What doesnt the flex do???

[PERFECTIONPLUS]

I have been researching the flex 3401 for a long time. i currently use gg6" orbitals in my shop. They are very good for moderate paint correction and spreading wax . The other reason i use them is because of there lifetime warranty. Ive read alot on here about all the things the flex CAN do , but for those of you who have it when do you switch to your rotary high speed buffer? Does the flex struggle with heavy oxidation? polsihing out sanding scratches? . I know alot of this is pad dependant as well as product dependant, but lets assume your using the best pad and product for the job. Has there ever been a time when you thought in the middle of a job that you should switch to your high speed?

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Hmmm. Interesting post. Subscribed for answers.

I never took on anything that wool and compound couldnt take care of on the 3401.

[minorc]

Keep me warm at night :(

[FUNX650]

but for those of you who have it when do you switch to your rotary high speed buffer?

Does the flex struggle with heavy oxidation? polsihing out sanding scratches? . I know alot of this is pad dependant as well as product dependant, but lets assume your using the best pad and product for the job. Has there ever been a time when you thought in the middle of a job that you should switch to your high speed?
I do not own a Flex 3401...yet.
{Christmas; or Birthday; or Groundhog Day...Easter?...are just around the corner. http://www.runemasterstudios.com/graemlins/images/crossfingers.gif}

I no longer own any of those tempting-Rotaries---gave the last one to my Father-in-law. (Thin CC vs. Gel-coat)
If I want to "seriously burnish/jewel", I go and borrow it from him.


Keep me warm at night :(
Here's a "Flex"-heater...No more reason for the sad face:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/flex_heater.jpg (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/65171)

Bob

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Here's a "Flex"-heater...No more reason for the sad face:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/flex_heater.jpg (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/65171)

Bob

You crack me up Bob! Lol

[Mike Phillips]

I have been researching the flex 3401 for a long time. i currently use gg6" orbitals in my shop. They are very good for moderate paint correction and spreading wax . The other reason i use them is because of there lifetime warranty.









Ive read alot on here about all the things the flex CAN do , but for those of you who have it when do you switch to your rotary high speed buffer?



Anytime I need to remove sanding marks I use a rotary buffer. Sure any dual action polisher "can" remove sanding marks but if we're talking about removing sanding marks out of an entire car then the fastest and most efficient way to remove 100% of the sanding marks is to use an aggressive compound with an aggressive wool pad on a rotary buffer.

Like this...

How to wet sand a car - Time Lapse Video (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/70997-how-wet-sand-car-video.html)



How to wet sand a car





Does the flex struggle with heavy oxidation? polishing out sanding scratches? . I know alot of this is pad dependent as well as product dependent, but lets assume your using the best pad and product for the job. Has there ever been a time when you thought in the middle of a job that you should switch to your high speed?



The Flex doesn't struggle with anything beyond it's capabilities. It's really about choosing the best tool for the job.

In my honest opinion, the best way to use a Flex 3401 for most applications is doing 2 and 3 step processes and by optimizing it by getting the 4" backing plate in the Lake Country Backing Plate Adapter Kit and 5" Hybrid Pads.

The Purple or Blue Foamed Wool Pads are also great pads to have on hand for heavy correction work and unlike foam they are pretty much indestructible.

:)

[Mike Phillips]

Because the pad won't stop rotating no matter what the shape of the body panel or how the tool is held, you can do the correction and polishing steps faster than tools where the pad will stop rotating due to the shape of the panel or the way the tool is held.

I knocked this Ferrari out in under 6 hours by myself from start to finish. I include some very good information as well as answer questions very honestly in the discussion about the Flex 3401 and the PC style tools.

Christmas Detail - Ferrari P4 - Move over Rudolf (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/58698-christmas-detail-ferrari-p4-move-over-rudolf.html)


This had very curvy body panels but I was able to power through them with no loss of time due to loss of pad rotation.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1668/Ferrari_P4_Detailed_by_Mike_Phillips_012.jpg




:)

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Like Mike said, your best bet is the hybrid pads and a few wool pads to go along with it. But you knew that already.

[Rsurfer]

Like Mike said, your best bet is the hybrid pads and a few wool pads to go along with it. But you knew that already.

You use wool pads on a 3401?

[Mike Phillips]

You use wool pads on a 3401?


I said Purple or Blue Foamed Wool Pads....


Post #6, last paragraph.




The Purple or Blue Foamed Wool Pads are also great pads to have on hand for heavy correction work and unlike foam they are pretty much indestructible.




And yes, they work great for correction work and as I posted they are dang near industructible thus a good value for your money when doing correction work with a Flex 3401 as we all know that foam can and will break down faster than fiber pads.


:dblthumb2:

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

This is the only wool pad that I have used on the Flex and it performs great. For anyone doing serious correction work on severely neglected paint this pad along with some compound such as FG400 will kill just about any defect you come across while using the 3401.

6 Inch Hybrid Power Finish Blue Wool Pad (Single) (http://www.autogeek.net/lc-hyb-150bw.html)

[WRAPT C5Z06]

The Tuff Buff Wool pads work very well with the 3401!!!

[rmagnus]

The Tuff Buff Wool pads work very well with the 3401!!!

+1 Tuff Buff is a great pad on the 3401

[PERFECTIONPLUS]

Anytime I need to remove sanding marks I use a rotary buffer. Sure any dual action polisher "can" remove sanding marks but if we're talking about removing sanding marks out of an entire car then the fastest and most efficient way to remove 100% of the sanding marks is to use an aggressive compound with an aggressive wool pad on a rotary buffer.


The Flex doesn't struggle with anything beyond it's capabilities. It's really about choosing the best tool for the job.

In my honest opinion, the best way to use a Flex 3401 for most applications is doing 2 and 3 step processes and by optimizing it by getting the 4" backing plate in the Lake Country Backing Plate Adapter Kit and 5" Hybrid Pads.

The Purple or Blue Foamed Wool Pads are also great pads to have on hand for heavy correction work and unlike foam they are pretty much indestructible.

:)

Thanks for the insight mike... I do alot of fresh paint sanding and polishing for some of our local body shops and use a rotary and wool along with an aggressive compound, I was hoping the flex would help me cut down the process a bit from 3 steps down to 2 or something. Sometimes it is whole cars and sometimes its just one or two panels of a vehicle. I still think I should get one, just another great tool for the arsenal!!

[CCC4me]

Thanks for the insight mike... I do alot of fresh paint sanding and polishing for some of our local body shops and use a rotary and wool along with an aggressive compound, I was hoping the flex would help me cut down the process a bit from 3 steps down to 2 or something. Sometimes it is whole cars and sometimes its just one or two panels of a vehicle. I still think I should get one, just another great tool for the arsenal!!
Or you can get the Dynabrade attachment for one of your rotaries and have an even more versatile machine.