Rotary. Duals for applying the finishing step. Semi's w/single stages layered in dead paint & fallout love the rotary. A 1960's SIOUX rotary weighs nearly 20 pounds & a dual sided wool pad w/severe cut (river sand) DuPont 606s compound. Cars & clear coats are gravy compared to those old days. But a rotary every time. I do have the FLEX line up. But a Porter Cable DA to finish due to weight & performance.
Soo much useful information in about 15 min. Gotta love it. The way you show it in real time is essential for beginners and specially with the Rotary. Horror stories about burning paint etc make people rather using a DA. I prefer the Rotary to get rid of sanding marks but I love to finish with a DA most of the time. It all depends what the paint needs. PS; this channel is a goldmine! Keep it up
Brian: I enjoyed your presentation with Ivan Lecroix a while back. He's a rotary man. I learned quite a bit from that and I'm deploying those techniques in my detailing. Thanks for all you do to support the detailing industry!
Brian your polishing videos are always my favorite. Both polishers did a good job but the one big difference I see if the dual action polisher was working your shoulders a lot more than the rotary polisher. Thank you for another awesome video!
Great comparison. I actually cut moderate swirls with the DA(15mm) then do a quick pass or two with the rotary to finish down just to make sure there’s no haze or hologram….little to zero pressure to keep the heat off the paint.
It depends on the user. A trained individual will be able to use a rotary and do the job quicker. I worked in a body shop in high school in the late 60’s and the only DA’s we used were sanders. For all polishing and finish work we had rotary units. I think everyone should learn to use a rotary because it teaches you feel. Good material Brian... John
I like both. One thing to consider is cost. It's near impossible to a correct a very curvy panel well with a 6in 21mm DA, so you'll need a 3in DA too and possible a micro polisher or other short-throw polisher as well. With the rotary you can get a set of smaller backing plates and some extension bars for very little money.
I would love to see in the same test comparisons with rotary with microfiber pad and DA with wool pad. This way you can show and explain to us why you think the combos in the video are best, and will be helpful for people who already have one type of polisher to decide which pad to use going forward.
Thanks for video Brian. Very informative like ususal. I use both, the DA mostly, but the mini rotary is essential with any small round shape panels or small areas where: 1) DA will stall; 2)the pad won't make good contact due to concave/convex shape and 3) the DA will end-up banging around causing damages or won't access. Also, with a thin pad (like the URO-Fiber 50/50), the DA will cause buffer marks or plain damage if the pad's edge hits anything or comes in contact with a concave surface. I also need extension rods for the mini rotary for ease of access combined with as small as 1in foam pad. With the mini rotary, I can use the foam pad's edge where the DA is useless (stalls or bangs around). From my perspective (an about 100 paint correction so far), it's impossible to PROPERLY paint correct any vehicle with a DA only. There is always an area that requires rotary action, specially along trim edges near antenna, door handles, front & rear area, etc. Best example was a 1969 Mustang Cobra I did recently. Anyone can check it out and tell me frankly they won't need a rotary! One thing I find out about most comparisons, it is always a flat panel in perfect detailer's position (standing with polisher using gravity for pressure). In real world, it rarely happens except for hood and roof. Rotary is must IMO.
I’m just an average user. But use both. Learned to be quick with the rotary so not to burn anything. Usually will finish with the da or if I’m trying to take the least amount of material possible.
Does the rotary create more heat? I believe so. Also, it's easier to burn through the paint on the edges if you are not careful. You have to make sure that you are spinning off the edges and not into the edges. From my experience 😅
To me the thrown fibers and product sling means the rotary is less efficient here. Product (ACA500) is being wasted due to sling and a LOT more was used on the rotary than on the DA. There's going to be a lot more cleanup, especially if you're spot correcting. The DA corrected a wider area and arguably did more "work" here in the 2 passes it just needs probably a third pass to get things all the way down, and did it with less product and less of a mess. Personal preference for me is to cut with the DA and finish out with the rotary.
PLEASE Brian, a video on finishing polishing between Rotary and a 15mm DA would be great. I think nobody uses a 21mm DA for finishing that's why I suggest the 15mm.
hye brian, i use o FLEX rotary since i saw your incredible job with this tool, rotary is a fantastic tool but not for beginners. thanks for your work !
Would love to see a comparison on a rotary vs DA when it comes to polishing. And can you do a 1 step/enhancement with a rotary and not need a 2nd step??
It would be more fair comparison to use the same pad for both but even then theres so many more variables in comparing the two. Rotary is more versatile and one polisher can use a 8,7,6,5,3,2,1 inch pad with an adaptor and you can use extentions to get under mirrors and tight places. It can take more time in some cases and definitely take more experience to get it right and working on newer paint the DA is a safer platform especially with the pads and compounds available.
I would like to see the difference on material that gets taken off as in microns with both of them which one would take more off than the other in a safe matter and again thanks for everything you do Brian
Really interesting - have you tried the DIY Detail Wool Pad on a DA? They made it especially for DA and it’s meant to give the greatest cut (in their line up and with their polish anyway)
This is a great comparison Video my Friend and I haven’t detailed a Car in 20 plus years lol but I need to do my Wife’s Black Ram Truck and always used a 7in turtleback on a Buffer and followed up with an orbital to remove the swirls I guess is now considered Old School lol…. I’m an Old DAV and researching a bit easier but I think I’ll take my time and go Old School and you know Dark Paint can be a Bear. Stay safe my Friend Semper Fidelis
Very good demonstration. I had a Chevy with super hard paint and couldn't get what i thought was medium scratches in it. I tried ACA 500 with a microfiber pad and couldn't get them out with a D.A. (15mm). I put on a wool pad with ACA 500 on my rotory and boom, removerd almost everything. That's my experience. Im getting to like the rotory a lot more. It just takes getting used to it. Yes, please! Show us more videos doing polishing/finishing with both machines. Love it. Hi Sissy.
Thanks Brian, much appreciated. I’m more familiar in using a random orbital sander for polishing, those tools I used for polishing wooden surfaces. Are these tools suitable for polishing car paint surfaces? I’m trying to work out if it’s justifiable for me to spend on DA polishers.
Absolutely! I’d encourage you to check out the DIY Detail channel, they’ve got several videos on how to polish using a DA sander, and they make it very simple to learn
It'll work, but due to the small orbit it'll take a lot longer. Most sanders are 5mm orbit and some are less. If all you care about is adding gloss it'll be fine, but if you want to actually remove scratches you should probably buy a polisher designed for vehicles. It's worth noting that most finishes used on wood are softer than automotive clear coat, and then gelcoat used on boats or rv's is harder still. So you really do need the extra aggression if you want polish out actual scratches.
Thanks Brian you were reading my mind with this video!!!! Do you really move that slow with the rotary when doing a car? Also what numbers were the rotary and DA on?
I am glad you made this video! I have a question and it has to do with what you said about the wool pad. My question is a wool pad made by Lake Country for DIY detail.It's the purple hybrid and pad like the one you have here/ The difference is that the fibers are mounted on a backing pad. Fibers are also shorter.
Brian, what are you Mr thoughts on a forced rotation polisher? I have been using a rupes big foot Mille forced rotation polisher on my boat and cars with good results
I have the FLEX XCE 10-8 forced rotation. I also have the same flex rotary that Brian is using. And I have a Maxshine mini polisher kit that can swap 3" to 2" backing plate and from rotary to DA. The Forced DA is great for polishing with a little more pressure it can cut a little bit to, I use it the most with the mini for tight areas. The Rotary I only use for cutting
I started polishing in 2017 with rotary. Man the things feel hard to learn back time. Dont have knowledge dont have experience. So i bought dual action polisher in 2019/2020. It feels easy to handle, but to be honest i lost cut power and clarity. Currently i started to bought smaller pads, smaller backing pads, (3 inch for rotary) and better foam pad. Man the rotary feel much nicer, much quiet and much more quicker to finish and much less haze than 7inch pads. Now i feel like i prefer my rotary than my DA. I have 8mm and 15 mm DA but both are louder, and hard to polish in narrow area. I just think to add a good quality rotary polisher to my arsenal 😂
you said you have both foya reason , bcs they both have their place both efficient at times depending on the material working on , so i'm wondering if u can tells us when or where we or i use the rotary and the dual action ? plz mention me ✨🔥🔥 and thank you 🙏🏻
In which situations does it make sense for a very skilled rotary user to use an excenter machine ? The rotary cuts more, runs totally smooth, is much quieter allows going near to edges and is cheaper. I never heard a good explanation in which case it makes sense for a professional to use an excenter. I would really appreciate if anyone could tell me this.
Glad you made this video. Usually, if you usa a DA with a wool pad, you want a pad with shorter length fibers and with a Rotary you use a wool pad that has Longer fibers, example, the LC Purple wool pad. Question, when you use a wool pad do you always lift it up on the Rotary on a little angle or flat?
I have a question, Bryan. You mentioned that using a wool pad on a DA is basically not effective. Why then do so many companies like Rupes and lake country make wool kids for DA polishers, and professionals do actually use them on a DA.
If you don't follow up the rotary with a DA the finish looks awful after a couple of days, becomes full of holograms and swirls. So a rotary is good for cutting and a DA is good for polishing.
Everyone keeps skipping the master polisher from MAKITA the only one with the switch for random orbital or forced rotation. Maybe MAKITA doesn't pay for publicity.
Rotary VS Dual Action......which do YOU prefer?
Rotary. Duals for applying the finishing step. Semi's w/single stages layered in dead paint & fallout love the rotary. A 1960's SIOUX rotary weighs nearly 20 pounds & a dual sided wool pad w/severe cut (river sand) DuPont 606s compound. Cars & clear coats are gravy compared to those old days. But a rotary every time. I do have the FLEX line up. But a Porter Cable DA to finish due to weight & performance.
Rotary all the way.
I'm liking the rotory more each time I use it.
I have both, but prefer to be a member of the rotary club.
Rotary here too.
Soo much useful information in about 15 min. Gotta love it. The way you show it in real time is essential for beginners and specially with the Rotary. Horror stories about burning paint etc make people rather using a DA. I prefer the Rotary to get rid of sanding marks but I love to finish with a DA most of the time. It all depends what the paint needs.
PS; this channel is a goldmine! Keep it up
Brian: I enjoyed your presentation with Ivan Lecroix a while back. He's a rotary man. I learned quite a bit from that and I'm deploying those techniques in my detailing. Thanks for all you do to support the detailing industry!
Brian your polishing videos are always my favorite. Both polishers did a good job but the one big difference I see if the dual action polisher was working your shoulders a lot more than the rotary polisher. Thank you for another awesome video!
Great comparison. I actually cut moderate swirls with the DA(15mm) then do a quick pass or two with the rotary to finish down just to make sure there’s no haze or hologram….little to zero pressure to keep the heat off the paint.
Have watched your pass videos,I’ve come to prefer the rotary due the quietness and the smooth ride you can get,Thanks for your time
Awesome test Man!
This is why I come here for the technical knowledge and demos!
Would love to see these compared as far as finishing. 👊🏽
It depends on the user. A trained individual will be able to use a rotary and do the job quicker. I worked in a body shop in high school in the late 60’s and the only DA’s we used were sanders. For all polishing and finish work we had rotary units. I think everyone should learn to use a rotary because it teaches you feel. Good material Brian... John
*I learned this craft in the early 2000's.. Rotary was basically the only good option.*
I like both. One thing to consider is cost. It's near impossible to a correct a very curvy panel well with a 6in 21mm DA, so you'll need a 3in DA too and possible a micro polisher or other short-throw polisher as well.
With the rotary you can get a set of smaller backing plates and some extension bars for very little money.
I would love to see in the same test comparisons with rotary with microfiber pad and DA with wool pad. This way you can show and explain to us why you think the combos in the video are best, and will be helpful for people who already have one type of polisher to decide which pad to use going forward.
Excellent Excellent demo on this Brian!! Much appreciated!!! ✅️ 🇨🇦
Thanks for video Brian. Very informative like ususal.
I use both, the DA mostly, but the mini rotary is essential with any small round shape panels or small areas where: 1) DA will stall; 2)the pad won't make good contact due to concave/convex shape and 3) the DA will end-up banging around causing damages or won't access. Also, with a thin pad (like the URO-Fiber 50/50), the DA will cause buffer marks or plain damage if the pad's edge hits anything or comes in contact with a concave surface. I also need extension rods for the mini rotary for ease of access combined with as small as 1in foam pad. With the mini rotary, I can use the foam pad's edge where the DA is useless (stalls or bangs around).
From my perspective (an about 100 paint correction so far), it's impossible to PROPERLY paint correct any vehicle with a DA only. There is always an area that requires rotary action, specially along trim edges near antenna, door handles, front & rear area, etc. Best example was a 1969 Mustang Cobra I did recently. Anyone can check it out and tell me frankly they won't need a rotary!
One thing I find out about most comparisons, it is always a flat panel in perfect detailer's position (standing with polisher using gravity for pressure). In real world, it rarely happens except for hood and roof. Rotary is must IMO.
There are forced DA so no stalling
Nice deep dive into this topic Brian appreciate all the content and hope you have a great weekend.
Hi Brian. Yasir from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia here. Yes, I want to see a vid on how a rotary finishes compared to a DA. Thanks!
*Brian, I feel like cutting is kinda close, now show these girls what that rotary finish is all about!* 🤘
I’m just an average user. But use both. Learned to be quick with the rotary so not to burn anything. Usually will finish with the da or if I’m trying to take the least amount of material possible.
Does the rotary create more heat? I believe so. Also, it's easier to burn through the paint on the edges if you are not careful. You have to make sure that you are spinning off the edges and not into the edges. From my experience 😅
Yes, I would like to see how a video on how rotary finishes down.
Please compare the finishing availing of rotary vs dual action!
Would love to see that video.
To me the thrown fibers and product sling means the rotary is less efficient here. Product (ACA500) is being wasted due to sling and a LOT more was used on the rotary than on the DA. There's going to be a lot more cleanup, especially if you're spot correcting. The DA corrected a wider area and arguably did more "work" here in the 2 passes it just needs probably a third pass to get things all the way down, and did it with less product and less of a mess. Personal preference for me is to cut with the DA and finish out with the rotary.
PLEASE Brian, a video on finishing polishing between Rotary and a 15mm DA would be great. I think nobody uses a 21mm DA for finishing that's why I suggest the 15mm.
hye brian, i use o FLEX rotary since i saw your incredible job with this tool, rotary is a fantastic tool but not for beginners. thanks for your work !
Great job Brian
I do like my DA. I am looking to upgrade the one I have to a 21mm throw.
Would love to see a comparison on a rotary vs DA when it comes to polishing. And can you do a 1 step/enhancement with a rotary and not need a 2nd step??
The LC purple wool actually works quite well on the right DA. Especially on gel coat.
Love to see the finishing with rotary please.
Amazing, great demonstration. Nice finding of your profile in my feeds.
I can use both but the rotary takes some practice. I always enjoy your videos Brian I learned so much throughout the years from you.🦶💎
It would be more fair comparison to use the same pad for both but even then theres so many more variables in comparing the two. Rotary is more versatile and one polisher can use a 8,7,6,5,3,2,1 inch pad with an adaptor and you can use extentions to get under mirrors and tight places. It can take more time in some cases and definitely take more experience to get it right and working on newer paint the DA is a safer platform especially with the pads and compounds available.
I like watching the detailing girl out of Norway. She's really good and uses a Flex machine.
Where I can find her channel?
I would like to see the difference on material that gets taken off as in microns with both of them which one would take more off than the other in a safe matter and again thanks for everything you do Brian
Really interesting - have you tried the DIY Detail Wool Pad on a DA? They made it especially for DA and it’s meant to give the greatest cut (in their line up and with their polish anyway)
Awesome stuff Brian!!
Great comparison 👌
Love that your using Honey's Beast, it's a sleeper pad, really great one from my homeland ;)
I would love to see the Rotary polisher finishing down after a cut.👀👍
Nice video.
Rotary is generally quieter, smoother, & has less vibration.
Great demonstration, thanks Brian 👍😁
Ivan Lacroix prefers a DA for cutting rotary for jewel polishing which do I have to agree with them on this one?
This is a great comparison Video my Friend and I haven’t detailed a Car in 20 plus years lol but I need to do my Wife’s Black Ram Truck and always used a 7in turtleback on a Buffer and followed up with an orbital to remove the swirls I guess is now considered Old School lol…. I’m an Old DAV and researching a bit easier but I think I’ll take my time and go Old School and you know Dark Paint can be a Bear. Stay safe my Friend Semper Fidelis
Very good demonstration.
I had a Chevy with super hard paint and couldn't get what i thought was medium scratches in it. I tried ACA 500 with a microfiber pad and couldn't get them out with a D.A. (15mm). I put on a wool pad with ACA 500 on my rotory and boom, removerd almost everything. That's my experience. Im getting to like the rotory a lot more. It just takes getting used to it.
Yes, please! Show us more videos doing polishing/finishing with both machines. Love it. Hi Sissy.
Super informative video Brian !👍
Thank you Brian for another amazing video, very informative and helpful. From FL 😎
Thought shop Mgr put you in a time out when u were explaining on the glass 😆😆😆😆
Informative video as usual. Which one would be the recommended one if one could buy only one? What do you think about the UDOS 31E?
Thanks Brian, much appreciated. I’m more familiar in using a random orbital sander for polishing, those tools I used for polishing wooden surfaces. Are these tools suitable for polishing car paint surfaces? I’m trying to work out if it’s justifiable for me to spend on DA polishers.
Absolutely! I’d encourage you to check out the DIY Detail channel, they’ve got several videos on how to polish using a DA sander, and they make it very simple to learn
It'll work, but due to the small orbit it'll take a lot longer. Most sanders are 5mm orbit and some are less. If all you care about is adding gloss it'll be fine, but if you want to actually remove scratches you should probably buy a polisher designed for vehicles. It's worth noting that most finishes used on wood are softer than automotive clear coat, and then gelcoat used on boats or rv's is harder still. So you really do need the extra aggression if you want polish out actual scratches.
Great video
Thanks Brian you were reading my mind with this video!!!! Do you really move that slow with the rotary when doing a car? Also what numbers were the rotary and DA on?
I am glad you made this video! I have a question and it has to do with what you said about the wool pad. My question is a wool pad made by Lake Country for DIY detail.It's the purple hybrid and pad like the one you have here/ The difference is that the fibers are mounted on a backing pad. Fibers are also shorter.
Brian, what are you Mr thoughts on a forced rotation polisher? I have been using a rupes big foot Mille forced rotation polisher on my boat and cars with good results
I have the FLEX XCE 10-8 forced rotation. I also have the same flex rotary that Brian is using. And I have a Maxshine mini polisher kit that can swap 3" to 2" backing plate and from rotary to DA.
The Forced DA is great for polishing with a little more pressure it can cut a little bit to, I use it the most with the mini for tight areas. The Rotary I only use for cutting
Have you tried a foamed wool pad on a DA? I have had some good result with it.
I started polishing in 2017 with rotary. Man the things feel hard to learn back time. Dont have knowledge dont have experience. So i bought dual action polisher in 2019/2020. It feels easy to handle, but to be honest i lost cut power and clarity.
Currently i started to bought smaller pads, smaller backing pads, (3 inch for rotary) and better foam pad. Man the rotary feel much nicer, much quiet and much more quicker to finish and much less haze than 7inch pads. Now i feel like i prefer my rotary than my DA. I have 8mm and 15 mm DA but both are louder, and hard to polish in narrow area. I just think to add a good quality rotary polisher to my arsenal 😂
you said you have both foya reason , bcs they both have their place both efficient at times depending on the material working on , so i'm wondering if u can tells us when or where we or i use the rotary and the dual action ?
plz mention me ✨🔥🔥 and thank you 🙏🏻
In which situations does it make sense for a very skilled rotary user to use an excenter machine ? The rotary cuts more, runs totally smooth, is much quieter allows going near to edges and is cheaper. I never heard a good explanation in which case it makes sense for a professional to use an excenter. I would really appreciate if anyone could tell me this.
Glad you made this video. Usually, if you usa a DA with a wool pad, you want a pad with shorter length fibers and with a Rotary you use a wool pad that has Longer fibers, example, the LC Purple wool pad.
Question, when you use a wool pad do you always lift it up on the Rotary on a little angle or flat?
thank you for the info sir!
forced rotation dual-action polisher flex xce 10-8 125 / 3401 wool or microfiber ? 😊 A use both !
Foamed wool works great with 3401.
Hi Brian, have you tried the 'combo' UDOS 51e Rotary-D/A polisher? If so, what do you think of it? Thnx.
I have one. It's great but a little heavy, probably the weight of a rotary. The pads that go with it are insane too
Thnx.
I have a question, Bryan. You mentioned that using a wool pad on a DA is basically not effective. Why then do so many companies like Rupes and lake country make wool kids for DA polishers, and professionals do actually use them on a DA.
How much clear coat do both remove? Would matter much here, but would for a light correction.
No panel prep before final results/conclusions?
More rotary videos
Where are u placing prewashed lambs wool pad on da 2nd?
The vibration of DA really started messing with my nerves so Roatry only for me now a days
I prefer rotary with the right pads to get it done faster.
Rotary!👌🏻
If you don't follow up the rotary with a DA the finish looks awful after a couple of days, becomes full of holograms and swirls. So a rotary is good for cutting and a DA is good for polishing.
What about using the same foam (orange) pad, and see the differences there, plz.
I like this video just because Porto Reeko got smoked on the comments.. 2nd place, lmao!
Everyone keeps skipping the master polisher from MAKITA the only one with the switch for random orbital or forced rotation. Maybe MAKITA doesn't pay for publicity.
While the rotary cuts quicker but leave halogramd be hind
It actually a fact a rotary will finish better that a DA
Wool pad verse foam pad !
Back in the day when I learned
There were no da polishers
Dual action all the way!
Customer walks in the store and noticed a very shiny circle on the glass.
I though that this has been cleared long ago. For cutting is rotary. For less experinced dual action. End of.
You’re very wrong, don’t think it’s so clear in your mind
has a haze because you were pushing hard as hell lol
1st... I win!
😁😁😁😁
I cut me teeth with rotary and slow speeds cut way faster
Second
ya didnt say which brand is 'the best pad in my opinion for the DA?? follow through man. Waste of time
What pad is usedto do the final polishthay brings out that beautiful gloss?