My 4 inch pad adapter for the Flex 3401

tuscarora dave

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The other night I did a hook and loop transplant on my flex backing plate. I sliced the hook material off of a LC backing plate that I believed I would never use again because I don't like using 6.5 inch pads on my G110V2 and normally only use it for running either a 4 inch or 5.5 inch pad.

I took what was left of that LC backing plate after the transplant job and glued some strips of loop material onto it that I bought as a roll from Harbor Freight Tools.

here's what was left of the backing plate.

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Here is the same backing plate with the strips of loop material glued to it.

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Ok now this is just my prototype and one modification must be made to it. I sacrificed a small Craftsman screwdriver to make up this adapter. I knew that the plastic would not hold up but used it anyway. I will be replacing the section of drilled and tapped screwdriver handle with a 5/16 28 all thread connector made of steel.

This would be a real easily made adapter using a peel and stick backing plate for a PC and gluing the strips of loop material to it and then picking up the all thread connecter and some high strength loctite would be advisable to make sure things stay together. Simply screw a 3 3/4 inch PC backing plate into the all thread connector.

I think the only difficulty might be locating the all thread connector in the 5/16 28 size at the local hardware store. I have purchased them before but had to get them from Granger, McMaster Carr or Fastenall.

So here is what it looks like now and I will report back to this thread with my findings in the performance area. The heat of the Flex is my only concern but that is why they chose aluminum for the backing plate Idler gear housing because it's ability to dissipate heat.

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All in all this project should cost less than $25 - $30 and a little time.
 
Interesting idea, but that thing makes me nervous. Just seems like the risk would be pretty high of the adapter and 4" pad coming off the 3401's backing plate if you were putting pressure on it while working a curved surface.

I can certainly appreciate the concept, but I wouldn't trust it myself. What I want is a backing plate that actually bolts directly to the tool and accepts 4" pads without additional hook and loop connections.
 
Interesting idea, but that thing makes me nervous. Just seems like the risk would be pretty high of the adapter and 4" pad coming off the 3401's backing plate if you were putting pressure on it while working a curved surface.

I can certainly appreciate the concept, but I wouldn't trust it myself. What I want is a backing plate that actually bolts directly to the tool and accepts 4" pads without additional hook and loop connections.
All that remains to be seen but I nearly had to stand on the polisher to pull this thing off of it so I don't feel a bit nervous BUT because I have Lake Country hook material on my Flex backing plate is the reason it is so hard to get back off. If I had the original Flex backing plate velcro I would be nervous.
 
Dave it is interesting that you brought this up. I have been contemplating on creating an adapter that would attach to a rotary backing plate or a DA backing plate to a flex. In my mind I have a very easy and simple design.
 
Innovative! Just a little more work and i'm sure it'll be a great project.

On a side note, i think you need to clean your machine,BP and pads first. ;)
Just for laughs. :)
 
nice.. let us know how it works out ! I would love to same some money by not getting a PC just to use 4 inch pads.
 
All that remains to be seen but I nearly had to stand on the polisher to pull this thing off of it so I don't feel a bit nervous BUT because I have Lake Country hook material on my Flex backing plate is the reason it is so hard to get back off. If I had the original Flex backing plate velcro I would be nervous.

Interesting; well I'll be interested to hear how it does with in-use testing for sure! It's certainly an intriguing idea.
 
Well I tried this rig out today and it was an instant failure. It vibrated so bad that my hands couldn't take it then the velcro strips began to separate. I did get about 1 minute worth of polishing out of it though. In that one minute of polishing with orange 4" CCS pad and Optimum Compound 2 there was a good bit of correction that had taken place.

I will go back to the drawing board and think more like Lasthope05 and make a direct fitting adapter.
 
Sorry to hear that Dave. Monday I am headed to the machine shop I used to work at and see what we can come up with.
 
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