Machine Polishers correction time(s)!!

Dan Tran

Dan Tran

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First and foremost, this is not a debate of which tool stalls and which one doesn't nor is this a debate of which machine reigns supreme. With that mentioned...

I was wondering about the following in a general sense:

Flex 3401 has been proven to correct faster than the average DA, am I right?!

In comparison to the new long throw polishers on the market, some may make the claim that it has helped them cut their correction time in half

Is this only true when it comes to long throw vs. average DAs since the stroke is nearly doubled/tripled?

What about long throw correction time vs the Flex 3401? Is the difference marginal?

What are your thoughts?

I apologize in advance in case there is already a thread out there about this topic.
 
Only thing I've ever seen posted in regards to a real time comparisons was Mike Phillips comparing the Rupes 21 to the Rupes 15. Both the Flex and long throw polishers should correct faster then a free spinning 8mm DA but, I don't think it reduces the time in half. Opinions will be all over the place as to whether Flex or long throw corrects faster and you likely won't get the answer you're looking for. I could give you my $.02 but at the end of the day you need to choose which tool best fits you.
 
I haven't used a Rupes so I can't comment about them. The Flex 3401 I can. It saves a tremendous amount of time for me. Especially when you compare that to a PC7424 XP. IMO the Flex 3401 is a machine that will reduce your correcting time significantly.
 
Not to depart from the intended and specific questions comparing certain machines, i will wholeheartedly agree with Mike. The reason i went to a rotary was purely based on correction speed. Forced rotation never gives up the intensity of the effort. While it cuts faster it also has the tendency to leave behind unwanted affects that i sometimes correct with my free spinning DA. With that said, the Flex 3401 employs the forced rotation of a rotary AND utilizes DA to effectively work down better.

With regard to Flex vs. Rupes vs. Boss etc, i can't offer any direct experience with them all to compare correction times however will still say my preference (careful gang...i said MY experience) i am a fan of forced rotation to lower my time spent correcting.

Again, this is just my experience and opinion. I am anxious and open to hear others here.
 
And if it comes down to the longer throw machines cover more area given the same pad size, i would guess one could argue it could do more area in less time?
 
People need to keep in mind that the Flex is 8mm offset and the rotation is fixed, which maxes out at 480rpm. With the free spinning large throw DA tools, they are capable of producing far more rotation then the Flex 3401.
 
Yes, good point Rasky. Given that reminder would you think it has any significance in time to correct?
 
Puckman said:
Yes, good point Rasky. Given that reminder would you think it has any significance in time to correct?
Click to expand...

On a flat panel, all variables the same, I believe the large throw corrects noticeably faster and finishes better too, but It's not a huge time savings. Each has their pros and cons and the Flex can use 4" pads, meaning it can be the only tool you need on some cars, not all. The Flex may work better with a wool pad too, but I've not tried them on the Rupes/BOSS as MF already works so well. Rotation really shouldn't be an issue anymore with the BOSS and especially the new Mark II tools.
 
All logical comments, Rasky. Thanks. And Dan Tran, i would think it is safe to say the 3401 is light years beyond say a PC however it may get murky comparing the Flex to Rupes or the Boss etc. It usually comes down to personal preference and i respect all of them. Even time to correct comes down to the "corrector". Good questions though.

And i have never used a wool pad on a DA machine other than a 4" purple foamed wool on glass. It just seems like too much weight to throw around (pad plus product) for a free spinning DA. I can understand the forced rotation of the Flex to do it just fine
 
Puckman said:
All logical comments, Rasky. Thanks. And Dan Tran, i would think it is safe to say the 3401 is light years beyond say a PC however it may get murky comparing the Flex to Rupes or the Boss etc. It usually comes down to personal preference and i respect all of them. Even time to correct comes down to the "corrector". Good questions though.

And i have never used a wool pad on a DA machine other than a 4" purple foamed wool on glass. It just seems like too much weight to throw around (pad plus product) for a free spinning DA. I can understand the forced rotation of the Flex to do it just fine
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Thanks for your thoughts and really everyone else who commented!

Everything mentioned makes sense.

Thanks again!
 
RaskyR1 said:
People need to keep in mind that the Flex is 8mm offset and the rotation is fixed, which maxes out at 480rpm. With the free spinning large throw DA tools, they are capable of producing far more rotation then the Flex 3401.
Click to expand...

And it's for this reason that I get much faster results with the PC.

Speed 6 on the PC can get cranking, and generate enough speed for me to do some serious cutting.

For my personal approach on the PC, I avoid stiff cutting and polishing pads, and adjust my angles to keep the pad spinning, when/if needed. Lighter pressure is also part of the equasion, as I'm using pad rotation opposed to pressure to cut the paint. It's not free spinning, but just under. Wetter liquids such as Ultimate Compound, M100, Ultimate Polish, and M205 also help keep the pad running smoothly.

Every time I'm pressed for time, I set the 3401 aside, get out the PC, and get work done.
 
RaskyR1 said:
People need to keep in mind that the Flex is 8mm offset and the rotation is fixed, which maxes out at 480rpm. With the free spinning large throw DA tools, they are capable of producing far more rotation then the Flex 3401.
Click to expand...

What are the RPM numbers for the popular tall stroke machines, under load?
 
On a open panel a large throw da is like miachel Jordan running on a fast break.

It corrects way faster then the flex with less presure.

On the countour panels, and bumpers that's when I bust out the flex.
 
NextLevelDtail said:
On a open panel a large throw da is like miachel Jordan running on a fast break.

It corrects way faster then the flex with less presure.

On the countour panels, and bumpers that's when I bust out the flex.
Click to expand...

Agree, both have their place. Flat panels the long strokes really shine(pun intended),on curves the 3401 is heavenly sent with still the orbital safety built in. For outright horsepower and defect removal the PE-14 can't be touched, it takes correction to a level where no DA can compare. Last, my old faithful DAS6(PC) is not as powerful as the others but that's not to say its not competent. It can do what all the others can do just takes alittle longer, but where it really struts its stuff for me and is head and shoulders above the others is with a 3.5" BP and 4" pads for spot defects,small tight areas, A,B pillars,bumpers,lights etc. Its a real gem. It keeps the 4" pad rotating easily, has tremendous amount of cut with a small pad whilst still having all the safety built in. You want a small pad DA? You can't beat a PC with a small BP/Pad combo.
 
dlc95 said:
And it's for this reason that I get much faster results with the PC.

Speed 6 on the PC can get cranking, and generate enough speed for me to do some serious cutting.

For my personal approach on the PC, I avoid stiff cutting and polishing pads, and adjust my angles to keep the pad spinning, when/if needed. Lighter pressure is also part of the equasion, as I'm using pad rotation opposed to pressure to cut the paint. It's not free spinning, but just under. Wetter liquids such as Ultimate Compound, M100, Ultimate Polish, and M205 also help keep the pad running smoothly.

Every time I'm pressed for time, I set the 3401 aside, get out the PC, and get work done.
Click to expand...

Don't you have a duetto I know you love that thing, but I do know you love your PC too
 
Zubair said:
Agree, both have their place. Flat panels the long strokes really shine(pun intended),on curves the 3401 is heavenly sent with still the orbital safety built in. For outright horsepower and defect removal the PE-14 can't be touched, it takes correction to a level where no DA can compare. Last, my old faithful DAS6(PC) is not as powerful as the others but that's not to say its not competent. It can do what all the others can do just takes alittle longer, but where it really struts its stuff for me and is head and shoulders above the others is with a 3.5" BP and 4" pads for spot defects,small tight areas, A,B pillars,bumpers,lights etc. Its a real gem. It keeps the 4" pad rotating easily, has tremendous amount of cut with a small pad whilst still having all the safety built in. You want a small pad DA? You can't beat a PC with a small BP/Pad combo.
Click to expand...
Sweeeet! This has me confident I made the right choice in getting the boss 21 and my GG6 with 3.5inch BP w/4inch pads for what you outlined in your post. :)
 
NextLevelDtail said:
Don't you have a duetto I know you love that thing, but I do know you love your PC too
Click to expand...

Yep.

I've been practicing with it a lot on dummy panels. Turns out that I used WAY too much product with it, which caused tons of dust. Apparently you can adjust the caps to help regulate the amount of product delivered to the pad... Sometime when I get going, in the heat of battle - working against the outside elements I don't have the time to diagnose things I'm doing wrong, and go directly to my default mode that has worked for the last few years.

The other thing is that my shroud ground away, and I actually prefer using it with the shroud engaged. That could have been another reason the I got so much dusting. Seems by evening out the back plate rotation, and the stroke the pads and paint stay cooler and the product stays wetter.
 
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