Rupes 15 or 21

[SWP27]

Agreed.

I've used the LHR15 & LHR21 and the LHR21 smokes the LHR15 as far as keeping the pad rotating.

Sorry, I don't mean to hijack this thread but if you had a budget for two rupes and you are taking the LHR75 as one of them, which one would the other be? I will be mostly working on my own porsche, bmw, and jaguar as well as some of my friends' european cars. I don't expect to detail more than 1-2 cars per week.

Thanks in advance!

[Quality Control]

Sorry, I don't mean to hijack this thread but if you had a budget for two rupes and you are taking the LHR75 as one of them, which one would the other be? I will be mostly working on my own porsche, bmw, and jaguar as well as some of my friends' european cars. I don't expect to detail more than 1-2 cars per week.

Thanks in advance!

I went through this recently and all signs pointed to 21. The thing to remember is with the 21 you can use pads with 5" and 6" backings pads (when you buy the 5" backing plate) and with the 75 you can use pads with 3"+ backings (working surface, I know the backing plates are 3", 5" & 6").

So let me put it this way:

Big panels 7" pad
Regular cars 5"-6" pads (Lots of variety within rupes or outside the brand)
small areas (bumpers, trunks, etc) 3"-4" pad

You cover absolutely every basis with those two machines. If you get a 15 and a 75, you can only use pads with 5" backing pads and 3" backing pads.

[Christopher.Brown]

Or for a much more cost effective alternative and better edging machine (due to less throw) buy a 21 and then dedicate a G110v2 for a 3" machine. It has plenty of power when concentrated to a small 3" pad.

[Quality Control]

Rupes all the way.

[jakescakes]

I've always used a PC with 5.5" pads and I have been leaning more towards the 15. I can't afford both machines and I hope the 15 will be more versatile and comfortable for me than the big 21. I don't know for sure though, everyone raves about the 21. Either way I will be dedicating the PC to a 3" bp to compliment the Rupes.

[lj993]

I have a PC 7424xp, works fine, noisey as all get out. I recently picked up a Rupes 21. It has the washer mod and a 5 inch backing plate. As has been mentioned, super smooth, relatively quiet and works really well. I have used it with Lake Country Pad and Optimum Compounds and Polish, various waxes. Cars finish out great. I just picked up a Flex 3401. Wow, it works great. Used the same pads and the same Optimum Chems. Works better, on corrections, for me, than the Rupes 21 did. I am eager to try the Rupes pads and chems to compare. The Flex and the Rupes were both very smooth, pretty quiet and both easy to use. The Flex does like to fight and pull on side panels while doing correction work. The Rupes, even with the washer mod, did bog down while correcting side panels. A small adjustment to the tilt and all was good. It also had a big throw for the rear quarter panels on my 993, that is why I decided to get the Flex. Frankly, that is pretty big too, I may just stick with the PC in those areas. They are all nice machines, the Rupes and the Flex are a cut above the Porter Cable as far as smoothness, quietness and vibration. Not to mention, they really cover ground. Good luck. Phil

[custmsprty]

I've always used a PC with 5.5" pads and I have been leaning more towards the 15. I can't afford both machines and I hope the 15 will be more versatile and comfortable for me than the big 21. I don't know for sure though, everyone raves about the 21. Either way I will be dedicating the PC to a 3" bp to compliment the Rupes.

The 51 and 21 are the same size, just different throw. I have the 15 and bought the 12 E recently, I like it better than my 15, more comfortable and easier to move around tight areas.

[Quality Control]

Thinking about the 12E as well. I am a sucker once I find what I like. At this point, the 21 and 75 are enough to keep me tied down for a while unless I get a boom in detailing.

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I currently have the LHR21, Duetto and 75E. The LHR15 is a bit pointless, IMO. Hell, I think I'd take the Duetto over the LHR15, even if it was my only polisher. FWIW, I bought and sold the LHR15.

Make sue to do the washer mod if you have an LHR21, 15 or Duetto.

[rj45]

How much more effective is a Duetto than a PC? Also, is it noticeably smoother/quieter? TIA