Rupes Direct Drive

[MAXMAX]

I just had the opportunity to try a Bigfoot this morning.
Very smooth running machine hardly any vibration and it's a heavy machine!

Any thoughts?
Nick

 

[Mike Phillips]

I'm a fan of gear-driven orbital polishers and would choose a gear-driven orbital over any brand of free spinning random orbital.

That said, I prefer long stroke gear-driven orbitals over short stroke gear-driven orbitals. The FLEX family of BEAST gear-driven orbitals are 8mm while the RUPES Mille and the Makita PO5000C are both 5mm orbit strokes.

But that's just me. Each person needs to make up their own mind.


Mike

 

[MAXMAX]

Mike thank you for your imput
The shop said I could take it home and try it more before purchasing.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Mike thank you for your imput
The shop said I could take it home and try it more before purchasing.
Thanks for the advice.

Check to see which size backing plate it has. I "think" there's the factory 5" and an optional 6" but I could be wrong, it's been a while since I used this tool.


Mike

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Mike, what backing plate size do you run on your Flexes? Last time I looked I found I have a 5" for my 3401 that I've never used, I even found my Edge adapter that I wasn't sure I ever even got (because Aaron sold to 3M right at the time he started making the adapters for the Flex), but there it was. I'm not sure I ever used any of the Edge pads I had, on my PC either. But I digress.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Mike, what backing plate size do you run on your Flexes?

I have the optional 6" backing plates on all my CBEASTS and Supa BEASTS except I have ONE Supa BEAST with the factory 5" backing plate.

I keep one tool with the smaller 5" backing plate to let the students see/feel the difference when using a larger backing plate and thus a larger pad, (larger footprint), and the factory smaller backing plate and corresponding smaller pad, (smaller footprint).

Afterwards, most people agree, these tools are smoother to hold and use with the larger buffing pads and at the same time, the larger pads take advantage of all that gear-driven orbital goodness.


Mike

 

[theamcguy]

You know what is needed? A direct drive polisher the size of the PXE.

 

[Mike Phillips]

You know what is needed? A direct drive polisher the size of the PXE.

You mean a gear-driven orbital.

Let’s call it the Mini BEAST

LOL

 

[MAXMAX]

Check to see which size backing plate it has. I "think" there's the factory 5" and an optional 6" but I could be wrong, it's been a while since I used this tool.


Mike

I got the correct combination of polish and pads! It was worth spending 15-20 minutes doing a test area!

 

[Mike Phillips]

Looks good to me. Definitely with any brand of gear-driven orbital - due to the increased power, you really need to dial-in your pad and product combination for the paint you're working on.


Mike

 

[MAXMAX]

Will do! Half the work is done!
Figuring out the polish and pads, will save a ton of time!!!

 

[theamcguy]

You mean a gear-driven orbital.

Let’s call it the Mini BEAST

LOL

Exactly same size as the PXE 80 but with the direct drive of the XC 3401 the Mini BEAST. Is anybody working on this?

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Exactly same size as the PXE 80 but with the direct drive of the XC 3401 the Mini BEAST. Is anybody working on this?

And it has to have a trigger.

 

[opie]

You know what is needed? A direct drive polisher the size of the PXE.

You mean a gear-driven orbital.

Let’s call it the Mini BEAST

LOL

That would be a awesome tool. I have the flex supa beast, rotary both corded. Only cordless tool i have is the pixie. While it is a nice tool, i find the 3 and 12mm not useful. I mainly use 3inch in rotary and the use the 6mm which its mostly for sanding.

After going gear driven some years ago i get frustrasted having to use a free spining da. Its so much slower. I found i have the same polishing mindset as mike p.

 

[Mak]

I have the optional 6" backing plates on all my CBEASTS and Supa BEASTS except I have ONE Supa BEAST with the factory 5" backing plate.

I keep one tool with the smaller 5" backing plate to let the students see/feel the difference when using a larger backing plate and thus a larger pad, (larger footprint), and the factory smaller backing plate and corresponding smaller pad, (smaller footprint).

Afterwards, most people agree, these tools are smoother to hold and use with the larger buffing pads and at the same time, the larger pads take advantage of all that gear-driven orbital goodness.


Mike

I looked a while back and could only find the 4-3/8” and the standard 5-1/2” backing plates. I’ll be darned if I can find a 6” anywhere. Can you direct me to a source?

 

[opie]

I looked a while back and could only find the 4-3/8” and the standard 5-1/2” backing plates. I’ll be darned if I can find a 6” anywhere. Can you direct me to a source?

Autoality.com for one

 

[Mak]

Autoality.com for one

Thanks, but don’t see it listed there either. Just the 4-3/8 and 5-1/2

 

[opie]

Thanks, but don’t see it listed there either. Just the 4-3/8 and 5-1/2

Im sorry for i looked at wrong one. The clean garage has 6 inch in stock,juat checked

 

[Mike Phillips]

I looked a while back and could only find the 4-3/8” and the standard 5-1/2” backing plates. I’ll be darned if I can find a 6” anywhere. Can you direct me to a source?

The 6" backing plate is for the NEW versions of the original BEAST, not for the BEAST itself.

Here's 1 of over 1000 how-to articles and reviews I wrote that can still be found on the geek forum.

Supa BEAST and CBEAST Backing Plate Swap by Mike Phillips

Apologies for any confusion.


Mike

 

[Mak]

Well, I think now I see my problem. My 3401 has a 5-1/2” dia plate. I guess everyone considers that a 6”. Didn’t realize they used to ship standard with a 4-3/8”.
thanks. I remember reading your old articles now that you linked.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Well, I think now I see my problem. My 3401 has a 5-1/2” dia plate. I guess everyone considers that a 6”. Didn’t realize they used to ship standard with a 4-3/8”.
thanks. I remember reading your old articles now that you linked.

Most of the industry overstates the exact size. For example, a Lake Country 5" Rotary Backing Plate measures 4 3/8"

It's kind of a general reference. But there is a reason the backing plates tend to be a tick undersized from the stated diameter and that's because in order to CENTER a backing plate onto the back of a buffing pad - the backing plate has to be a tick smaller or perfectly equal to the diameter of the velcro on the back of the pad.

And the reason for this is so you can see to center the pad.


Mike