My Flex XC 3401 VRG review - Page 7

YankeeFan · 08-29-07, 04:27

[quote=frostydog]I wanted to follow up with a few pics of my car after I polished it with the Flex.

The car looks great! Just curious, based upon your initial post you used only IP at either a 5 or 6 speed. Did you get any hazing and have to go over with 106 or other finishing polish?

Howard

frostydog · 08-29-07, 08:13

Quote:

The car looks great! Just curious, based upon your initial post you used only IP at either a 5 or 6 speed. Did you get any hazing and have to go over with 106 or other finishing polish?

Howard

You know what...that's a really good question. I only used IP/orange pad on the area of my hood with the scratch. I then polished the entire car with FPII/white pad. Since I knew I was going to polish the entire car with FPII I didn't even bother to pull the car out in the sun to see how just the IP and orange pad finished.

I really should have.

I my memory serves me correct, and though not sun light I do have some pretty decent lighting in my garage, I didn't see any major hazing after the IP/orange. But it wasn't nearly as sharp and glossy as the finish produced by FPII...but that's kinda expected.

MobileJay · 08-29-07, 10:58

So how many passes did it take to remove the scratch, and would you have been able to do so with a pc?

frostydog · 08-29-07, 01:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by MobileJay

So how many passes did it take to remove the scratch, and would you have been able to do so with a pc?

It took me two rounds. The first round I went over it with the Flex on 5 and only added a small amount of pressure. That helped, but there was still a bit to remove. So the second round I turned it up to speed 6 and pushed down a bit harder...that removed about 95% of the scratch.

I stopped there...I just wasn't familiar enough with the Flex to feel comfortable going at it anymore (trying to remove the scratch was the first thing I did with the Flex).

Even during the second round I was moving the polisher pretty quickly over a somewhat large area. I have to practice with the Flex a bit more to feel comfortable with how much and how quickly the Flex can correct...if I were to say just push down and hold it in one spot.

That scratch was pretty deep...but I have removed scratches that deep with a PC and 4" yellow pad (should note Acura clear is somewhat soft). Although whenever I would try to remove scratches like that with the PC it took many, many, many passes.

MobileJay · 08-29-07, 01:44

do you use it like a pc as in how you move the machine(slow) or do you have to move it faster like you would a rotary? With the speed will it burn paint or is it as idiot proof as a pc?

frostydog · 08-29-07, 02:03

I could def move quicker with the Flex...

See post #31 about burning the paint. Surely more time is needed to know for sure.

hopefully soon some others, like Zoran C

(kidding buddy, I understand all you have going on right now)...will start to use the Flex and we can do some compare & contrast.

YankeeFan · 08-29-07, 02:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostydog

I could def move quicker with the Flex...

hopefully soon some others, like Zoran C

(kidding buddy, I understand all you have going on right now)...will start to use the Flex and we can do some compare & contrast.

Dude.....don't worry about it, cool thing is you are able to answer every question, so you paid attention as you used the machine. We all appreciate your help! Zoran C review will come down the road but in the mean time thanks for your answers. To tell you the truth other than a question about vibration I'm pretty much sold on the machine. Even if it vibrated as much as the PC the less time to correct would certainly alleviate the numbness.

Howard

frostydog · 08-29-07, 03:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by YankeeFan

Dude.....don't worry about it, cool thing is you are able to answer every question, so you paid attention as you used the machine. We all appreciate your help! Zoran C review will come down the road but in the mean time thanks for your answers. To tell you the truth other than a question about vibration I'm pretty much sold on the machine. Even if it vibrated as much as the PC the less time to correct would certainly alleviate the numbness.

Howard

oh, no worries...it's my pleasure to help out.

My only concern is it would be nice to have others either agree or challenge my findings for the benefit of all. I don't want to come across as sounding like a Flex cheerleader

But I surely don't mind answering any questions I can.

ZoranC · 08-29-07, 03:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostydog

hopefully soon some others, like Zoran C

(kidding buddy, I understand all you have going on right now)...will start to use the Flex and we can do some compare & contrast.

Yes, helping my g/f is right now only thing I care about. She and I have worked hard on it practically every single available waking moment since last Friday (and yes, both she and I got very little sleep since we started). Good news is that it seems we have almost finished first part of it and we might be able to take break over the weekend. If we do (bad news is that I am on call over weekend and holiday and we have huge 'go live' scheduled for it) I hope to be there polishing because I need to finish this car and you can bet I am taking Flex and Ridgid to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostydog

I don't want to come across as sounding like a Flex cheerleader

I thought that is my role

On the serious side, I don't think anybody can accuse me of that even if I end up madly in love with Flex. Just checkout other thread on 3401, another toy (in addition to Metabo is on it's way).

superchargedg · 08-30-07, 05:27

Where did you get the flex.

frostydog · 08-30-07, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by superchargedg

Where did you get the flex.

Zoran C got his...post #62 of this thread.

Post #26 of the below thread has where I got mine...
http://autopia.org/forum/machine-pol...401-vrg-3.html

superchargedg · 08-30-07, 10:37

Thank you.