Battery Time - FLEX Cordless Polishers - Real World Detail by Mike Phillips at Autogeek

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Battery Time - FLEX Cordless Polishers - Real World Detail by Mike Phillips at Autogeek

Been hoping to get a very special car down here for this write-up and sad to say, so far, no luck but it will be here, it's all about timing.

Until then, my good friend Mike offered me his 1970 Buick for anytime I needed a project car. So like I say in my article below...

Run what you brung - Use what you have -Mike Phillips


And the good news is the Buick is also super cool! And man... this engine just wants to bust out when you put the pedal to the metal.


Anyway, here's Mike's car at a car show before arriving to Autogeek...

After a waterless wash using SONAX Glass Cleaner, here's the finish using the SCANGRIP Sunmatch Swirl Finder Light.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued....


Vertical panels
Now that the horizontal surfaces have all been compounded, time to move onto the vertical panels.

Topical Glass Polishing
I learned from years of detailing cars in Oregon, you CANNOT detail a car and make the paint shiny and then give the customer back a car with spotty glass.

Second Step Polishing - Removing the holograms
Next up I'm doing a Test Spot to test out some pads with the SONAX EX 04-06 and dial-in a process that's fast and effective.

Holograms on both sides of the tape-line

BOOM! - They be gone!

Start at the top and work your way down...
Roof first, then hood and trunk lid, then vertical sides...

Seal the deal
After machine polishing I then machine applied the SONAX Liquid Wax

Love the Glove!

Deep, wet shine!

Everything I used...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued....

After results using the SCANGRIP Sunmatch Swirl Finder Light

Beauty shots....

One bad Buick ready to show or go....

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued....


I still have to add all the words for the above thread but I'll go ahead and ask any questions that you might have.


Alter all was done, here's my results...




The FLEX Cordless Rotary Polisher

Cutting with a wool pad and a compound I was getting 30 and 35 minutes off run time.


The FLEX Cordless XFE7 15 Long Stroke Orbital Polisher (free spinning)

Polishing and waxing I was getting 35 to 40 minutes of run time, have to check my notes, might have obtained up to 45 minutes.





FLEX Official Statement
The above times are also what FLEX official statement is for run time on the 5.0 amp batteries.


For tech details and more info, see my article here,


NEW Cordless FLEX Tools at Autogeek Rotary and Orbital Polishers

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

And one more comment....


Not having to mess with a cord... that is cool.



:buffing:

 

[The Guz]

The car came out great.

Thank you for posting up the run times you were seeing with the polishers. This is real world data that will give others like myself an idea of what to expect when using either of these.

 

[Aaryn NZ]

Awesome Mike. rops:

Buick looks fantastic, I have always liked the shape - very flowing. :xyxthumbs:

I’m very interested in these, I guess it’s really a forgone conclusion that in time I will add each of these to the stable & I have no doubts at all that they will be top quality seeing as they are Flex.

Tell me Mike, will you or anyone have these to play with at Detail Fest? I see Renny is doing a seminar on them but can I get one in hand?

Aaryn NZ. :dblthumb2:

 

[Guyb]

Turned out looking good using battery power. Guess I will have to look at one at MTE and see how it feels.

 

[SWETM]

Awesome work and write up! And the car is beutieful!

The cordless Flex is very intresting. And the time you got on a charge is very good. Wondering if this is becoming the new standard for polishers as any else electric power tools has become.

How many times where you grabbing after the cord to put over the shoulder lol
Seems nice to not have to think about the cord.

Thanks for shareing your experience and work with us Mike!

Regards
Tony

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

The car came out great.

Thank you for posting up the run times you were seeing with the polishers. This is real world data that will give others like myself an idea of what to expect when using either of these.

No problemo, wanted to do this test sooner just waiting for a full size cool car.

Awesome Mike. rops:

Buick looks fantastic, I have always liked the shape - very flowing. :xyxthumbs:

I’m very interested in these, I guess it’s really a forgone conclusion that in time I will add each of these to the stable & I have no doubts at all that they will be top quality seeing as they are Flex.

I can't wait for the Cordless BEAST!

Tell me Mike, will you or anyone have these to play with at Detail Fest?

Yes. You are welcome to use my personal FLEX Cordless tools while you're here.

I see Renny is doing a seminar on them but can I get one in hand?

Aaryn NZ. :dblthumb2:

Yes. Renny and Bob Eichelberg will have a FLEX Cordless class at Detail Fest and I will have my Cordless tools there also.

Turned out looking good using battery power. Guess I will have to look at one at MTE and see how it feels.

Find me Guy and you can take my two FLEX Cordless polishers for a test drive. We will have a demo hood in our booth.

Awesome work and write up! And the car is beautiful!

Thanks Tony, lot of work goes into not just the car but the photography and the write-up, comments are always appreciated. Not sure you can find any forum now days with this kind of info laid out in an easy to read and digest format.

The cordless Flex is very intresting. And the time you got on a charge is very good. Wondering if this is becoming the new standard for polishers as any else electric power tools has become.

The good news is rechargeable battery technology keeps improving....

How many times where you grabbing after the cord to put over the shoulder lol
Seems nice to not have to think about the cord.

Thanks for shareing your experience and work with us Mike!

Regards
Tony

You have to come up with your own technique to hold the tools while taking into consideration the battery, but "yes" not dealing with a cord is awesome.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

FANTASTIC job, Mike!!!

 

[JustJesus]

Thanks for doing real world testing and letting us know the results!

Thank you for posting up the run times you were seeing with the polishers. This is real world data that will give others like myself an idea of what to expect when using either of these.

When can I expect you to get one? Buddy? I'll come over and play with it too

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

FANTASTIC job, Mike!!!

Thanks Mark...

Thanks for doing real world testing and letting us know the results!

Thank you Jesus, I actually have some more notes to add but with prep for MTE - just not enough time...

 

[Dan K]

Mike,

Now that the cordless polishers are available for preorder, can you verify that each will be shipped with 2 batteries? The product page does not include that information.

 

[Vanquish Auto]

Mike,

Now that the cordless polishers are available for preorder, can you verify that each will be shipped with 2 batteries? The product page does not include that information.

“– and you can have a back-up battery on hand to keep going while the other battery is still charging!”

This statement leads me to believe they will only come with one battery.

 

[georgeallen1]

I need this. When is the release date when it will be available?

 

[Dan K]

I need this. When is the release date when it will be available?

Available to preorder now. Release date April or later.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Mike,

Now that the cordless polishers are available for preorder, can you verify that each will be shipped with 2 batteries?

The product page does not include that information.

I have been told first hand by Bob Eichelberg, the President of FLEX North America, that each kit comes with 2 of the 5.0 Amp batteries.

 

[Dan K]

I have been told first hand by Bob Eichelberg, the President of FLEX North America, that each kit comes with 2 of the 5.0 Amp batteries.

Thanks Mike.

The product page has been updated with that info.

The first 500 pre-orders for either polisher are also going to receive a 2.5 amp battery with their order.

Nice bonus for those ready to take the plunge.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Thanks Mike.

The product page has been updated with that info.

Good to hear...

The first 500 pre-orders for either polisher are also going to receive a 2.5 amp battery with their order.

Nice bonus for those ready to take the plunge.

Bob Eichelberg told me about the bonus battery at MTE. I didn't want to mention it until I knew it was for-sure.


Good to hear!