Maybe I'm an idiot...

M

mc01ta

New member
First off this is a rant. And a negative one at that. Why is the flex getting so much hype/talk? Yes I know, ITS NEW. I have yet to use one and don't plan on it. I've been using a PC for a few years with great results and plan to add a rotary soon.



For the cost of the flex, a newbie could almost buy both a quality rotary and a PC. These two machines are sufficient and the rotary with get everything done the Flex can't.



Maybe its just me, but I'd like to see more posts about rotary's and PC's. The flex is another over priced bandwagon toy in my mind that will stop getting as much airtime in the next year as it is currently receiving.



Just my rant...
 
I almost purchased one. Then did a little investigating and found to many people having problems. Like not able to apply pressure gears being broken and parts smoking and melting.



I really feel the Metabo and the Dynabrade combo is the best setup some one can have,
 
Is there room for a Flex in my arsenal? No

Is it the best tool out there for some folks? definitely



It gives someone without the desire to learn to use rotary a chance to achieve major correction in a reasonable amount of time. I'll stick with a rotary because it cuts harder and faster, and finishes down finer than a Flex. However, I've put 300+ hours into properly learning and using a rotary polisher.



For the "weekend warrior" who doesn't have the time to learn the tricks of the big gun, and who can justify the expense, a Flex just might be the right tool for the job.



D&D's Metabo/Dynabrade combo is something I'd love to try, though.
 
themightytimmah said:
For the "weekend warrior" who doesn't have the time to learn the tricks of the big gun, and who can justify the expense, a Flex just might be the right tool for the job.
Click to expand...

This is the exact reason that I picked one up from a fellow Autopian. I can not justify, at this time, using a rotary polisher. The main reason is because I rarely have to do major correction. Most of my jobs are AIO type products because the vehicle will be back at the swirl-O-matic in a few weeks. But if I have to remove some defects I feel better knowing that the Flex is powerful and can accomplish this a bit faster than the PC. Also if there ever was a time that I do want to step up to a rotary, having the experience of the Flex seems like it would be beneficial due to the way it's built.



Being the Flex is an orbital polisher it's still a lot more "foolproof" than the rotary. This is safer for the weekenders who aren't insured to pay for the damage that can be caused by a rotary. Although it is still a machine that requires more attention than a PC.



As far as the problems with the Flex, AFAIK, there hasn't been a ton. The backing plate issue I believe was due to people not checking the bolt that holds the backing plate on. Mine was loose when I got it and good thing I checked it.



With all that being said, I am not a DIE hard Flex fanatic. I could live without it for the same reason stated above, not much correction needed. I still really like the PC and the Flex has not replaced it. I always use the PC even when doing multiple step processes because it can be easier to control and I can hold it with one hand which helps in certain areas that I need to "reeeeach". (<-- that's me reaching far to get to the middle of the hood and the top of my neighbor's Expedition XL :D )



It all boils down to being different strokes for different folks. ;)
 
mc01ta said:
First off this is a rant. And a negative one at that. Why is the flex getting so much hype/talk? Yes I know, ITS NEW. I have yet to use one and don't plan on it. I've been using a PC for a few years with great results and plan to add a rotary soon.



For the cost of the flex, a newbie could almost buy both a quality rotary and a PC. These two machines are sufficient and the rotary with get everything done the Flex can't.



Maybe its just me, but I'd like to see more posts about rotary's and PC's. The flex is another over priced bandwagon toy in my mind that will stop getting as much airtime in the next year as it is currently receiving.



Just my rant...
Click to expand...



So you're ranting about people liking a machine which you haven't even tried but don't like for some reason? I'm sure the PC got the same hype 10-20 years ago ( I wasn't around the detailing scene back then so don't hate me because I don't know when it came out) over a regular orbital sander and those "buffers" selling for $30 at local auto parts stores. Why? Because it's something better engineered than it's competition.



I will gladly pick up the flex asap, because while many of my jobs can be accomplished with a 2-step PC process, flex will obviously still speed that up, and as we all know, time is money. The one "hype" I have yet to understand, and for good reasons since it has reasonably calmed down, is the Metabo rotary... all talk about it for a few months, then everyone went back to their good ol' makita, milwaukee, dewalt and hitachi...



as the guy above said, different strokes for different folks.. just don't knock new technology without trying it, especially when people have posted text and video of great results
 
True, true. I haven't tried it and don't really plan on it. I rather spend my money and get a rotary which will yield better results and keep my pc for backup. I'm knocking it because of price and the fact that a newbie can buy both pc and rotary for about the same price and yield better results. I have a feeling that the flex has same correction abilities as pc with 4' pads.



Since this is a board and its is full of experts and ALSO newbies I thought that it might be nice to take a different spin on things and throw it out there that for the price you could have a nice PC/Makita combo. I am also entitled to not jump on the bandwagon and put my opinion out there.



Can the flex correct like a quality rotary? Don't think so based on talking with others and looking at correction photos posted on here. The price kills it for me and I wish those looking to step into detailing should be directed to spend their money maybe this way. Then they will have the complete package. The flex is overpriced imo.
 
though I understand your views on the price issue in which the flex is pretty pricey, it is a small cost to pay when your the weekend warrior type of detailer. Im sure the many hobbyists on here who do it for fun would rather pay an extra 100$ or so for a safe machine which could achieve very good results instead of ruining their paint job which can run a few hundred on up.
 
To refer to the flex as a bandwagon is not fair in my honest opinion. It is a more powerful and improved orbital machine..improved means better and people get them for different reasons



For people who have other jobs they maybe cant afford to spend the time it takes a pc to correct...and those of u that have brought up the 4" pads on a PC, do yall think that this is foolproof?? I think not, everyone raves about the correction abilities of the 4" pads, well with that quality comes a possibility of damage, the heat this brings can burn through clear just as a rotary can



I think the flex is a brilliant idea, I own one and i love it. I also have a 3/4 four door monster of a truck that i dont feel like spending 24 hours on a 2 stage polish every 4 months, sorry i think i will skip that so i will just grab my flex cut that time in half and let it shine....



Also, the statement about the price. The argument is that a noobie can run out and pick up a PC and a rotary for the price of the flex....and then that very same noobie can repaint their hood after their lack of experience burns right through...a newbie does not need a rotary as their first machine, its like learning to drive in a nascar race car...just doesnt make much sense



GO FLEX
 
Dent's & Details said:
I almost purchased one. Then did a little investigating and found to many people having problems. Like not able to apply pressure gears being broken and parts smoking and melting.



I really feel the Metabo and the Dynabrade combo is the best setup some one can have,
Click to expand...



+1 to that, 'cept I'd have to change the Metabo to a Flex 3403 rotary, cause I just got one last week and I love it so far. :)
 
I never said for newbies to go right to the rotary. What I intended was they can start with the PC and then graduate to the rotary at literally the same cost. I guess this is my opinion and others don't like it. I've yet to damage anything with 4'pads with my PC even when I first began years back.



Sorry I'm raining on the current bandwagon. I honestly just feel that the two together (rotary & pc) are a better long term purchase than the flex.



Its up to newbies but I thought it would be good to give them an alternative. The flex is not and end all, save all, throw out everything else product.



Do you think it replaces the PC and Rotary? Logically, do you think even for a weekend warrior the flex is a better deal? If so I think your intoxicated with flex addiction! :lol
 
jordanrossbell said:
and then that very same noobie can repaint their hood after their lack of experience burns right through...
Click to expand...



Uh, last time I checked, my paint wasn't burned through and I'm a newbie to the rotary. You can't necessarily jump to conclusions and directly relate lack of experience on a rotary to burning through paint...
 
If you wanted only one machine then the Flex would be the best option.



However a rotary and then random orbital is a better combo.



The rotary cuts quick and fast and then the random orbital removes the holograms.
 
I was debating whether to respond to this and further the pissing match, but along with a few others on this board, I've probably had my Flex the longest (last September) and have performed a fair number of details with it doing anywhere from heavy to light correction. I initially did about 3-4 cars using a PC and quickly said, "there's gotta be something faster out there". As others have pointed out, yes there is the rotarty, but I wanted something a little safer initially. This was back when the Flex hype was just starting. I bought one and have not regretted once the purchase price. It has saved me countless hours over using the PC.



Currently, I am starting to ease into a Flex rotary to take things to the next level.



I wanted to comment on one thing with this Flex vs. PC w/ 4" pads. The PC w/ 4" pads is great for smaller areas, but it doesn't have the same correction ability as the Flex 3401 with 6 or 6.5" pads. I've used my PC on vertical panels before and just don't get the spin as I do with the Flex. This is applying very light pressure to the PC as well. There's a place for all of these tools (obviously) in everyone's arsenal only limited by funds. I was able to pick my rotary up very cheap (ebay). I just don't think you should be dismissing the 3401 without having firsthand experience with both products. Yes, it is the hot product of the moment, and yes, it does have it faults (what doesn't), but it's one fo the best products for polishing on the market right now short of going full-blown rotary.
 
Maybe some people bought it, used it, and liked it better than other options. The reason doesn't always have to be complicated.
 
If you're dealing with hard paint, the PC is not the most helpful tool. Even with 4" pads, it is an arduous process. It's much easier to do corrective work on hard paint with the Flex while still avoiding the possibility of damage that is more likely with the rotary (all else being equal).
 
Dent's & Details said:
I almost purchased one. Then did a little investigating and found to many people having problems. Like not able to apply pressure gears being broken and parts smoking and melting.



I really feel the Metabo and the Dynabrade combo is the best setup some one can have,
Click to expand...



You guys should seriously take a look at the combination Dent's & Details is talking about. I have a feeling everyone kinda glossed over it. The beauty of it is you buy a rotary buffer. He recommends the lightweight Metabo, I reoommend the lightweight Flex 3403 Rotary. Now here's the *awesome* thing: you then buy the Dynabrade attachment. It attaches right to your rotary, and it's a DA polisher attachment. So you basically have a DA attachment that is *as strong as your rotary* as far as the motor is concerned (try bogging that baby down attached to a Metabo.. ain't gonna happen). Then, when and if you decided to move on to a rotary, you just take the dynabrade off. The Dynabrade attachment is a bit cheaper than a UDM, too. It's a very cost effective solution, and the best of both worlds.. possibly even better, cause the DA is being powered by the huge muscles of a rotary motor. And I think a Metabo at max rpm with a Dynabrade on it is gonna way outgun a PC at speed six.



I think Dent's & Details idea about a rotary/dynabrade combo is one of the best ones I've seen around here in a while. Kinda makes the whole single-purpose DA buffer obsolete, really.
 
SuperBee364 said:
Kinda makes the whole single-purpose DA buffer obsolete, really.
Click to expand...



No not really

the strong selling point of the PC/UDM is they are safe in almost anyone hands

you need to work at it to mess up the paint



the FLEX, Metabo and the Dynabrade combo and the rotary

have more then enough power to mess up paint bad

require you to pay attention and have some good skills



now with that being sayed I learned on the rotary way before

I ever heard of a PC or FLEX. and I feel it is the best tool for the job IF

you learn to use it, and take you time because if not it will cause some damage
 
BigJimZ28 said:
No not really





the FLEX, Metabo and the Dynabrade combo and the rotary

have more then enough power to mess up paint bad

require you to pay attention and have some good skills



now with that being sayed I learned on the rotary way before

I ever heard of a PC or FLEX. and I feel it is the best tool for the job IF

you learn to use it, and take you time because if not it will cause some damage
Click to expand...



I don't know maybe I'm too stupid to figure out how to screw up the paint with a Dynabraid attachment. The only thing I could think of is to turn the switch on lay the machine on the hood and then plug it in. lol:shocked
 
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