No Surprise, New Flex Outperforms Old PC

[VR8]

I was just so pleased to finally see some clear results that I had to share. You know the saying, "The plumbers house always leaks" or "The painters house always needs painting"? Well, I was the detailer whos car needed detailing. That isn't to say it wasn't clean, I'm a bit to OCD for that. But I had those pesky little swirls that I couldn't get rid of. My really old Sears buffer of course wouldn't touch them. My Porter Cable that I bought a year or so ago wouldn't touch them. Even my first use of Meguiar's #105 early this year wouldn't get them all out using the PC!

Intro the Flex 3401: Last night I finally had time to test on the roof. Flex 3401, Meguiar's #105 w/Lake Country Orange pad. Followed w/Meguiar's #205 on a Lake Country White pad. It worked! Im the MAN

Before: Not too bad, but they haunted me. After all I'm suppose to be able to remove these things.

Afters: I'll take more today as I'm headed back out to finish the job. Far side of the roof wasn't done in these pics. As I mentioned, I was just so excited to see my Velocity Red crystal clear, I had to take a picture. The sun went down before I finished the other side.

 

[Harleyguy]

Seems like your one happy camper now.Do a ipa wipedown between steps and you should be good to go .

 

[Fred114]

Very nice John, think I might need to borrow the flex.

Glad to see those swirls are finally history!! :xyxthumbs:

 

[Meghan]

Its always nice to see someone use the Flex and get blowed again with the results. Its a great machine, a must for a detailer!

 

[DLB]

Its a great machine, a must for a detailer!

You're such a saleslady. Pushing your wonderful products on us poor people who just need a perfect finish. :laughing:

I would love to pic up a Flex...I am just trying to decide what model would be a good step up from the PCXP. My detailing "needs" are larger than my budget. :doh:

DLB

 

[Meghan]

You're such a saleslady. Pushing your wonderful products on us poor people who just need a perfect finish. :laughing:

I would love to pic up a Flex...I am just trying to decide what model would be a good step up from the PCXP. My detailing "needs" are larger than my budget. :doh:

DLB

Take your time, Christmas is coming up, and we do have a Wishlist online for you to use! Important question is, have you been good this year? :laughing:

 

[DARK HORSE]

I am very concerned; as I just ordered and Porter Cable XP kit. I am wondering if I made a poor decision. Should I have orederd a Flex???

 

[DARK HORSE]

I was just so pleased to finally see some clear results that I had to share. You know the saying, "The plumbers house always leaks" or "The painters house always needs painting"? Well, I was the detailer whos car needed detailing. That isn't to say it wasn't clean, I'm a bit to OCD for that. But I had those pesky little swirls that I couldn't get rid of. My really old Sears buffer of course wouldn't touch them. My Porter Cable that I bought a year or so ago wouldn't touch them. Even my first use of Meguiar's #105 early this year wouldn't get them all out using the PC!

Intro the Flex 3401: Last night I finally had time to test on the roof. Flex 3401, Meguiar's #105 w/Lake Country Orange pad. Followed w/Meguiar's #205 on a Lake Country White pad. It worked! Im the MAN

Before: Not too bad, but they haunted me. After all I'm suppose to be able to remove these things.

Afters: I'll take more today as I'm headed back out to finish the job. Far side of the roof wasn't done in these pics. As I mentioned, I was just so excited to see my Velocity Red crystal clear, I had to take a picture. The sun went down before I finished the other side.

Is your pc an XP and does that make much of a difference. I just ordered a pc xp and now I am concerned that it may not remove swirls and light micro scratches that I want to remove???Feed back please

 

[MisterShark]

Is your pc an XP and does that make much of a difference. I just ordered a pc xp and now I am concerned that it may not remove swirls and light micro scratches that I want to remove???Feed back please

I believe the PC used in the OP was the first iteration DA: the 'non-XP' model from a while back.
The new XP version has extra power and likely would have taken care of those swirls, albeit not as quickly as the Flex.

 

[02nissanISR]

Ok the Flex and the porter cable xp both have more correction power than the original PC. but this what you can do with the original:

I went from the white pad to the red for some deeper imperfections. These pics are after Meguiars Ultimate compound only I eventually finished the car with Megs 205.

The point is you can get a fair amount of correction with the PC with good technique and the right pad product combo.

 

[02nissanISR]

The last post was in no way a contradiction of the original poster, just a post to make "trichard" feel better about his purchase. The Flex is by far a more powerful machine than the original pc but the PCXP is definitely a step up from the regular PC that I have. Just saying if I can do that with my PC your XP should be fine

 

[SRHTX]

Yeppers. I LOVE my new Flex. The 1st time I used it was on a clients 2004 Black MB E320 that had just come out of the body shop. Was I worried, Of course. Once I started using it, if corrected things so much quicker over the PC. In fact, I have no idea where I've placed my ol PC. lol

Congrats on your 1st usage of the Flex. :xyxthumbs:

I was just so pleased to finally see some clear results that I had to share. You know the saying, "The plumbers house always leaks" or "The painters house always needs painting"? Well, I was the detailer whos car needed detailing. That isn't to say it wasn't clean, I'm a bit to OCD for that. But I had those pesky little swirls that I couldn't get rid of. My really old Sears buffer of course wouldn't touch them. My Porter Cable that I bought a year or so ago wouldn't touch them. Even my first use of Meguiar's #105 early this year wouldn't get them all out using the PC!

Intro the Flex 3401: Last night I finally had time to test on the roof. Flex 3401, Meguiar's #105 w/Lake Country Orange pad. Followed w/Meguiar's #205 on a Lake Country White pad. It worked!

 

[Bunky]

I love my Flex DA too.

It just took about 3 minutes (one panel) to see this was a real machine. I now keep a small backing plate for 4-in pads on my UDM1.0 and use it on smaller sections (pillars, etc). It feels like a real polisher too (need to pay attention).

 

[Bradshaw]

Its always nice to see someone use the Flex and get blowed again with the results. Its a great machine, a must for a detailer!

Uhh, hmmm, Cough cough, never mind!

 

[VR8]

I believe the PC used in the OP was the first iteration DA: the 'non-XP' model from a while back.
The new XP version has extra power and likely would have taken care of those swirls, albeit not as quickly as the Flex.

MisterShark has it correct trichard, my Porter Cable was the older version. Your XP version should be a fine machine.

Very nice John, think I might need to borrow the flex.

What are you talkin about? Your Speed3 doesn't have any swirls!

The last post was in no way a contradiction of the original poster...

No ill intentions received. I certianly felt pretty good about my PC over the last year or so, it did some terrific work for me. For some reason the clear on my Mazda was a bit too tough for it though. I suppose a few more attempts with the PC would have given me a better finish, I just didn't have an occassion to go after it a second time. The Flex was just so easy in comparison.

 

[Fred114]

What are you talkin about? Your Speed3 doesn't have any swirls!

The Speed is in good shape, but the FJ needs work. And of course I am hoping for an 8 in the near future, I am sure I will need to give it a good working over. :awesome:

 

[unclestu]

I picked up my Flex 4301 from AG and I love it though I have no basis for comparison as being a nube this was my first polisher. I would have liked it if Flex would have made the handle easier to adjust. Perhaps with some sort of push button set up to unlock the handle when in situations where the handle gets in the way.:buffing:

 

[jaynick808]

02nissanisr's blue car is a honda. im not sure of all mazda paints, but on the whole they are harder than hondas super soft paint. ultimate compound is definitely 2-3 notches down from m105. might be hard to compare the two.
im sure if the op went over a couple more times with 105 and the pc with the right method he would have got it, but if he could afford the flex then im all for it
i cant say ive cast away my pc once ive picked up the flex, but all i can say is its only used for glaze and sealant application! correcting via regular pc is for the birds. the new xp and griots upgraded polishers look promising though.

 

[02nissanISR]

02nissanisr's blue car is a honda. im not sure of all mazda paints, but on the whole they are harder than hondas super soft paint. ultimate compound is definitely 2-3 notches down from m105. might be hard to compare the two.
im sure if the op went over a couple more times with 105 and the pc with the right method he would have got it, but if he could afford the flex then im all for it
i cant say ive cast away my pc once ive picked up the flex, but all i can say is its only used for glaze and sealant application! correcting via regular pc is for the birds. the new xp and griots upgraded polishers look promising though.

I agree hole heartedly doing a correction with PC takes forever but I was just trying to encourage another poster who purchased the xp but was having doubts seeing all the glowing reports on the flex. This was not a debate post just tying to say look if i can do this with my pc your xp should do just fine. Not all of us can afford the flex myself included.

no offense taken just wanted to clarify my position :dblthumb2:

 

[loudog2]

I picked up my Flex 4301 from AG and I love it though I have no basis for comparison as being a nube this was my first polisher. I would have liked it if Flex would have made the handle easier to adjust. Perhaps with some sort of push button set up to unlock the handle when in situations where the handle gets in the way.:buffing:

Stu you know you can buy different handles for the flex.
FLEX Grip Side Handle, reduce vibration, Flex polisher handle
FLEX Polisher Side Handle