Flex XCE 8-125 for production buffs?

[Ed Abbondanzio]

I've got some money burning a hole in my pocket with the end of the year coming up and have been debating buying a new buffer to solve said problem.

I'm currently using a gg6. 99.9% of my jobs are HD speed with a white lake country pad as it produces the results people love around here. I've also got a G9 laying around that I used to use

I am so tired of fighting my 50' extension cord that somehow is always 1' shorter than I need it to be, and have been eyeballing the Flex XCE 8-125 since it's cordless.

Would this be a good option for production buffs? I've read that a forced rotation buffer is the way to go for AIO jobs as they save a lot of time but usually when people say that they're talking about the BEAST.

Thanks guys

[TMQ]

Ed..

I have the CBEAST. Love..Love the cordless! That is about all I use now these days.

If you can knock out a job with the gg6, then you'll do great with the cordless! And much, much faster too.

Just remember to watch the panel edges! These force rotation tools can burn through edges in a heart beat!

Tom

[Ed Abbondanzio]

Thanks Tom! I think I'll pull the trigger on ordering one tomorrow. I think with enough practice it'll be exactly what I need to save some precious time.

[TMQ]

Awesome---you're gonna love it!

Had an issue with a spot on car leaving the shop. All it needed a light hit with polish and car was outside. Told owner to wait a sec.
Ran in grabbed the cordless---and polish, ran out and the issue was done on the spot!

I am just surprised that companies aren't getting in or cordless wagon. Everything in shop is cordless now. Air pressure and compressor is on the way out.

Tom

[Dr Oldz]

I love the cordless option and it’s really nice not fighting the cord. The CBeast is a great tool and if you purchased it, I’m sure you would be happy.

That being said..... the title says “production” buffs! If you are looking to up your game on production details, either the Beast or Supa Beast is the route I would personally take. It will cut the time you spend buffing a vehicle down compared to the GG6. HD Speed, a white pad and a forced rotation DA machine is certainly a fantastic combo for production detailing.

You may want to answer if cordless with a little less power and more time is the way you want to go or...
Corded, with Max power and the least amount of time buffing while still getting stellar results is the route you want.

Personally if I am doing production jobs, I generally grab a corded model.

You can always add what ever machine you don’t get in the future to you arsenal.... more options, the better for you!

[Dr Oldz]

Check this out. You may find it helpful!

BUFFERS: If I had to do it all over again...... (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101-a/127202-buffers-if-i-had-do-all-over-again.html)

[Ed Abbondanzio]

Check this out. You may find it helpful!

BUFFERS: If I had to do it all over again...... (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101-a/127202-buffers-if-i-had-do-all-over-again.html)

Thanks for linking that thread I was actually trying to find it again right before posting this! Your thread is what convinced me to go with a forced rotation over a long throw.


I love the cordless option and it’s really nice not fighting the cord. The CBeast is a great tool and if you purchased it, I’m sure you would be happy.

That being said..... the title says “production” buffs! If you are looking to up your game on production details, either the Beast or Supa Beast is the route I would personally take. It will cut the time you spend buffing a vehicle down compared to the GG6. HD Speed, a white pad and a forced rotation DA machine is certainly a fantastic combo for production detailing.

You may want to answer if cordless with a little less power and more time is the way you want to go or...
Corded, with Max power and the least amount of time buffing while still getting stellar results is the route you want.

Personally if I am doing production jobs, I generally grab a corded model.

You can always add what ever machine you don’t get in the future to you arsenal.... more options, the better for you!

The main reason why I'm leaning towards cordless is because my shop electrical isn't quite up to snuff and could use some improving. Ideally I'd like to add a bunch of electric cords on reels and a few more circuits but all of that is gonna cost more $$$ than I have right now.

I don't mind taking a little more time on each job with a cordless option than what a corded forced rotation buffer would take because I'm sure it's still faster than what I'm doing now with the gg6. And like you said I probably will just buy an additional buffer down the road once the electrical in my shop is improved.

And maybe it's a good thing to start with a slightly weaker forced rotation buffer for a newbie? I've got a little bit of time behind rotarys but not nearly as much as my gg6 or g9.

[Mike Phillips]

The CBEAST is a very capable tool.

Zero pad stalling in most cases will get you to the finish line faster than any tool with pad stalling. There are exceptions.

The best thing is - no cord to deal with. I used less than 3 battery charges to buff out this Ferrari using Pinnacle Jeweling Wax and multiple RUPES 7" white foam pads.

I also swapped out the factory 5" backing plate and installed the 6" optional backing plate so I could turn and churn the larger 7" pads.


The black foam pad was for machine applying the Souveran Paste Wax. All the white pads were for the Jeweling Wax.

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/4200/CBEAST4Ferrari_01.JPG



Here's everything I used. Note the PiXiE and the Nanos

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/4200/CBEAST4Ferrari_02.JPG


This old 2-door European job came out nice via the CBEAST.

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/4199/medium/Leatherique_George_Harrison_Ferrari_050.JPG



:)

[Ed Abbondanzio]

The CBEAST is a very capable tool.

Zero pad stalling in most cases will get you to the finish line faster than any tool with pad stalling. There are exceptions.

The best thing is - no cord to deal with. I used less than 3 battery charges to buff out this Ferrari using Pinnacle Jeweling Wax and multiple RUPES 7" white foam pads.

I also swapped out the factory 5" backing plate and installed the 6" optional backing plate so I could turn and churn the larger 7" pads.


The black foam pad was for machine applying the Souveran Paste Wax. All the white pads were for the Jeweling Wax.

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/4200/CBEAST4Ferrari_01.JPG



Here's everything I used. Note the PiXiE and the Nanos

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/4200/CBEAST4Ferrari_02.JPG


This old 2-door European job came out nice via the CBEAST.

https://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/4199/medium/Leatherique_George_Harrison_Ferrari_050.JPG



:)

Thanks Mike!

You all drive a hard bargain. I ordered the CBEAST from AutoGeek. I went with the 5.5" Buff and Shine kit because I've been itching to try out Buff and Shines pads. Should be quite the step up from my gg6 :)

[John U]

Using "hello1521" will get you 15% off a Flex today!

[Trevine]

I know the OP has already ordered but here is my take on the Cordless XCE for the next person doing a search....

I am going to have to agree with MikeP. I just received the CBeast and used it for the first time. It is a VERY capable machine. Perhaps not quite as powerful and the legendary 3401 or even its corded model but it can do the job. I tested it with a blue rupes coarse foam pad and Menzerna Super Heavy Cut 300.

I typically do a correction with a rotary then follow up with the polish on my 3401. Man, it is certainly nice not having to mess with the cord any more for that last polish step.

It is definitely a much more pleasurable experience than the 3401. Its not nearly as loud, much smoother, and the plastic shroud doesn't get nearly as hot. With a white hex pad it layed down a very nice polish.

Then only issue (if you can call it that) is the speed dial. The settings do not lock in place. Its a free dial so to speak. I found where i had accidentally change the speed several times and didn't even know it.

It has a 48 min charge time from a dead battery to full and the batteries seem to last around 30-35 mins of use. I did not find this to be an issue. Between wiping and polishing, the other battery was charged well before the one in use ran out.

I am not sure what TMQ speaks of as far as burning paint. That's typically reserved for a rotary discussion. NEVER in all my years using the 3401 has it ever burned paint even using a very aggressive pad and compound combination. Edges or otherwise. I don't suspect the new XCE lines will be any different.

This last comment probably won’t make me popular with some but it’s my personal view...I would use this cordless gear driven before even thinking about grabbing my Rupes Bigfoot 21mm. That free spinning, pad stalling machine
is such a waste of time. I’ll take the cordless XCE in production over it any day.

[John U]

Then only issue (if you can call it that) is the speed dial. The settings do not lock in place. Its a free dial so to speak. I found where i had accidentally change the speed several times and didn't even know it.
.

Same issue with my Finisher. I took a skinny zip tie, cut it down to slip between the cover and dial to "lock it in" #6 speed.

72173

[sudsmobile]

I've never turned mine up to 6 once LOL but I agree it needs notches or a lock. And I agree with the person that said talk of burning an edge with a forced rotation is just that, talk.