Corey@OptimalDetailing
New member
- Jan 13, 2013
- 565
- 0
Here's my $.02. Just recently switching from a Flex to a Rupes 21, I'm still adjusting to the Rupes. I've only done 1 full correction, and am currently correcting my wife's Yukon here and there. I did multiple vehicles with the Flex, mainly with the LC Hybrid 5" pads.
FLEX 3401 -
Pros: Forced rotation. This things put out some serious power, but it takes a little bit of a learning curve to "control" this power. It really teaches you how to control your pressure on panels and not to tip it on its side.
1 step machine - This thing is unbeatable for 1-step. From rock hard GM to soft Toyota paint, this will correct and finish with ease.
Built quality - Just a work of art. Flex engineers have put some serious time and effort into making sure every one of these machines functions properly, is put together perfectly, and will last.
Cons: Pad selection. I found that the ONLY pad I liked were the LC Hybrid. Is that a bad thing? Not at all, but it is the one reason I switched to a Rupes. I like using MF pads...I love using MF pads. I did not find a single MF pad the Flex works well with, so that put me off to using my PC7424. So I kept asking myself, why was I using my $100 machine
instead of my $400 machine?
Control - If you don't learn quickly, this machine can really turn into trouble. A little adjusting and LEARNING PROPER TECHNIQUE will not have you worried, but the Flex will try to talk your entire body off the hood the first time you turn the speed up.
RUPES 21:
Pros: Huge throw, big power. A huge leap of a PC7424 (can't speak for a GG6"), but this thing corrects well. Again, I'm still adjusting a few things to make it more comfortable for me to use, this is a big change from a Flex 3401.
Comfort - What feels to be a tad longer than a Flex, isn't a bad thing. Controlling this machine across panels is a breeze, it does all the work for you. Little downward pressure helps with fatigue and fighting yourself to correct faster. It just glides over the surface regardless of pad selection.
Cons: Build quality. Compared against a Flex, I wouldn't even put it in the same league. I took mine apart to clean it and it seemed well built, but some of the plastic parts felt cheap. I HATE the power cord, it will definitely be a modification I do in the future. It is extremely slick and hard, whereas the Flex is very flexible and not slick at all. IE: Won't slip off your shoulder when you blink like the Rupes does.
"Modifications" - Do I hate the fact that you have to put a $.10 washer on to help it? Of course I do, but it's a simple modification. Do I hate the fact that you have to buy a 5" backing plate just to use the pads you want? Of course, but Flex is the same way, so it's hard to gripe about this.
The Flex is 100% perfect out of the box. Change the backing plate and boom, you've got, in my opinion, one of the best overall work horses in the industry. Again, I switched because of pad selection. I really, really enjoy using Meguiars MF discs and they were almost impossible to use on the Flex. Just the pads drove me to switching machines. Crazy right? The Rupes is effortless when working across a panel, and with a little tweaking to your angle or downward pressure, it will not stop rotation.
FLEX 3401 -
Pros: Forced rotation. This things put out some serious power, but it takes a little bit of a learning curve to "control" this power. It really teaches you how to control your pressure on panels and not to tip it on its side.
1 step machine - This thing is unbeatable for 1-step. From rock hard GM to soft Toyota paint, this will correct and finish with ease.
Built quality - Just a work of art. Flex engineers have put some serious time and effort into making sure every one of these machines functions properly, is put together perfectly, and will last.
Cons: Pad selection. I found that the ONLY pad I liked were the LC Hybrid. Is that a bad thing? Not at all, but it is the one reason I switched to a Rupes. I like using MF pads...I love using MF pads. I did not find a single MF pad the Flex works well with, so that put me off to using my PC7424. So I kept asking myself, why was I using my $100 machine
instead of my $400 machine?
Control - If you don't learn quickly, this machine can really turn into trouble. A little adjusting and LEARNING PROPER TECHNIQUE will not have you worried, but the Flex will try to talk your entire body off the hood the first time you turn the speed up.
RUPES 21:
Pros: Huge throw, big power. A huge leap of a PC7424 (can't speak for a GG6"), but this thing corrects well. Again, I'm still adjusting a few things to make it more comfortable for me to use, this is a big change from a Flex 3401.
Comfort - What feels to be a tad longer than a Flex, isn't a bad thing. Controlling this machine across panels is a breeze, it does all the work for you. Little downward pressure helps with fatigue and fighting yourself to correct faster. It just glides over the surface regardless of pad selection.
Cons: Build quality. Compared against a Flex, I wouldn't even put it in the same league. I took mine apart to clean it and it seemed well built, but some of the plastic parts felt cheap. I HATE the power cord, it will definitely be a modification I do in the future. It is extremely slick and hard, whereas the Flex is very flexible and not slick at all. IE: Won't slip off your shoulder when you blink like the Rupes does.
"Modifications" - Do I hate the fact that you have to put a $.10 washer on to help it? Of course I do, but it's a simple modification. Do I hate the fact that you have to buy a 5" backing plate just to use the pads you want? Of course, but Flex is the same way, so it's hard to gripe about this.
The Flex is 100% perfect out of the box. Change the backing plate and boom, you've got, in my opinion, one of the best overall work horses in the industry. Again, I switched because of pad selection. I really, really enjoy using Meguiars MF discs and they were almost impossible to use on the Flex. Just the pads drove me to switching machines. Crazy right? The Rupes is effortless when working across a panel, and with a little tweaking to your angle or downward pressure, it will not stop rotation.
and you work on a lot of larger vehicles down your way, that sometimes need 'muscle' more than 'finesse'. I've been wanting that Flex for a while now, would have bought it earlier this year (had not one guy stuck me with a bunch of towels he said he wanted). Well that and as you know.... the back problem(s) didn't get any better during the year.
