Porter Cable 7424 XP or Flex VC 3401?

[cleanfreak3]

I "machine" as much as possible! My hand cannot get the results that a machine can so i personally love having my 3" backing plate. If i was getting a Flex i would absolutely get the interchangeable BP's. I like to have the wider versatility of the machine.

I only see the 4inch backing plate for the Flex 3401 Orbital? Also, what pads would you suggest?

 

[Paul A.]

Ahh, that's right...i don't have the Flex (yet) and was thinking of my rotary and my PC. In any event i would want the 4" BP for the 5" Lake Country Hybrid pads and the larger BP for the 6.5" hybrids. I would find a use for a larger 6.5" pad on a big truck like the Silverado along with working thinner, smaller sections with the 5" pads. The PC doesn't like working 6.5" pads but the Flex, because of it's forced rotation, would have no problem. Again, a time saver vs. 5" pads for the entire vehicle. I have begun using the LC Hybrids with my rotary and they work phenomenally well for me.

Again, i don't have a Flex and maybe someone who does can chime in...

 

[AZ Mike]

3inch pads can be used on the 6inch backing plate?

You can buy backing plates for 3" pads. Lake Country has many different size backing plates for pads.
You can get the Flex 3401 VRG with the interchangeable backing plate system so you can use 4",5" and 6.5" pads. 5" Hybrid pads by Lake Country are widely recommended for the Flex. They work with the 4" backing plate.
FLEX XC 3401 VRG HD Polisher & Changeable Backing Plate System, FLEX orbital polisher, FLEX backing plate system
I agree with Puckman's comments above about the Flex.

 

[Paul A.]

I'd be careful with a 4" pad on a 4" BP. Not much room for error if working tight areas.

 

[Eandras]

I would go Flex 3401. The PC is a good machine but you are going to eventually want a more advance unit.

Ed

 

[cleanfreak3]

Do you guys recommend Lake Countrys Flat Yellow Cutting Pads or Orange for my black Silverado. I will be using Wolfgangs Uber Compound. I'm leaning towards purchasing the Griots 6" with the 5inch backing plate.

 

[Evan.J]

Do you guys recommend Lake Countrys Flat Yellow Cutting Pads or Orange for my black Silverado. I will be using Wolfgangs Uber Compound. I'm leaning towards purchasing the Griots 6" with the 5inch backing plate.

How bad are the defects on the truck?

 

[cleanfreak3]

How bad are the defects on the truck?

Heavy swirls and has light/medium scratches. A lot of the scratches look like they came from the previous owner who used the car wash brush on it every time I read on another forum that the guy had to use the yellow cutting pad to speed up the process because he was getting nowhere with the orange.

 

[Evan.J]

Heavy swirls and has light/medium scratches. A lot of the scratches look like they came from the previous owner who used the car wash brush on it every time I read on another forum that the guy had to use the yellow cutting pad to speed up the process because he was getting nowhere with the orange.

Well here is a before and after photo of a 2008 GMC Sierra Onyx Black. I used a Yellow Meguiars Soft Buff 2.0 Pad with M105 and I was able to achieve this correction.

 

[cleanfreak3]

Well here is a before and after photo of a 2008 GMC Sierra Onyx Black. I used a Yellow Meguiars Soft Buff 2.0 Pad with M105 and I was able to achieve this correction.

The first picture looks like a mirror image from my truck. Do you know if that pad is more like the Yellow or Orange Flat pads by Lake Country?
By the way, I checked out your facebook site, awesome detailing:xyxthumbs:. Makes me want to skip purchasing the the Griots 6" and go right to the Flex:dblthumb2:

 

[Evan.J]

The first picture looks like a mirror image from my truck. Do you know if that pad is more like the Yellow or Orange Flat pads by Lake Country?
By the way, I checked out your facebook site, awesome detailing:xyxthumbs:. Makes me want to skip purchasing the the Griots 6" and go right to the Flex:dblthumb2:

The Meguiars yellow is a polishing pad so that would be similar to the Lake Country White polishing pad. It wouldn't hurt to have a cutting pad in you arsenal so I would grab an orange pad or two.

Along the line of the polishers while a Griots 6" polisher sure will get you the the results so will the Flex. The great feature of the Flex is that you never have to worry about the pad not spinning due to the unique force rotation of the Flex. When a pad stops spinning you lose all correction abilities of any machine, so having one that is forced to spin will always help.

The Flex is very easy to learn and should only take a few minutes to get the hang of how the machine operate. I have shown many people and SEMA and at the Mobile Tech Expo how to operate the Flex and most have never even had a polisher. After a slight tweak of how they were holding the machine and the arm speed they were using they were able to use the Flex with no guidance.

Mike has plenty of videos on the Flex and how to operate it properly that you can watch.

 

[cleanfreak3]

The Meguiars yellow is a polishing pad so that would be similar to the Lake Country White polishing pad. It wouldn't hurt to have a cutting pad in you arsenal so I would grab an orange pad or two.

Along the line of the polishers while a Griots 6" polisher sure will get you the the results so will the Flex. The great feature of the Flex is that you never have to worry about the pad not spinning due to the unique force rotation of the Flex. When a pad stops spinning you lose all correction abilities of any machine, so having one that is forced to spin will always help.

The Flex is very easy to learn and should only take a few minutes to get the hang of how the machine operate. I have shown many people and SEMA and at the Mobile Tech Expo how to operate the Flex and most have never even had a polisher. After a slight tweak of how they were holding the machine and the arm speed they were using they were able to use the Flex with no guidance.

Mike has plenty of videos on the Flex and how to operate it properly that you can watch.

Thanks for your help and input!