Old Pirate
AMG Classic Car Detailing
Thank you Flash for the comment, and yes if your not sure and want to ask more questions give me a call at PAC. I'll be glad to help you thru the process..........
What Sould be the choice of polisher ?
- Thread starter mrq
- Start date
imported_RootsRadical
New member
I purchased the Porter Cable Orbital Polisher about 5 years ago and was fairly happy with it at first. However, after using the PC for a few years, I decided to order the Flex XC3401VRG Dual-Action Polisher and was blown away by how much better it was - at least for me. Had I had the opportunity to use them both (I don't think that the Flex wasn't even out yet), I don't think I ever would have bought the PC.
Keep it mind that, as much as I'd love to, I don't detail cars for a living. I do my own plus maybe a 2-3 full details a month as side-jobs in the spring and summer. For a 'semi-professional' detailer such as myself, I find that I now use the Flex for all of my cutting and polishing and then switch over to the PC for applying glazes and sealants. That's not to say that I couldn't use the flex for that as well - I believe that it would work fine - but I figure since I have the PC I might as well get some use out of it and not put 100% of the work on the Flex.
If your just going to be detailing your Camaro, an orbital polisher is definately the more cost-effective route to take. However, if you think that you may end up getting into detailing a little more than your original plans dictate, then I would strongly advise starting with a dual-action machine like the Flex and then perhaps moving up to a circular polisher if you feel the need. That's probably what I would have done had I not bought the PC to start with.
-J
Keep it mind that, as much as I'd love to, I don't detail cars for a living. I do my own plus maybe a 2-3 full details a month as side-jobs in the spring and summer. For a 'semi-professional' detailer such as myself, I find that I now use the Flex for all of my cutting and polishing and then switch over to the PC for applying glazes and sealants. That's not to say that I couldn't use the flex for that as well - I believe that it would work fine - but I figure since I have the PC I might as well get some use out of it and not put 100% of the work on the Flex.
If your just going to be detailing your Camaro, an orbital polisher is definately the more cost-effective route to take. However, if you think that you may end up getting into detailing a little more than your original plans dictate, then I would strongly advise starting with a dual-action machine like the Flex and then perhaps moving up to a circular polisher if you feel the need. That's probably what I would have done had I not bought the PC to start with.
-J
RED JEWELL SS
New member
Jeff U
Member
I also have the Flex 3401
Great machine with lots of power and capability yet remains idiot proof.
Great machine with lots of power and capability yet remains idiot proof.
RED JEWELL SS
New member
Jeff.
Thats sounds encouraging , ya mean ,I cant screw up with it....as long as its not the wrong pad ? Had you used another polisher before that one ?
Jeff U
Member
Nope, first one I ever had my hands on.
You can screw things up but you have to work at it. Read up here and take your time. Start less aggressive (pads & polish) than you think you'll need.
+1 with Roots.
I used a PC for years, then bought a Flex XC3401VRG about a year ago. Comparing the two machines, the ONLY advantage to the PC is the lower price. The Flex is quieter, better balanced, more powerful than the PC. It also vibrates less so is less tiring to use. As far as damaging anything - if you can use a PC, you can use a Flex. Just take your time and you'll be fine.
Bottom line - buying tools is an investment. If you buy the higher quality, better engineered tool, you'll never regret it. Only thing is, you have to USE it. Good luck.
I used a PC for years, then bought a Flex XC3401VRG about a year ago. Comparing the two machines, the ONLY advantage to the PC is the lower price. The Flex is quieter, better balanced, more powerful than the PC. It also vibrates less so is less tiring to use. As far as damaging anything - if you can use a PC, you can use a Flex. Just take your time and you'll be fine.
Bottom line - buying tools is an investment. If you buy the higher quality, better engineered tool, you'll never regret it. Only thing is, you have to USE it. Good luck.
imported_Luster
New member
:iagree:Always good advice... start less agressive!
Yup... you get what you pay for.:money::wink:
QUESTION: Does the FLEX rotate counterclockwise?
RED JEWELL SS
New member
Well guys ,its really not a money issue for me,just dont want to jump into equipment that requires prior experience,if this is as safe for a beginner as a meguar or p/c than I may as well go for it.
Now, I do have three other vehicles to learn on,I dont want to buff on the new car right out of the box..no way on that.
I have the front fender to be painted on my Cobra Mustang , I dropped sum thing on it and took paint off down to primer the size of a quarter.
I may try to repair that , that would be a good learning project, I was going
to take it to my painter anyway as I may sell it in the spring.
Todd@RUPES
Just a regular guy
I have a 'unique' view on the Flex style (Forced Rotation) polishers vs. the PC style (Random Orbital) polishers.
The PC style Random Orbital Polishers actually require more experience and learning to get the best results from them. They are very very capable machines, but they have a huge variable. Depending on pad size, pressure, body curvature, (basically the friction on the pad), the speed off the pad rotation will vary greatly. This will have a dramatic effect on the polishing capability of the machine. It takes experience to learn how to use the machine's perceived disadvantages and make them an advantage.
The Forced Rotation style polishers, because they have a forced pattern (it will always orbit 10 times per rotation, so max power is 480 RPM or 4800 OPM) they are basically plug and play. The only variable you control is the pressure and the speed, the rest is taken care of. With less things to worry about it is much easier for a first-time polisher to get satisfactory results. The draw back is this style of machine is marginally more dangerous (particularly around curves and edges) then Random Orbital and will 'drive' some what across the paint.
There is no right answer, if there was we wouldn't carry such a variety of machines. In most cases it will be easier to get better results from the Flex, with only a slight increase in the 'pucker factor'.
If it was me, I would get a Meguiar's G110v2, and learn how to use it. With the newest abrasives you can get amazing results. Plus you will only get better with time. It is also cheaper and safer then a Flex.
However, as many have noted, they own both and much prefer the Flex.
Sorry for the lack of a definitive answer, but hopefully I added a little insight to make your decision even more difficult!
The PC style Random Orbital Polishers actually require more experience and learning to get the best results from them. They are very very capable machines, but they have a huge variable. Depending on pad size, pressure, body curvature, (basically the friction on the pad), the speed off the pad rotation will vary greatly. This will have a dramatic effect on the polishing capability of the machine. It takes experience to learn how to use the machine's perceived disadvantages and make them an advantage.
The Forced Rotation style polishers, because they have a forced pattern (it will always orbit 10 times per rotation, so max power is 480 RPM or 4800 OPM) they are basically plug and play. The only variable you control is the pressure and the speed, the rest is taken care of. With less things to worry about it is much easier for a first-time polisher to get satisfactory results. The draw back is this style of machine is marginally more dangerous (particularly around curves and edges) then Random Orbital and will 'drive' some what across the paint.
There is no right answer, if there was we wouldn't carry such a variety of machines. In most cases it will be easier to get better results from the Flex, with only a slight increase in the 'pucker factor'.
If it was me, I would get a Meguiar's G110v2, and learn how to use it. With the newest abrasives you can get amazing results. Plus you will only get better with time. It is also cheaper and safer then a Flex.
However, as many have noted, they own both and much prefer the Flex.
Sorry for the lack of a definitive answer, but hopefully I added a little insight to make your decision even more difficult!
supercharged
New member
Makita 9227. Yes, I'm a big rotary fan, and I have those DA vibration machines, they make me soooooooooooooooo tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeddddddd.
RED JEWELL SS
New member
Well,
it sounds like yours are just collecting dust , you could be a real stand up guy and just box one up ,draw a smiley face on it , and put it on the back of a pigeon and send it on over.....:clap:
ancing Dot: :biggrin: