Flex 3401 or rupes bigfoot.

68bowtie

68bowtie

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My friend is looking to upgrade to a better polisher and was wondering if he should get the flex or rupes bigfoot? I have the flex and love it but since he's willing to spend the money i was wondering which was better.
 
I think the Rupes Bigfoot is a whole system. You can buy the polisher separately. Kinda confused me.
 
Both polishers have their own places and there are some reviews you can search around. As I remember flex 3401 is still the king when it comes to foam pad and rupes Bigfoot with mf pads?
 
My guess is your friend is looking for a DA but upgrading from what? I'm not sure many have used the Rupes but it appears you'll be locked into their system and if so I'd opt for the 3401.

I'm still a fan of a rotary and a DA. If I were buying everything over or starting out PE14-2 and a 3401.
 
I'm very happy with my Flex 3401.I think several experienced members have ordered the RUPES.
 
in a perfect world I will have both. If push came to shove that Rupes really does look the business
 
I think it's just a matter of time before the Rupes will surpass the Flex 3401 and rotary as "the " machine to have IMO and use. Switching to exact-fit bp's will allow both mf and foam pads to be used according to the few friends that I have talked to so far. Every one of them can't get over the amount of increased stroke and the ease of which it does correction.
 
I have the Rupes LHR21ES with the 6 inch backing plate. The Rupes is king when it comes to using it on flat surfaces. The 3401 will work way better on vertical panels and curved surfaces using the 4 3/8" backing plate and the Lake Country 5" hybrid foam pads.
 
I have the 15, have used it on about 20 cars so far. Once you have one it will make you put down your flex for good. It works fine with both foam and micro pads. What I feel it does is work the product more effectively.i have only not been able to remove some defects that I feel were to deep to safely remove anyway. I probably will try rupes pads,but you are not locked in to they're system. And the price is in line with the flex
 
I have a LHR15E on order. Should be here within the next 2 weeks. I also have a 5" backing plate coming for the LHR21ES. The LHR21ES also has the KB mod to it so that it produces way more speed and torque than one right out of the box. The LHR15 is the right one for use on curved panels and verticle surfaces.
 
Mike lambert said:
I have the 15, have used it on about 20 cars so far. Once you have one it will make you put down your flex for good. It works fine with both foam and micro pads. What I feel it does is work the product more effectively.i have only not been able to remove some defects that I feel were to deep to safely remove anyway. I probably will try rupes pads,but you are not locked in to they're system. And the price is in line with the flex
Click to expand...

i fumbled with the idea of getting a rupes when i upgraded my PC to teh Flex...the flex has a distinct feeling that it rotates counter clockwise, which has been a bit difficult getting used to (whether it actually does or not i cant tell...just feels like it).

Does the rupes have that same feeling and learning curve with the forced rotation, or is it essentially the same feeling with a bigger stroke over the flex?
 
Rupes is one of the best wood sanders on the market, no doubt ;-)
 
Here's a comparison between the two.

Rupes LHR 21E Big Foot VS Flex XC 3401 VRG

Reviewer liked the 3401 more and says the Rupes is little underpowered. I guess the "modified washer" mod fixes the power issue on the Rupes.

Bottomline is that the Flex 3401 is current German king. It is a proven machine with high level of quality, fit, and finish.

Rupes is the newer kid and will need to prove himself before it takes the crown to Italy.
Force rotation vs Big stroke. We'll have to wait and see.....
 
For some, they just do not like the forced rotation feel of the Flex but then I do not like the vibrations/noise of most DAs so the Flex is my preference.

For those that do a lot of polishing, it is more about what works for you for hours of use using your preferred process as much as raw correction ability.
 
The one thing that confuses me is i have been in talkes with Rupes themselves and have been told to only use the Rupes pads and compounds and nothing else. What is because I have been told the motor is quite small to eliminate vibration. They have have had motor failiures when other pads and compounds are used. This reason sor of put me off going any further with it.
 
SonOfOC said:
Here's a comparison between the two.

Rupes LHR 21E Big Foot VS Flex XC 3401 VRG

Reviewer liked the 3401 more and says the Rupes is little underpowered. I guess the "modified washer" mod fixes the power issue on the Rupes.

Bottomline is that the Flex 3401 is current German king. It is a proven machine with high level of quality, fit, and finish.

Rupes is the newer kid and will need to prove himself before it takes the crown to Italy.
Force rotation vs Big stroke. We'll have to wait and see.....
Click to expand...

I would rather have the forced rotation versus a bigger stroke any day of the week. No matter how hard you press down the Flex will never stop rotating.
 
I could stop my lhr21 from rotating before the KB mod. After the KB mod I can't stop it even on setting 1.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
 
Ronnie said:
The one thing that confuses me is i have been in talkes with Rupes themselves and have been told to only use the Rupes pads and compounds and nothing else. What is because I have been told the motor is quite small to eliminate vibration. They have have had motor failiures when other pads and compounds are used. This reason sort of put me off going any further with it.
Click to expand...

I don't see there being a huge difference in pad weights, as long as it's the same size pad. Even then, I don't see there being a problem.

Every manufacturer wants you to use their own accessories. Yes, Rupes has designed a system: machine, pads and polishes. But, it's kind of like buying a Ford and only using Motorcraft oil. It may be the original factory fill, but you don't have to use it.
 
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