does a rotary beat a D/A for compound polish?

[ccapital83]

so I know a good D/A is great because its safer but if I choose a softer pad like a polishing pad and use a finishing polish cant I get a better result with a rotary if done properly without marring? When D/A came out I basically put down my rotary ever since. But now that I own a black car i'm just not getting what I want from it and i'm narrowing it down to maybe me being to biast if you will to the D/A. When I look back at all my videos and pics It always started with a rotary. Don't get me wrong I have done beautiful transformations with a D/A also but I'm curious if maybe I should bring the rotary back and try the above idea.

[lawrenceSA]

What about the best of both worlds?

Something with the forced rotation 'power' of the rotary but they safety of the 'random' motion of a DA (to prevent holograms etc).

Maybe you need to look into the Flex 3401?

[ccapital83]

I like your thinking

[RaskyR1]

Some will say a rotary delivers a better gloss. I say it depends on the paint and the skill of the user with both tools. Only way to know is to do some side by side testing for yourself and you have both tools, so have at it. Just be sure to keep all variable the same other than the tool. Not a fair test if you use different pads, polishes, or more steps with one tool.


I found the Flex 3401 to be more prone to DA haze over other none forced rotation DA's and several paints.

Just my $.02

[ccapital83]

I Believe My black 2014 civic is considered softer paint which is why I was always scared to hit with rotary but man the paint needs to be flattened out

[Justin at Final Inspection]

Love my 3401 and my Makita rotary. Been using my Rotary a lot more lately as I feel it corrects faster and I can finish with it. Here is a Mach 1 I did strictly with just a rotary.

03 Azure Blue Mach 1 Rotary correction + PBL coatings

[TFTADetail]

DeWalt 849 ALL the way. If you're dealing with the holograms then use the DA to work them out.
If you know how to work the rotary then the holograms should be all but nonexistent.

[Buff-N-Glo]

Rotary is for compounding, DA is for polishing