Don't fear the rotary!

truckbutt

truckbutt

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I just tried out my new Flex PE-14-2 150 on my 1998 Explorer. I picked it up with the 10% off sale. I had never used a rotary before. My experience has been with the Flex XC3401vrg and the Megs. I read what I could find on the web about using a rotary and gave it a shot. The Flex is well balanced and smooth. It was easy to use. I think it's easier to use then the DA. I used M105, M205, and BFWD. The pads were Megs Polishing and LC 6.5 inch. The most aggressive pad I used was a polishing just to be safe my first time out. The backing plate was the Meguiars Solo W66.
Here are some pictures:

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Best Regards,
Scott
 
Considering what a typical '98 Explorer paint looks like, that looks fantastic!
 
Deep Gloss Auto Salon said:
Fear? No

Respect? Yes
Click to expand...

:iagree:

Double that!

Where your first time usage with the rotary may have been uneventful (no damage), always remember, the chances of damage or a swirled finish are increased dramatically. Hence the "Respect".

Truck looks great!
 
How much time did you spend on the car with the Rotary. How did it compare time wise to 3401?
 
Back in my day the only machine we had to work with was the rotary. It is not inherently evil, it's merely different in its design and operation than its dual action counterpart.

I found myself using my rotary less and less because of adding the Flex 3401 to my arsenal. While the Flex 3401 is an amazing machine I picked up my rotary again and man what was I thinking!!

My rotaries cut the correction time by 50%. I can finish with a rotary, I did for years, or grab the Flex 3401 with a gray pad and add the finishing touches....:props:

Machine of yesteryear....circa 1968

Machine_01.jpg


Machines of today...

Left to right

  • Porter Cable 7424
  • Makita 99227
  • Flex 3401
  • Flex PE14-2-150

Collection_RD18.jpg
 
dlt21 said:
How much time did you spend on the car with the Rotary. How did it compare time wise to 3401?
Click to expand...
Correction was much quicker and required less effort IMHO with the rotary. I think that I didn't run into trouble with the rotary because I usually have to force myself to slow my passes down rather then to keep moving, so less chance of burning the clearcoat.
 
How do you find the new Flex Rotary vs the 3401 in ability to handle. I have the 3401 and a chicago Harbor Freight sales rotary which to me is very difficult to control,though it may be my inexperience with a rotary is the problem
 
All rotaries are designed with one thing in common; the pad rotates.

Rotating mass combined with friction give the rotary machines completely different handling characteristics. Knowing this, the operator must constantly counteract these forces to maintain control allowing the machine to perform it's task.

Most of today's rotaries are variable speed for different application. Depending on the design and engineering that went into the machine makes all the difference in the world regarding balance, durability, weight, and ergonomics.

The Flex PE14-2-150 is a perfect example of engineering and manufacture. This is quite a machine and in my opinion no Harbor Freight unit can come close to compare...
 
truckbutt said:
Correction was much quicker and required less effort IMHO with the rotary. I think that I didn't run into trouble with the rotary because I usually have to force myself to slow my passes down rather then to keep moving, so less chance of burning the clearcoat.
Click to expand...

Did you use the rotary for the entire paint correction process? I own the PC7424 and will be looking to step up to a FLEX soon.
 
Pictures look great! Thanks for sharing...

truckbutt said:
The backing plate was the Meguiars Solo W66.
Click to expand...


That's a nice backing plate, it's also the one we used for our Detailing Boot Camp Class this last weekend as well as the W68 both with Meguiar's Solo Wool Cutting pads and with Lake Country Foam Polishing pads.

Donovan practicing with the Flex PE14 with the W66 Solo Backing Plate
HandsOnRotaryBufferTraining006.jpg


Tyler practicing with the Flex PE14 and the W68 Backing Plate
HandsOnRotaryBufferTraining012.jpg



:xyxthumbs:
 
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