Anyone Bought or Tried the Revised Flex Polishers

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Lonnie

Well-known member
Well I see Flex has updated and revised its three electric corded polishing machines: the long-throw dual-acton, the rotary, and the direct-drive dual action. I assume this is in response to Rupe 's Mark V (five) updates.
Had anyone bought and/or tried out any of these revised polishing machines AND what your thoughts and opinions are from your experience using them?
The biggest update is a better gear drive for less vibration and gear noise.
 
Thanks Setec for that information on the new brushless motors. Yes, I Googled what the advantages are, so here is the Cliff Notes reasons:
1) Less friction, more efficient rotation
2) "Smart" electronics senses and adjusts electrical usage for torque needed based on load
3) Longer life due to less heat
4) Quieter operation
5) No brushes to replace
Noting that this technology is more expensive, it stands to reason these polishers are marketed toward detailing professionals and serious hobbyists who would used such a polishing machine on a frequent basis. Proverbially, you get what you pay for, OR as my dad said, "You wanna run with the big dogs, you gotta pay like the big dogs".
Yes, I would like one; just don't want to pay for it (Typical cheap skate Captain Obvious remark!)
 
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I think what they did was adopt into the corded polishers the improvements made to the 24V cordless. I believe this is the same thing that Rupes did in the Mark V you mention, incorporate the "new tech" from the iBrids into their corded units.
 
Still waiting for some Autopian to give us a real-world review of one of the newly revised Flex polishers and maybe how it compares to the Rupe Mark V of the same type of machine; IE, rotary, long-throw Dual-Action, or direct-drive dual-acton.
Yeah, I am asking a lot but MAYBE some professional detailing shop has both or some enterprising (and well-heeled), serious hobbyists has both. Could only hope......
(Sounds more like a YouTube opportunity to me, Captain Obvious)
 
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Setec:
The battery-power technology filtering down and being applied to the corded electrical models segways into this question for our fellow Autopians:
Which power-type would YOU buy for a new polishing machine; battery or corded??
Obviously both types have their respective advantages and disadvantages.
Just curious as well.....

Me, I prefer a corded model simply because of run times, power-to-weight, and having a battery on the machine affect accessibility relative to vehicle panel curves near side mirrors and rear wings and bumpers.
Plus battery packs are NOT interchangable between power tool manufacturers. If Milwaukee Tool or Ryobi made a decent polishing machine like Rupes or Flex, that might influence my choice, since the fore-mentioned power tool manufacturers offer a plethora of power tool types for different jobs that utilize the same battery packs.
 
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Well, IIRC, Milwaukee does now offer a pair off 15mm/21mm RO polishers in their M18 line, but I too prefer the lighter weight/(presumed) better balance of a corded unit. BUT hey, for somebody who wants/needs to go cordless,,,,
 
I wonder about the Milwaukee machines. Not knocking them, they make great tools, we have a ton of the brand at work. It's just the battery. I use their leaf blower and man it chews through batteries. Usually go through a few of them and quickly. My Ego blower can get through a full size truck before the battery is raising the white flag, the Milwaukee into the 3rd. Mind you the battery is way bigger with Ego, but it makes me wonder how far the battery will take the polisher? And I don't like how the last 20% battery life the blower on the Milwaukee drops down in power. On a polisher if it did that I would find it frustrating.
I have Rupes machines, corded, and an ibrid nano. The battery on the nano is nice, the 2nd battery is charging so always ready to switch. But on a full size polisher going at it more time I wonder if I'dd be waiting for the 2md battery to finish charging?? I like the corded machines for my bigger work. Yes the cords at always there, but you get used to it. And power is always constant. I treat my stuff really well, wipe the machine and cord down and wrap the cord up after every use when done, my machines should be good for years. Batteries eventually need replacement, and they are very proud of their batteries, so a ln expense added. I definetly see the positives of cordless too.
 
Well, if we're talking about Flex polishers and Flex batteries, remember Flex is owned by the same company that owns Ego, so the Flex batteries are Ego batteries. The newest 24V are the flat cell design. At TRCMA they said that dropped the "footprint" of the 2Ah battery by 30% and hinted that something would be coming out at SEMA that would take advantage of that small battery (which I took to mean a new small polisher).
 
I wanna see the batteries for sure. I really like my Ego to dry vehicles, and the batteries are pretty large. I know thats where the power/duration comes from, but it would be pretty cool to shrink the battery. Price will probably grow though, lol.
 
Silly Rabbit:
THANK YOU for your opinion and experiences with battery-powered and electrical-corded detailing tools and equipment. I say that because there in not a lot of responses to ANY of the thread topics these days, and I, personally value what you say... Not that I may "agree" totally with it, but I do value it.
I really like your comment on the Milwaukee Tool/ Ego battery-powered blowers used for drying vehicles. I tried using a Worx blower with batteries I already had from a gifted Worx string trimmer. Did not even get through and dry an entire Ford Freestyle after trying it twice because it needed to be on the "Turbo" setting to blow enough volume of air to work, so I returned it and went back to my trusty corded Toro leaf blower which works for me. Not fancy, but it works.
[As Jeff Foxworthy would say, "You might be a red-neck if you dry your vehicle with your electric Toro leaf blower after washing it." ... Guilty as "charged" (no pun Intended!)]
 
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I'd really like to replace the WeedEater brand blower that powers my AirWand with a cordless one like the EGO, BUT...figuring out an adaptor to mount the AirWand's hose *SECURELY* could be a challenge, and I do wonder about things like needing a shoulder strap to keep my hands free, and yeah the weight/balance with the battery.

And yeah, you do have to be a little careful buying Milwaukee stuff these days :( The issues with their one M18 Impact sure got my attention! I'm sticking with their M12 line, and so far, so good with regard to the batteries. But I keep a scad of spares on hand just in case.

BTW/OT, I *really* like my Milwaukee paint-matching/inspection light (thank you, Accumulatorette!). Even if it does reveal things I'd rather not know about ;)
 
Hey Lonnie, I feel the same way. I enjoy the posts on here and Autogeek as well. I still browse through posts and threads on both all the time, so much archived content. I have zero traditional social media, just some forums in my personal wheelhouse of interests. Each forum has members that have so much knowledge on the topics in relation, always learn. I don't mind peoples difference of opionons at all, it's the same if it were all face to face, everyone has different thoughts and opinions. Thats good. So like you, I appreciate the responces no matter.
I don't wanna see either forum go away Megs dropped their site, another I used to browse old threads on.
 
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