RUPES Lhr15es mk11, mini or duetto

Touched on this a bit on a previous post but cannot find it now.

decided to buy a new polisher to replace my old one. Got the torq 10fx, which I feel is struggling to cut harder paint especially on my black Audi.

only going to buy one of the above. Can you do a whole car with the mk 15mm throw or will it be very tricky with smaller panels bearing in mind the throw and pad size?

would I be better off buying the mini or duetto? Is there much difference between the three?

is there a big cutting / power / finish difference?

will go will the whole system. So will purchase rupes pads, polishes etc but may switch back to menzerna depending on results as I like that stuff.

advice would be great

Thanks
Juarin

The duetto is underpowered and the MINI is not recommended to polish whole cars. Go with the MKII 15 for sure. Pick up some MF cutting pads for the hard Audi paint.

One question is what pad/product setups have you tried with your current machine?

As far as machine, I love the Duetto/Mini configuration. I use their polishes and pads, and prefer them to Menzerna.

You will be recommended to get the 15 MK 2 or the 21 with a 5" backing plate because they have more power, even though the Duetto still has a higher rpm speed at 5500, than the MK2 models. A modded (not that I often use, or recommend it modded) spins like mad. A great tool if you have a technique which is lighter pressure, finesse oriented. Probably not your first choice if you like to use heavy pressure, and need the power to to keep the pad rotating.

Duetto Mark II would have been AWESOME!

I have a 15 if you can afford it the mini is a great tool to have, not sure how I lived without it.

The big picture and what people will notice are the hoods/roof/trunk and sides of the car. (all large panels)
Go with 15 mk II. The majority of your work will be large panels anyways. In a pinch---you can still knock out the thin panels by sightly edging the polisher and in certain places---by hand.

Tom

As for me---I'm getting the 15 and also getting the griot 3" with thin pro pads. Because I'm lazy and don't plan to polish anything by hand!

Tom

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Originally Posted by WRAPT C5Z06

Duetto Mark II would have been AWESOME!

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Would have, and might be??

Not holding my breath though. I wouldn't be surprised if they kill the Duetto.

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Originally Posted by TMQ

As for me---I'm getting the 15 and also getting the griot 3" with thin pro pads. Because I'm lazy and don't plan to polish anything by hand!

Tom

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You'll widh you had bought the Mini in place of the GG3". No comparison. GG3" is at best a wax spreader and good for sanding headlights.

Yes custmsprty---I agree. Funds are bit stretched at the moment and that is the reason I opt for griots/thin pro pads for now. Using thin pro pads actually gives the 3" more cutting ability than before. Will cut better than by hand but not as good as mini. Eventually I will pursue the mini at later time.

Tom

Would you go for the 15 or 21. Fund not an issue. Is there a big difference between the two, apart obviously from the bigger throw?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TMQ

Yes custmsprty---I agree. Funds are bit stretched at the moment and that is the reason I opt for griots/thin pro pads for now. Using thin pro pads actually gives the 3" more cutting ability than before. Will cut better than by hand but not as good as mini. Eventually I will pursue the mini at later time.

Tom

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You'd be better off getting a PC and putting a 3" backing plate on it, or if you already have a PC put a 3" or 3.5" bp, you can run 3" and 4" pads that way. Much better correctibility than the GG3. That's how I ran until I could afford the mini :props:

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Originally Posted by Jmbrown415

Would you go for the 15 or 21. Fund not an issue. Is there a big difference between the two, apart obviously from the bigger throw?

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21 will have more pad spinning torque based on momentum alone. It will cut noticeably faster, BUT, the 15 is no slouch. The 21mm throw makes it less versatile, even with a 5" backing plate.


Sent from my iPhone using Autogeekonline mobile app

id go either mark II flex xfe 15(but with 5 in BP) or G15
if you cant afford those, gg6...then when you can afford one of the above you can upgrade GG6 with 3in BP

duetto and mini are under powered(but havent tried them with LC thin pros yet or aluminum BP

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nothingface5384

id go either mark II flex xfe 15(but with 5 in BP) or G15
if you cant afford those, gg6...then when you can afford one of the above you can upgrade GG6 with 3in BP

duetto and mini are under powered(but havent tried them with LC thin pros yet or aluminum BP

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Thanks as as always for all the help guys.

decided to go for the 15mm throw mk2 in the end.

very excited to get it now!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jmbrown415

Thanks as as always for all the help guys.

decided to go for the 15mm throw mk2 in the end.

very excited to get it now!!

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You will be amazed at how smoothly it runs with yellow/white Rupes pads. Megs microfiber cutting discs spin well too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nothingface5384

duetto and mini are under powered(but havent tried them with LC thin pros yet or aluminum BP

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What set ups (pad/polish) did you use with them? I find them to be adequately powered.

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Originally Posted by dlc95

What set ups (pad/polish) did you use with them? I find them to be adequately powered.

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Me too, I love both of mine and find them more than adequately powered.

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Originally Posted by custmsprty

Me too, I love both of mine and find them more than adequately powered.

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I got a call to take care of some patches of 2000 grit sanding marks with the Zephir/blue microfiber, on a resprayed caddy. It did a very nice job cleaning it up.

I guess I can't say whether the Duetto is under powered or not since I have nothing to compare it to, but I really love mine.

It's very smooth running, and I haven't had issues with stalling on concave sections or while edging it. I just let the machine do the work. And like Dlc said, it spins like mad with the washer mod.

If the LHR 15 and 21 are that much more powerful like has been said, then they must really kick but.

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Originally Posted by Mantilgh

If the LHR 15 and 21 are that much more powerful like has been said, then they must really kick but.

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They are, with the 21 even more so, obviously.


Sent from my iPhone using Autogeekonline mobile app

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mantilgh

I guess I can't say whether the Duetto is under powered or not since I have nothing to compare it to, but I really love mine.

It's very smooth running, and I haven't had issues with stalling on concave sections or while edging it. I just let the machine do the work. And like Dlc said, it spins like mad with the washer mod.

If the LHR 15 and 21 are that much more powerful like has been said, then they must really kick but.

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I've used a LHR21 and felt it was comparable to the 12mm tool. The 21 was modded.

I wonder how much of this is perception, because the tools were designed to perform similarly by the company. For example - as they decreased the orbit, they increased the rpm, with the intent of keeping approximation of pad movement.

I heard on a podcast, or it might have been Todd's presentation at Autogeek- that the 15mm tool retains 95% or so of the defect removal qualities of the 21. If the Duetto is just three millimeters less than the 15, and has even more rpm (then even the MKII), how much is it actually giving up? I can't imagine it would be as drastic as it's made out to be.

I can't take anything away from the 21, it was awesome!, but I didn't feel it was that far off from the Duetto as far as performance. The MKII might be another story, but if the net result of the upgrade is consistent rotation, I don't have an issue with pad stall as it is.

Technique has to be a factor too. I've invested some time researching, studying, and dialing in my technique as per the company recommendation. It isn't for everybody, and I get that. However, if I wanted a more powerful tool to use pressure on, I'd use the 3401, and/or a PE14 and call it a day. While It's important to have a variety of tools, I thing it's even more important to use one that fits your approach. Like Jimbo was saying in his podcast - he was asking Joe Fernandez about which compounds, and polishes he should use. Joe just told him to pick a line he liked, and get really good at using it. That's sort of my approach as well, with tools, pads, and liquids.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dlc95

One question is what pad/product setups have you tried with your current machine?

As far as machine, I love the Duetto/Mini configuration. I use their polishes and pads, and prefer them to Menzerna.

You will be recommended to get the 15 MK 2 or the 21 with a 5" backing plate because they have more power, even though the Duetto still has a higher rpm speed at 5500, than the MK2 models. A modded (not that I often use, or recommend it modded) spins like mad. A great tool if you have a technique which is lighter pressure, finesse oriented. Probably not your first choice if you like to use heavy pressure, and need the power to to keep the pad rotating.

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Does the washer mod make the pad stall less or more?

I have a g15 and I put the washer on there when I first got it. I like using it but it stalls as soon as it hits any type of curve so I end up using the flex more.

Im thinking of getting a duetto I saw a video where mike said it works great on curved panels without stalling.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fightnews

Does the washer mod make the pad stall less or more?

I have a g15 and I put the washer on there when I first got it. I like using it but it stalls as soon as it hits any type of curve so I end up using the flex more.

Im thinking of getting a duetto I saw a video where mike said it works great on curved panels without stalling.

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I have the Duetto, and it will most defintely stall on panels, much easier than the G15. I have a G21 with a 5" BP and stalling is a rarity. I also have the 1st Gen LHR15 and would take the G21 over it any day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fightnews

Does the washer mod make the pad stall less or more?

I have a g15 and I put the washer on there when I first got it. I like using it but it stalls as soon as it hits any type of curve so I end up using the flex more.

Im thinking of getting a duetto I saw a video where mike said it works great on curved panels without stalling.

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No, it will still stall either way.

You want to lose the stalling, use the Flex 3401.