Rotary Vs. Flex vs. Orbital Can they all acheive the same results.

[unleashedfury]

I read and read and read searched and searched and searched.

I don't wanna jump back on a rotary again since I haven't used one in about 10 years. Like riding a bike you never forget. But still its a risk.

Now Ive been reading and some say they barley use their rotary anymore that they stick with a QUALITY orbital. Or a Flex.

Now I wanna know can a Orbital or flex acheive the same results as a rotary. I am lookin at the saftey factor of you have to have the technique of a gorillia to burn paint with a orbital or a flex. So to get the feel again I been thinking this would be my best option.

Input from the pros here?

Now I know eventually a rotary will have to be considered. Like that nice red car that was red 10 years ago. But now its pink. But we'll save them for later.

[yakky]

You can do full corrections with a PC. A flex is supposed to have more bite, however the rotary is the fastest. If you are doing this for fun, a PC will be more than enough.

[slp123]

^^ I agree.

PC:
Pros:
-virtually impossible to damage paint
-can achieve great results
-cheap

Cons:
-Takes longer to achieve results
-higher mainbtenance than rotary

Rotary:
Pros:
-can achieve great results very quickly
-little machine maintenance

Cons:
-greater learning curve

I have not used the Flex so I can not comment on it, sure someone who has will chime in soon
-easy to damage paint
-more expensive than PC

[Accumulator]

Some here believe that a rotary gives a finer finish that any other type of polisher, at least *IF* (mighty big "if", IMO) you use it properly.

I myself have never experienced that.

Otherwise, there are *VERY* few things you *need* a rotary for, and in the time it takes to learn (let alone master) the rotary most people could do a lifetime's worth of corrections with another, easier/safer, type of polisher.

Short answer: if you need to ask, just buy a Flex 3401. I wouldn't give a moment's concern to the greater possibility of causing damage, but that's just me and IMO is a matter of knowledge base and mindset.

IME a PC is only marginally sufficient for this stuff, though the newer XP model, or better yet the newest Griot's random orbital, will probably work a bit better.

There's always the Cyclo, but much as I love it I'd recommend the Flex instead.

[POPPAJ]

I have and use all three types and if I had to choose one it would be the FLEX. Faster than the PC and near rotary performance! If I had to choose two it would be the FLEX and a rotary.

[unleashedfury]

Thanks for the input.

I read about the flex and the PC Orbital and I heard people saying they use them far more than any rotary.

Like I said I haven't used a rotary in about 10 years. (High School was my last time) and God knows technology took off since.

And I have a friend from school with a mustang that has probably the most oxidation I ever seen. He plans to get it painted. But is willing to give me a shot at saving the paint on there. Not too worried if I make a mistake Because painting is already in the budget. But it looks like a challenge and some real good experience with a New PC or Flex

[Accumulator]

unleashedfury- With a product that has both good abrasives and chemical cleaners you might be amazed at how well a Flex can take care of oxidation.

On an oxidized-to-light-gray Audi I did OK with the PC/4" and 1z Pasta Intensiv, much better than I expected, but a Flex and better stuff woulda worked even better.

[Darkstar752]

I <3 my rotary.

[superchargedg]

I <3 my Flex.

[paintxpert]

No risk once you learn and get confident....I have been doing it since I was 14. I am 53 know. Anyone who wants to learn can learn it. I polished over 400 cars in a building full of technicians who wont try rotary polishing. They watch me closely but still wont try it...I do mostly BLACK cars because noone can do them. I turn them to glass in an hour unless it is real bad. I do feel blessed with the work I have accomplished to date. I also wonder how long my body will withstand the rigours of the task. My wrists hurt constantly as do my elbows ...the doc tells me cartiledge is gone in both elbows. Maybe I should rethink that porter cable ay? I love what I do.

[yakky]

Originally Posted by paintxpert

No risk once you learn and get confident....I have been doing it since I was 14. I am 53 know.

Once you learn...yeah, if you started around 1970, there probably weren't a whole lot of plastic pieces on cars to burn. You probably had 10 years to get confident on lots of all metal cars. These days, a slight slip, a few seconds with the edge of a pad on plastic and you are going to wish you used a PC.

[s7n7a7k7e]

I love my Rotary and Flex. =P