Flex 3401 or rupes bigfoot.

I used the flex once and did not like it at all, mines up for sale as I'm sticking with my Cyclo, I really love how smooth the Cyclo is and it's not such a work out.
 
Crazy Diamond said:
I used the flex once and did not like it at all, mines up for sale as I'm sticking with my Cyclo, I really love how smooth the Cyclo is and it's not such a work out.
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I would just like to say that all these buffers are wonderful tools - imo not a bad one in the bunch. People have individual preferences and prefer one tool over another. Watch the instruction videos and you'll see Mike, Nick, Todd and others do amazing things with all different kinds of "hardware & software." It's about mastering your technique and becoming familiar with the tools at hand. There are no wrong choices here. Pick one out of the herd and get down to some serious paint correction-have fun with it all.
 
addysdaddy said:
I would just like to say that all these buffers are wonderful tools - imo not a bad one in the bunch. People have individual preferences and prefer one tool over another. Watch the instruction videos and you'll see Mike, Nick, Todd and others do amazing things with all different kinds of "hardware & software." It's about mastering your technique and becoming familiar with the tools at hand. There are no wrong choices here. Pick one out of the herd and get down to some serious paint correction-have fun with it all.
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:iagree: and that's why the flex is up for sale, is really is all about mastering your technique, so I think I'm going to give the rupes my mastering technique next.
 
Reading around page 8 (I have yet to finish this thread), someone was mentioning not liking the Flex after using MF pads on it. Others were also saying/speculating that MF pads will/would work better on the Rupes. Can someone explain to me why MF pads w/the Flex is no bueno?
 
jdmj0 said:
Reading around page 8 (I have yet to finish this thread), someone was mentioning not liking the Flex after using MF pads on it. Others were also saying/speculating that MF pads will/would work better on the Rupes. Can someone explain to me why MF pads w/the Flex is no bueno?
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You can use MF pads on the Flex, but they are not as smooth as they are with traditional DA's or the Rupes. MF pads with a thicker/softer backing will be better on the Flex. I use mainly Megs MF cutting pads, which are thinner and just not the best on the Flex...but they can still be used.

MF pads rock on the Rupes! ;)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
jdmj0 said:
Reading around page 8 (I have yet to finish this thread), someone was mentioning not liking the Flex after using MF pads on it. Others were also saying/speculating that MF pads will/would work better on the Rupes. Can someone explain to me why MF pads w/the Flex is no bueno?
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You can use the MF pads on the 3401 but as Chad says they are much better suited to the orbital style polishers such as the RUPES and PC.

I have the thicker LC MF pads are they are a bit of a work out to control on my 3401. I would much rather use the hybrid cutting pads.


RaskyR1 said:
You can use MF pads on the Flex, but they are not as smooth as they are with traditional DA's or the Rupes. MF pads with a thicker/softer backing will be better on the Flex. I use mainly Megs MF cutting pads, which are thinner and just not the best on the Flex...but they can still be used.

MF pads rock on the Rupes! ;)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Keeping my xc3401vrg along with both rupes lhr 15 and lhr21. Never tried the 3401 with anything but foam and wool pads. Was told that it just didn't play well with mf pads.

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It's not just about the smoothness of using MF pads on the 3401. Mechanically, they don't work well with any forced rotation buffer. You will get better results with MF pads and a non forced buffer FOR SURE!!!
 
I have never heard how well the makita BO6040 works with mf pads. The BO6040 has a forced rotation mode too.

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ww2717 said:
I have never heard how well the makita BO6040 works with mf pads. The BO6040 has a forced rotation mode too.

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It should work quite well with MF pads in random orbit mode
 
I don't plan on trading my Flex for anything any time soon. I'm just an enthusiast at the moment and for me, the Flex can do what any other machine can do. Time savings and feel is a subjective matter. I remember when Flex was THE MACHINE and everyone was getting them. Now all of a sudden half of the people in this thread are bashing it just because something new came out. I am starting to think it's all in your heads and you just want the next new thing. I give it another year before there's something new to come to the scene and people will be talking smack about the Bigfoot in similar fashion pointing out all its faults. I never had issues of the Flex walking me all over the place, it was a bit tricky at first since I've never used other buffers but the learning curve is very narrow and learning to use it was not hard at all for me.
 
Kaban said:
I don't plan on trading my Flex for anything any time soon. I'm just an enthusiast at the moment and for me, the Flex can do what any other machine can do. Time savings and feel is a subjective matter. I remember when Flex was THE MACHINE and everyone was getting them. Now all of a sudden half of the people in this thread are bashing it just because something new came out. I am starting to think it's all in your heads and you just want the next new thing. I give it another year before there's something new to come to the scene and people will be talking smack about the Bigfoot in similar fashion pointing out all its faults. I never had issues of the Flex walking me all over the place, it was a bit tricky at first since I've never used other buffers but the learning curve is very narrow and learning to use it was not hard at all for me.
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The same thing happened with the Flex PE-14 came out. There were a ton of posts on it but it died down soon after. The same thing is happening with the Rupes. Actually the posts have already died down after the initial excitement.

I bought a Flex not too long ago and I think it's a fantastic machine for my needs. I wanted a forced rotation machine to go along with my Griot's DA because I don't like how it stops on curved panels.
 
Kaban said:
I don't plan on trading my Flex for anything any time soon. I'm just an enthusiast at the moment and for me, the Flex can do what any other machine can do. Time savings and feel is a subjective matter. I remember when Flex was THE MACHINE and everyone was getting them. Now all of a sudden half of the people in this thread are bashing it just because something new came out. I am starting to think it's all in your heads and you just want the next new thing. I give it another year before there's something new to come to the scene and people will be talking smack about the Bigfoot in similar fashion pointing out all its faults. I never had issues of the Flex walking me all over the place, it was a bit tricky at first since I've never used other buffers but the learning curve is very narrow and learning to use it was not hard at all for me.
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Actually, I sold my Flex after 18 months of use because I was getting equal or better results with my traditional DA's equipped with MF pads. It had nothing to do with the Rupes or any other new tool coming out. The Flex is still a great machine, it's just not for everyone.

...and the walking trait gets exaggerated by people for some reason when they see it mentioned, but it is a trait of the machine. Use an orbital DA and a Flex side by side and it's night and day...especially when you have been using an orbital for some time. The reverse movement and forced rotation will require you to use muscles you're not used to using and it will feel odd at first...simple as that. It is however something that your body adjust to quickly and after using it for a while you don't even notice it. My reason to sell my Flex was from not needing to use it and not that I didn't care for how it handled or because some new tool came along

As far as the Rupes goes, the proof is in the pudding. :props:

Remove sanding marks on the Rupes 21 with M105 and MF Finishing pads. Car was painted and lightly wet sanded and buffed by the body shop 6 months ago. I re-sanded and buffed. Right side was how the body shop left it, left side was my way...one pass and paint was near LSP ready!

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Making mirrors! :D
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smack said:
Nice work Chad.
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+1! :dblthumb2:

I wish there was a way to test these machines out before you purchased. Considering most orders are made on reviews from others and $400 on a buffer you haven't tried can be a big gamble.
 
Chad as alway fantastic work.

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Kaban said:
I don't plan on trading my Flex for anything any time soon. I'm just an enthusiast at the moment and for me, the Flex can do what any other machine can do. Time savings and feel is a subjective matter. I remember when Flex was THE MACHINE and everyone was getting them. Now all of a sudden half of the people in this thread are bashing it just because something new came out. I am starting to think it's all in your heads and you just want the next new thing. I give it another year before there's something new to come to the scene and people will be talking smack about the Bigfoot in similar fashion pointing out all its faults. I never had issues of the Flex walking me all over the place, it was a bit tricky at first since I've never used other buffers but the learning curve is very narrow and learning to use it was not hard at all for me.
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+1 but it's entertaining banter. There are many who post on AGO that I respect their opinion. Still after the research you take the plunge and evaluate for yourself. I have found merit in manny of the polishers AG sells. I have yet to try the Rupes. Just before I bought the Flex 3401 I read about the left rotation which stopped me in my tracks. Being a RB fan I thought that might be a deal killer for me. I took the plunge. For ME I really like the 3401. I'd have a hard noticing it rotates left. It's super easy to use, even one handed. Can I make it walk? Yep same as a RB. I bet the Rupes is a pretty awesome tool. I like the other DA's as well. Never liked it when pad stops rotating for any reason but you learn how to adapt.

This weekend I had the chance to use the 14-2. It's pretty awesome IMO. So much more nimble than my Dewalt. Even easier to use than the 3401 (yea I know one is a RB and one is a DA). I'll most likely buy one just not is a rush right now because my Dewalt will do everything I need it to do. If I can catch a good sale I'd pull the trigger.

I love this forum, respect other opinions and expierences and am glad so many are willing to share them. It benefits me my makeing me more knowledgeble. Rock on autogeekers keep on a post'n regardless what buffer you choose to use!
 
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