Professional Seeking new Rotary Polisher

**Holden_C04** · 06-05-2008, 11:07 PM

I love it. It`s absolutely outstanding. It`s everything a rotary could be. I don`t know why anyone would use anything else (and that includes the Makita). It`s wonderful to polish side panels because of it`s light weight, lacks nothing for power, and feels and looks like a quality unit. It presents a more professional image than a Makita, too.

**SuperBee364** · 06-06-2008, 12:12 AM

Yup, I`m really liking my 3403, too.

**imported_Ivan Rajic** · 06-06-2008, 01:46 AM

Originally Posted by Holden_C04

I love it. It`s absolutely outstanding. It`s everything a rotary could be. I don`t know why anyone would use anything else (and that includes the Makita). It`s wonderful to polish side panels because of it`s light weight, lacks nothing for power, and feels and looks like a quality unit. It presents a more professional image than a Makita, too.

Being a German engineering nut myself, I could see the benefits of this rotary, and if funds ever allow it, I`ll purchase one to go along with my Makita (considering it gets great reviews in the future as it`s been getting lately), but you can`t just knock the Makita like that, especially without even using it... I can safely say the majority of quality detailers use the Makita and it`s simply a perfect workhorse... I have yet to hear of an issue with it and some have been using it for many many years. So while I`m glad you found your perfect match, try both and compare them before labeling it as the be all end all rotary for detailing.

Oh and how does it present a more professional image? Because it`s red?

**Eisen Hulk** · 06-06-2008, 07:22 AM

Well said, lecchilo.

**Eliot Ness** · 06-06-2008, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by lecchilo

............Oh and how does it present a more professional image? Because it`s red?

LOL, yeah somebody better tell Paul Daulton about that image thing:

YouTube - bugatti veyron and miracle detail in kuwait

**Holden_C04** · 06-06-2008, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by lecchilo

Being a German engineering nut myself, I could see the benefits of this rotary, and if funds ever allow it, I`ll purchase one to go along with my Makita (considering it gets great reviews in the future as it`s been getting lately), but you can`t just knock the Makita like that, especially without even using it... I can safely say the majority of quality detailers use the Makita and it`s simply a perfect workhorse... I have yet to hear of an issue with it and some have been using it for many many years. So while I`m glad you found your perfect match, try both and compare them before labeling it as the be all end all rotary for detailing.

Oh and how does it present a more professional image? Because it`s red?

I have tried both. The Makita was the first rotary I used. I like the Makita and it`s my second choice for a rotary. It would be great to do a side-by-side comparison, though.

**imported_Ivan Rajic** · 06-06-2008, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Eliot Ness

LOL, yeah somebody better tell Paul Daulton about that image thing:

YouTube - bugatti veyron and miracle detail in kuwait

Yea, he`s so unprofessional haha

Originally Posted by Holden_C04

I have tried both. The Makita was the first rotary I used. I like the Makita and it`s my second choice for a rotary. It would be great to do a side-by-side comparison, though.

I`d like to see that as well, but I doubt there`s much to compare other than weight and I think Flex is 1.5-2lbs lighter, correct? Maybe in the long run see how it performs and what maintenance it needs (knowing BMWs very well I want to stay as far away as Flex as possible haha... as much as I like detailing, it`s not comparable to riding an M3).

How does the noise compare? What`s the lowest speed setting on the 3403?

**Scottwax** · 06-06-2008, 11:33 AM

I really like my Dewalt 849. Seriously heavy duty machine and you get used to the weight very quickly.

**Holden_C04** · 06-06-2008, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by lecchilo

How does the noise compare? What`s the lowest speed setting on the 3403?

I can`t compare the noise because it`s been a while since I used the Makita. I`d need one to compare. The lowest speed setting on the Flex is around 1000 and you can use the trigger to get a lower rpm as well, unlike some others.

**Holden_C04** · 06-07-2008, 10:36 PM

**Rob Tomlin** · 06-08-2008, 10:01 AM

Is that the stock backing plate that comes with the Flex?

**SuperBee364** · 06-08-2008, 10:03 AM

My Flex didn`t come with a BP. It does look alot like the BP that came with the Porter Cable rotary, though.

**Holden_C04** · 06-08-2008, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Rob Tomlin

Is that the stock backing plate that comes with the Flex?

No, I picked this up at Canadian Tire. There`s a story behind the behind the backing plate, actually. I didn`t realize I would require a new one as my old 5.5" would not work. So, embarking on an adventure I checked out the local auto parts supply houses. NAPA did not carry anything! I had to order one at an outrageous price. So, I checked out another one called Carquest. The guy at the counter dealt with auto parts mostly and didn`t really have the first clue when it came to anything involving paint. So, we spent an hour flipping through catalogs trying not to fall asleep. I didn`t feel like I was getting anywhere so I headed to one Canadian Tire. Nothing! They had for sale a Dewalt 849, Wen 2-Speed Rotary (under the Simoniz name) and the Porter Cable 7424 but not a backing plate in site. I don`t really know how they expected people to use their new rotaries. So, I tried another Canadian Tire closer to home. They had all the same things except they were also selling a Porter Cable 7428 (I thought they were gone?). I checked out the paint racks and it just so happened that they had a replacement backing plate for the PC 7428 and it would fit (not as well as I would like but it works) the new Flex 3403.

Originally Posted by SuperBee364

It does look alot like the BP that came with the Porter Cable rotary, though.

Good eye. :goodjob

**Holden_C04** · 07-02-2008, 07:57 PM

Smoke poured out of the Flex today while polishing up the 330.

I went and purchased a Dewalt DW849 because it was locally available and I could return it any time I wished. I don`t like it. It`s too heavy. For some reason, I get holograms with the Dewalt that I didn`t get with the Flex, even with same pads, polishes, speed settings, and paint.

**imported_advs1** · 07-02-2008, 11:30 PM

i have the hitachi and have had no problems, but i`ve only used it once lol. i hope i dont have problems with it. at setting 1, 600 rpm`s it works great. leave nice sharp finish and no holograms, save the ones left by residual material. but after a wipe, it was good.