CUT & FINISH With The Rotary Polisher! Part 1!

The rotary polisher is the scalpel of our detailing arsenal here at Apex Detail. This video shows how we take advantage of its cutting and finishing power on this C5 Z06 Corvette.
A rotary offers greater cutting speed, which is very handy when you are either short in time, need to achieve much result on a large surface or have a very badly damaged surface to correct. However, this comes with a price. The increased cutting power makes it easier to cut more then is needed. If you are un-experienced with a rotary, it is easy to polish away more paint then is needed, increasing the risk of burning through the paintwork. This is a very costly mistake to correct. The rotary doesn’t have a forced or free rotation movement, such as the DA. Eliminating the risk of making the machine stop moving. This can sometimes be useful in small spaces. Because the machine doesn’t have any “throw”, it can be more easy to work very close to an edge or sharp corner.
Rotary Polisher....www.amazon.com/s?k=rotary+pol...
3D ACA 500....www.detailedimage.com/3D-M98/...
Lake Country Wool Pads.....www.amazon.com/s?k=lake+count...
Jescar Cutting Compound....www.detailedimage.com/Jescar-...
Sonax Ultimate Cut Compound.....www.amazon.com/s?k=Sonax+ulti...
Training Session At Apex Detail!! .......apexsurfaceprotection.store/
Data sheet and resource page for products by Henry Freeman! docs.google.com/document/u/0/...
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[@jamessowder193]

You're driving me crazy wiping in a circular motion on a black car 😂. I'm gritting my teeth every time lol 😁

[@crism515]

It’s okay to wipe polish in circular motions.

[@e.jaytheautomotivedetailer9901]

Thanks! I’m glad you relate to the value of the rotary cutting ability and its finish capabilities.

[@TheBLT16]

Love any of your rotary videos. Great work Mr. Brian. 👍

[@gregmannos]

I have learned so much from you over the years. Your videos get a thumbs up before your intro is over

[@mikeallen2065]

Great job Brian.

[@timblackwell3196]

That looks amazing. What a change in the paint.

[@larrydavisj]

Huge turn around for the vette. I'm so partial to the rotory now that I don't want to use any of the DA's I have. Thanks Brian!

[@sergiobarraza1806]

Years ago I had so much fear to use rotary, then I lost it and was a bye bye to DAs 🤣

[@TripleGAutoDetailing]

Thanks Brian!! Another epic tutorial. Been using the rotary much more these days (thanks to you). Appreciate ALL of your positive & helpful contributions to the detailing community. Stay well my friend!! GGG

[@apexdetail85]

Great to hear!

[@VIDEOHEREBOB]

Thanks Brian

[@paulanderson4764]

I love how smooth my rotary feels after spending the previous day with my Flex VRG.

[@fireball7671]

Love the rotary videos. This is still a very important tool in the world of detailing. I don't have a gloss meter yet, but by my eye I can get the most gloss when using the rotary on a lower speed compared to my DA.

[@jameshutchins3396]

Love that era ZO6

[@lifeofbrian9511]

Enjoying so far.👍🏻

[@derrickabare9986]

Great video. I've been detailing for nearly 40 years both dealership and now as a side business. My 1st rotary was out of the late 70 early 80s . Old black and decker . Like 15 pounds. Double sided wool pad . Bolt/washer to attach it . Now I have a 15 year old flex and a porter cable . I have 3 different da orbitals but keep going back to the rotary. Seems like a lost art that's making a comeback.

[@time55k28]

great video always nice to see what can be enhanced from neglected paint.

[@ljguy300]

Wet sanding is so satisfying

[@olgai.menendez9493]

That was really an awesome job. Love your technique and easy instructions. 👍

[@dannydaugherty5702]

I like your style! I always polish at a lower speed! My motto is low and slow. I have heard you say let the machine do the work. Great job 👏 great results

[@ShineYourLightDetailing]

Another fantastic video with excellent work and a thorough description. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@christopherjones8025]

Yes rotaries super important especially on rough clear that was neglected on this poor corvette and especially better and quicker on the wet sanding approach . Did great for how rough this thing was.

[@nicholasthomas3635]

Love taking a 3" pad & the lighter Flex to the tight area's. Bigger unit to the 'flats'.

[@crash_override9435]

Thanks for the Rotary vids. I hurt both my hands on a poorly balanced 15MM DA and a long 2 stage polish job... about two weeks after that job, i was suffering. Couldn't use my hands for a month.. Got better, threw out that DA with a vengeance, picked up a rotary and went to town on all of my old 'throw-away' cars. Worked my way up to my new cars.. I am still cautious, you really can make one poor judgment call or just space-out and cause some issues. I believe my vibration issues with the DA were a newly-selected HD Lake Country foam pad, they are very thick and hold a lot of polish. I did not change them out much, they got really heavy. Then I death gripped & applied a lot of pressure for some very hard clear.. Live and learn.

[@SDC-]

Great video as usual Brian 👍

[@danmorrissette4814]

Awesome, Rotary~!!! Man those water etching are really deep~!! car will look a gazillion time better when finished for sure!

[@404notfound.....]

Excellent informative video Brian! 👍🇨🇦

[@wademiyataki9221]

Must keep the Shop Manager happy!

[@moisesperez3693]

I've been waiting for this

[@MikesAutoDetailing]

Great info, thanks

[@MNpicker]

Love this stuff 😃👍

[@oldatarigamer]

Black cars are so tough - show everything. Excellent work, despite the shop manager's disinterest!

[@ddautodetailing]

Great video and information! That's going to turn out great.

[@chrisgardner2052]

I'm glad you posted this video. I paint corrected my trunk top a month ago, but I had bad etching left over. My process in order was clay, compound and then turtle wax ceramic polish and wax. It turned out awesome except the etching. I honestly thought I did something wrong until this video came out. I even did a before and after video for the fb group but I'm hesitant to post them.

[@apexdetail85]

Post it. Show how responsible you were by not chasing perfection and shaving the clear too deep.

[@chrisgardner2052]

@@apexdetail85 uploading now. For the record I'm thick skinned and can take constructive criticism if you had any input on the videos.

[@stephenmoxley3004]

Wow...that's an impressive improvement in the finish of that Corvette. Too bad it was even allowed to get in that condition to begin with. But, that's what you deal with on a daily basis. Looking forward to the next episode.

[@rasulmuratov6772]

Meguiars burgundy wool pad work great with projects like this one.

[@washzoneom1570]

Great vid great info thanks

[@FredericGolz]

Sonax itself suggests to use Sonax Prepare while polishing in order to add lubrication to help break down the abrasives even more. Helps with sticky paint as well 1. Polish as usual 2. When the polish seems to be broken down and became clearer add a squirt of prepare to the pad an do another 2 passes of polishing without adding more polish to the pad. The ingredients in prepare act like the lubricants that are part of the polishes themselves and gives you an outstanding finish This method changed everything for Me and gives an incredible finish with one step polishes Maybe you wanna give it a try Thanks for your work

[@1JDMkidJoel]

Wow, great job! Videos like this are giving me courage to attack my 03 honda accord.

[@mikeergin6612]

You did good job. Don't worry a couple of points. Really good job.

[@Chris-wb7ni]

Huge results there I would be happy with that. Hope the shop manager is to

[@daren9721]

Awsome video, I have the same car color and problem. Thanks for this video

[@J1Z06]

Great video! Mine is an '04 Torch Red with Mod Red interior. I have a Rotary, but I am a little afraid of it. I'm not too far away in CT...might have to take a ride and get trained by You one day. I hope You are well. Thanks for another great video.

[@aldosainz3253]

Excelente 👌

[@bigd9848]

Looking forward to seeing this video. I know it’s going to be educational 👍🏽✊

[@norcalspitshine9067]

Nice

[@vincentcasarez8895]

I fell in love with Koch Chemie’s abrasive line a few months back and won’t look at another set of polishing compounds again! Thoughts on H9, F6, and M3?

[@snail415]

I miss this intro! 🙂

[@PapaSmurf918Detail]

Great video Brother. Showing those who day you just can't finish down like a da.. chasing Perfecting gets you in trouble! Hope all is well my friend. 🤝

[@apexdetail85]

Absolutely! all is great! thank you!

[@PapaSmurf918Detail]

@@apexdetail85 good to hear! 👍

[@peterjurenovskis5933]

Great video Brian. Back to the basics…I love it. When you were using the rotary, what size backing plate did you use vs the wool pads? Another question is do you use some kind of soft/foam transition between the backing plate and the pad (it looks like about 1/1/2” foam?). The backing plates I’ve seen on line all seem to be hard think plastic. It makes sense to ‘soften’ the pad to flow over the contours.

[@apexdetail85]

Yes....I like some type of foam or rubber interface as cushion on my backing plates.

[@omarsmobiledetailing7287]

Hi what is the difference between a thick backing plate like the red and yellow one you use versus a thinner one?

[@wrzl1675]

I’m old as dirt now but back in the day I was pro detailer and I now have owned several Vettes and done various levels of restoration on them all. C4-C5’s have a clear coat problem where they had an especially hard clear coat to begin with and over time if not meticulously cared for it becomes brittle and flakes off ( skin cancer as many call it). Some of that “etching” is actually where the clear coat has gotten brittle and flaked off. My 06 (C6) is showing some clear coat degradation…. GM clear coat is crap, still to this day. What you’re doing is the correct call if the owner is against repainting or re-clear coating and okay with a 20 footer as we car guys call it…. Nothing wrong with that

[@jims261]

Where do you get those round sanding pads. Great video thanks

[@jeffdeluca1153]

Glad to see this done w a rotary. There are guys contradicting themselves all over KZbin. I'm 68 and just getting a polisher but going for a rotary. Maybe in spite of myself. But do you have any recommendations for removing painted pinstripes off a 2004 toyota 4 runner? Thx a bunch! Do you prefer the flex over the rupes? Or is an older makita fine?

[@harisyoung4110]

if im using foam pad, how much pressure should i put toward the polisher ?

[@GSP-76]

That Vette needed the TLC...it was overdue

[@sylvainmarier4818]

I love wirking with the rotary ! But small question Brian, why did you change the polisher model between the cut and the finish ?

[@apexdetail85]

My other employees were waiting on that polisher. I teach all employees to use the rotary.

[@wilfredgomez2632]

What polisher is that one? Is it the Kompakt 3? Ty for your educational videos.

[@John33lawn]

Is it ok to put a 5 inch backing plate on the compact 3

[@tonipieleanu]

Any tips on using the rotary on vertical surfaces? I seem to struggle on those. On flat panels it works very nice.

[@apexdetail85]

Apply slightly more pressure...tilt slightly on a 5 to 10 degree angle. By slight pressure...I mean only enough to make up for the weight of the polisher nor being cradled by your hands.

[@Angel_Peg]

What 5 inch backing plate I can use on Dewalt rotary?

[@timothyhanson2864]

Where did you get those wheel covers from? I need those as well. Thanks

[@ladym6738]

Your rotary vids are very informative however granny's not interested in going into 'detailing' do find expenditure out of budget, therefore any tips on hand application? And yes, do understand will be a workout. Thank you.

[@seanrichards]

Do you have any videos on how to properly Do a paint correction?

[@amirrahim814]

Hi Brian, i know you like using rotary tool combined with wool pads or foam pads. Today i came across with the lake country curve edge foam pad. Is they any chance that you could make a video out of rotary using those lake country curve edge foam pads? Thanks in advance..

[@nicorallysport]

Can lake country foamed wool pad purple and blue without cushion be used on DA?. Thanks in advance

[@John33lawn]

What size of backing plate do u have on that. Is it over sized for that polisher

[@mattduffy2023]

Just wondering if wet sanding before you used the rotary would be be more time and labor efficiencant or not ? I understand that you were just trying to dial it in to see . I still learning from you ...the master

[@apexdetail85]

Absolutely...it would be the first stage in that case.

[@yukonstriker1703]

Wool pads and 'lint'... Mix that with any rotary and polish and you are marring the paint because of just that, the lint these fake wool/lambswool pads produce. It's a shame more don't use a rotary, as they produce a great result, yet these pads are 80's tech at best. Foam waffle weave are my go to pad on a rotary, and speed is always on the 'lowest' speed, much like Yvan Lacroix suggests... :) I watched his interview with yourself in 2022 and follow both.

[@richardseem7948]

Awesome video and content good friend. I see shop Mgr did the walk around b4 starting. Doesn't seem 2 b impressed yet lol

[@apexdetail85]

She gets bored easily.

[@richardseem7948]

@@apexdetail85 that's a Renee's mountain dog 4 you.🤣🤣

[@Adanacon]

I noticed you were using a small rotary machine. That machine would typically run a three and 4 inch pad. Does it have sufficient power for larger pads?

[@greattallguy]

It looked like there were a bit of holograms after the final polish or was that haze?

[@icebmwpower]

Hey, Brian! Always happy to see the new content from you, but let me ask you something: *Do you have plans to make another “Annual Product Awards”, cause I really love your 2019 (part 1 and part 2) review but looks like it’s outdated today.*

[@apexdetail85]

I will put one together as we near the holidays.

[@icebmwpower]

@@apexdetail85 Great to hear that Brian. One more question, is it really the best combo the Bead Maker (65%) with Sonax BSD (35%) and how it stands against Hybrid Solutions Pro Flex Wax? Which one would be better choice. Sorry that’s 2 questions already. LoL

[@Ja3cques]

I have been using a rotary for years on RVs and never had an issue, used it on my black bmw, didnt have an issue. Now i want to sell the bmw so i started polishing and got holograms like crazy. Tried everything and watched probably 30 videos and cant figure out whats going wrong.. so i bought a DA lol 90% is good enough for me, but the car is sitting in shame until i can fix it.

[@Amor1990]

Can you show paint thickness before and after? Why do you make more passes with a Rotary or is that just with the AACT? I thought they cut easier? What grit sandpaper did you use?

[@apexdetail85]

We are shaving no more than 25 microns off the top. You can afford a few more passes with the rotary as it runs much cooler than a DA polisher.

[@farizarachman5605]

Brian, this is off topic but I want to ask what kind of compound that can be used as Graphene coating maintenance? Does Carpro Essence Plus still do the job? Thank you and GBU

[@apexdetail85]

Essence, Essence Plus or Angelwax Perfect Polish. Even Polish Angel Escalate Lotion.

[@Jove12]

Hi Brian, I'm new to rotary polisher and I practiced on my old BMW that has been repainted with Sikkens High Solid clear coat. I noticed this clear coat is really really hard, I tried 2000RPM with Dewalt rotary polisher DWP849x with slow arm movement and light-medium pressure, and with Menzerna AS30 + twisted wool pad from Meguair's not even remove 2500 grit sanding marks with 2 passes. any suggestion for this type of scenario? and is it normal to use 2000 RPM for the cutting step? because I watched all of your rotary video series, and you said in one or more of your videos "cutting is more effective at lowest speed" which the lowest speed on my Dewalt rotary is 600 RPM.

[@herrywinoto4559]

Rotary Flex PE 8 😁

[@kimnewling5728]

Great turn around. I bought a rotary last winter and practiced on a junk panel. Not to good. Lots of skipping. What causes that?

[@apexdetail85]

Add more compound or a pad conditioner. Tilt slightly....5 or ten degree angle. Maybe even less pressure. Make sure speed is between 3-4

[@kimnewling5728]

@@apexdetail85 thank you

[@themachine8009]

Wow. What a difference for the vette. What grit number were u using in there? Thank you in advance B

[@apexdetail85]

2500 grit

[@honda200twinstar3]

Hey there umm great video ,i used to work in the detailing industry back in the late 80s to the 2000s somewhere, but i remember a representative from some company and he showed us how to use a palm sander with a foam backing then we could attach various grades a wet sandpaper to i think 1.500 ,2.000 and of course then then polishis,it was a 3 stage process,so i was wondering is this method still used ? as you only used a little none motorized hand thing ..for the lack of the proper word lol.

[@apexdetail85]

Absolutely...it would be a good option. Keep in mind, now they only teach dual action polisher use...so not many will take those steps.

[@honda200twinstar3]

@@apexdetail85 umm not that im familiar with a dual action polisher, hmm i wonder if i should have pointed out that we didnt do a whole car .. but just a panel with a bad scratch ,or maybe like the vets trunk .lol my bad kind of forgot about that part, what can i say its been awhile lol.

[@honda200twinstar3]

Oh wait i think maybe i do know what dual action might be .umm regular spin and oscillating or off center .

[@battlefield5826]

Not sure if you mentioned it but would you clay it first before cut?

[@paulanderson4764]

Absolutely. Full paint decon, then polish.

[@apexdetail85]

If needed...absolutely.

[@chrisoo8998]

You can cut and finish with a rotary better than any other machine. Lol don't say that to ammo nyc or buff daddy 🤣

[@codyblair7338]

Sold out😪

[@nigelharris1207]

Missing the relaxing ambient music while you polish Brian. Please add back

[@MeliorIlle]

That's when GM paint was HARD

[@apexdetail85]

Like a rock. But still etched down to the basecoat.

[@MeliorIlle]

@@apexdetail85 A good example to get water spots off your car ASAP, regardless of what clear coat you think it has.

[@seancolon9890]

I have a black 2015 mustang and I tried out a Rotary on the hood and the damn thing wouldn't stop bouncing around :-/

[@1stfrompuertorico568]

1st

[@aliaskink]

There she is