Can the Flex do it all or do I also need a PC too?

[fins&chrome]

Just about to order a Flex but before I do, I still wonder if it can do it all with the 6.5” pads. I dunno, some of these areas on the hood and fenders don’t give much room to move around. Also as you can see in the pix, dips and sharp curves are in abundance everywhere. The only real flat areas are the lower side door panels. Will I need a PC too with 4” pads for some of these areas or can the Flex maneuver around those ok?

Question #2, those two ridges that run along the hood with the rocket chrome ends. How would you polish those? By hand I guess? If so, will the finish match the rest of the hood done with a buffer?

Let me know what you think as I sure can’t afford two buffers right now.

Thx for your help.

 

[Mobilejay]

as far as the angles and curves you should be alright, the tight spaces I'm not sure. I (this may be wrong but works for me) will angle the pad in areas like you're showing. You shouldn't angle a rotary but I have never had a problem with the Flex only using part of the pad at an angle to hit some spaces. If you are worried about it put tape on the hood where the line breaks for the two ridges, this way if you angle the pad to hit the ridges you will be hitting tape if you do come down and hit the hood. Understand? Like I said I haven't had a problem doing this, others may say it is not good. There are pads that are 5", if that is still going to be too big then maybe get the flex now to polish most of the car and then save up for the PC to use later.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Tough call...I have a whole bunch of different machines. I've only used my Flex a couple of times, and it's a great machine, but I'm wouldn't want to give up my PC, either (noting that I already have it and don't have the budget constraints you do). You don't say what kind of defects you have or what results you are trying to achieve. The PC will make in improvement on most paints, especially with the new SMUT abrasives.

 

[fins&chrome]

The paint defects are the usual culprits: minor swirls and scratches visible under the right light at about 2 feet. Nothing too deep. Paint is in pretty good shape otherwise with good shine as this car had mostly been garaged until I aquired it recently. For now, I want to work on the hood, fenders and trunk. The rest of the car looks pretty good so no need to do the entire car...for now at least.

As far as results I’m looking for: I’d like to get it as perfect as possible and at least minimize the swirls and marks so that they aren’t so apparent...so I guess if I reach 90% perfection, that would be quite acceptable. As said before, the paint is relatively soft and it is single stage...so I don’t want to hit it too hard at first.

It also may be true as Mobile Jay said that I may need to have both machines eventually...if I am to do the whole car at one point.

 

[JaredPointer]

The PC will make in improvement on most paints, especially with the new SMUT abrasives.

Freudian slip? :lol





I've got a Flex and a PC currently. I have had a Cyclo, and a cheap rotary. If I could only get one - to do everything I needed to do - it would be the Flex. The only thing I really use my PC for right now is 4" pads and tight places.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Freudian slip? :lol

Nope, I call them that to show my annoyance with the SMAT zealots who insist that 105/205 are the be-all, end-all, and that no one else can/will ever make a polish with a non-diminishing abrasive. (The new HD polish put the lie to that)



Disclaimer: I am in no way denigrating the fans of those polishes, only the rah-rah fan-boys who have been over the top (saying they are great polishes and game-changers is not going over the top).

 

[JaredPointer]

Nope, I call them that to show my annoyance with the SMAT zealots who insist that 105/205 are the be-all, end-all, and that no one else can/will ever make a polish with a non-diminishing abrasive. (The new HD polish put the lie to that)



Disclaimer: I am in no way denigrating the fans of those polishes, only the rah-rah fan-boys who have been over the top (saying they are great polishes and game-changers is not going over the top).

you mean to tell me there are people who are over the top about a specific line or brand of detailing products? Get outta here! :LOLOL :lol

 

[David Fermani]

Nope, I call them that to show my annoyance with the SMAT zealots who insist that 105/205 are the be-all, end-all, and that no one else can/will ever make a polish with a non-diminishing abrasive. (The new HD polish put the lie to that)



Disclaimer: I am in no way denigrating the fans of those polishes, only the rah-rah fan-boys who have been over the top (saying they are great polishes and game-changers is not going over the top).

Technically, that has yet to be seen.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Technically, that has yet to be seen.

Cripes, don't start with me. Not only is this off-topic, but what I'm referring to was the assertion that SMAT was patented (which it isn't) and then that Meg's had an exclusive use of the SMAT abrasives (which may be true, however that doesn't preclude another abrasives company from developing their own non-diminishing technology and selling it to any Tom, ****, or Harry). Usually, exclusive agreements have a limited time period, as well. I really don't want to argue this out, it wasn't my intention, I was just trying to explain my poor attempt at sarcasm/humor.

 

[Accumulator]

fins&chrome- IMO you'll do fine with just the Flex. By using the overhanging outer portion of large pads, you'll be able to get into a *LOT* more tight spots than you'd expect. Areas like those you circled shouldn't be a big deal once you get the hang of using the machine.



IMO a PC would be more useful for doing small areas/spot-correction with 4" pads than for getting into tight spots on that car.



I used my Flex to do a '60 Jag MKII that was a *LOT* trickier contour-wise than your Chevy and it handled the odd shapes just fine. I only used the PC/4" for concentrating my efforts (quite aggressively) on small areas, *not* for getting into tight spots.



The "how to do tight spots" thing just doesn't usually work out the way one would expect, eh..at least not the way *I* expected it to go.



But yeah...I'm all for having a variety of machines if the budget permits. I find the Flex the most useful, but I also like having the PC/4", the Cyclo, and even my (new) little 3" random orbital. Note that my rotaries are *not* on this list of most-appreciated polishers

 

[David Fermani]

Cripes, don't start with me. I really don't want to argue this out, it wasn't my intention, I was just trying to explain my poor attempt at sarcasm/humor.

Ditto. (10 characters)