My Flex XC 3401 VRG review - Page 3

Ruttrow · 08-22-07, 04:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL-53

Ruttrow..the backing plate on the Flex is geared..so with the random orbit the backing plate also rotates under power..unlike the PC that rotates from centrifical force....

AL

Thanks for the reply Al. Can you try and explain to me what you mean? I have only used a PC7336 so I really don't know a lot about the ins & outs of all these different rotary polishers/ options. Thanks
Mike

Bence · 08-22-07, 05:28

Mike, you can stop the rotation with your hands with a traditional dual action polisher, because the rotation is just a "byproduct" of the momentum of the orbiting motion.

With a forced rotation DA the pad is actually connected to a direct drive motor and spins WHILE doing an orbital pattern.

Ruttrow · 08-22-07, 06:00

Thanks Bence. Does that mean I have to worry about burning paint? Sorry for what may seem to most like dumb questions.

ZoranC · 08-22-07, 06:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruttrow

Does that mean I have to worry about burning paint?

If that helps any my guess as confirmed by highly scientific analysis when I used RO 150 FEQ (called checking temperature of bp and paint by hand while working) is that risk is higher than with PC yet it is lower than with rotary.

Bence · 08-22-07, 06:35

Yes, as Zoran stated. These machines spin pretty slow (the max being around 600; 480 with the Flex) so the safety zone is bigger.

Ruttrow · 08-23-07, 03:37

Guys,

Thanks for the replies. So my last question is for someone that does a car every couple of months should I just go with the UDM? I don't mind spending the extra money for the Flex but only if I'm going to notice any huge differences. Thanks again

Mike

frostydog · 08-23-07, 05:56

My quick thoughts on the "heat factor"...

When I was done polishing my car (white pad), I went to peel the pad off the backing plate and did notice a significantly higher amount of heat on both the pad and BP, vs what I would've with the PC. I was hardly shocked by this, but it was quite noticeable.

I should also note that to correct the nasty scratch I had on my hood I was working the polisher in an area of about a 1.5ft x 1.5ft (always keeping the polisher moving). I was using an orange pad, Menz IP and the highest speed of the polisher. I'd spread the polish and work it for about 20-30 seconds in that small area until the polish broke down. I was also using some force (pressing down) on the polisher. I had to do this process a couple times to remove the scratch. I checked the paint temp (with my hand) after each round...and while the paint was surely warm, it didn't feel hot to me. I also waited a couple minutes between each round to let the paint cool down a bit.

In no way am I saying the Flex can't burn paint (I just haven't used it enough to know for sure)...but I def agree with the others that the margin of error lies between a PC and a rotary. I'm really thinking you'd have to be pretty negligent to burn your paint with the Flex, though the risk is probably there. Where there's probably just about zero risk of it happening with a PC.

Quote:

Guys,

Thanks for the replies. So my last question is for someone that does a car every couple of months should I just go with the UDM? I don't mind spending the extra money for the Flex but only if I'm going to notice any huge differences. Thanks again

Mike

This is a hard question, largely because I haven't used the UDM. If you currently do not own a PC...I'd probably have to suggest the UDM, just based on it's versatility vs the Flex. Remember the Flex only has one backing plate/tool to use with the machine. There's many different BP's, foam pad sizes, carpet brushes, etc...for the PC/UDM.

Ruttrow · 08-23-07, 06:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostydog

My quick thoughts on the "heat factor"...

When I was done polishing my car (white pad), I went to peel the pad off the backing plate and did notice a significantly higher amount of heat on both the pad and BP, vs what I would've with the PC. I was hardly shocked by this, but it was quite noticeable.

I should also note that to correct the nasty scratch I had on my hood I was working the polisher in an area of about a 1.5ft x 1.5ft (always keeping the polisher moving). I was using an orange pad, Menz IP and the highest speed of the polisher. I'd spread the polish and work it for about 20-30 seconds in that small area until the polish broke down. I was also using some force (pressing down) on the polisher. I had to do this process a couple times to remove the scratch. I checked the paint temp (with my hand) after each round...and while the paint was surely warm, it didn't feel hot to me. I also waited a couple minutes between each round to let the paint cool down a bit.

In no way am I saying the Flex can't burn paint (I just haven't used it enough to know for sure)...but I def agree with the others that the margin of error lies between a PC and a rotary. I'm really thinking you'd have to be pretty negligent to burn your paint with the Flex, though the risk is probably there. Where there's probably just about zero risk of it happening with a PC.

This is a hard question, largely because I haven't used the UDM. If you currently do not own a PC...I'd probably have to suggest the UDM, just based on it's versatility vs the Flex. Remember the Flex only has one backing plate/tool to use with the machine. There's many different BP's, foam pad sizes, carpet brushes, etc...for the PC/UDM.

I have used a pc for years. Now I'm going to replace it with something I'm hoping would make the job quicker, ie; breaking polish down, etc. Because I'm doing very few cars versatility is not as important to me as it may be to some. I can't make a decision on this to save my life.

Thanks again

frostydog · 08-23-07, 07:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruttrow

I have used a pc for years. Now I'm going to replace it with something I'm hoping would make the job quicker, ie; breaking polish down, etc. Because I'm doing very few cars versatility is not as important to me as it may be to some. I can't make a decision on this to save my life.

Thanks again

oh...ok, I missed the fact that you already own a PC.

Well for me, the main reason for purchasing the Flex, was because I just couldn't handle the amount of time it was taking me to polish a car with a PC. I'm also only a hobbyist, but I do detail for a few friends and family. I don't know if I'm really impatient, or if my technique wasn't quite right...but I just couldn't mentally handle the amount of time it was taking me to polish a car (to a level that I felt good about) with a PC.

The Flex is def quicker, it corrects better and IMO leaves a better looking finish.

It is also a bit bigger and heavier though.

Not to further complicate your decision, but there are other polishers in this ballgame as well...Makita BO6040, Festool Rotex 150 (although there seems to have been some problems with the Festool)

I was also having trouble deciding on which one to buy. I read as much as I could, asked a few questions and ultimately decided on the Flex because (from what I read) it seemed to be a good fit for me. It also was specifically designed for polishing cars, FWIW that meant something to me. At the end of the day I am happy with my purchase, was there a better choice for me...who knows???

If you can wait a bit I know ZoranC is getting a Flex soon and has also used the UDM and Festool. He can probably offer better decision points than I. You could probably also ask some of the BO6040 folks their thoughts on that.

Hope that helps...

Ruttrow · 08-23-07, 07:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostydog

oh...ok, I missed the fact that you already own a PC.

Well for me, the main reason for purchasing the Flex, was because I just couldn't handle the amount of time it was taking me to polish a car with a PC. I'm also only a hobbyist, but I do detail for a few friends and family. I don't know if I'm really impatient, or if my technique wasn't quite right...but I just couldn't mentally handle the amount of time it was taking me to polish a car (to a level that I felt good about) with a PC.

The Flex is def quicker, it corrects better and IMO leaves a better looking finish.

It is also a bit bigger and heavier though.

Not to further complicate your decision, but there are other polishers in this ballgame as well...Makita BO6040, Festool Rotex 150 (although there seems to have been some problems with the Festool)

I was also having trouble deciding on which one to buy. I read as much as I could, asked a few questions and ultimately decided on the Flex because (from what I read) it seemed to be a good fit for me. It also was specifically designed for polishing cars, FWIW that meant something to me. At the end of the day I am happy with my purchase, was there a better choice for me...who knows???

If you can wait a bit I know ZoranC is getting a Flex soon and has also used the UDM and Festool. He can probably offer better decision points than I. You could probably also ask some of the BO6040 folks their thoughts on that.

Hope that helps...

Thanks for the input. My use would be about the same as yours. I did read about the Festool and while it seems like a nice tool, price does become an issue @ some point not to mention 1 b/p spinning off is 1 to many for me. I'm going to take a look @ the makita you mentioned and try to make a decision. I did call Flex this morning to see if they could tell me where/who of their distributors may have stock. They could not tell me. I also asked about the warranty which they answered but not as a cut & dry deal as the udm. From what I read here, have a problem in the first year and it gets replaced, Flex throws in misuse, at their discrection, repair or replace etc., etc.
Thanks again

Mike

Ruttrow · 08-23-07, 09:36

Maybe I just have bad luck but I called the distributor Flex gave me. When I called them they gave me another distributor to call. I called them and they just called me back to verify the p/n because it was not in the catalog. Dist. just called again and told me the price is 480.80.

frostydog · 08-23-07, 09:50

Here's a link to another post and the place where I got mine from...

http://autopia.org/forum/machine-pol...401-vrg-3.html

They're local for me, but I'm all but positive they'll mail it to you.

Mind you, they do not stock this product either, but the Flex US dist center (the number you called) is only 10 minutes from them. So they just ran over and picked one up for me.