FLEX 3401 or RUPES? - A question I get asked a lot! -Mike Phillips

Lamented said:
Mike I know for the PC 7424 you recommend a 5" backing plate and the 5.5"pads.

Is that the same recommendation for the Flex 3401 ?
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Myself and most of the car detailing world recommends the 5" backing plate for the PC and tools LIKE IT because these tools are safe, (that's a way of saying weak), and in order to get GREAT performance you need small diameter pads that are THIN.

That's why.


The FLEX 3401 is GEAR DRIVEN - It doesn't care one whit what size pad or how thick of a pad you put on it. Here's a quote...

The FLEX 3401 will turn and churn any pad and product - Mike Phillips


For the FLEX 3401 you want to use either the factory backing plate that COMES WITH IT or the Lake Country 4" backing plate adapter system.

Then you can turn and churn the 5" and 6.5" Lake Country Hybrid pads or the new Lake Country Force Pads.



What are you working on?

What are you trying to do?



:)
 
Mike Phillips said:
Myself and most of the car detailing world recommends the 5" backing plate for the PC and tools LIKE IT because these tools are safe, (that's a way of saying weak), and in order to get GREAT performance you need small diameter pads that are THIN.

That's why.


The FLEX 3401 is GEAR DRIVEN - It doesn't care one whit what size pad or how thick of a pad you put on it. Here's a quote...

The FLEX 3401 will turn and churn any pad and product - Mike Phillips


For the FLEX 3401 you want to use either the factory backing plate that COMES WITH IT or the Lake Country 4" backing plate adapter system.

Then you can turn and churn the 5" and 6.5" Lake Country Hybrid pads or the new Lake Country Force Pads.



What are you working on?

What are you trying to do?



:)
Click to expand...

I have been out of the game for sometime. Planning on getting back into it. I own a 7424. Wanted to try something new. Using it for general purpose nothing crazy. You stated if you wanted to use a 4" Backing Plate you use the Lake Country. What about the one below? Would that work with the Lake Country pads?

FLEX XC3401 Mini 4.5 inch Backing Plate, FLEX

I understand you will cover more area with the larger pad but do you find working with the 5.5" pads more controllable?
My next question was what pad brand to you suggest. But you have seemed to answer that. I know each situation may dictate a different approach. Machine/Pad/Compound/Polish/Wax etc.

Thank You for all your help and knowledge.
 
Lamented said:
I have been out of the game for sometime. Planning on getting back into it. I own a 7424. Wanted to try something new. Using it for general purpose nothing crazy. You stated if you wanted to use a 4" Backing Plate you use the Lake Country. What about the one below? Would that work with the Lake Country pads?

FLEX XC3401 Mini 4.5 inch Backing Plate, FLEX

I understand you will cover more area with the larger pad but do you find working with the 5.5" pads more controllable?
My next question was what pad brand to you suggest. But you have seemed to answer that. I know each situation may dictate a different approach. Machine/Pad/Compound/Polish/Wax etc.

Thank You for all your help and knowledge.
Click to expand...

This plate with the LC Force Hybrid pads is a winner. The stock plate w/ 6.5" Force pads is great for horizontal surfaces (Hood, Roof, Trunk) and then I'll usually switch to the smaller plate w/ the 5.5" Force pads for the sides. The only downside with the 6.5" pads/plate is that it's kinda unforgiving when pad not completely flat on surface, which is more prone to happen on vertical surfaces. The machine will literally take you for a ride in those cases.

Have a GG6, a Rupes LHR15 Mk 2, Rupes LHR75 and the Flex 3401; when I just wanna get the work done, the Flex comes out. When time is not an issue and I'm doing a more 'enjoyable' job (whatever that means) I will grab the Rupes. The Flex just plain gets things done although running the Flex for 6-8hrs can take its toll on an aged body.

For whatever reason I seem to prefer SMAT products w/ the Flex...Megs M101 w/ Orange (or even gray when things are really looking bad) can really cut through the issues in 4 passes and even finish pretty nicely for a heavy cut compound (on an orange pad). M101 w/ the gray pad can really stopm out the defects although the gray pads seem to wear a bit quickly when used in these situations...but they sure get the job done quickly.

But that's just me, no pro here but like quick (*most* of the time), effective results ...and the Flex delivers.
 
Lamented said:
I have been out of the game for sometime. Planning on getting back into it. I own a 7424. Wanted to try something new. Using it for general purpose nothing crazy. You stated if you wanted to use a 4" Backing Plate you use the Lake Country. What about the one below? Would that work with the Lake Country pads?

FLEX XC3401 Mini 4.5 inch Backing Plate, FLEX

I understand you will cover more area with the larger pad but do you find working with the 5.5" pads more controllable?
My next question was what pad brand to you suggest. But you have seemed to answer that. I know each situation may dictate a different approach. Machine/Pad/Compound/Polish/Wax etc.

Thank You for all your help and knowledge.
Click to expand...



In my FLEX how-to book I cover all these questions.

Here's the nutshell version...

In the book I strongly recommend the Lake Country Hybrid pad line. They come in 6.5 and 5".

The back of the 5" pad has a 4" diameter velcro backing that matches the Lake Country 4" backing plate adapter. So basically, Lake Country made their backing plate adapter system for the FLEX 3401 so you could use the Lake Country 5" pads on the FLEX 3401.

Without going deep.... with free spinning tools, general speaking, thin pads rotate best and this is key because without pad rotation you're not really going to do any correction or poishing work - at least not in a time-effective manner.


With gear-driven tool, pad thickness or thinness doesn't matter because they are GEAR DRIVEN. In fact, thicker pads provide a more comfortable buffing experience than thin pads as thin pads on a gear driven tool can be "hoppy" or "grabby".


So in my book and in the real world I use and recommend the thick Lake Country Hybrid pad line using the factory 5.5" backing plate or the LC 4" backing plate.


Now this is KEY

When the backing plate is LARGER than the back of the velcro on the back of a buffing pad it is REALLY HARD TO CENTER THE PAD. For this reason it's really hard to use the 5" hybrid pads on the FLEX mini backing plate your reference.


So you have to use 5.5" pads and most of these now days are thin, not thick. Can you use them? Yes. the thicker the better. Take a look at some of the Griot's 5.5" pads NOT in the BOSS line as these are on the thick side.


Me? I don't like using all the various thin 5.5" foam pads on the 4.5" backing plate. That's just me though.


Hope the above helps...


:)
 
These pads can be centered onto the Flex mini backing plate but they are thin. If you want to go down this road then maybe order a few from one of the below lines and see how you like them.

Lake Country Hydro-Tech 5 1/2 x 7/8 Inch Foam Pads , hydrotech foam pads for water-based polishes, lake country foam pads, buffing pads

CCS foam buffing pads,foam polishing pads,lake country foam pads,foam polisher pads,buffer pads,lake county pads,porter cable pads,pads for air sander

Lake Country 5 1/2 x 7/8 inch Beveled Edge Foam Pads, buffing pads, Lake Country curved edge pads, polishing pads


These Griot's are a little thicker and have a 5" velcro backing so you can easily center them on the FLEX mini backing plate, these are also good pads...


Griots Garage 5.5 inch Orange Foam Correcting Pad

Griots Garage 5.5 inch Black Foam Finishing Pad

Griots Garage 5.5 inch Red Foam Waxing Pad



:)
 
It is just a pleasure to get on AGO every day (for me about 4 years now), and discover some gem from Mike Phillips.

This whole site has been just an incredible experience for me. So many of you guys/gals have been instrumental in my learning curve.

But Mike is just simply "The Man".

Name one other person with the knowledge he has regarding our passion. Or, the incredible amount of time he spends (away from his family sometimes) building upon this knowledge every day.

And lastly, Mike says he is "Honored" when someone asks him to sign a tool.

The honor is all ours, my man. What you bring to AG, the forum, and to this hobby/profession is second to none. I know damn well I'm not the Lone Ranger here in saying this, but I wanted to express how much we all appreciate all your hard work Mike.
 
Awesome share VISITOR. :bowdown::bowdown: :goodjob2:

I hadn't seen this clip before & its a good one. I also hadn't thought about what causes the 'walking' either (I guess because I have so many hours behind the 3401 that its a non issue) but thats a bang on explanation. The Flex 3401 has to be my favourite too, results get nailed, fun to work with & as reliable as water is wet! :props:


Aaryn NZ. :dblthumb2:
 
Same here, after going thru my clone polishers the 3401 is in my cabinet with both backing plates...
 
PaulMys said:
It is just a pleasure to get on AGO every day (for me about 4 years now), and discover some gem from Mike Phillips.

This whole site has been just an incredible experience for me. So many of you guys/gals have been instrumental in my learning curve.

But Mike is just simply "The Man".

Name one other person with the knowledge he has regarding our passion. Or, the incredible amount of time he spends (away from his family sometimes) building upon this knowledge every day.

And lastly, Mike says he is "Honored" when someone asks him to sign a tool.

The honor is all ours, my man. What you bring to AG, the forum, and to this hobby/profession is second to none. I know damn well I'm not the Lone Ranger here in saying this, but I wanted to express how much we all appreciate all your hard work Mike.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the kind words Paul.... appreciated...

I never started out my life journey to be a detailer or a guy that teaches others to art and craft of car and boat detailing, it's just my passion led me down this road. I explain why in the interview I did with Dennis Gage on his TV show, My Classic Car. You can Google Dennis Gage Mike Phillips Interview and it will pull right up. It was really nice of Dennis to let me share my story on TV.



:dblthumb2:
 
VISITOR said:
if you would like to use 5.5" pads with the flex, pick up this backing plate...
FLEX XC3401 Mini 4.5 inch Backing Plate, FLEX
Click to expand...


:iagree: Good mention here VISITOR. :props:

I use this backing plate alot, its great with CarPros 5 inch Flash, Polishing & Gloss pads & the Lake Country 5.5 inch Force Hybrid pads. I have five Flex 3401 polishers set up in my shop (too many for two staff? Na. :props:) - One with the Flex 4.5 inch backing plate, two with the standard Flex 5.5 backing plate & one with the Lake Country 4 inch backing plate . . . oh, the fifth Flex is a special one to me because my good friend Mr Phillips kindly signed it so it doesn't see much use but as reliable as these tools are you surely cannot say its a spare.

I would recommend acquiring the 4 inch Lake Country backing plate & the alternative Flex 4.5 inch backing plate for super versatility. :xyxthumbs:


Aaryn NZ. :dblthumb2:
 
PaulMys said:
It is just a pleasure to get on AGO every day (for me about 4 years now), and discover some gem from Mike Phillips.

This whole site has been just an incredible experience for me. So many of you guys/gals have been instrumental in my learning curve.

But Mike is just simply "The Man".

Name one other person with the knowledge he has regarding our passion. Or, the incredible amount of time he spends (away from his family sometimes) building upon this knowledge every day.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the kind words.

I've been answering questions and writing how-to articles about car detailing professionally since 2002 - that's a long time.

One of my co-workers once said,


People don't read any more


And I think he's part-right. People read when it's important to them to find out as much information they can before undertaking a project that is also important to them.

Besides that they watch YouTube videos.


:)
 
How about an update on this, Mike, now that Rupes has the Mille? Surely it's a little more like Royal Galas & Pink Ladies now?
 
Rupes all day! I would die before I own another flex polisher.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Autogeekonline mobile app
 
WristyManchego said:
Why the blood? What’s your experience?
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They sold me 2 used polishers direct from the manufacturer at a new polisher price that stop working after first uses. Their customer service is horrible I had to post it on Instagram in order to get a response from them. They sent me a replacement that I later found out was also used that's stop working after the first use.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Autogeekonline mobile app
 
ClearVue18 said:
They sold me 2 used polishers at a new polisher price that stop working after first uses. Their customer service is horrible I had to post it on Instagram in order to get a response from them. They sent me a replacement that I later found out was also used that's stop working after the first use.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Autogeekonline mobile app
Click to expand...

Rough.

And have you since had to invest in the entire rupee polishing system or are you using your own pads and compounds?
 
Well I have about 90 polishers total. I purchased those flex polishers to see how they were and after that the whole company can go in the trash. I've never had that issue with rupes. For $400 the polisher shouldn't break like a $39 harbor freight polisher.
b925d84efcdb1dc22654da194a0f10ff.jpg

Sent from my SM-N960U using Autogeekonline mobile app
 
ClearVue18 said:
I purchased those flex polishers to see how they were and after that the whole company can go in the trash.

I've never had that issue with rupes.

For $400 the polisher shouldn't break like a $39 harbor freight polisher.
Click to expand...


Very interesting. I've been using FLEX since I came to Autogeek, so 10 years and have never had a single problem. In fact, for most of my detailing work I use the BEAST and now the CBEAST just to go as fast as I can while keeping my quality high.

I take all the popular tools to all my classes and let everyone use them and make up their own mind. They are the predominant tool used in my boat detailing class and detailing boat is really hard on tools.


Like I say, your experience is definitely interesting and I would also say the exception from my experience answering questions on this forum, on FB and teaching classes for years now.


I'll share this thread and your comments with FLEX. I'm sure they would like to know of your experience.



:cheers:
 
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