Pads & Backing Plate for Flex 3403?

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Ronyx

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I have a flex 3403 that I purchased from AG number of years ago. It came with the 8.5 inch pads and a 7 inch backing plate. I found the size of pad to be a bit unwieldy and as a result don't use it very often.

Now that I'm doing more damp sanding I want to start using the 3403 more. I would like to know what pad/backing plate combination is most preferred with this machine?

I use Menzerna products mostly but also dabble with Optima and others.
 
Hi Ron, Welcome to AGO!

My preference is using the LC Hybrid pad line up with the Flex rotary.

I use the white 5" flex foam bp for the larger 6.5" pads and the yellow LC 4" plate for the 5" Hybrid pads.

I also use mostly Menzerna products.
 
Smack thanks for your reply? This is very helpful? I just ordered some 5 inch hybrid pads for my 3401. In checking AG for the 4 inch BP I see the closest they have measures 4 3/4.

I understand that the choice of using 6.5 or 5 inch pads is determined by the polishing task at hand. However, do you prefer using one size over the other?
 
Get a good 5" flexible backing plate and then you can use smaller foam and even wool buffing pads on your Flex 3403.

Flexible Rotary Buffer Backing Plates for the 6.5" Hybrid Pads


I was talking to Mike aka smack the other day ago and he asked me about backing plates for the 6.5" Hybrid Pads.

I use the 6.5" Hybrid pads on the Flex PE14 as well as the 5" Hybrid pads. Not only do these foam pads work great on the Flex 3401 but they also work great on rotary buffers.

Since the Hybrid pads were introduced they are always the pads I show and use in my detailing boot camp classes for the Flex 3401 and I use these also with the Flex PE 14 as we have dedicated cars for each tool we teach in our classes.

While there is a Lake Country 4" backing plate that perfectly fits the back of the 5" Hybrid pads at this time we don't stock a backing plate that perfectly fits the back of the 6.5" Hybrid pads.

So to answer Mike's question and to show which backing plates we use here at the Show Car Garage are some pictures....


In this picture you see a 6.5" Lake Country Hybrid pad upside down to show the velcro side.

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This is the 4 3/4" Lake Country Backing Plate centered on the 6.5" Hybrid pad.

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This is the 5" Flex-Foam backing plate centered on the 6.5" Hybrid pad.

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The diameter of the velcro on the back of the 6.5" Hybrid pads measures right at 5 7/16"


The backing plates I'm currently using for the 6.5" pads are the,

Lake Country 3/4" Backing Plate

And the,

5" Flex-Foam HD Rotary Backing Plate


The Flex-Foam backing plate actually measures 4 3/4" in diameter, same size as the Lake country 4 3/4" backing plate.

And if you need a backing plate to use the 5" Hybrid Pads on your rotary buffer this one fit perfectly.

Lake Country 4" Flexible Backing Plate

If you have not tried the Hybrid pads on your rotary buffer yet give them a try. I really like these pads on both rotary buffers and the Flex 3401 forced rotation, forced oscillation polisher.


Also get some 7" wool pads, much easier to control than larger wool pads.


:)
 
Ronyx said:
I have a flex 3403 that I purchased from AG number of years ago. It came with the 8.5 inch pads and a 7 inch backing plate. I found the size of pad to be a bit unwieldy and as a result don't use it very often.

Now that I'm doing more damp sanding I want to start using the 3403 more. I would like to know what pad/backing plate combination is most preferred with this machine?

I use Menzerna products mostly but also dabble with Optima and others.
Click to expand...

Ronyx said:
Smack thanks for your reply? This is very helpful? I just ordered some 5 inch hybrid pads for my 3401. In checking AG for the 4 inch BP I see the closest they have measures 4 3/4.

I understand that the choice of using 6.5 or 5 inch pads is determined by the polishing task at hand. However, do you prefer using one size over the other?
Click to expand...

Hi Ron,

In your original post you brought up the Flex 3403 which is the lightweight rotary polisher.
FLEX L3403 VRG Lightweight Circular Polisher, FLEX rotary polisher, high speed professional buffer, car buffer, german polisher

Then in your second response you brought up the 3401 which is the forced rotation DA.
Flex XC 3401, FLEX Orbital Polisher,flex XC 3401 VRG dual-action polisher,flex XC3401VRG,Dual Action polisher,FLEX buffer

Regardless, I use and prefer the Hybrid pads on either machine seen here.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/flex-polishers/81208-flex-comparision-pe14-vs-3401-a.html

As for size I utilize whichever size is suitable for the task at hand.
 
Sorry about the above post. When I said "this is very helpful?" I meant "this is very helpful!"

Sorry for my inadvertent use of the wrong punctuation. How that changes the meaning of a message.
 
Ronyx said:
Sorry about the above post. When I said "this is very helpful?" I meant "this is very helpful!"

Sorry for my inadvertent use of the wrong punctuation. How that changes the meaning of a message.
Click to expand...

Apologies accepted Ron. No harm, No foul.

:)
 
smack said:
Hi Ron,

In your original post you brought up the Flex 3403 which is the lightweight rotary polisher.
FLEX L3403 VRG Lightweight Circular Polisher, FLEX rotary polisher, high speed professional buffer, car buffer, german polisher

Then in your second response you brought up the 3401 which is the forced rotation DA.
Flex XC 3401, FLEX Orbital Polisher,flex XC 3401 VRG dual-action polisher,flex XC3401VRG,Dual Action polisher,FLEX buffer

Regardless, I use and prefer the Hybrid pads on either machine seen here.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/flex-polishers/81208-flex-comparision-pe14-vs-3401-a.html

As for size I utilize whichever size is suitable for the task at hand.
Click to expand...
Yeah, sorry about mixing my machines in the post. I also have a 3401 and I just ordered a set of 5" hybrid pads for use on that machine with the changeable BP system.

I should have asked if these pads would work well on the 3403 and what BP would fit those pads.

Mike thanks for your very thorough response particularly the actual measurements of the BP and Pad velco.

Thanks again Smak. Your responses are very helpful!
 
After rereading these responses it seems that the Flex 5 inch BP will work with both the 6.5 and 5.0 LC Hybrid pads.

Have I got that right?
 
Thanks for the pictures Mike!

I see you also use the 5.5" Hydro Tech pads. Do you prefer those over the 5" Hybrids?
 
Ronyx said:
Thanks for the pictures Mike!

I see you also use the 5.5" Hydro Tech pads. Do you prefer those over the 5" Hybrids?
Click to expand...

Sure thing.

I just used the Hydro tech as a reference for rotary use. The Hydro techs are my choice for a traditional DA such as the PC.

The Hybrids are my choice for the PE14 and 3401.
 
Gotcha

Thanks again. This information has really been very useful!!
 
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