Need help on a rupes or flex!

Although this time difference would not be significant for me, for sure it'll be to any professional working on the edge.

By the way, where should I apply to Mike Phillips physical conditioning program? Man, nice performance!

For the purpose of the topic, after watching the video above, I've ended watching this video again:

Mike Phillips: How to use the Flex 3401 Dual Action Polisher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn_kVH3BVc&noredirect=1

Do you remember the final results you've got just while demonstrating this tool? I would drive my car with just that test spot on the hood as my business card!

I like all the Rupes products and philosophy, but in essence, my choice would be the Flex. After some time with a 'middle-end DA', I feel I miss more power than a larger throw. Also Flex throw is somewhat larger than 'general DA polishers'...

By missing power I mean I can get where I want, but always using the machine at it's limit. Mike used 1.5 speed setting to apply sealant. To get constant and UNIFORM pad rotation at 1.5 setting is the 'beauty of the Flex', in my opinion.

Rupes are also gorgeous, making this question almost impossible to answer. The best of the two is buying both.

Good Luck,

Kind Regards.
 
^ also..while the rupes has a larger throw, the flex spins a few hundred more times (OPM's) per minute so one would think that it makes up for the larger throw from the rupes, and not mention the forced rotation where it's consistently at work for you...
 
Tato said:
I like all the Rupes products and philosophy, but in essence, my choice would be the Flex. After some time with a 'middle-end DA', I feel I miss more power than a larger throw. Also Flex throw is somewhat larger than 'general DA polishers'...

By missing power I mean I can get where I want, but always using the machine at it's limit. Mike used 1.5 speed setting to apply sealant. To get constant and UNIFORM pad rotation at 1.5 setting is the 'beauty of the Flex', in my opinion.

Rupes are also gorgeous, making this question almost impossible to answer. The best of the two is buying both.

Good Luck,

Kind Regards.
Click to expand...

I too wonder what happened to all the 'love' of the Flex once Rupes hit the US detailing scene? :dunno:

In the 12 months past:
Don't want to risk damaging your paint? Stay away from a rotary buffer! Oh... get a FLEX, that is PERFECT and is better than everything else out there. :rolleyes:

In the not so far past:
FLEX, why would you want a FLEX? Rupes is the best of the best and is smooth. Don't worry about the pad rotation stopping, just modify your machine to do something the engineers didn't plan for. Better yet, modify your machine AND change your method, yeah that's the ticket!

In the present:
Rupes 15, Rupes 21, what the heck is WRONG WITH YOU?!?! You don't want that, you want the one that NOBODY HAS YET! Better yet, you want to throw away ALL YOUR PADS and only use Rupes pads. Come to think of it, THROW AWAY ALL YOUR COMPOUNDS, ALL YOUR POLISHES and ALL YOUR SEALANTS. You MUST use Rupes products all the way now! Drink the Kool-Aid my friend! :) Don't want to throw out your "Chi" or misalign your "Chakra"! :rolleyes:

Next spring:
You absolutely must try the latest Griot's buffer.

Next summer:
What? You didn't buy the newest Flex buffer?

Never ending circle........
Next spring:
 
Why give up you buggy whip , cars are just a passing fancy ( fad ). Reel to reel recorders are here to stay. Four track or even eight track are overkill.
Guys the detailing industry is progressing faster then I can keep up with since I started in 2005. Clay towels and coatings were unheard of ten years ago. Some products are hits and there has been plenty of losers. When da polishers became main stream the die-hard rotary guys laughed at them ( some still do ). Next came forced rotation which some still shun. So reluctance to the long stroke machines is understandable. Will this be the end of advancement with polishers ? Doubtful. Someone is always thinking outside the box. As for modifying a piece of equipment do we all use product and equipment only as the manufacturer recommends ? I know that nobody here has ever used a screwdriver as a pry bar hmmm. So purchase what works for you and concentrate on technique. Just a old mans 2 cents.
 
VISITOR said:
^ also..while the rupes has a larger throw, the flex spins a few hundred more times (OPM's) per minute
Click to expand...
I respectfully disagree with you. The 3401 spins at 4,800 OPM MAX. The Rupes spins faster than that.
 
lol im really confused now...... ok like i said i have never own a polisher/buffer...ROOKIE! to bad i aint rich or i would buy both lol.. i don't know what to buy....:work:
 
Duck_ said:
lol im really confused now...... ok like i said i have never own a polisher/buffer...ROOKIE! to bad i aint rich or i would buy both lol.. i don't know what to buy....:work:
Click to expand...

The Rupes is more user friendly, easier to learn and get great results with, and much smoother operating. Tons of pro's have sold their flex's for Rupes.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
 
im biased but i dig my Flex so I would say that route but I've never used the Rupes..However even as a beginner the Flex wouldn't be hard to learn.
 
I have both the Flex and Rupes 21 w/5 inch backing plate. I like them both. There are strengths and weaknesses to both machines. I have a short reach so I like using the Rupes on hood, roof, trunk lid, or any other large flat horizontal surfaces. I use the Flex for the rest.....especially on curvy panels. As far as time-saving, I really don't see that much difference.

Asking which is better is like asking which would you rather have... a BMW or a Benz. Both machines will get you there.

I do have to give the Rupes a thumb up in one area. I simply not as tired after a long day with the Rupes than I am with the Flex. :props:
 
Duck_ said:
like i said i have never own a polisher/buffer...ROOKIE!
Click to expand...
Honestly, I feel the Rupes and Flex 3401 are not meant for noobs. The 3401 gives consistent results due to the forced rotation. However, if you've never used a buffer before, you WILL have a hard time controlling it. As far as the Rupes, it's a breeze to use on flat panels, but on curved panels you need to know what you're doing or the pad will stop rotating. For a rookie, I'd recommend the Griot's Garage 6" polisher. :dblthumb2:
 
if you aren't in a rush just wait till spring or summer

there will be a few other options being released that are more affordable and work just as well.
 
FivePoint.0 said:
Honestly, I feel the Rupes and Flex 3401 are not meant for noobs. The 3401 gives consistent results due to the forced rotation. However, if you've never used a buffer before, you WILL have a hard time controlling it. As far as the Rupes, it's a breeze to use on flat panels, but on curved panels you need to know what you're doing or the pad will stop rotating. For a rookie, I'd recommend the Griot's Garage 6" polisher. :dblthumb2:
Click to expand...

Agree!!!! This reminds me of an article I read in a Car Magazine many years ago. An Editor gave this advice to a reader who was on the quest for the best performance parts money can buy for his vehicle.

"Instead of searching for parts that give your one particular car better performance....spend the money on learning how to drive (Driving School) so you could make any car perform."
 
FivePoint.0 said:
Honestly, I feel the Rupes and Flex 3401 are not meant for noobs. The 3401 gives consistent results due to the forced rotation. However, if you've never used a buffer before, you WILL have a hard time controlling it. As far as the Rupes, it's a breeze to use on flat panels, but on curved panels you need to know what you're doing or the pad will stop rotating. For a rookie, I'd recommend the Griot's Garage 6" polisher. :dblthumb2:
Click to expand...

I would have to disagree with you. I was a noob at the beginning of the summer, never touched a buffer before, and was just getting into detailing. I chose the flex because of the forced rotation that allowed it to cover a large portion of the needs detailers commonly encounter from reading. The 3401 took a few panels to get used to but combined with the available videos and information I found it quite simple to use. Since buying the unit I never regretted my decision. Like mentioned above, both machines have their advantages but for my application I felt the Flex 3401 was better suited. It all comes down to personal preference at the end. Chevy vs Ford??

BTW the Flex's are on sale now!
 
kochdalton87 said:
I would have to disagree with you. I was a noob at the beginning of the summer, never touched a buffer before, and was just getting into detailing. I chose the flex because of the forced rotation that allowed it to cover a large portion of the needs detailers commonly encounter from reading. The 3401 took a few panels to get used to but combined with the available videos and information I found it quite simple to use. Since buying the unit I never regretted my decision. Like mentioned above, both machines have their advantages but for my application I felt the Flex 3401 was better suited. It all comes down to personal preference at the end. Chevy vs Ford??

BTW the Flex's are on sale now!
Click to expand...
Glad it worked out for you. However, I still think more so than not that noobs will find the 3401 hard to control.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
FivePoint.0 said:
I respectfully disagree with you. The 3401 spins at 4,800 OPM MAX. The Rupes spins faster than that.
Click to expand...

I can't seem to find it on here or another forum at the moment, IIRC I thought I saw that the flex oscillates more times per minute on each speed setting. IMO, the flex's build quality is a little better than the rupes , it's more versatile and with the interchangeable backing plate system for the flex, you can use a variety of different pads and there isn't really much it can't tackle with it and it's a proven workhorse. in anycase, they are both good choices it just comes down to personal preference. I guess you can't say that one is really better than the other because every user is going to have their pro's and con's on each...
 
So in other words if my rides have curvey fender I Dont need a rupes right?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
 
I really didn't think a decision would be this hard to make :/

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
 
They both work and you'll do fine with either one you choose. I got talked out of purchasing the Flex 3401 right off the bat and was told I needed to use a Porter Cable to get my skill level up to par prior to using something as powerful as a Flex. Rupes weren't on the scene at the time. I purchased the Porter Cable and it drove me nuts. I just took so long to correct the work vans I was working on. After correcting 2 I purchased a Flex 3401 vrg HD and it's what I should have gotten from the beginning. I've used it so much now I waiting for it to burn up but it just keeps going strong. I picked up a Rupes 15 a while back and enjoy it as well. It's definitely quieter but it takes me a little longer to correct with it. It does work fine. Pick one and learn all you can about it inside and out. Put it to work and have fun. You don't have to run them on high even if someone tells you to crank them up. Run them as fast as you feel comfortable using them. Use them at different speeds to see how they react with different polishers and pads at various speeds. I recommend some hearing protection. The key to using a polisher is finding the balancing point while keeping the pad flat against the surface. Watch the curves and slants to the body lines and align your polisher accordingly. It's fun to watch them bring out that mirror shine. Don't be afraid to try things out. Trial and error will make you a seasoned veteran. Watching from the sidelines will give you tips to try.
 
For a beginner, the Flex is the better machine. It has a shorter learning curve and the forced-rotation will also help breakdown certain polishes a bit faster. It also has the ability to go down to a 4" pad for bumpers and pillars -- which the Rupes does not.

If you're only going to own one machine, get the Flex.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top