Should I upgrade to a Flex 3401?

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Keep in mind, the 3401 will turn larger 6.5 pads without issue. Depending on what you are polishing, stick with the larger pads. If you encounter a lot of smaller vehicles you may way to go with the 5.5" pads.

[Paul A.]

There's reason #2...forced rotation = option of bigger pad.

[GarageKing]

I actually debated if I should get a flex 3401 and wound up getting the Rupes Mille and have no regrets. I still have my porter cable but just don't use it anymore.

[Mike Hoekstra]

Keep in mind, the 3401 will turn larger 6.5 pads without issue. Depending on what you are polishing, stick with the larger pads. If you encounter a lot of smaller vehicles you may way to go with the 5.5" pads.

Yes it will. I have 4, 5, and 6.5" pads for mine.

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Forced driven DA's will not finish as well as random orbitals, especially on soft black paint.

[Mike Hoekstra]

Forced driven DA's will not finish as well as random orbitals, especially on soft black paint.

I respectfully disagree. Using the right pads, right products, and time behind the tool, a detailer can get a quality finish with a 3401 (or Rupes Melle). It's not the tools, it's the tool using it. LOL

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I respectfully disagree. Using the right pads, right products, and time behind the tool, a detailer can get a quality finish with a 3401 (or Rupes Melle). It's not the tools, it's the tool using it. LOL

Depends on your definition of a quality finish. A random orbital will definitely finish better on softer paint systems. This is a fact.


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[Billy Baldone]

Here are my .02 for what ever they are worth. I started with a PC, got a Flex immediately after. I detailed on the side for 10 years, and picked up a few long throws over the years. Then i sold my Flex just as I started doing this full time. I regretted it instantly. Why, like Mike says, you can plow through a car faster. Most of what I do are one step paint corrections, and the few multisteps I have done, a forced rotation would have made the cutting step quicker and more effective. But when doing a one step a Flex will get you more cut in a shorter amount of time

[Mike Phillips]

Forced driven DA's will not finish as well as random orbitals, especially on soft black paint.

I agree with this from experience except I would not make an exception for the color of the paint. I would phrase it like this,


All other factors kept the same, generally speaking, any brand of free spinning random orbital polisher will finish out nicer more consistently on soft paints as compared to any brand of gear-driven non-random orbital polisher.




And I'll take a guess I have the oldest documented post on this observation in the second part of my reply in post #34 in the below thread.


In post #33 I was asked,

What made you decide to finish out with the G110 vs the Flex? Pad size selection or the non forced rotation maybe?

For those that might not know - the Meguiar's G110 polisher is a 8mm free spinning random orbital polisher. It was a copy of the Porter Cable, which is a 8mm free spinning random orbital polisher.




My answer in post #34

Good question...

I find on softer paints like this car has that the PC style with a Fine Cut Polish finishes out nicer than with the more powerful Flex 3401.

The paint on this car was incredibly soft.

When I wrote the PC "style" the context was any free spinning random orbital polishers.






Here's the link to the full write-up dated December 23rd, 2013

Christmas Detail - Ferrari P4 - Move over Rudolf






This is why I used free spinning random orbital polishers on this car.



Original BASECOAT/CLEARCOAT paint - 1996 Porsche 993





If this wasn't the case, I would have used the BEAST.



What if?

If the BEAST or Supa BEAST or CBEAST or RUPES Mille or Makita PO5000C is all you have, then for your last polishing step uses your softest foam pad and your best fine cut or ultra fine cut polish and reduce any downward pressure for the last 2-3 section passes and you get the job done.

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Black paint makes hazing more noticeable, hence, why I mentioned the color.


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