CEE DOG
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- Jul 12, 2009
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:iagree:
Flex XC3401 4" Pad Question
- Thread starter jmark350z
- Start date
:iagree:
Setec Astronomy
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- Aug 31, 2010
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Hopefully someone from management will answer you. I have to tell you that I couldn't find that page from the main site, it came up on a Google search for "Flex Edge Adapter". Based on that, I wouldn't get my hopes up. 3M still shows it on their site, but you can't buy it that way as you could at one time. When 3M bought Edge, I predicted this would be a casualty, but it didn't initially turn out that way, perhaps it has now.
Mike Phillips
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- Dec 5, 2022
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Mike Phillips
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- Dec 5, 2022
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We've sold all our stock and they are no longer being made.
Here's the deal...
If you want to use a machine to remove defects out of thin panels or small areas, then do it one of these ways,
- By Hand with Ultimate Compound
- Using a Porter Cable with a 4" Spot Repair Pad
- Using a Rotary Buffer with a 3" or 4" pad
Check out how easy it is to polish long thin panels or tight, hard to reach areas using the Flex 3403 Lightweight Polisher with a Griot's Garage 3" Polishing Pad on a 2 3/4" backing plate.... mmm..... easy peasy....
Here's how nice the 4" pads are on DA Polishers for small areas where a 5.5" pad is too large...
The section in front of the windshield was worked-over using a 4" Cyan Pad on the 5.0 Speed setting with Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover, later to be re-polished with Wolfgang Finishing Glaze on a white 4" CCS pad.
Before
Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover
I used the 4" pad around the B-piller, around the windows, the front and rear bumpers and some of the other curvy, tight areas.
C. Charles Hahn
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- Aug 27, 2007
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I usually put the standard bale handle back on for horizontal panels since I can put more direct downward pressure on the pad with it.
Unfortunately you can't just grab the head of a 3401 like you can with a rotary or PC; they get so hot you'd be burned for sure.
Mindflux
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- Apr 11, 2008
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There was talk that once they are gone, they're gone for good.
Setec Astronomy
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- Aug 31, 2010
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I guess I missed that...I've only been here for a month!
Mindflux
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- Apr 11, 2008
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They apparently had QC issues anyway. The bolt/rivet that holds the adapter to the plastic plate has sheered apart for a lot of folks.
I actually bought one of these 4 months back and somehow it ended up in the trash before I ever used it.
I ended up selling all of my Edge pads because of it.
Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
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Call Customer Care and they can get you a kit already to go or create a custom kit just for your detailing project... they are experts at this...
1-800-869-3011
:dblthumb2:
SupraTurbo94
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- Aug 27, 2010
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Mike,
How about the Griot's Garage Professional Random Orbital 3 Inch Polisher? I did not see it in your list and was curios why? Not enough power to do correction ?
Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
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Sorry... meant to mention this...
For most people, this tool won't do what you're "thinking" it will do and what you're "hoping" it will do.
It's hard to keep the pad rotating under any kind of pressure that would be enough to remove defects like you would with a normal size DA Polisher or a Rotary Buffer.
Can it remove defects, you bet as I demonstrated by removing #2000 grit sanding marks in this article...
Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher - Extreme Demo - Warning!
Warning! Please don't try this on your own car.
I've had a number of people ask me about the power offered by the new Generation II Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher and so after scratching my head and trying to think of some kind of demonstration I could do and then share the pictures from I came up with the below Extreme Demo.
Please understand, it's only common sense that this 3" Mini Polisher is not made for or intended to be used to remove sanding marks out of clear coat paints. In a best "worst case" scenario, you would finish out with #3000 or #4000 grit paper. I chose #2000 to make it extreme.
This 3" polisher definitely has more power than the first generation offered by Griot's Garage but it's not for removing sanding marks, it's for removing light surface defects with an emphasis on the word LIGHT. It can also be used for applying wax or paint sealant to small or thin panels or for things like Motorcycles.
Note: There are more aggressive products you can use and it's possible to make a more aggressive 3" pad but in my life I've noticed when working with small pads like this there's a tendency for increased potential for haze and micro-marring when getting small. It is important to keep the surface slippery for this kind of defect removal.
And for what it's worth... I've been doing this for a few years and sometimes a little experience in the craft of polishing paint can go a long ways...
Without further ado...
The polisher on the left is the first generation, the polisher on the right is the new Generation II Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher. I chose the Wolfgang Twins because they are both very wet products and you need hyper-lubricity to help aid in pad rotation when removing below surface defects, or in other words to remove a little paint.
Meguiar's #2000 Nikken Finishing Papers were used to give me an extreme test section and I used the Griot's Garage foam polishing and waxing pads for sanding mark removal and final polishing.
Not pictured is the Detailers Pride Max Wax which I applied after polishing
One section of the test hood was thoroughly wet-sanded using Nikken #2000 Finishing Papers
If you look closely you can see a few very light tracers, in the REAL World, anytime you're doing sanding you would remove the sanding marks using a rotary buffer and/or a DA Polisher if you have the knowledge and skill to use these two types of tools for this type of work. You would not use nor expect these kinds of dramatic results from the tool I used but I'll let the results speak for themselves.
After results
Nikken reflection shot
Flipped horizontally...
In this shot I'm actually focusing on the sanding marks between the wall poster and the reflection of the wall poster.
In this shot I'm focusing on the reflected image...
In this shot you can see the subtle distinction between the seam in the poster in the reflected image.
And a self-portraight...
Question: Does the new Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher have more power?
Answer: You betcha!
Should it be the only polisher in your detailing arsenal? No not at all. It's a nice complimentary tool for thin panels, small components, motorcycle detailing and anything else you can find a use for it.
SupraTurbo94
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- Aug 27, 2010
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^^ Thanks Mike !
Rsurfer
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- Jan 26, 2007
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I'm not sure what you mean?
You want to sell your Flex?
"Anyone interested in a lightly used Flex with case and pads? I bought it new from Detailed Image. It is in excellent shape."
Thought it was against forum rules to advertise products that AG carries for sale. Seems like this went right over your head. But, if I'm wrong, I'll start a thread and try to sell my Flex on AG.Feed back please
SupraTurbo94
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- Aug 27, 2010
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^^ I sent you a PM.