FLEX PE8 rotary reviews

Mary B

Mary B

New member
I will be purchasing a Flex Pe8 and would love to hear some input from anyone using this pocket polisher ? I've been lurkin' & learnin' for 8 months or so, here's your chance to help a newby.
 
im curious on the PE8 too. subscribed.

what would be some advantages and disadvantages of using the PE8 over a dedicated 3" PC?

would a PE8 have less power then a full size rotary converted to a 3"?
 
Sorry to derail the topic but I am holding off on the Kompakt in favor of the Rupes Nano. Tough decision because Connect makes the Kompakt extremely affordable and the Nano will be >2x the cost... but battery powered and the option of using DA function

Anyone want to weigh in?
 
heisenberg said:
Sorry to derail the topic but I am holding off on the Kompakt in favor of the Rupes Nano. Tough decision because Connect makes the Kompakt extremely affordable and the Nano will be >2x the cost... but battery powered and the option of using DA function

Anyone want to weigh in?
Click to expand...

Hard to weigh in when no one has one yet.
 
Rsurfer said:
Hard to weigh in when no one has one yet.
Click to expand...

Yeah, of course. I guess my question was more "Do you foresee there being a marked improvement over what the Kompakt already offers when considering the two?"

Wanted to see if anyone out there was considering the two options as well and what they may have thought of that I haven't.
 
LOVE my PE8, cant live without it.

My other option for using a rotary for small pads is my Makita, and itll work, it just isn't the easiest to maneuver around due to its size. I keep them both going at the same time and work around the car, grab the PE8 for the small stuff, then do the rest of a panel with the Makita or even my rupes 21 then move on to the next
 
It starts at 1300 rpm and goes to 2700 rpm..

I dont want anything starting that fast... Certainly don't need that speed to correct anyway...

This from the Ad - "While it’s true you can equip a full size rotary polisher with a smaller backing plate, the physical size and weight of the tool makes it difficult to see exactly where you’re polishing. "

My feedback - Not if you put a spacer on the Rotary, then you can see everything, and the Rotary is not in the way...

Where are these little tiny spots you need to put a spinning pad into ???? I dont have that need..

For things like the door cups - that round space underneath a door handle on a BMW for example - all you need is your finger with a white towel, and a little Meguiars 105 and you can quickly take out all those fingernail scratches...

Being made by Flex who makes machines to polish stone, I am sure it will be very well built and all, so that is a very good point..

And for sure, it will be eons better than that little Griot's toy thing...:)
Dan F
 
I agree with Dan,

Rotary an newbie is not the best idea, let alone a rotor with no soft start or an rpm not under 1k. A machine like that is nice to have but I definitely wouldn't have it as a primary tool. I have had every single flex except that model because it's use is just too limiting or it's cannibalized by the pe-14. If you want something small and compact, get a rupes 75E, if you want a rotary small enough to run extensions, get a pe-14. If your just learning the rotary, definitely get a hitachi sp18va or a dewalt 849x. Slow speeds and heavier for better control.

Just my take but I will NOT buy any rotary that doesn't have a trigger, far too much risk.
 
heisenberg said:
Sorry to derail the topic but I am holding off on the Kompakt in favor of the Rupes Nano. Tough decision because Connect makes the Kompakt extremely affordable and the Nano will be >2x the cost... but battery powered and the option of using DA function

Anyone want to weigh in?
Click to expand...

I have to agree on this even without using the nano. My Flex PE14 does the same work of the PE8 and more, but with a proper variable speed trigger, which IMO any tool used to do delicate 1" - 3" work should have.
 
Its a great tool , my biggest complaint is the dial speed control and the On and Off switch.....only reason I purchased it was Open Box Special and got it next to nothing, but if you are just starting off in Detailing I would pass on this.
 
I don't understand why people seem to knock on the 1k min rpm on the pe8. You have to remember that the speed is all relative to the pad size as well. The outer edge of a 6" pad at 600rpm may be close to the speed of the outer edge of a 3" pad at 1k rpm.

The pe8 is so easy to use even a newbie could handle it. It is effortless to control even with just one hand.

I also picked up one open box and got a hell of a deal on it, but I'd gladly pay full price if I needed another. It's just so darn easy to use. Could I use my makita? Sure. I'd rather not have to mess around changing backing plates and extensions though. And any time during a long detail I don't have to handle the makita, I'll take

it all comes down to preference really. I am in love with the basically zero vibration of a rotary
 
donbeezy said:
im curious on the PE8 too. subscribed.

what would be some advantages and disadvantages of using the PE8 over a dedicated 3" PC?

would a PE8 have less power then a full size rotary converted to a 3"?
Click to expand...

I would get power compounding with the PE8 in very small or tight areas, then follow up with a 3" DA. The machine I learned on was a full size rotary, 5" & 3" backing plates, been using a Torq10FX lately and there are edges it just won't compound.
 
Ccrew said:
Best $ I've ever spent. This from a guy that has Flex, Rupes, Griots, and Porter Cable units. Highly advise getting at a minimum 2 or three of the extensions to get behind mirrors and in tight spots.

Buff and Shine Rotary Backing Plate Extension
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Did not think of using several extensions, Thanks! MY plan is to have a Pe8 back it up with a dedicated 3" Torqx, my full size rotary back it up with my TorqFX10 , later I will add a Boss 15
 
ShaneB said:
I don't understand why people seem to knock on the 1k min rpm on the pe8. You have to remember that the speed is all relative to the pad size as well. The outer edge of a 6" pad at 600rpm may be close to the speed of the outer edge of a 3" pad at 1k rpm.

The pe8 is so easy to use even a newbie could handle it. It is effortless to control even with just one hand.

I also picked up one open box and got a hell of a deal on it, but I'd gladly pay full price if I needed another. It's just so darn easy to use. Could I use my makita? Sure. I'd rather not have to mess around changing backing plates and extensions though. And any time during a long detail I don't have to handle the makita, I'll take

it all comes down to preference really. I am in love with the basically zero vibration of a rotary
Click to expand...

Yes! Thank you! I now Know this little rotary has some kick and I believe that's what I'm looking for a 3" that kicks butt.
 
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