NEW FLEX XCE 3401 Corded and Cordless Polishers!

[Mike Phillips]

NEW FLEX XCE 3401 Corded and Cordless Polishers!



With permission from FLEX North America, I am excited to announce that our Autogeek Roadshow Detailing Class in Auburn, Indiana this weekend, hosted by Mike Liebing of PRAXIS Detailing at the Kruse Museum, this will be the FIRST detailing class that will get to use the NEW Production Design of the FLEX XCE 3401 Corded and Cordless Polishers!


That's right! There's a handful of these tools out in different parts of the world for testing but this will be the FIRST detailing class where these tools are introduced to the public!


Thank You FLEX!


I've also been given permission to share pictures of my personal production units that until now, I have kept under wraps per FLEX Germany and FLEX North America.


I was so excited when they arrived I took a picture of the two boxes in my office.






Here's the NEW chassis design for the Corded and Cordless FLEX XCE 3401s

Note the ALUMINUM Head has been removed.






Production Design - Cordless FLEX XCE 3401





This is #11 for the production design FLEX XCE 8 18.0 - Numbering starts at 01000







Note also the RED 5" backing plate. This is will be the factory installed backing plate for both polishers. A 6" backing plate will also be available.






Here's the other new FLEX tool everyone has been waiting for! The FLEX XCE 10-8 125

This tool chassis is the same as the battery operated version. Note the aluminum shroud has been removed. This makes the tool lighter and reduces heat.





This is #09 for the production design FLEX XCE 10-8 125 - Numbering starts at 01000






Like the cordless FLEX XCE 8-18, the new design for the FLEX 10-8 125 will also come from the factory with the RED 5" backing plate. A 6" backing plate will also be available.








So the big question is????

When we they be available?


FLEX told me yesterday, the production units are expected to be in the U.S. in the next 4-5 weeks. There will be a limited number of polishers and they will be sold on a first-come, first serve basis.


Autogeek.com will be taking pre-orders.

[Mike Phillips]

Here's the store page for the CORDLESS FLEX 3401 on Autogeek.com


FLEX XCE 3401 Cordless Polisher



There's not a way on the above page to place a pre-order so check back often in you want one because there's a limited number of tools coming over in the first shipment and they will be sold on a first-to-order, first to get basis.



Autogeek Customer Care


1-800-869-3011


p.s.


I don't see a page for the NEW CORDED FLEX 3401, (see my pictures above). Could be it's not being introduced yet. I'll update with anything I find out.

[Mike Phillips]

More....


I have a number of write-ups and reviews on all the FLEX Cordless tools, below are the links.


NEW FLEX Cordless 3401 aka the FLEX Cordless BEAST!


CBEAST Battery Life aka the FLEX Cordless 3401 by Mike Phillips


NEW Cordless FLEX Tools at Autogeek Rotary and Orbital Polishers


Battery Time - FLEX Cordless Polishers - Real World Detail by Mike Phillips at Autogeek


Review: FLEX BW-18 Cordless Blower by Mike Phillips


How to machine scrub tires using the Cordless FLEX PE14


My FLEX Cordless Tool Collection


Updating the CBEAST Backing Plate Screws



That's all I can think of?

[Mike Phillips]

More....

My Auburn Roadshow Classes used both new versions of the BEAST.


As I get time I'm sharing pictures of these tools in action here,


Pictures: Autogeek’s Roadshow Class with PRAXIS Detailing in Auburn, Indiana




Upcoming Roadshow Classes

[Mike@ShineStruck]

That's cool
My question is why do they both have lower RPM specs vs the 480 RPM of the 3401?
Is it still 10 orbits per?

And what did they do to improve this red BP?

[Mike Phillips]

That's cool

My question is why do they both have lower RPM specs vs the 480 RPM of the 3401?

One of the main goals was to remove the aluminum shroud to eliminate heat, (plus weight), so with the re-design there are

Every tool is designed differently including the gears, bearings, motors, air baffles, chassis, etc. The engineers have to take into consideration all aspects of running tool performance and then design the characteristics of the tool for maximum performance. The lower RPM speed for the cordless tools is to maximize tool and battery efficiency. If the engineers knew the tool would perform to specs and expectations of the users at the higher RPM they would have created it this way, but they didn't.


FLEX History
When the first XC 3401 was introduced, there were 3 evolutions of the backing plate. It's called a rolling change to improve the efficiency and performance of the tool. It's a good thing.

Is it still 10 orbits per?

According to my original article on this topic, at least for the original FLEX 3401 I counted 11 orbits.

How many orbits are there in one rotation for the Flex 3401?

And what did they do to improve this red BP?

This is where a picture tells a thousand words. Hang tight, my 1,500 pound pallet of tools and products that we used at the Auburn, Indiana Roadshow Class is supposed to be here today. I probably won't unpack it until Monday. My #9 and #11 tools are packed in a tote on that pallet at the very bottom.


When I get them un-packed I'll take them apart and take pictures to show the Tab & Slot design and when you see this - you'll see why it's better and also why it will take all the lateral force off of the bolts that hold the backing plate to the drive interface for the backing plate.

[Mike Phillips]

Hang tight, my 1,500 pound pallet of tools and products that we used at the Auburn, Indiana Roadshow Class is supposed to be here today.

I probably won't unpack it until Monday.

Great news!

Our pallet has landed....


Thank you Lucas!


Here's Lucas bringing the pallet to the garage....







Always nice, always ready to help - thank you Lucas!





Anyone want to help me unpack 1,500 pounds of tools and products?





Still won't get to unpacking it until next week.

[Me Time]

One of the main goals was to remove the aluminum shroud to eliminate heat, (plus weight),

How hot does the shroud get?

[Mike Phillips]

How hot does the shroud get?

You mean the new plastic shroud?


I don't put my hand on it when using this tool so to me it's a non-issue and I couldn't tell you if it gets hot or it doesn't get hot again, because I don't put my hand on it.

My guess is it doesn't get near as hot as the aluminm shroud. And just to note, if you've ever used the traditional 3401 with the aluminum shroud and you noticed the shroud was hot - that's because you've been buffing like a MAD MAN and getting whatever job you're doing done fast.


No trade-offs in life.

[Me Time]

My guess is it doesn't get near as hot as the aluminm shroud. And just to note, if you've ever used the traditional 3401 with the aluminum shroud and you noticed the shroud was hot - that's because you've been buffing like a MAD MAN and getting whatever job you're doing done fast.


No trade-offs in life.

I should of stated the current model. I saw in another post someone was saying it got a little warm. I was hoping on talking the wife and daughter on getting me one for Christmas, so I was wondering on the current model or holding out for the new model after reading this tread about the new one. I'm sure either way I can't go wrong.