent talking about wetsanding here.

[custmsprty]

custsmrty, I agree with you except using a rotary or flex it will take much less time which you cant argue.
If you can do that truck in 8 hours with a rupes, a flex does it in 6 hours and a rotary in 4 hours.
Kinda like wetsanding and starting out using 3000 grit versus 1000 grit. You will finally get there with the 3000 but it will take much longer.
And of course you wouldnt be done starting with 1000 but we arent talking about wetsanding here.

And most likely you'll have to do a whole nother complete step with a finishing polish with either of those tools to get the finish I got in one step with the Rupes and FG400 so it'll take at least as long if not longer.

[don40vette]

For me every tool has its use and when it comes to these three machines this is how I choose.
Rotary- best when wetsanding
Flex- correcting swirls
Rupes- applying wax (I dont use a machine to apply wax but some do)

[dlc95]

dlc95 you said you struck through paint with my selection of pad, and compound on the 7424xp - the very first time I used it.
It doesnt even spin. I'm pretty sure if I tied the machine down with rope, turned it on, went to bed, got up the next day, it still would not burn through the paint

Well, it happened. It was during a job for my neighbor.

He gave the car to his grandson. I'll see if I can get a pic sometime.

[dlc95]

This was pretty eye opening for me.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AUAtYwtSfjI