Flex 3401

G

gordster1122

New member
I currently have the G15,Rupes Mini and been thinking about picking up the flex 3401 to add to my collection should I ??
seen they have 15% off right now would there be another 20% off no exclusion anytime soon ?
 
You may not care for the flex 3401..

I`m still up in the air about liking mine..but it`s.growing on me I guess
Can always turn it to free spin..but that`s be one expensive free spin 8mm polisher then
 
LOVE the 3401

But I had it long before the rupes. If you`re used to the rupes, there will be a "learning curve" to the 3401 because of the forced rotation. (which is counter clockwise as well)
 
Don`t see why everyone makes the rotation direct into a big deal...

As for learning curve
The technique is just keeping the polisher level and pad flat
When i do side panels I dont use polisher in typical verticle position..
But diagonal or very close to horizontal

Even so, it still feels like the polisher works you versus you workong the polisher like with a long stroke
 
I personally didn`t like the 3401. Rupes is just so much smoother and IMO cuts faster and finishes better with less effort and strain on my arms. If I were you id get a Rupes 21 instead. Just my opinion though. Theres a lot of love out there for the 3401 (I know AGO raves about it all the time)
 
I do agree the Flex can work you, rather than you working it, if you get lazy with it,; However, the 3401 has a distinct advantage over the Rupes because you can use the edge, and even the sides of the pad, to get into curves, and for removing deeper scratches easier. Instead of using the entire pad face, tilting the pad makes for a smaller contact area, and removes deep scratches faster than using the entire pad face. This method makes quick work of the RIDS, and also allows you to play with curvature of different areas of every car. I find that there are many curves on a vehicle that immediately don`t come to mind. If you are in the Rupes family, then you probably use other Rupes machines for these areas such as, the iBrid, or the Rupes mini.
I would love to have all the Rupes machines and pads, but I don`t have enough income for that. I find, the Flex can do what the 15, or 21 can do, and much more by being able to tilt the pad.
 
EXPDetailing- That`s a good point about how you can use the edge/sides. But I hesitate to suggest it to others as putting too much pressure on the pad when it`s not flat/level can do the "backing plate-to-housing interference" thing that killed so many of them back when they first came out. I sorta put that in the "don`t try this at home, kids!" category even though I do it myself.

I like mine for serious correction but can understand why some people hate it.

No matter what I do, I can`t get the same final finish with my Flex 3401 that I can with my non-forced rotation polishers, so I *always* finish out with something else. The diff isn`t something most people would ever notice or even *can* notice when I point it out, but I do see it and it`s significant enough *to me* that, this being Autopia, I always mention it.
 
Always a bunch of used ones on EBay. I`ve thought about picking one up just to try out. I`m happy staying in the Rupes family right now, but you can never have enough good tools.
 
Accumulator said:
Heh heh, that`s what I thought for decades, before the, uhm....accumulation...started getting out of hand :D Not that I wouldn`t like a Rupes Mini (hey Santa...).
Click to expand...

And sometimes, it`s too easy for us to justify the accumulation. I have two 3401s. Really? YES! One set up with the 4" BP and one with the original. Think of the time saved!
(see? Justified)
 
JustJesus said:
And sometimes, it`s too easy for us to justify the accumulation. I have two 3401s...
Click to expand...

Yes indeed, hence my two PCs, two Cyclos, and two rotaries :o Never touch any of `em except the Cyclos but I do use both of those; semi-dedicated setups as per your Flexes.
 
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