Attention Flex PiXiE Owners.

[nickyc]

Thanks Mike, I will leave you alone now. Sorry

[Markymapo]

Thanks for the info. Can’t wait to try this out ( been crazy busy at work, running 7 days a week 2 shifts to keep social distancing in the research labs). Will most likely use on my Cobalt bow rider once the lockdown is lifted ( our community dock can’t go in the water due to business shutdown in PA)

[nickyc]

Just depends on the pad. Most 3" pads I can think of - the FACE of the pad is always a tick larger than 3" and the backing is right at 3" so the pad should fit fine.


What do you have for pads?

I dont yet Mike, looking to get the PXE and wanted your advice on the pads as I was a little confused as you know. In the uk we are a bit limited, so really I should be looking for any 1" and 3" pads ( the velcro size) ?

[nickyc]

What I do not understand is why Flex seem to do odd backing plate sizes ?
Now I'm obviously being really dumb, so please tolerate my ignorance in the matter, if anything, to educate me.

But this machine comes with 30mm and 75mm backing plates, so the 75mm makes sense as that is 3" and there are lots of 3" pads, the 30mm doesnt make sense to me though as that is larger than 1", so surely 1" pads will be slightly too small and the backing plate will be larger than the mating surface of the pad?

[Mike Phillips]

What I do not understand is why Flex seem to do odd backing plate sizes ?
Now I'm obviously being really dumb, so please tolerate my ignorance in the matter, if anything, to educate me.

But this machine comes with 30mm and 75mm backing plates, so the 75mm makes sense as that is 3" and there are lots of 3" pads, the 30mm doesn't make sense to me though as that is larger than 1", so surely 1" pads will be slightly too small and the backing plate will be larger than the mating surface of the pad?

Here's the deal,

You want and need the velcor on the back of ANY pad for ANY backing plate to be the exact fit or a little oversize.

If it's exact fit then it's easy to center the pad on the backing plate and this is important for any free spinning random orbital polisher as having the pad off-center an slow down pad rotation.

If it's oversize, that's okay, you can use your EYES to center the backing plate against the Velcro backing.


The PROBLEM is if the back of a buffing pad is SMALLER than the backing plate. If this is the case, then it's really difficult for your eyes to center the pad.


FLEX makes 1", 2" and 3" foam pads that work great on this tool and should be available somewhere in the U.K.

[Mike Phillips]

Here's link to FLEX pads on the AG store

FLEX PE8 Rotary Foam Pads 1, 2, 3 Inch Diameter


They only weigh a little more than air so they should be somewhat cheap to ship.



I know the guys at Motorgeek.co.uk - good guys.... here's some 1" and 3.5" pad options.

Lake Country Force Hybrid Foam Pads - 1" MINI Pads

Lake Country Force Hybrid Foam Pads - 2"MINI Pads

Lake Country Force Hybrid Foam Pads - 3.5"


Stiffer pads like polishing and cutting rotate better on small tools than soft squishy pads.

[nickyc]

Thats what I mean Mike, the 30mm backing plate will be slightly too large for the mounting face of a 1" pad as that will be closer to 25mm in theory ?

[Dr Oldz]

I can vouch that these fit great and work really nice in the 1 inch Velcro plate. I generally use the 1 inch pads in rotary mode.

1 inch Buff and Shine Uro-Tec Foam Pads

[Mike Phillips]

Thats what I mean Mike, the 30mm backing plate will be slightly too large for the mounting face of a 1" pad as that will be closer to 25mm in theory ?

5mm is pretty small and most of these measurements are not exact, at least on the pad side of the equation.

Here's what I would recommend, order just ONE pad from your supplier in the U.K. and check it for fitment. If it fits, order more pads. If it doesn't fit - you're only out the cost of the pad and shipping but my guess is it's going to fit.

[theamcguy]

I sure hope Flex comes out with a 2" pad soon. I definitely will order one.