My Flex 3401 is in)

HateSwirls

HateSwirls

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First I want to thank everyone who helped me on which machine to get,the Flex or the Rupes 21

With so many paint corrections coming I thought it was best to invest in the Flex.
I was going to buy it after the holidays being I've spent so much money since I opened my shop just three weeks ago.
My wife ordered it for me the other day, I got it yesterday.

She stopped by the shop with it right before I was going to apply Wolfgang Glossy Paint Sealant.
I was like a kid:)
Can't say to much about it just yet but I can say it was a breeze to seal the paint , much easier to use than my GG6, felt great it my hands and so very smooth.

I'll be doing a full paint correction this Saturday on a black GMC, can't wait.
My wife said the Flex was my early Christmas give,I'm fine with that.

More to come, full review soon.

Thanks again,
Kevin
 
Outstanding Kevin! Awesome the wife got it for you as an early Christmas gift. :xyxthumbs:

Looking forward to hearing more on the black GMC correction.
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Congratulations!

I think you'll find the Flex will help you immensely for many of your exterior details.


:dblthumb2:
Click to expand...


Mike, I need to give you guys a call for a smaller backing plate,she knew which machine I was wanting, so she only bought me the Flex, I say only but it was sure nice of her:)

Can you tell me which plate, pads to get, will make it easier when I give Nick and the crew a call.
Also, I have on hand, Uber Compound, Optimum, 105, 205.
Are my products enough for now or do you recommend anything "Better"?

I have a bunch of 5" LC flat pads I ordered with you guys a few months ago, will they work for me?

Thanks,
Kevin
 
Mike@DedicatedPerfection said:
Outstanding Kevin! Awesome the wife got it for you as an early Christmas gift. :xyxthumbs:



Looking forward to hearing more on the black GMC correction.
Click to expand...


Thanks Mike,I have a special wife:)
I'll sure give you my thoughts as soon as I use my Flex on my first paint correction.

As for now I'll have to use my assortment of 6.5 inch pads.
 
HateSwirls said:
Mike, I need to give you guys a call for a smaller backing plate,she knew which machine I was wanting, so she only bought me the Flex, I say only but it was sure nice of her:)

Can you tell me which plate, pads to get, will make it easier when I give Nick and the crew a call.
Also, I have on hand, Uber Compound, Optimum, 105, 205.
Are my products enough for now or do you recommend anything "Better"?

I have a bunch of 5" LC flat pads I ordered with you guys a few months ago, will they work for me?

Thanks,
Kevin
Click to expand...

Lake Country interchangeable plate system and Hybrid pads.

For polishes, the Wolfgang and Menzerna products excel IMO.
 
Mike@DedicatedPerfection said:
Lake Country interchangeable plate system and Hybrid pads.

For polishes, the Wolfgang and Menzerna products excel IMO.
Click to expand...


OK,well I'll use up my Uber then try the Menzerna.

So now I have the, The GG , 3 inch unit, PC, GG6, DeWalt 849x and now the Flex.
I'm good to go.
My PC is setup for four inch pads.
The GG6 is already setup for 5" pads, I'll use it for glazing and sealing.
 
Great to hear!, you will just love it.

I just did the cut with the 3401, and I'm now set for finish.

Thanks to AG iPhone app, I can share instant pictures here from my garage.

View attachment 31602

Both size finishing hybrids, ready to rock!

Let us know your news using the new tool.

Kind Regards.
 
Forget about the Flex! We know about its qualities, HOWEVER, YOUR WIFE IS AWESOME!!!!

I still think you have a smile on your face!! Way way Cool!!!!

Merry Christmas!!
 
BTW HateSwirls, get the Lake Country Backing Plates and the 5" and 6.5" Hybrid Pads. IMO, it corrects even better than any other pads. Both Mikes (Phillips & Dedicated Perfection) ranted and raved about the Hybrids so I tried them. All I can say is get them...PERIOD! I have quite a few Lake Country CCS Pads that will be used as Spares. Get that system.
 
HateSwirls said:
Mike, I need to give you guys a call for a smaller backing plate, she knew which machine I was wanting, so she only bought me the Flex, I say only but it was sure nice of her:)

Can you tell me which plate, pads to get, will make it easier when I give Nick and the crew a call.
Click to expand...



Linky...


FLEX XC3401 Changeable Backing Plate System


5" Hybrid Pads

Start with Orange, White & Black

These will tackle just about anything. In the boat world I've found the blue to be great polishing pads on gel-coats.


If you get a 4" rotary buffer backing plate you burn and turn these 5" pads on a rotary. I show these pads on the 4" backing plate in this thread.

My recommended buffing pads for the Flex PE14



HateSwirls said:
Also, I have on hand, Uber Compound, Optimum, 105, 205.
Are my products enough for now or do you recommend anything "Better"?
Click to expand...

I completely switched Wayne Carini's shop over to Pinnacle Advanced Compound, Swirl Remover and Finishing Polish. These three will tackle anything.

As for the M205, I always do a test spot when using this polish in case the paint is soft as you might see some micro-marring.

Anything by Menzerna or Sonax is great too with the Flex 3401



HateSwirls said:
I have a bunch of 5" LC flat pads I ordered with you guys a few months ago, will they work for me?

Thanks,
Kevin
Click to expand...


Any foam pad will work on the Flex 3401. One thing I post a lot is about the factors that are the most important when machine buffing paint and in this order,

1. Abrasive Technology

2 & 3 = Tool and Technique

4 = Type of foam pad


The pad is the least crucial assuming you're using a foam cutting pad for cutting, a polishing pad for polishing and a finishing pad for finishing and of course, it's a quality brand for pads to start with.

So "yes" the 5.5" LC flat pads will work fine.

One thing to remember... when it comes to free spinning tools...

Thin is in...

When it comes to direct drive tools, whether the pad is thin or thick is much less of an issue. Thicker pads tend to work better on rotary buffers and tools like the Flex 3401.

:)
 
You will love it. Plenty off correction power. save time and less noise
 
I just got my flex 3401 not to long ago and couldn't be happier. I ended up buying a 4 inch backing plate for it too so that I can use some smaller pads as well. The correction capabilities that I now have with this new polisher in relation to the GG 6 inch DA is un-matched. I should have done this purchase a long time ago. Just put in another order for 12 LC CCS pads. 6 in 5.5" and 6 in the 4.25". This polisher really teaches you how to keep the pad flat and avoid a bunch of spatter when polishing.
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Linky...


FLEX XC3401 Changeable Backing Plate System


5" Hybrid Pads

Start with Orange, White & Black

These will tackle just about anything. In the boat world I've found the blue to be great polishing pads on gel-coats.


If you get a 4" rotary buffer backing plate you burn and turn these 5" pads on a rotary. I show these pads on the 4" backing plate in this thread.

My recommended buffing pads for the Flex PE14





I completely switched Wayne Carini's shop over to Pinnacle Advanced Compound, Swirl Remover and Finishing Polish. These three will tackle anything.

As for the M205, I always do a test spot when using this polish in case the paint is soft as you might see some micro-marring.

Anything by Menzerna or Sonax is great too with the Flex 3401






Any foam pad will work on the Flex 3401. One thing I post a lot is about the factors that are the most important when machine buffing paint and in this order,

1. Abrasive Technology

2 & 3 = Tool and Technique

4 = Type of foam pad


The pad is the least crucial assuming you're using a foam cutting pad for cutting, a polishing pad for polishing and a finishing pad for finishing and of course, it's a quality brand for pads to start with.

So "yes" the 5.5" LC flat pads will work fine.

One thing to remember... when it comes to free spinning tools...

Thin is in...

When it comes to direct drive tools, whether the pad is thin or thick is much less of an issue. Thicker pads tend to work better on rotary buffers and tools like the Flex 3401.

:)
Click to expand...


The price for the pads is a bargain.
I'll get those along with the backing plate.
A Must it seems being I now own one of the best DA's made today.
Took me a couple of ours today to get the hang of it.
Coming from a background in using a rotary I surely thought I'd have no probelem, wrong. Lol

But once I got the hang of it I told my new detail tech how awesome this Flex really was.
If your looking to buy a Flex and have the funds, it's a must buy.
I'm so darn happy:)
 
Congrats on the new toy.... er 'tool' Kevin! :xyxthumbs:

Thought my wife was ordering one during the "12 Days" but haven't seen it yet. (Then again, if it's for Christmas I wouldn't.... duh.) ;) Thing is, I *need* one next week! :)
 
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