New Found Life With Optimum Microfiber Pads And The Flex 3401...

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WRAPT C5Z06

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As some of you know, I haven't been fond at all about using MF pads with the Flex 3401. Specifically, the Meguiars 5" cutting pads. I feel they're very grabby, severe balding in the middle of the pad, and do not give the results I'm looking for, generally speaking. In comes Optimum 6" MF cutting pads. I have to say that these work a lot better with the 3401 compared to the Meguiars pads, IME. I think the key is that optimum MF cutting pads use thicker foam(not as dense), which allows for more cushioning, which in turn will work better with the forced rotation. It's been recommended to use speed 3-4 with the 3401 and Meg's MF cutting pads, but with Optimum MF cutting pads, I cranked it up to 6, and they worked great. There is some balding in the middle, but when fluffed back up, they seem to be fine. I have only tried the cutting pad on my car. I've only used M101 :D with the pad. I don't know how other polishes may work/feel. I still need to do a lot more testing with the Optimum MF cutting pads to come to a accurate conclusion, but so far, they look promising with the 3401! :dblthumb2:
 
And you would use this as an alternate to what? A foam pad (and which)? Or Surbufs? Or wool?
 
I'm glad we were able to redeem the Flex for you Mark. When you said balding, I though you meant shedding. The fibers laying down is reduced with the Hyper sprays and they will actually stand back up as you use the product...and of course fluff/blow them out between panels.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
And you would use this as an alternate to what? A foam pad (and which)? Or Surbufs? Or wool?
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Surbufs work OK with the 3401. Wool is a definite no with the 3401. Foam pads work great with the 3401, but the cut(even some of the heavy cutting pads) is not on par with MF pads, IMO.
 
Good to hear Mark. I should maybe get to use mine today. Depends if the charger I am doing has any swirls or not.
 
good info mark . I never jumped on the Meg's cause I knew opti was coming out with their own . glad they work with the flex. while using the cutting pad , I'm assuming will need to follow up with foam or the mf polishing pad ?
 
I personally think this is terrible news. I love the MF system on my PC and GG 3"...but I have TONS of foam pads...I had gotten the smaller Flex backing plate to use with the old foam pads that have really small velcro in the hopes of wearing them all out--now how am I going to do that if I start using MF on my Flex??
 
poweraid said:
good info mark . I never jumped on the Meg's cause I knew opti was coming out with their own . glad they work with the flex. while using the cutting pad , I'm assuming will need to follow up with foam or the mf polishing pad ?
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On my silver paint, you couldn't see any marring, and this is with M101! On darker colors, there would probably be a need to follow with a finer pad and polish.

On a side note, I'm so glad optimum offers a 4" MF pad as well. I can use that with the new LC 3401 4" backing plate. :righton:
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
On a side note, I'm so glad optimum offers a 4" MF pad as well. I can use that with the new LC 3401 4" backing plate. :righton:
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How did that sneak in?? AG doesn't even have that one yet.

Hey Chris--4.25" but no cone???
 
So I bust out my Griots and a brand new 5.25" cutting pad. Get the pad all nice and primed... and BAM! Starts ferociously raining! :(
 
Hoytman said:
:laughing:





I thought he meant shedding also. Mark of all people should know that there's no fluffing of a bald spot LOL!!!!!!!:laughing:
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LOL.....I wasn't referring to shedding. The fibers really flatten in the middle compared to the edges. Maybe balding is the wrong word! I don't know where I got balding from?? Anyhow, the Meg's "bald" worse than the Optimum pads.
 
Very helpful post Mark. Please keep us up to date as you use them on different cars. As you know I am very curious and may just make the jump to them soon.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
LOL.....I wasn't referring to shedding. The fibers really flatten in the middle compared to the edges. Maybe balding is the wrong word! I don't know where I got balding from?? Anyhow, the Meg's "bald" worse than the Optimum pads.
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Oh..I thought you meant shedding/real balding too. The matting of the fibers in the middle is just the same kind of phenomenon as the foam pads getting wetter in the middle because the DA causes the product to migrate that way, IMO.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
LOL.....I wasn't referring to shedding. The fibers really flatten in the middle compared to the edges. Maybe balding is the wrong word! I don't know where I got balding from?? Anyhow, the Meg's "bald" worse than the Optimum pads.
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LOL...it took me a minute, or two, but I finally figured out you meant the fibers were laying down, or flattening in th middle. Ha ha...balding...hahahahaha. I needed a laugh this evening.

You need to clue me in, or get me in, on some of this product testing man. You must have some major clout somewhere. LOL!
 
It is nice to hear that Optimum did not write off the Flex.

I still believe Meguiars could have made their mf pads with the Flex had they sold a flex. They were marketing the G110 so their focus was on that.
 
Bunky said:
It is nice to hear that Optimum did not write off the Flex.

I still believe Meguiars could have made their mf pads with the Flex had they sold a flex. They were marketing the G110 so their focus was on that.
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But Bunky...when the Meg's MF system came out, it had a 6" pad for the Flex...dig up the video on here with Mike Phillips, Mike Stoops, and Jason Rose, and they say they have the 5" pads for the DA, the 3" pads for the air sander, and the 6" pads "...for your Flex machine". So they had them from day 1, it's just that no one who used them seemed to like them...and that may still be the case...as far as we know Mark is the only one to try the Opt MF's on the Flex...and we all know he likes to change his opinion :D
 
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