2 Forced Rotations; One gets no love...

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Hoytman

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Makita BO6050J Polisher

It would be sweet if it were possible to get smaller backing plates for this machine to accommodate 3"-5.5" inch pads...especially 3"-4" inch pads. If that could happen, then with this tool alone...and especially those who also own 3401's... you would have 2 work horses in forced rotation to cover pad sizes from 3" to 7" inches...but I doubt it has that kind of power.

Haven't seen any write-ups or reviews of the above linked machine. I know Makita makes good products, for sure...but have no clue about this one.

Experienced user and owner comments?

EDIT:
Would be nice to know if that clunky dust apparatus is able to be removed? Other than that being in the way the machine looks like it would be a great machine for owners that only want to buy one machine, or for those that can only afford one machine. It probably has more power than a normal DA...maybe, but not as much as the 3401. Didn't see any power specs.
 
Hoytman said:
Makita BO6050J Polisher

It probably has more power than a normal
DA...maybe, but not as much as the 3401.
Didn't see any power specs.
Click to expand...

watermark.php

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Bob
 
If you wanted a RO in addition to the 3401, that would be a great choice. I will NEVER be without my 3401!
 
Hoytman said:
Makita BO6050J Polisher

It would be sweet if it were possible to get smaller backing plates for this machine to accommodate 3"-5.5" inch pads...especially 3"-4" inch pads. If that could happen, then with this tool alone...and especially those who also own 3401's... you would have 2 work horses in forced rotation to cover pad sizes from 3" to 7" inches...but I doubt it has that kind of power.

Haven't seen any write-ups or reviews of the above linked machine. I know Makita makes good products, for sure...but have no clue about this one.

Experienced user and owner comments?

EDIT:
Would be nice to know if that clunky dust apparatus is able to be removed? Other than that being in the way the machine looks like it would be a great machine for owners that only want to buy one machine, or for those that can only afford one machine. It probably has more power than a normal DA...maybe, but not as much as the 3401. Didn't see any power specs.
Click to expand...

I have the Flex 34-01 set up with 5" pad, Flex 14-2 with 3" pad mounted (and also 5" available), PC with 3" pad (and also 5" available) and lastly the Dewalt with a 5" pad. I mostly use the 34-01 & 14-2. I prefer 5" pads. All handles have been removed from the buffers just not needed. For me using handles changes the ergonomics.

The 3" pads are nice for smaller areas. Almost ordered the 2: backing plate and pads but not sure that's a good investment. 3" is about the smallest I've really needed. 3" pads amps up the correction power even on the PC so going smaller with rotary really requires concentration and lower speeds.

All said even though I love rotaries the one must have polisher is the Flex 34-01. If I could only have one that's it. Buy once cry once you'll not regret it.

Mikita makes good tools also.
 
I had forgotten about Mike's reviews from 2012 about this polisher.

Appreciate the comments and recommendations from all.

Mike, I read the first four sentences of your post #4...no need for me to read any further. LOL! Flex 3401 it is!!!!
 
to me it just seems like it would be such a money maker if flex came out with a forced rotation for 2 , 3 inch pads- especially for those that don't/wont use a rotary for tight spots
 
I noticed, perhaps a month ago, the Makita is revised/improved

What actually got updated on the machine?

Edit
Guess it was new body design
 
I can assure you that the B6040 does not lack any power when compared to the Flex. I've owned a B6040 for about 10 years now. It definitely runs cooler than the Flex, but so does my garage space heater. I purchased it because of its ability to switch between free spinning and forced rotation. I use it mostly for AIO jobs to get the most out of the correction and then switch to free spinning for the last pass or two to make sure it's finished down nicely. I also use it with the Megs SOLO red and yellow wool pads for heavy correction when I don't want to use a rotary for whatever reason.

I concur with Mike P about the long rotary style handle on the Flex being a better design. You really need that added leverage the longer polisher handle provides to keep the polisher under control and prevent it from 'walking'. I've gotten used to holding the polisher a certain way that gives me smooth operation. I hold it with the polisher at an angle to the left at about 7 to 8 o'clock (6 o'clock would be the end of the polisher pointed directly at my chest). There's a sweet spot in there where the polisher glides and doesn't want to walk.

The inability to use anything other than the 6.5" pads is another downside with the Makita.

I don't want any kits to change the BP to a smaller 4" and 3.5 " pads. I want a smaller forced rotation machine to use those smaller size pads and the ability to switch to free spinning would be ideal. Do you think the Rupes Mini 75 would be so popular if was the same size as the 15 and 21? No it would not.
 
nothingface5384 said:
I noticed, perhaps a month ago, the Makita is revised/improved

What actually got updated on the machine?

Edit

Guess it was new body design
Click to expand...

The body shape has been improved with a rubber overmold on the head for better ergonomics and better gripping for your had.

The vacuum attachment has been highly modified for extracting wood dust. If I were to use one of these tools I would remove all the vacuum components since they are basically bulky add-ons not needed for buffing out paint.

The tool will work for paint polishing. Heck any thing is better than working by hand.

I think the jist of my comments about this tool as compared to the FLEX 3401 is simply if you're only going to buff out your own car once or twice a year then this tool will get the job done.

If you're going to buff out cars for a living, then get serious and get a tool actually designed for buffing out cars for a living.



DBAILEY said:
The inability to use anything other than the 6.5" pads is another downside with the Makita.
Click to expand...


Detailing history just keeps chugging along.... I need to write a coffee table book on the topic of detailing history.


For example, since I wrote the two articles cited in this thread on the BO6040 and the reply comparing and contrasting the BO6040 to the FLEX 3401 in the other thread linked to, something has changed.... (history was made)


Lake Country ThinPro Foam Buffing Pads exclusively at Autogeek


And because most people are using the 5.5" ThinPro pads, or the Meguiar's or Griot's 5.5" thin foam pads, the 6.5" ThinPro pads don't get a lot of talk unless they are being used with the FLEX XFE7 aka The Finisher.


That all said, these new thin foam pads in 6.5" would seem to be to be a good match for the BO6040 or the BO6040J


Lake Country ThinPro Foam Buffing Pads exclusively at Autogeek



Just by coincidence we had the new model BO6040J out of the box on Wednesday for a new project. It's still out in the Show Car Garage.

I'll yank it out of the case and take some pictures for ya all.


:)
 
nothingface5384 said:
I noticed, perhaps a month ago, the Makita is revised/improved

What actually got updated on the machine?

Edit
Guess it was new body design
Click to expand...


When you're here for the September Competition Ready 3-Day Detailing Class coming up REAL FAST!

I'll have the BO6040 out for anyone that wants to use it.


That's one of the best features about our classes is you're not trapped using only one brand of tool associated with the company or brand holding the class. At Autogeek... you get to use ALL the TOOLS - and then make up your own mind.

And I bring in cool cars for the Tool Day or Show Car Detailing Day for all my students to use the all the different tools on.

And as you're going to experience, it's a lot of fun when we go from FLEX to RUPES to Griot's polishers because after using all three of these brands EVERYONE has an opinion about these different brands.


And for all the people that will read this thread into the future as this class becomes part of detailing history, here's the cars the September 2016 Competition Ready Detailing Class is going to get to train on using all the cool tools.


List of cars for our September Competition Ready 3-Day Class


There's no other classes on earth where you get to train on so many cool cars.

:)
 
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