Ready for a rotary...your opinions please

[Kaban]

Please dont call others experiences or assume lies.Everyones experience is valid.

The way you use a machine or even possibly some may be slightly defective and get hotter than normal could be factors.

I'm not calling on anything. Dave has been going around saying the PE14 is junk for a while and isn't good enough for working detailers. A ton of people use these on a daily basis without complaints. Hell, if a DA is good enough for plenty of high end and pro detailers, how a PE14 is not good enough? Don't reply if you don't know the whole story.

 

[dennis hiip]

Ignorance is bliss. I bought a Harbor Freight rotary 2 years ago because I didn't know any better, but I still use it along with my newly purchased a Groits DA. Since I don't have any thing to compare it to, I like it for the compounding that I've done. Works.

 

[A.P.A.D.]

I am glad I started this thread before making a purchase.

I was be deciding between the dewalt or makita.

I did use a bunch of the machines when at AG in January 2011 for detailing 101 and 201, but at the time I was more interested in working with DAs and becoming comfortable with the PC I had waiting for me at home. I now wish I worked with the rotaries more when I was in the AG showroom garage, but I guess needs change right.

Thanks everyone for their feedback and their own preferences.

I will have to make a decision by Monday because I am hoping for a good sale for memorial day. I am hoping it is better than the forum 15% off with free shipping on Thursday.

In my list now is 12 7.5" ccs pads, 6 wool pads, spur tool, centering post, 3.75" and 6" backing plates, and other odds and ends.

I'm getting ready to go ahead and order it up Monday. I will post what I end up ordering as far as the polisher. Thanks to everyone who has responded and taken time to share their passion!

 

[bmwgalore]

DeWalt 849X all the way!

Is quieter than the Makita, lighter, has a rubber enclosure and air filters..
And they go for only $180 on eBay.

 

[buddhadog]

I'm not calling on anything. Dave has been going around saying the PE14 is junk for a while and isn't good enough for working detailers. A ton of people use these on a daily basis without complaints. Hell, if a DA is good enough for plenty of high end and pro detailers, how a PE14 is not good enough? Don't reply if you don't know the whole story.

Dave has his right to his opinion and experience and so do you !

Both are valid.rops:

 

[Robert8194]

I am glad I started this thread before making a purchase.

I was be deciding between the dewalt or makita.

I did use a bunch of the machines when at AG in January 2011 for detailing 101 and 201, but at the time I was more interested in working with DAs and becoming comfortable with the PC I had waiting for me at home. I now wish I worked with the rotaries more when I was in the AG showroom garage, but I guess needs change right.

Thanks everyone for their feedback and their own preferences.

I will have to make a decision by Monday because I am hoping for a good sale for memorial day. I am hoping it is better than the forum 15% off with free shipping on Thursday.

In my list now is 12 7.5" ccs pads, 6 wool pads, spur tool, centering post, 3.75" and 6" backing plates, and other odds and ends.

I'm getting ready to go ahead and order it up Monday. I will post what I end up ordering as far as the polisher. Thanks to everyone who has responded and taken time to share their passion!

I feel your pain. I went to the July 2011 classes. I fully intended to come home with a Flex 3401. I thought I would never buy a rotary. After the 3401 took me for a couple of walks, I decided I wasn't ready for it. But the Flex PE 14 was like a dream. That's what I bought and have no regrets. The other rotaries we used in class did not seem to be fitted for me. But it is definitely a personal preference. Fast forward almost a year and I have a stable of polishers. I still use the PE 14 a good bit but my go to polishers for correction are the 3401 and the GG 6". The Cyclo is pretty much relegated to brush status for carpet and floor mats.

 

[Old Tiger]

Dewalt 849x. Best all around rotary without breaking the bank. It can be found for $170 online, and is worth every penny. It's a workhorse, but at the same time is light weight, quiet, and just an all around joy to use.

I bought the 849X after Dave;s great review. I have NO regrets! 100% agree!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Something I forgot to mention about the Makita is that the head gets so hot that it feels like it's going to burn your hand. I like holding all my buffers by the head, including the PE 14, but the Makita made it almost impossible to do so. The PE 14 does not have that problem and the 849x doesn't look like it will have it either.

I agree, I rarely use a handle on a Rotary Buffer and if I do it's a stick handle, not a hoop handle. The rubber grip on both the PE14 and the 849X do a great job of insulating your hand from the heat and make gripping the head easy too...

I will have to make a decision by Monday because I am hoping for a good sale for memorial day. I am hoping it is better than the forum 15% off with free shipping on Thursday.

And?


:xyxthumbs:

 

[truckbutt]

I got my Dewalt 849X last Thursday. It is built like a tank. If it ever stops raining in the Northeast I will compare it to the Flex PE 14-2.

 

[Ohio Detailing]

I am subscribing to this thread to come back to.

I'm interested because I have had a Makita rotary, and have recently been really curious about the Flex random orbital - the write up makes it sound far superior, and I know it's popular (less heat created, mimics natural hand movement, removing swirls and holograms better, etc) and I am really interested in getting a collection of opinions from everyone.

If I make the switch, should I keep the rotary for anything, or should I sell it?

 

[A.P.A.D.]

DeWalt 849X it is!!! Saved $67 on it through a different site, and it came with a storage bag. About to place my order through AG for all the goodies to go with it!

Thanks AG for the 15% off with free shipping.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I am subscribing to this thread to come back to.

I'm interested because I have had a Makita rotary, and have recently been really curious about the Flex random orbital - the write up makes it sound far superior, and I know it's popular (less heat created, mimics natural hand movement, removing swirls and holograms better, etc) and I am really interested in getting a collection of opinions from everyone.

Watch the video here,


Video: All about the FLEX-3401 Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher

If I make the switch, should I keep the rotary for anything, or should I sell it?

Keep it, it's always handy to have a rotary buffer in your tool collection.


:xyxthumbs:

 

[Ohio Detailing]

Watch the video here,


Video: All about the FLEX-3401 Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher

Keep it, it's always handy to have a rotary buffer in your tool collection.

:xyxthumbs:

Thank you, as always! My very next purchase without a DOUBT I will be buying your detail book. I just wish it was easier to "add to cart" like a normal product. Also, it would be great if you sold a discounted bundle, with the e-book and paper back.

By the way, with the e-book, is it indexed with clickable links, urls, pages to videos, or chapters/sections that would take the reader to that page?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I just wish it was easier to "add to cart" like a normal product.

Yeah... I think that's the current state of technology in the world. Not much I can do about it.

Also, it would be great if you sold a discounted bundle, with the e-book and paper back.

We've had other people ask about this, I'll bring it up with management, keep in mind I don't work in sales or on the store.

By the way, with the e-book, is it indexed with clickable links, urls, pages to videos, or chapters/sections that would take the reader to that page?

Yes. I'm not sure if it clicks to any videos or if it does how many, I'd have to check. But the good news is there are lots of videos on our YouTube channel and it's pretty easy to search.

 

[Ohio Detailing]

Thanks Mike, so excited about my next purchase!