Attention Flex PiXiE Owners.

Dr Oldz

Dr Oldz

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This kinda got buried somehow but these goodies are available now.

FLEX PXE 80 12-EC Accessories


I got a 3rd battery. I chose The light weight 2.5(same one included in polisher kit)

Nice to see the bigger batteries available for those that want them.
 
Thanks for sharing...

I did a run-time test with the smallest battery running the PiXie on full speed, NON-STOP until the batter died and it ran for 40 minutes.

I'll dig up the video for this, it's on my FB page.

Here's the deal - NO ONE buffs like this. No one. We all stop or turn-off the buffer to do something; wipe off product residue, change pads, move around the car, get a drink, answer our phone etc. No one buffs for 40 minutes straight.

So in the time you're not running the polisher your back-up battery can be charging.

The small battery is light weight and compact in size and perfect for the overall weight and size of the tool. So honestly, I don't see when I would want or need a larger battery. Maybe if I worked at a factory on a production like doing piece work.

But for those that want more run-time, it's great to see FLEX bring these other battery options to the market.


What I'm waiting for is a 2" backing plate.


:)
 
Agreed on t he 2inch backing. It’s why I ordered another 3inch plate and gonna trim it down on the lathe.

I find myself using the PiXiE a lot. While there is no reason to get a 3rd battery because one charges faster than I use the other...... sometimes I get involved and forget to charge the one I just emptied like a dummy.
 
I get really confused with this one Mike, do you mind explaining to me what size backing plates it has and what size pads it can run. I'm just a tad confused with the sizing and also the flex pad sizing also.

thanks in advance
 
nickyc said:
I get really confused with this one Mike, do you mind explaining to me what size backing plates it has and what size pads it can run.
Click to expand...


No problemo....

The PiXiE comes with 3 backing plates.



1 each - 1" SMOOTH surface backing plate for 1" adhesive sanding discs.

This is for use with the 3mm and 12mm free spinning orbital drive unit for machine sanding. It is NOT for use with the rotary mode drive using. Why? Because when you sand with a rotary drive tool it's no longer sanding - it's called grinding.



1 each - 1" Velcro HOOK faced backing plate for 1" buffing pads

This is primarily for paint correction but you could use it with 1" sanding discs to sand also.


1 each - 3" Velcro HOOK faced backing plate for 3" and 3.5" foam pads

This is primarily for paint correction but you could use it with 1" sanding discs to sand also.




At the time of the launch, there was NOT a 2" Velcro HOOK faced backing plate. I've been told FLEX will introduce this sometime in the future. Might be available now, check the German FLEX site.


Here's my observations and keep in mind, I really like the PiXiE for both rotary paint correction and orbital polishing and sanding.


The 1" pads is effective with both rotary drive unit and 12mm free spinning orbital drive unit.

3", and 3.5" and even 4" pads are effective in the 12mm free spinning orbital drive unit.


I have not found a pad that is effective or functional for the 3mm free spinning orbital drive unit yet. It could be that the 3mm 12mm free spinning orbital drive unit will become both effective and functional when the 2" backing plate is available and we use/test 2" pads.



And the above is why I prefer this forum over Facebook for sharing information. In the above I was able to FORMAT text to make it easier for the human eye to READ and thus take into the brain and process.


Hope that helps...


:)
 
More....


Half of what I do on this forum is simply "remembering" where stuff is so I can re-share or re-purpose for education.

In my above post where I wrote,

Mike Phillips said:
3", and 3.5" and even 4" pads are effective in the 12mm free spinning orbital drive unit.
Click to expand...


Here's an example of using a 4" pad on the PiXiE. Note the text I turned BOLD RED.


Review: Wolfgang Concours-Series Microfiber Towels - 1988 Porsche 928 s4




Machine applying a finishing wax using the cordless FLEX PiXiE

After all the correction work was done it was time to apply a finishing wax. For those that might not be familiar with the term,

Finishing Wax

It's a term used to describe a wax that has no cleaner, abrasive and thus zero defect removal ability. It's ONLY for paint in perfect condition - like the paint on the Porsche after I just corrected it. A finishing wax is the opposite of a cleaner/wax or an AIO. An AIO is the same thing as a cleaner/wax in case you didn't know that either. :)

Wolfgang Füzion Carnauba Polymer Estate Wax is a true finishing wax, or technically, a true finishing hybrid. It has ZERO cleaning ability and is only for cars with perfect paint.


This is the FLEX cordless PXE 80 or as I call it, the PiXiE. The name Pixie means a small fairy-like creature, so it kind of fits because the tool is small. All tool companies should brand their tools with NAMES - not PART NUMBERS. The pad is a Lake Country 4" Gold Jeweling foam pad. These are not currently an available part number. Lake Country made a few for me to test but nothing ever came from it. Partly my fault and that's because while I think I'm pretty good and sharing product that are top performers, I'm not really someone that can project how many units we will sell in a year so everyone involved will no if this is a viable new skew to launch. But at least I have a few and they are PERFECT for machine applying a wax on the PiXiE. :)

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_041.JPG



The 4" gold jeweling pad has a 3.5" velcro backing, which is perfect for the 3.5" backing plate that comes with the FLEX PiXiE. I'm also using the 12mm drive unit installed on the PiXiE.

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_042.JPG


Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_043.JPG





You can probably guess what I'm going to do next....

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_044.JPG




Place the face of the pad into the jar of Fuzion and then >blip< the on/off button for a few seconds.

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_045.JPG




The 4" pad fits perfectly into the Fuzion wax jar.

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_046.JPG




Note the tool is on the 3 speed setting? In order to get this shot, I had to use some 3M green painter's tape on the backside of the wax jar to keep it from spinning while the pad was spinning against the wax.

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_047.JPG




Spin spin spin....

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_048.JPG




BOOM!

I have wax on the pad and I'm ready to seal the paint on the Porsche by machine. I never do anything by hand unless I absolutely have to. The machine always outperforms the human. Just watch the Terminator movie. Plus, here at Autogeek, we don't sell hands... we sell tools. :)

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_049.JPG




And in case you're wondering how long the battery will last on the cordless PiXiE? I have a live video on this topic and the battery easily ran for 40 minutes NON STOP.

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_050.JPG




Click here to watch a short video showing the PiXiE being used to machine apply wax to this Porsche







Here's the entire Porsche covered in Fuzion....

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_013.JPG





Here's the final results

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_018.JPG


Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_019.JPG


Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_024.JPG



The full write-up for this old 2-door Pcar is right here,

Review: Wolfgang Concours-Series Microfiber Towels - 1988 Porsche 928 s4



It didn't start out looking like you see above.... :)

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_003c.JPG






:)
 
Thanks Mike, in the 2nd post you state 'which is perfect for the 3.5" backing plate that comes with the FLEX PiXiE'

Is this a typo ?
 
nickyc said:
Thanks Mike, in the 2nd post you state 'which is perfect for the 3.5" backing plate that comes with the FLEX PiXiE'

Is this a typo ?
Click to expand...


You mean this,

Mike Phillips said:
The 4" gold jeweling pad has a 3.5" velcro backing, which is perfect for the 3.5" backing plate that comes with the FLEX PiXiE.

Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_042.JPG
Click to expand...


No - the 3.5" velcro backing on the fold foam jeweling pad fits or attaches perfectly to the 3.5" velcro face of the backing plate. The pad then tapers out a little so the FACE of the pad is just under 4" and fits inside the wax jar.


See how the backing plate is perfectly centered and aligned onto the back of the pad in this picture.


Wolfgang_Concours_Series_Microfiber_Towels_043.JPG



I teach little things like this in all my detailing classes, that is how to perfectly align backing plates to pads.


The little things are the big things -Mike Phillips




:)
 
Thanks Mike, so a 3" pad would be too small for that BP ? I would need 3.5" pads ?
 
Thanks for the info. Can’t wait to try this out ( been crazy busy at work, running 7 days a week 2 shifts to keep social distancing in the research labs). Will most likely use on my Cobalt bow rider once the lockdown is lifted ( our community dock can’t go in the water due to business shutdown in PA)
 
Mike Phillips said:
Just depends on the pad. Most 3" pads I can think of - the FACE of the pad is always a tick larger than 3" and the backing is right at 3" so the pad should fit fine.


What do you have for pads?


:)
Click to expand...

I dont yet Mike, looking to get the PXE and wanted your advice on the pads as I was a little confused as you know. In the uk we are a bit limited, so really I should be looking for any 1" and 3" pads ( the velcro size) ?
 
What I do not understand is why Flex seem to do odd backing plate sizes ?
Now I'm obviously being really dumb, so please tolerate my ignorance in the matter, if anything, to educate me.

But this machine comes with 30mm and 75mm backing plates, so the 75mm makes sense as that is 3" and there are lots of 3" pads, the 30mm doesnt make sense to me though as that is larger than 1", so surely 1" pads will be slightly too small and the backing plate will be larger than the mating surface of the pad?
 
nickyc said:
What I do not understand is why Flex seem to do odd backing plate sizes ?
Now I'm obviously being really dumb, so please tolerate my ignorance in the matter, if anything, to educate me.

But this machine comes with 30mm and 75mm backing plates, so the 75mm makes sense as that is 3" and there are lots of 3" pads, the 30mm doesn't make sense to me though as that is larger than 1", so surely 1" pads will be slightly too small and the backing plate will be larger than the mating surface of the pad?
Click to expand...


Here's the deal,

You want and need the velcor on the back of ANY pad for ANY backing plate to be the exact fit or a little oversize.

If it's exact fit then it's easy to center the pad on the backing plate and this is important for any free spinning random orbital polisher as having the pad off-center an slow down pad rotation.

If it's oversize, that's okay, you can use your EYES to center the backing plate against the Velcro backing.


The PROBLEM is if the back of a buffing pad is SMALLER than the backing plate. If this is the case, then it's really difficult for your eyes to center the pad.


FLEX makes 1", 2" and 3" foam pads that work great on this tool and should be available somewhere in the U.K.


:)
 
Thats what I mean Mike, the 30mm backing plate will be slightly too large for the mounting face of a 1" pad as that will be closer to 25mm in theory ?
 
nickyc said:
Thats what I mean Mike, the 30mm backing plate will be slightly too large for the mounting face of a 1" pad as that will be closer to 25mm in theory ?
Click to expand...

5mm is pretty small and most of these measurements are not exact, at least on the pad side of the equation.

Here's what I would recommend, order just ONE pad from your supplier in the U.K. and check it for fitment. If it fits, order more pads. If it doesn't fit - you're only out the cost of the pad and shipping but my guess is it's going to fit.


:)
 
I sure hope Flex comes out with a 2" pad soon. I definitely will order one.
 
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