Flex L3403 Lightweight short review

So why doesn't everyone use this lightweight machine? WHy do they sell both?
 
Superdutytd said:
So why doesn't everyone use this lightweight machine? WHy do they sell both?
Click to expand...

It all refers back to what Mike Phillips say "Find something you like, use it often"

Some people like the lightweight some like the heavier one it all up to the user
 
I'd like to chime in with my $0.02. I just got my Flex 3401 DA last week and I don't have much experience with it since I've only been spending the past week polishing my vehicle and that's it, so my 2 cents is probably only worth $0.0002.

But here goes...the Flex is WAY more powerful than a PC7424. They are not even close in pure cutting power and speed. The Flex DA breaks the polish down faster and has much more cut. I have been comparing the two side-by-side using 106FA and the LC Hydro-Tech Tangerine Pads (6.5" for the Flex and 4" for the PC7424). The PC seems to only be able to refine the surface and make the scratches a bit less visible. The Flex just completely eliminates them.

Now my beef is that while the Flex is much smoother than the PC7424, it just keeps trying to walk on me...it's okay on horizontal panels; but side panels become very difficult to polish at speeds higher than setting 4 because it's hard to balance and the machine tries to walk no matter what, mainly because of having so much more power than a PC. It doesn't bog down or stop oscillating even under lots of pressure. I think more time will allow me to get the hang of it but overall it seems to take the same amount of effort to polish each 2x2 area, but it does give ridiculously good results.


Edit: I am definitely not buying any more machines any time soon. But for people considering or wanting the Flex DA, you should also consider what you would do when it comes time for spot-buffing or basically doing small/tight areas. You can purchase a $50 Edge adapter and use the Edge 4" pads but that's even more money to the already-expensive Flex. With the Flex light-weight rotary, you could just buy an additional smaller backing plate (which is cheaper) and use smaller pads with one machine; and you're not limited to a certain type of pad. This gives you a lot more flexibility.
 
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Emile said:
So I think I may purchase the Flex L3403 sooner or later because I really want a smooth and enjoyable polishing experience.
Click to expand...

one can never have enough quality power tools, and that would be a great companion with the Flex 3401... :props:
 
Emile said:
I'd like to chime in with my $0.02. I just got my Flex 3401 DA last week and I don't have much experience with it since I've only been spending the past week polishing my vehicle and that's it, so my 2 cents is probably only worth $0.0002.

But here goes...the Flex is WAY more powerful than a PC7424. They are not even close in pure cutting power and speed. The Flex DA breaks the polish down faster and has much more cut. I have been comparing the two side-by-side using 106FA and the LC Hydro-Tech Tangerine Pads (6.5" for the Flex and 4" for the PC7424). The PC seems to only be able to refine the surface and make the scratches a bit less visible. The Flex just completely eliminates them.

Now my beef is that while the Flex is much smoother than the PC7424, it just keeps trying to walk on me...it's okay on horizontal panels; but side panels become very difficult to polish at speeds higher than setting 4 because it's hard to balance and the machine tries to walk no matter what, mainly because of having so much more power than a PC. It doesn't bog down or stop oscillating even under lots of pressure. I think more time will allow me to get the hang of it but overall it seems to take the same amount of effort to polish each 2x2 area, but it does give ridiculously good results.


Edit: I am definitely not buying any more machines any time soon. But for people considering or wanting the Flex DA, you should also consider what you would do when it comes time for spot-buffing or basically doing small/tight areas. You can purchase a $50 Edge adapter and use the Edge 4" pads but that's even more money to the already-expensive Flex. With the Flex light-weight rotary, you could just buy an additional smaller backing plate (which is cheaper) and use smaller pads with one machine; and you're not limited to a certain type of pad. This gives you a lot more flexibility.
Click to expand...

Emile,

Do you think the Flex 3403 would also yield the same results as the DA, and easier to control on the vertical panels?
The flexibility of using different pads sizes + price difference seems to swing in favor of the 3403.
 
jrt81 said:
Emile,

Do you think the Flex 3403 would also yield the same results as the DA, and easier to control on the vertical panels?
The flexibility of using different pads sizes + price difference seems to swing in favor of the 3403.
Click to expand...
After the class we had some time so Mike let me use the L3403 on my vette mind you i own a Pc orginal one a Makita rotary and have a Flex Da on loan.Using the L3403 on the sides of the vette was a night and day defference between the Flex and Makita the weight of the machine was the selling point.As far correction between the two they were the same.On the top panels the weight doesn't really become a factor.I know alot of detailers that like the extra weight of a Makita or a DeWalt.If you want to learn using a rotary i would skip the Flex da and spend the money saved on extra backing plates and smaller pads.
 
jrt81 said:
Emile,

Do you think the Flex 3403 would also yield the same results as the DA, and easier to control on the vertical panels?
The flexibility of using different pads sizes + price difference seems to swing in favor of the 3403.
Click to expand...

I would definitely hope so but I have never touched a rotary. In his last post, Harleyguy said this is definitely the case...great results and smooth polishing on vertical panels, much better than the Flex DA.

I personally went with the Flex DA because I wanted a much better machine but with the safety and familiarity of a DA polisher. My next step will be the Flex L3403, no question. I just have no idea when that will be.
 
BigAl3 said:
one can never have enough quality power tools, and that would be a great companion with the Flex 3401... :props:
Click to expand...

Agreed. I would be an unstoppable week-end warrior. :buffing:
 
I personally like the VVB rotary. It is superbly balanced. Not only that but the weight of the machine just makes it glide over paint while correcting. I also just like the feel of it more than a smaller buffer.
 
Harleyguy,

How would you compare the Flex DA against the 3403 in terms of smoothness?
Do you experience the 'pad skipping' or 'walking away symptom' like Emile posted?

I'm about to place an order, but still torn between the Flex DA and the 3403.

Is it to assume that the 3403 would be smoother to use, than say the DA?
 
Emile said:
I would definitely hope so but I have never touched a rotary. In his last post, Harleyguy said this is definitely the case...great results and smooth polishing on vertical panels, much better than the Flex DA.

I personally went with the Flex DA because I wanted a much better machine but with the safety and familiarity of a DA polisher. My next step will be the Flex L3403, no question. I just have no idea when that will be.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree with the safety and familiarity of the DA. OTOH, if a rotary would be smoother (less vibes, perhaps) and no "walking away" tendencies, then it's also a very good choice.
 
jrt81 said:
Harleyguy,

How would you compare the Flex DA against the 3403 in terms of smoothness?
Do you experience the 'pad skipping' or 'walking away symptom' like Emile posted?

I'm about to place an order, but still torn between the Flex DA and the 3403.

Is it to assume that the 3403 would be smoother to use, than say the DA?
Click to expand...
Well to be honest i started out doing details as a hobby and learned on a Makita rotary there is a larger learning curve with a rotary then a Da style machine.If i had too do it again that is buy another machine i would buy the L3403 machine since it does so much more then the Flex Da .More in the choice of pads/backing plates and the way the machine feels.I feel the rotary feels better in my hands then the Flex Da the Da works great don't get me wrong but when it running at speed 4 or 5 you do feel it were a rotary won't beat you up like a Da does.You just need to take your time with a rotary and watch what your doing very carefully.I don't think you will be disapointed with the L3403.Wouldn't be great if Ag had a program that you could leave a deposit and try out a machine.I think i will mention it to Megan
 
Harleyguy said:
Well to be honest i started out doing details as a hobby and learned on a Makita rotary there is a larger learning curve with a rotary then a Da style machine.If i had too do it again that is buy another machine i would buy the L3403 machine since it does so much more then the Flex Da .More in the choice of pads/backing plates and the way the machine feels.I feel the rotary feels better in my hands then the Flex Da the Da works great don't get me wrong but when it running at speed 4 or 5 you do feel it were a rotary won't beat you up like a Da does.You just need to take your time with a rotary and watch what your doing very carefully.I don't think you will be disapointed with the L3403.Wouldn't be great if Ag had a program that you could leave a deposit and try out a machine.I think i will mention it to Megan
Click to expand...

That will be a good idea.

Thanks.

That's one thing I find with the PC, at speed 5-6, the I find the vibration overwhelming!
And I am hoping that with a 3403, it will be much smoother.
 
Harleyguy,

What speed on the 3403 would you suggest I use on a say, black pad?
Is the 1100 rpm not too fast?
 
jrt81 said:
That will be a good idea.

Thanks.

That's one thing I find with the PC, at speed 5-6, the I find the vibration overwhelming!
And I am hoping that with a 3403, it will be much smoother.
Click to expand...

What size pads are you using? 5.5 inch pads will be best for a 5 inch backing plate for the PC
 
LincolnZephyr2006 said:
What size pads are you using? 5.5 inch pads will be best for a 5 inch backing plate for the PC
Click to expand...
I have the 5.5 flat pads and the 5" BP.

I don't have much correction to do, just some light scratches & swirls.

I just want a smoother & faster machine to use in place of my old PC. I feel it's taking me long to polish with the PC. And the vibrations!

There are some good deals now with the Flex DA, but I would also want to know if the 3403 would be a smoother machine than the 3401.
 
jrt81 said:
Harleyguy,

How would you compare the Flex DA against the 3403 in terms of smoothness?
Do you experience the 'pad skipping' or 'walking away symptom' like Emile posted?

I'm about to place an order, but still torn between the Flex DA and the 3403.

Is it to assume that the 3403 would be smoother to use, than say the DA?
Click to expand...

Walking away or pad skipping is a lack of technique with the rotary. You should not have your buffer doing either of these things.. Rotaries are very smooth and would beat out a DA in those terms.

If you take the time to learn it, I think you would get a lot of use out of the rotary. The FLEX DA however is about as close to rotary correction you can get without a rotary in itself. Just depends on what you want.

I personally will never go back to a DA after using my FLEX VVB Rotary.
 
ryandamartini said:
Walking away or pad skipping is a lack of technique with the rotary. You should not have your buffer doing either of these things.. Rotaries are very smooth and would beat out a DA in those terms.

If you take the time to learn it, I think you would get a lot of use out of the rotary. The FLEX DA however is about as close to rotary correction you can get without a rotary in itself. Just depends on what you want.

I personally will never go back to a DA after using my FLEX VVB Rotary.
Click to expand...
Thanks Dude.
I was just trying to ask Harelyguy if he experienced that 'pad-skipping' with the Flex DA.
So Ryan, if I am just doing some like corrections on my daily drivers, the Flex lightweight would be more than enough, plus it's much smoother than the Flex DA?
Also, with the Flex rotary, i still have to finish with a black pad. Is that sort of 'mandatory'?
 
The only thing I don't like about the 3403 is that it is LOUD. Use hearing protection if you don't want to go deaf.

Derrick
 
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