Flex PE14-2 question...

This offer is to Mark (I know I am too late) and to anyone within driving rage of Covina, Ca - I have most buffers, DeWalt (old and new) Milwaukee, Hitachi, Flex among others. Your welcome to swing by and take them for a spin.
 
This offer is to Mark (I know I am too late) and to anyone within driving rage of Covina, Ca - I have most buffers, DeWalt (old and new) Milwaukee, Hitachi, Flex among others. Your welcome to swing by and take them for a spin.

This is what really makes Joe "Superior".


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
This offer is to Mark (I know I am too late) and to anyone within driving rage of Covina, Ca - I have most buffers, DeWalt (old and new) Milwaukee, Hitachi, Flex among others. Your welcome to swing by and take them for a spin.
:urtheman:

Can I swing by one day when u have some free time and you can help me with my technique? ;)
 
Sure, Seeing how we detail for $$$ in the same area it will go something like this, Step 1- take a swig of rum, 2- crank your polisher up to 3500 RPMs
3- apply heavy duty rubbing compound to a dirty vintage 70s wool pad, 4- take another two swigs of rum, 5- buff like there is no tomorrow!!

All kidding aside. Your more than welcome to come by. How about sometime in May?
 
Sure, Seeing how we detail for $$$ in the same area it will go something like this, Step 1- take a swig of rum, 2- crank your polisher up to 3500 RPMs
3- apply heavy duty rubbing compound to a dirty vintage 70s wool pad, 4- take another two swigs of rum, 5- buff like there is no tomorrow!!

All kidding aside. Your more than welcome to come by. How about sometime in May?
LOL!!! That's hilarious!!I Too funny!!

I have A LOTTTTT of catching up to do to you!!

May sounds great!!!
 
YES!!!

I've only owned the Makita and now the Flex PE 14-2 (we really need to give it a nickname). I've used the Makita to buff out about 5 cars (mostly compounding, only one finishing) and the PE 14-2 once (jeweling a Jet Black BMW!!!).


Your categories:

Smoothness - They're so close I can't make a call. The Makita is one smooth smooth machine. The Makita purrs and the Flex grinds, but it's a smooth grind. I don't know how else to describe it and it probably has to do with the way the gears are setup, but the Flex is super smooth too.

Control - Flex, easily. Smaller size, lighter weight, better balance and ergonomics, give the Flex a big edge.


Additional categories:

Noise - No contest, Flex wins. I can hold a conversation on speed 3 (1,500 rpms) without raising my voice! The Makita at speed 3 (1,500 rpms) makes a whining sound, is a little loud, but tolerable.

Heat - The head of the Flex does not get hot. The Makita's does and feels like it's going to burn your hand, but it doesn't. The body of the Flex does get hot, but if you use a handle then it's not an issue. I keep my hand over the head, like my PC.

Cost - Makita by a landslide.

Mark, I remember you not liking the 3403. I'm not sure if the heavier weight of the Flex would make it easier or harder to control, but going from the Makita to the Flex allowed me to gain further control of the rotary.

Enrique,

Great comparison and I agree....:props:

I have both machines as well and the Makita 9227 for some reason feels better or seems at home for those larger areas. Where the Flex PE14 fits in is those smaller tighter areas where agility and maneuverability is paramount.

There's little doubt that the Flex PE14 could easily handle anything I throw at it but this is the way I use them...........:dunno:
 
Mike Phillips, where are you getting those buffer extensions? The metal piece that you screw the backing plate onto?


I wrote made a prediction and wrote an article about them here,



Trend: Backing Plate Extensions for Surgical Precision Buffing


Backing Plate Extensions
Another trend I see for the future is the use of what is currently sold as an adapter only used as an extension for locating the face of your buffing pad further away from the body of your rotary buffer.

This serves at least two functions:
1. Places the buffing pad further away from the body of the buffer so you can more easily SEE the buffing pad as you're buffing. This is important because it helps you to avoid making mistakes when using a powerful tool like the rotary buffer.

2. By moving the buffing pad away from the body of the tool this enables you in some applications, to more easily buff thin panels, small sections of paint or tight, hard to buff areas.

3. Works great to extend the buffing pad away from the body of the tool which makes cleaning your pad easier and more effective when using a pad washer as the body of the tool is out of the way.
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Extensions for Pad Cleaning
When using the Grit Guard Universal Pad Washer part of the cleaning action comes from pumping the buffing pad up and down against the Grit Guard Insert. When you do this without an extension you don't have much of a throw because the body of the rotary buffer will hit the splatter lid on the pad washer.

When you add an extension to the spindle you gain about 2 extra inches of travel which makes it easier and more effective to clean your pads.

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Surgical Precision Buffing with a Rotary Buffer
Here's a few examples of surgical precision buffing using a rotary buffer, it helps to have a compact, lightweight rotary buffer to start with like the Flex PE 14

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The adapter acts as an extension which allows me to better see where the pads touching the paint as I buff and also works sometimes to give you enough clearance to buff into tight areas.

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An Autogeek.net

Optimum Optimum Double-Sided Rotary Adapter <---Extension

2-3/4 inch Hook & Loop Rotary Backing Plate

Grit Guard Universal Pad Washer

Grit Guard Universal Detailing Cart
 
I bought my PE-14 at Christmas time. So far I had a helper use the PE-14 on a big race car team truck. I have yet to break it in on a full paint correction. It was very easy to see by watching my helper that day, that it is much smoother and quieter than the Makita. This Friday I have a customer dropping off a black car for me to correct the paint on over the weekend using my new PE-14 in my new shop. Woo Hoo!! It's going to be nice.
 
Enrique,

Great comparison and I agree....:props:

I have both machines as well and the Makita 9227 for some reason feels better or seems at home for those larger areas. Where the Flex PE14 fits in is those smaller tighter areas where agility and maneuverability is paramount.

There's little doubt that the Flex PE14 could easily handle anything I throw at it but this is the way I use them...........:dunno:

Thanks Bobby!! :props: And I also agree, the Makita and 8" wool pads were meant for each other. :D
 
Mark, congrats on the purchase.

Mike Phillips, thanks alot for your help. Awesome info.
 
Thanks guys!

Just used my PE-14 with my "beloved" LC constant pressure orange pad, and I got WAYYYY more cut outta this pad than when used on my 3401. Loving this thing in the first few minutes!! Im the MAN
 
Thanks guys!

Just used my PE-14 with my "beloved" LC constant pressure orange pad, and I got WAYYYY more cut outta this pad than when used on my 3401. Loving this thing in the first few minutes!! Im the MAN

Congrats Mark! :dblthumb2:
 
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