Is there still a patent on the flex machine? I ask because it seems as though everybody that has used a griots, pc or similar that has also used the flex 3401 says it is head and shoulder above the competition. Why are the other companies not making similar Duel Actions to compete directly with the flex 3401?
Why not make the market competitive?
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RaskyR1
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There are others...Flex just seem to be the most used and talked about.
What are the others that could compete on the same level with the flex 3401?
Gunslinger
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All companies decide what segment of the market they want to compete in...some want to stake out the more profitable high end, which generally has fewer competing machines but fewer sales, and some choose the low- to middle-end, where more sales occur. Competition is what it's about, and I think most would rather move more product and a bigger market share in a competitive market than compete in a market of higher profit margins but fewer sales. Which end of the market do you think is more recession resistant?
It's a business decision, and I think most companies would prefer to see their name on far more machines in more consumer's hands than only a few in the hands of the well heeled. Each market gets serviced by companies willing to take the risk and enter that market.
It's a business decision, and I think most companies would prefer to see their name on far more machines in more consumer's hands than only a few in the hands of the well heeled. Each market gets serviced by companies willing to take the risk and enter that market.
mchess1
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I think for quite some time the bottom of the market was not very competitive. Most folks just went with the Porter Cable as it seemed to be the best of the lower level.
With the updated versions of all of the machines coming out it has become much more of a toss up.
Who knows if someone will dip a toe into the top of the market with the Flex?
With the updated versions of all of the machines coming out it has become much more of a toss up.
Who knows if someone will dip a toe into the top of the market with the Flex?
Mike Phillips
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There probably is some type of patent on their designs.
Hard to say why some companies will go into a market and other will not, but at some level someone inside the company has to decide if after everything is said and done if they will make a profit.
There are other similar products out there but the tried and true model we offer is the Flex 3401 and for anyone reading this that's interested in this forced rotation dual action polisher here's a write-up I did where I used it to do an extreme makeover on a 1957 Chevy that was extremely swirled out by and incomplete previous buff-out where the paint was only compounded using a rotary buffer and a wool pad.
1957 Chevrolet Belair Extreme Makeover - Flex 3401 & Wolfgang Smackdown!
It's well designed and offers plenty of power to remove swirls like a rotary buffer but it offers the easy of use and SAFETY of a Dual Action Polisher like the Porter Cable 7424XP
It's light enough you can use it with one hand... (Do be careful though)
The below picture is a good representation of what's called holograms or rotary buffer swirls.
After
Click the below link to read a complete write-up and review of the Flex 3401 and see all the pictures!
1957 Chevrolet Belair Extreme Makeover - Flex 3401 & Wolfgang Smackdown!
And from the above write-up I extracted a portion and created a dedicated how-to article on how to do a Test Spot using a Flex 3401 and how to pick up a bead of product. It includes lots of pictures and 2 YouTube Videos for the Flex 3401
How to do a Test Spot using the Flex 3401
YouTube Video Performing A Test Spot using the Flex VRG 3401
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CtUaI_8HhE]YouTube - Performing a "Test Spot" to the paint on a 1957 Chevrolet Belair[/video]
Click here to get more information on purchasing a Flex 3401 Forced Rotating Dual Action Polisher
:xyxthumbs:
RaskyR1
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Makita BO6040 and the Festool RO 150 are the ones I've seen posted the most, there may be others as well though.
Mike Phillips
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There's also the Dynabrade Random Orbital Head Adapter
for a rotary buffer which turns your rotary buffer into a gear driven dual action polisher.
I had one of these a few years ago but sadly it seem to have walked off during one of my classes. I know they made some improvements to the new version but I haven't used one since mine walked off.
MikeyC
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:iagree:
Up until pretty recently (maybe a couple years ago) 90% of the detailing enthusiasts you spoke to who were using an orbital were using a PC. Of course, at the time there was also a Griot's version and the Meguiar's G100. All were the exact same machine and even looked exactly the same. The PC stayed the same for YEARS.
Now we have the Dynabride, PC XP, Griot's, Meguiars G110 v2, UDM, Flex, Festool, Makita, Cyclo, etc. It's a good time to be a detailer! The gap between rotaries and D/A's has certainly shrunk and orbitals are more capable machines than ever. Of course, being a Flex user myself I find it to be the best of the bunch. :xyxthumbs:
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Mike, is this the attachement you were talking about?
Dynabrade 61374 Random Orbital Head Kit
How does it make a rotary a random orbital? Would this be a good alternative for my Milwaukee 5455 rotary?
Dynabrade 61374 Random Orbital Head Kit
How does it make a rotary a random orbital? Would this be a good alternative for my Milwaukee 5455 rotary?
loudog2
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I was looking at the festool rotex 150. Nice machine!! Has a switch to go from dual action/random orbital to forced rotation. Next to no vibration(I hear).
If people are complaining about $300 for a flex. Then $450 for the festool will spark even more complaints.
Where did you find one for $450. The ones I see are $495.
$450 is the cheapest I have ever heard of for the Festool. I have seen them as expensive the $495 you mention. If money is no object to you I have heard they are incredible machines, maybe even better that the Flex.
To anser the Original Posters question, the reason you don't see much competition to the Flex is simply the cost of machines that are as good as the Flex (ie the Festool and Makita BO6040).
Speaking of Festool, they have two rotaries and Paul Dalton bought them and said ever since using them he loves them. Even more than his Makita. Now, some will assume Festool is sponsoring him but I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
Well cost is an issue but I don't mind paying for good. I've got the flex 3401 & 3403. That's 299 & 229 so if one machine can compare with each. And from what I was told by the rep it should. I think he said the Rotary would go up to 4500 RPM or something in that range. I'm hoping the low speed goes quite a bit lower than 1100 rpm.
Also in finish mode he claims it's amazing. He's giving me the machine for a week or so to backup his claims so well see.
Also in finish mode he claims it's amazing. He's giving me the machine for a week or so to backup his claims so well see.