I'm buying a Flex 3401. MF vs. Foam.

nissenc1337

nissenc1337

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Alright guys, I'm a weekend warrior. I want to detail my personal vehicles and maybe 2-3 cars a weekend. I've heard MF pads perform great but not on the Flex, but i've seen people use Megs MF pads. I've also seen Mike use Foam pads.

I'll be using Megs ultimate Compound and Polish as it's readily available, isn't it equivalent to M105 and M205?

Anyways, what pads do I want to use? I plan on a 3" and 5" BP along with Blue, Orange, and White foam pads (maybe only White and Orange because I like applying wax by hand)
 
The best performing pads on the 3401 are the LC Hybrid pads.

In my experience you will fight to control the machine with mf pads as they don't play well with the forced rotation. You will be much better off using the wool pads.
 
I use B&S pads with my flex and i couldn't be happier.
 
Rez90 said:
I use B&S pads with my flex and i couldn't be happier.
Click to expand...


B&S? All these acronyms...

smack said:
The best performing pads on the 3401 are the LC Hybrid pads.

In my experience you will fight to control the machine with mf pads as they don't play well with the forced rotation. You will be much better off using the wool pads.
Click to expand...

Have a link to these pads, there are just so dang many variations. Help a brother out. To cover my bases what colors, number, and sizes should I buy? What backing plate's are recomended for forced rotation?
 
nissenc1337 said:
Have a link to these pads, there are just so dang many variations. Help a brother out. To cover my bases what colors, number, and sizes should I buy? What backing plate's are recomended for forced rotation?
Click to expand...

Here is the link for the pads
Lake Country Hybrid Power Finish Ultra Performance Pad System

The backing plate
FLEX XC3401 Changeable Backing Plate System

As for which and color I recommend starting out with the 5 inch pads for a small vehicle. However if you are working on a truck or SUV with large flat panels then the 6.5 inch. You will need the bp system for the 5 inch pads.

I would start with a minimum of three per color that you choose. That way you have plenty to finish the job.
 
smack said:
The best performing pads on the 3401 are the LC Hybrid pads.

In my experience you will fight to control the machine with mf pads as they don't play well with the forced rotation. You will be much better off using the wool pads.
Click to expand...


I agree.

I almost exclusively use the 5" Hybrid foam pads and 6.5" Hybrid foam pads in this order.

If you want a pad that is damn near indestructible for heavy defect removal get either a purple foamed wool pad or a blue foamed wool pad.


I wrote an article recently about the grabby feel when you use microfiber pads with forced rotation tools like the Flex 3401 but that article wasn't really a recommendation on my part to use microfiber pads as it was an article stating that IF you are going to use microfiber pads to go with the pads that have thick foam cores.


That "Grabby" feel - Thin vs Thick MF pads on Dual Action Polishers


Me?

I think Eric Dunn hit a home run when he introduced the Hybrid pad line and these pads work great with the Flex 3401.


:)
 
smack said:
Here is the link for the pads
Click to expand...
smack said:
Lake Country Hybrid Power Finish Ultra Performance Pad System
The backing plate
FLEX XC3401 Changeable Backing Plate System
As for which and color I recommend starting out with the 5 inch pads for a small vehicle. However if you are working on a truck or SUV with large flat panels then the 6.5 inch. You will need the bp system for the 5 inch pads.
I would start with a minimum of three per color that you choose. That way you have plenty to finish the job.
Click to expand...


Great response. However, I've heard this backing plate system has the tendency to break. Has the manufacturer fixed this problem?

Three Orange, three White, and Three Blue. I think that's my strategy as far as pads go. Can anyone confirm that Megs Ultimate Compound/Polish is practically M105/M205?
 
nissenc1337 said:


Great response. However, I've heard this backing plate system has the tendency to break. Has the manufacturer fixed this problem?

Three Orange, three White, and Three Blue. I think that's my strategy as far as pads go. Can anyone confirm that Megs Ultimate Compound/Polish is practically M105/M205?
Click to expand...

I have put this bp system through extensive use and many cars and have not had one single issue with cracking or breakage.

Sounds like a plan for pads.

The UC and UP are effectively consumer versions of M105 and M205. They are the more user friendly versions of the professional counterparts.

When you want to try out something different look into the Menzerna lineup or Wolfgang lineup....
 
nissenc1337 said:
Great response. However, I've heard this backing plate system has the tendency to break. Has the manufacturer fixed this problem?
Click to expand...

I broke the 6" plate last weekend while correcting the hood on my 4Runner. I started with the hood, so it broke fairly quick into the job. The backing plates were new and that vehicle was the first time I used the set. I bought the set back in July once they came off backorder.

The inner plastic right around the bolt sheered from the plate. Fortunately I felt an odd vibration before it snapped, and I lifted off the hood just as the plate broke. I had an LC 6.5" white pad on the plate, speed 5.

I then switched to the 4" plate and it worked fine for the remainder of the the job.
 
I have yet to have any issue with my LC backing plate for the flex.
 
Seems like most people are buying the LC backing plate system to get the 4 inch back plate. Not many people use the 6 inch plate.

LC has said there were some problems with the 6" back plate shrinking during manufacturing and are including an extra washer and a pair of shims that are supposed to go between the two components. Did you get those with your kit, and were you using them?

I got mine earlier in the year, and I didn't get the shims.

Jim
 
jgg85234 said:
Seems like most people are buying the LC backing plate system to get the 4 inch back plate. Not many people use the 6 inch plate.
Click to expand...

I think somewhere on this forum is a response about this from Eric and the simple version is the cost of bringing the adapter and both backing plates or just one backing plate will be the same, something about the cost of doing business while still making enough profit to make these products available. Capitalism or something like that...



jgg85234 said:
LC has said there were some problems with the 6" back plate shrinking during manufacturing and are including an extra washer and a pair of shims that are supposed to go between the two components. Did you get those with your kit, and were you using them?

I got mine earlier in the year, and I didn't get the shims.

Jim
Click to expand...

The new system comes with a two shims, I'm not an engineer so I don't know what caused the original problem or how two shims corrects for a single washer but I trust Eric at Lake Country.


Here's the new kit out of the bag...

LC_FLEX_XC3401_Changeable_Backing_Plate_System_01.jpg



Here's how you assemble the 6" backing plate...

LC_FLEX_XC3401_Changeable_Backing_Plate_System_03c.jpg


LC_FLEX_XC3401_Changeable_Backing_Plate_System_06.jpg


LC_FLEX_XC3401_Changeable_Backing_Plate_System_07.jpg




Hope that helps for those not aware. Sometimes a few pictures can help tell the story.


:)
 
smack said:
I have put this bp system through extensive use and many cars and have not had one single issue with cracking or breakage.

Sounds like a plan for pads.

The UC and UP are effectively consumer versions of M105 and M205. They are the more user friendly versions of the professional counterparts.

When you want to try out something different look into the Menzerna lineup or Wolfgang lineup....
Click to expand...


Maybe I'll get my feet wet with the consumer versions and then step up to the big guns. I'll learn plenty on a pair of black BMW's. hah!
 
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