autogeekonline car wax, car care and auto detailing forum Autogeek on TV
car wax, car care and auto detailing forumAutogeekonline autogeekonline car wax, car care and auto detailing forum HomeForumBlogAutogeek.net StoreDetailing Classes with Mike PhillipsGalleryDetailing How To's
 
Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Dislikes Dislikes:  0
Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Super Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Posts
    462
    Post Thanks / Like

    time to upgrade dual action polisher

    have used porter cable 7424xp for a few years now & want to upgrade. private use only for my pickup, elcamino & wife's suv subaru. I've narrowed down my search too the flex 3401 dual action or the rupes lhr 15es. I like the 25' cord available with the flex . I like using 5.5'' pads (mostly cause the 7424xp struggles with the 6'' thick pads jmo). the rupes sounds good to me, but I'm concerned about the 15mm. throw. will this unit be harder to use with all the curves & creases in the newer vehicle's ? I also have a good supply of lake county 5.5'' thin pads. can I use them with either the rupes or flex ? on my 7424xp I can stop the pad with my hand(preventing me from burning the paint). Is this also true about the flex 3401 ? I see mention of it being gear driven & I'm wanting something safe for an occasional user. looking for some helpful hints to help me decide ? thanks.
    hmardown

  2. #2
    Super Member Guyb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    367
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: time to upgrade dual action polisher

    I use the 3401 as my primary polisher. Since taking the Competition Ready Detailing Class where I was able to use all of the brands of polishers available in class i liked the Griot Garage products better than the Rupes polishers. That is just my opinion, which here you will get a lot of them. If possible you should find someone near you that can let you try out several polishers before you purchase. I own the Flex3401 and PE8, 7424xp and the Griot Garage 3 inch. You will not stop the flex with your hand!

  3. #3
    Super Member dcjredline's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    3,340
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: time to upgrade dual action polisher

    Cannot stop a flex but the others like rupes and GGs you can...which is what led me to choose the Flex. No work being done if it's stalling on every panel.
    "Dirt likes detergent so much better than the surface that it's attached to, it'll leave that surface to go hang out with the soap"...aim4squirrels

  4. #4
    Super Member lane5515's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Fargo, ND
    Posts
    660
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: time to upgrade dual action polisher

    pm sent

  5. #5
    Super Member dlc95's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Rochester Hills, Mi
    Posts
    5,994
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: time to upgrade dual action polisher

    If you go Rupes, do yourself the favor of investing in their proprietary polishes and pads.

    The 3401 can more effectively share pads with your PC. However, I LOVE 6.5" pads on the 3401.

  6. #6
    Super Member TTQ B4U's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Central Ohio
    Posts
    5,437
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: time to upgrade dual action polisher

    Quote Originally Posted by dlc95 View Post
    If you go Rupes, do yourself the favor of investing in their proprietary polishes and pads.

    The 3401 can more effectively share pads with your PC. However, I LOVE 6.5" pads on the 3401.
    ^^ this. I use a 3401 as my primary unit. I use both sizes of pads as well since larger ones work just fine.
    2019 Pearl White Accord 2.0T Touring (mine)
    2023
    Snowflake Pearl White CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus(wife)
    2010 Urban Platinum Metallic CRV EX-L & 2014 Mica Black Metallic Toyota Corolla S (kids)

  7. #7
    Super Member Trip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Windsor Ontario Canada
    Posts
    310
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: time to upgrade dual action polisher

    I made the jump from the PC to a Flex 3401. Should have jumped years ago I'm just a hobbiest as well.

    Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Autogeekonline mobile app

  8. #8
    Super Member Dan Tran's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Portsmouth, NH
    Posts
    1,055
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: time to upgrade dual action polisher

    Between the Flex 3401 and the Rupes 15 here's my input since this is a matter of opinion...

    For me:

    I prefer the Rupes 15. I came from a GG6 background while working in my own vehicle. I say since your focused on your own vehicles as well, Rupes is a better user experience. Plus why hurry the learning process, once you master the Rupes, you'll be more than pleased with it.

    You technically will have your old machine to turn it into a 3" machine.

  9. #9
    Super Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Posts
    263
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: time to upgrade dual action polisher

    As a hobbyist it would be awesome if there was a tool rental service that would also rent polishers to people as well. I'd be happy to pay to rent a Rupes, Flex, Boss, etc. for a couple days to bang out a correction on my personal ride. Its just sort of hard to justify spending a few hundred bucks or more on a polisher that I'm only going to use once a year or more likely every couple of years. My GG 6 is fine but I'd love to try a more professional level polisher to speed up a correction.

    Maybe that could be AGO's next service offering

Similar Threads

  1. Griot's BOSS G10 Pneumatic Polisher - Air powered 10mm dual action polisher!
    By Mike Phillips in forum Product Reviews by Mike Phillips
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 04-08-2018, 09:52 PM
  2. Picking a dual action polisher
    By apierce1289 in forum Auto Detailing 101
    Replies: 36
    Last Post: 10-24-2015, 10:50 PM
  3. 3D dual action polisher
    By Rod in forum Porter Cable 7424XP Dual Action Orbital Polisher
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 02-02-2014, 06:02 PM
  4. Dual Action Polisher
    By sebastian12 in forum Auto Detailing 101
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 03-21-2011, 06:47 PM

Members who have read this thread: 1

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

» March 2024

S M T W T F S
2526272829 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
31 123456