The right Rupes for me? Duetto or 21?

**58Eldorado** · 03-28-2014, 08:05 AM

Hi,
I´m following this forum for a while now and I have decided that I want to buy my first really good polisher.
I´m an enthusiast and have a small collection of Cadillacs and Lincolns ranging from 1958 to 1978.
Most of my cars still have their original paint which is single stage paint.
I always keep my cars exceptionally clean and they have very very little swirl marks or scratches.
Now time has come to step up and make my cars even better and I want to invest in a Rupes polisher, but I just can´t decide which one I should get? I can definitely only buy one - no chance to buy another one.

My cars have some big flat panels but there are also a lot of curved areas and tail fins I have to polish. If I had the money I would buy a 21 and the 75 - but that won't happen.

I need the polisher mainly to keep my personal fleet of 7 classic cars in perfect shape and to polish another 2-3 Cadillacs I resell a year. I only buy cars with original paint.

So now I would be interested in you opinion - which one should I get? 21 or the new 12?
Your thoughts and tips are highly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
Gerald

btw - you can see my cars here:
Gerald Loidl´s Cadillac Website - everything about the 1967 and 1958 Cadillac Eldorado

**Detail_Workx** · 03-28-2014, 09:47 AM

You can't go wrong with either one. But since you mentioned that you will be using this with your personal fleet of vehicles with big panels and curved areas, I would personally go with Rupes 21. This way your able to use the 6" backing plate and have the option to use a 5" backing plate as well.

**58Eldorado** · 03-28-2014, 04:31 PM

Thanks for your tip! I'll think about it over the weekend and place my order next week. Tough decision...

**Detail_Workx** · 03-28-2014, 09:46 PM

It is, I remembered when I was deciding between Rupes 21 and Flex 3401. I end up buying both lol.

**custmsprty** · 03-28-2014, 10:41 PM

I'd go with the Duetto, which I just bought myself then you can by a griots 3" with the extra money for the tight spots. The Duetto is a great tool. (I have an LHR 15 to compare it to)

**Bunky** · 03-29-2014, 06:09 AM

Unless you plan to buy more than one machine, I would suggest getting the Duetto since it can be used in in tighter spaces.

**58Eldorado** · 03-30-2014, 09:27 AM

Thanks everybody!
Can I get the same paint correction results with the Duetto as with the 21?
I would lean towards the 21 but I agree that the Duetto might be the polisher which would make more sense for me? If I can get the same results I will probably get the Duetto Deluxe kit...

**WRAPT C5Z06** · 03-30-2014, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by 58Eldorado

Thanks everybody!
Can I get the same paint correction results with the Duetto as with the 21?

No.

If you plan on using 5" pads, go with the LHR15. When using a 5" backing plate on the LHR21 with 5" foam pads, it's not very smooth. 5" MF pads work great, however.

**WRAPT C5Z06** · 03-30-2014, 09:53 AM

whoops

**58Eldorado** · 03-30-2014, 12:02 PM

Ah o.k! Thanks!
I assumed that I could get the same results with the Duetto, but that it would only take a little longer...
If I cant get my paint as good as with the 21 I wont buy the Duetto... My goal is to get the paint as flawless as possible, no matter how long I have to polish...