Thanks: 0
Dislikes: 0
-
Flex 3401 RPM & OPM
Good Afternoon everyone,
Just got my flex polisher, pads, polish, glaze, ect. yesterday afternoon. The living room looked like Christmas morning. I'm a little stumped over some polisher specifications, here is what I know so far:
Speed RPM (revolution) OPM (orbits)
1 160 3200
2 200 4000
3 270 5400
4 330 6600
5 400 8000
6 480 9600
I have some products that say to polish at 1500 to 2000 rpm. Looking at the info above I'm not sure what setting that would fall under. I'm assuming the orbits are referring to stroke.
Not looking to split hairs, I want to make sure I don't use the tool incorrectly and damage my vehicles.
Thanks for the help.
Last edited by mbret2004; 06-11-2013 at 02:33 PM.
Reason: clarity
-
Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 1 Likes, 0 Dislikes
-
Re: Flex 3401 RPM & OPM
Originally Posted by mbret2004
Not looking to split hairs, I want to make sure I don't use the tool incorrectly and damage my vehicles.
Thanks for the help.
Great question and it's real easy...
If you're doing correction work, no matter what the product you're going to want to be on the 4 to 6 setting and realistically you're going to want to be on the 5-6 setting. You want the high speed setting for removing a little paint PLUS the tool is a LOT easier to control at higher speeds than at lower speeds.
For polishing, use a setting from 3-5, and realistically, you're going to be on either the 4 to 5 setting. You'll need less aggressive power to refine any results created by the correction step plus you're trying to create beauty.
For machine applying a wax, use the 2-3 setting. When sealing paint with a non-cleaning wax or sealant after doing dedicated cleaning/compounding and polishing steps at this point of the process you're merely trying to spread out a thin layer of product so you don't need high speeds at all but you'll find the pad/tool moves over the surface better and easier at the 2-3 setting than on the 1 setting.
If using a one-step cleaner/wax to correct neglected paint, then you're back to the 5-6 speed setting.
When making recommendations, I like to give a range and let you do some testing and see what works best for you.
When not "recommending, here's what I use in most cases...
Speed 6 = Correction work
Speed 5 = Polishing work
Speed 3 = Machine applying a wax or sealant And for using a one-step cleaner/wax I'll use the 5-6 setting and try to use a polishing pad, nothing more aggressive like a cutting pad. And foam over fiber with one-steps and you'll have a better chance of finishing without any haze or micro-marring.
Definitely list to recommendations from others and then after some time behind the polisher you can figure out what works best for you...
-
-
Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 1 Likes, 0 Dislikes
-
Re: Flex 3401 RPM & OPM
Down the road... the best way to maximize the potential for this tool is to get the Lake Country Backing Plate Adapter System to get the 4" Backing Plate.
Then get the Orange, White and Black Hybrid Pads.
New 5" pads for 4" Backing Plate on Flex 3401
New 4" and 6" Backing Plates for Flex 3401
-
Re: Flex 3401 RPM & OPM
Mike,
My apology in having you re-write the info. I looked through the posts last night and must have missed your post. I'll blame it on a huge box that arrived yesterday from PBMG. I did get the backing system and 4" pads. I'm waiting on the 50-degree weather and rain to clear then I'll be testing.
Thanks again to all that replied, I appreciate it!
-
Re: Flex 3401 RPM & OPM
Incredible info Mike.
I would like to add that from personal experiance FG400 dosent play very well for me on speed 6. In fact I get about 2 complete passes before FG400 dries up and becomes useless. Bumping it down to the 3-4 speed setting is where I do my correction work.
After all if you look on the bottle of FG400 the recommended speed setting for rotary use is 900-1200 while for SF4000 it is 1500-2000
So my process is speed 3 for FG400 and speed 5 for SF4000. I know it is a bit backwards from the norm but this is what works for me.
I hope this may help someone.
-
-
Re: Flex 3401 RPM & OPM
Originally Posted by smack
After all if you look on the bottle of FG400 the recommended speed setting for rotary use is 900-1200 while for SF4000 it is 1500-2000
Very interesting, Mike. I had no clue.
-
Re: Flex 3401 RPM & OPM
Originally Posted by FivePoint.0
Very interesting, Mike. I had no clue.
It was very interesting to see the speed difference between the two polishes.
Normally you run the compounds faster and the polishes slower but with these two it's backwards. They work better when worked backwards from the norm as well....
-
Re: Flex 3401 RPM & OPM
Originally Posted by smack
It was very interesting to see the speed difference between the two polishes.
Normally you run the compounds faster and the polishes slower but with these two it's backwards. They work better when worked backwards from the norm as well....
I've noticed in some of your write-ups that you mentioned speed 3 with FG400 and I thought to myself, huh?!?! However, you results spoke for themselves.
Similar Threads
-
By IID in forum Flex Polishers
Replies: 18
Last Post: 11-11-2017, 04:35 AM
-
By DETAILROOKIE in forum Auto Detailing 101
Replies: 36
Last Post: 05-25-2017, 10:49 AM
-
By UglyBetty in forum Auto Detailing 101
Replies: 9
Last Post: 10-17-2013, 05:20 AM
-
By MichaelD in forum Boat & Marine Craft Detailing
Replies: 1
Last Post: 10-16-2012, 01:28 AM
-
By Grifftech in forum Auto Detailing 101
Replies: 12
Last Post: 08-29-2012, 02:44 PM
Members who have read this thread: 0
There are no members to list at the moment.
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules
|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
31 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|
Bookmarks