HF DA with a MF cutting pad and quality compound will correct just as good or better than the 3401. Truth.
I completely disagree with the above. The FLEX 3401 is BEAST! That's how I sign my FLEX how-to book. It's the only gear-driven orbital polisher on the market and my quote goes like this,
With a FLEX 3401 you can power through any detail job -Mike Phillips
You can't say that about any free spinning orbital because of the nature of their drive system in context with the shape of the panel you're buffing out.
Here's another quote of mine,
There's something to be said for speed -Mike Phillips
Here's two examples of what I've been able to do in 5.5 hours from start to finish. If I can do it... anyone can do it...
1969 Corvette Stingray - Cobra Clay Mitt Review
Before
After
Did this in 5.5 hours
3D HD Adapt and Poxy Review - 1940 Packard Streetrod detailed by Mike Phillips
Before
After
When I need to get a car buffed out fast I use the FLEX 3401. ALL of the other orbital will do the job... just not as fast when you take into account curved panels and tight areas.
Sounds good to me... the flex can do moderate correction and wax and the G15 can do the major correction.
Um.... that's not accurate. The FLEX 3401 can do MAJOR correction as can the G15 it's just the FLEX 3401 can do it faster to a wider spectrum of curved shaped body panels due to the gear-driven nature of the tool.
I picked up a Flex and a Rupes 15 around the holidays and have found myself using the Flex for initial heavy correction and the Rupes for final polishing...kinda like getting the heavy lifting/arduous work outta the way before getting to the more delicate and enjoyable refinement of polishing with the Rupes.
I think the above is a great combination. I also show this in my boat detailing classes, that is we follow the FLEX 3401 with the RUPES BigFoot 21 and we get a show car finish on a gel-coat boat.
lol nope never tried it but he already have a long throw DA so why not rotate them...
I don't understand? You've never used a FLEX 3401 and don't own one but previously you posted this?
Sounds good to me... the flex can do moderate correction and wax and the G15 can do the major correction.
I'm not purposefully trying to pick on you but it is important to me that this forum has ACCURATE information on it either by myself or our forum members.
It's not the shorter throw that makes it difficult to finish on soft paint, it's the forced rotation that causes issues.
I'd agree with you on this. Do you know where you learned this?
I know I shared this back in 2012 in this write-up for an old 2-door sports car I detailed...
Christmas Detail - Ferrari P4 - Move over Rudolf
Here's post 31 in the above thread....
What made you decide to finish out with the GV110 vs the Flex?
Here's my answer in post 32
Mike Phillips said:
Good question...
I find on softer paints like this car has that the PC style with a Fine Cut Polish finishes out nicer than with the more powerful Flex 3401.
That question and answer section for the write-up was in 2013
And I still experience the same thing today on softer paints. That is a free spinning orbital polisher will tend to finish out nicer on softer paints than the gear-driven FLEX 3401 if all other factors are kept the same.
You can finish out show car flawless using the FLEX 3401, you just need to make sure you're using great abrasive technology, the right pad and of course, excellent technique.
