FLEX XC 3401 VRG for a novice?

S

Supra

New member
Hi everyone, I am novice with using machine polishing? I always have been using my hands to do car detailing but a while ago, I have strained my arm. Thus, I will have to depend on using machine polishing.



I looked from Griot to PC to FLEX. I want to ask if a FLEX XC 3401 VRG is good for a beginner and also, I read somewhere that the FLEX is a dual action but it can somehow causes heat and rub of the colour layer. Is that true? Should I be concerned?



Also a few more questions. If I am getting a FLEX, what colour of the foam should I get to wax my car with Collinite 845 and/or Klass AIO? Also where should I get cheap 5"5 or 6" foams and how many times can I reuse the foam?
 
IMO everyone should own at least one traditional DA such as the PC, etc,. so with that said, pick up the Griots Random Orbital (it comes with a 6" backing plate so you can use 6.5" pads) and also purchase a 3.5" (for use with 4" pads) & 5" DA backing plates (for use with 5.5" pads). with the lifetime warranty, you can't go wrong and Griots has free shipping right now as well...
 
I agree with Big Al. I had a Flex and traded it, it just wasn't comfortable for me to use. And for the price, I really did try to like it!
 
If you're that much of a noob I would skip the Flex. I'm a weekender and the price was one of the major factors that put me off from getting a Flex 3401. Not only that its a forced rotational tool so you'll get faster work then a traditional DA but it has a slight learning curve from what members have posted in their reviews. Also awhile ago you couldn't get that many back plates but now you have a pretty much a "wide variety" now but its pretty expensive compared to a traditional oscillating DA.
 
I could go either way, but NO, I don't think the Flex 3401 is likely to be "too powerful" or otherwise newbie-unsafe as long as said newbie a) knows what he's doing through careful studying before he starts, b) pays attention to what he's doing, and c) is willing to err on the side of caution (a good idea no matter which machine is used). Now whether or not you'll like the Flex's particular characteristics (it's "recoil" for lack of a better term) is another matter. But IMO you won't go wrong with either it or the Griot's.



If you have very hard clear, I'd go with the Flex.



That concern about "rubbing the color off" doesn't make sense :think: You might oughta study up on the whole "paint and polishing of paint" topic so you have a thorough understanding before you jump in.



Same pads for the Flex as for most any other polisher, just stick with 6.5" ones. I prefer mild polishing pads for AIOs and "finishing" or "waxing" pads for something like 845.



If you go with the Griot's just get their orange polishing pad (*NOT* some other orange pad!!) for the AIO and their red waxing pad for the 845.



Don't think in terms of "cheap" pads; this is not an area where penny pinching is likely to be a good idea. Most high-quality pads last a long, long time, especially if you're just using AIOs and waxes. I have waxing pads that are over a decade old and still work just fine.
 
You can burn paint with any of the polishers. The flex is very powerful but unless you work on a lot of really neglected cars, you may just want to go with the GG. However I'd recommend the flex.
 
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