Smallest pads for Flex 3401

[GoodToGo1]

What are the smallest pads that can be used with the 3401? If required, I will change the backing plate. Feed back please

 

[EVOlved]

FLEX XC3401 Changeable Backing Plate System With the plate system you can comfortably use 5" or 6.5" pads. People do use 4" pads with it you just have to be extra careful because the housing sticks out quite a bit! I'm sure someone else with actual experience with such will chime in eventually..

 

[Tato]

What he said,

4" is the smallest Backing Plate (BP) for 3401. Best match (IMO) are the 5" Lake Country Hybrid pads, but there are plenty of options.

When using pads matching the size of BP just pay attention to the job at hand (as always, nothing new) and you're done.

The 5" Lake Country Hybrid Pads has Velcro Side of 4" (exactly) beveling to a Foam Face of 5". They need the 4" plate in the kit suggested above.

There are two smaller than stock BP options for the Flex.

4 3/8 Backing Plate

FLEX XC3401 Mini 4 3/8 Backing Plate, FLEX

is DIFFERENT from:

4" plate from Changeable plate System (Needed for 4" pads and 5" Hybrid Pads)

FLEX XC3401 Changeable Backing Plate System

Some examples:

Here you can see the 4" plate installed (center) and the standard 5.5" plate (side). Hybrid pads on/at (I never know) background:

Side by side Flex both 4" plate, 5.5" plate and Rupes 6" Plate.

Pads installed, both orange hybrid pads in 5" and 6.5"

Here I'm using a 4" (exact match) Lake Country CCS orange pad, notice (slightly on pic but please, abstract) how it compresses closer to BP size.

Here the pad is hybrid white 5", Now compare to picture above. You can see how beveled edge gives you security without compromising precision.

Notice how beveled edge keeps you from 'hitting the tool' on raised borders while polishing (not the best example, but again, please abstract).

Imagine the above with the 4" Lake Country Flat pad:


In detail, a 4" LC white flat pad fitted on 4" BP at 3401.

Here I've used a 4 1/4" Microfiber DA pad from Lake Country, it's an option for going small:


However I've now ordered the thicker 4 1/2" Rotary MF pads to use with 3401, unfortunately I haven't runt them yet but the fit is great and I'm pretty sure will do an excellent job.

This:

4 1/2 Inch Ultra-Fiber Rotary Microfiber Pad (2-Pack)

Can't be seen at the pic above but they are ~3 x as thick as the DA Microfiber pad.

This is an 'old pic' I have that for me expresses how 5" LC Hybrids are the 'small pads' for the Flex, while they may feel Bulky (too thick) for DAs like Meguiar's / PC style DAs - (LC Hybrid Yellow Pad in Meguiar's DA)

They go butter smooth on the Flex and it's likely where the 5" hybrid on the 3401 wont fit you're 'condemned' to polish by hand... hahahah Sure, try the 4" pads like shown above (I use them often) but most of times it's more a 'tool casing size issue' than 5" or 4" pad issue.

You can always go for a PE-8 and precision accessories, but solve the 4" plate for 3401 first!

See here for more details
Flex Precision Pads 1 inch 2 inch 3 inch
Credits: Mike Phillips

That's my $0.02, hope that helps.

Kind Regards.

 

[Kamakaz1961]

GoodToGo1, Tato is correct....BULLSEYE!! He is 100% Correct. IMO the smallest is the 5" Hybrids. Again, you can go 4" Pads with caution, however, there are other DA's that should work fine with a 4".

The Lake Country Backing Plates and the Flex is an awesome combination.

 

[GoodToGo1]

Thanks guys but I really don't eat to buy another polisher to get the small areas or raised body lines. I am trying to make do with what I have

 

[Tato]

FLEX XC3401 Changeable Backing Plate System With the plate system you can comfortably use 5" or 6.5" pads. People do use 4" pads with it you just have to be extra careful because the housing sticks out quite a bit! I'm sure someone else with actual experience with such will chime in eventually..

:iagree:, just that.

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Excellent feedback Evolved and Tato. rops:

 

[EVOlved]

Excellent feedback Evolved and Tato. rops:

Thanks Mike but Rafael out did himself and I as he always seems to do. I don't think he knows of the word moderation. :xyxthumbs:

On a side note I am wondering how the GG 3" would handle these new pads that are coming out for the Flex Kompact(as Claude so properly named it). I am wondering if it will turn the GG 3" into more than a sander and waxer (time will tell I suppose).

 

[allenk4]

I used a 5 1/2" BP with a 4" pad on my 3401 today


Door ding in the middle of a panel

Worked fine


Had the PC set up with a Cyclo brush and don't want to swap

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Thanks Mike but Rafael out did himself and I as he always seems to do. I don't think he knows of the word moderation. :xyxthumbs:

He never fails to amaze me. Always on top of his answers giving in depth detail supporting his feedback. rops:

On a side note I am wondering how the GG 3" would handle these new pads that are coming out for the Flex Kompact(as Claude so properly named it). I am wondering if it will turn the GG 3" into more than a sander and waxer (time will tell I suppose).

I think the GG3 would be a great little tool for use with those new pads provided it is equipped with the proper sized backing plate to support the smaller pads.

Personally I feel the GG3 is fantastic when equipped with 3" pads and feel that it has plenty of power and is capable at doing so considering the purpose of the machine. I know others do not feel the same and say it's underpowered but I think it's a capable little machine.

 

[haris300]

Awesome explanation Tato

May I ask how you liked the 4.25 inch MF pads on the Flex?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

What are the smallest pads that can be used with the 3401? If required, I will change the backing plate. Feed back please

Here's a couple more pictures showing you where the edge of the metal housing, backing plate and side of a 4" pad will be if you use this small of a pad on a Flex 3401 with the 4" backing plate.


From this article,

New 4" and 6" Backing Plates for Flex 3401

Note: I wrote this article and took these pictures BEFORE the 5" Hybrid pads were introduced to the market. Thus the reason why it's showing 4" pads. At that time that's what we used...




The 4 3/8" backing plate is too large to use safely with a 4" spot repair pad

Here's the new 4" backing plate with a 4" pad

We'll be trying these out on a 1986 Buick Regal that we're working on for our first "Autogeek's Car of the Week" project.

Autogeek's Car of the Week - 1986 Buick Regal T-Type Turbo

Using a 4" Tangerine Hydro-Tech Polishing pad to get close to the hood ornamnet...

Hope that gives you all the perspective you need.


I think I cover 8 different pad types/options in my how-to book but for the record my personal recommendation is to get the LC Backing Plate Adapter Kit so you can get your hadns on the 4" backing plate and then get 5" and 6.5" Hybrid pads. Knock out large flat panels with the large pads and switch over to 5" pads for smaller, thinner panels.

 

[Tato]

Awesome explanation Tato

May I ask how you liked the 4.25 inch MF pads on the Flex?

Dear, thank you.

The results almost speaks for themselves:

Before:

During (after 3 passes):

Results were then sanded lightly with 3000 grit, the re-worked using the same MF disc. I've touched-up paint at 'strategic spots' to achieve the bellow results.
After:

The 4.25" pads are a great match since they go a bit over the backing plate offering good feeling. Being that thin on a forced rotation tool you can expect a very aggressive media to work your polish.

The cons (IMO) are being that thin they won't give you the smoothness of a thick foam pad which for me reserves it for spot polishing / repair. It's likely generate increased heat in the 'core' of the pad if you try to work too large of an area.

The face of the pad is almost indestructible, use after use, you just clean it like other pads and it looks like new.

The thin interface between MF and Velcro may suffer a bit more depending on use (larger areas, heavy pressure and high speeds).

I'm very optimist with the thicker rotary MF discs to use with 3401, I'll be sure to let you updated when I use it.

I've mainly grabbed them because I sometimes work Rupes 21 with Microfiber for the first cut, and I'm 'locked in' 5" 21mm throw.

I'm putting my chips in for going around door handles and other smaller parts using the Flex and thick MF.

On the other hand, I'm not keen to grab larger MF discs for the Flex 3401, the Rupes (till now, for me) is Im the MAN for Microfiber Discs.

I've used Meguiar's 5" MF discs on the Flex and the 4 3/8 plate, the Finishing disc worked very smooth (thicker interface)...

Again, MF is something for the Rupes, remember the 'LC Hybrid Wool pad is the Flex 3401 answer to Microfiber Discs!' haahah

Hope that helps,

Kind Regards.

---------------

PS: Nice input above Mike!

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

On the other hand, I'm not keen to grab larger MF discs for the Flex 3401, the Rupes (till now, for me) is Im the MAN for Microfiber Discs.

MF is something for the Rupes, remember the 'LC Hybrid Wool pad is the Flex 3401 answer to Microfiber Discs!' haahah

Hope that helps,

Kind Regards.

---------------

This exactly my findings as well. The MF pads are better suited to traditional DA machines such as the PC, RUPES, etc while the 3401 has the ability to spin wool pads.

Plus the overall experience is much nicer when the 3401 is equipped with wool rather than MF.

 

[haris300]

Thanks for the explanation Tato. I know what you mean about being "locked in" with the Rupes 21's backing plate sizes and throw. I still use mine for the initial correction work when working with MF discs on larger flat surface panels. Otherwise, the Flex comes in handy for everything else. And yeah if I don't feel like using the Rupes, I'll throw on a LC Hybrid Wool on the 3401. All this talk about smaller polishing pads has got me excited to get my PE8 tomorrow

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I cannot, for the life of me, get good results using ANY MF pad with the 3401. They're much better suited for a traditional DA, as Mike@dedicated stated above.

 

[dlc95]

What he said,

4" is the smallest Backing Plate (BP) for 3401. Best match (IMO) are the 5" Lake Country Hybrid pads, but there are plenty of options.

When using pads matching the size of BP just pay attention to the job at hand (as always, nothing new) and you're done.

The 5" Lake Country Hybrid Pads has Velcro Side of 4" (exactly) beveling to a Foam Face of 5". They need the 4" plate in the kit suggested above.

There are two smaller than stock BP options for the Flex.

4 3/8 Backing Plate

FLEX XC3401 Mini 4 3/8 Backing Plate, FLEX

is DIFFERENT from:

4" plate from Changeable plate System (Needed for 4" pads and 5" Hybrid Pads)

FLEX XC3401 Changeable Backing Plate System

Some examples:

Here you can see the 4" plate installed (center) and the standard 5.5" plate (side). Hybrid pads on/at (I never know) background:

Side by side Flex both 4" plate, 5.5" plate and Rupes 6" Plate.

Pads installed, both orange hybrid pads in 5" and 6.5"

Here I'm using a 4" (exact match) Lake Country CCS orange pad, notice (slightly on pic but please, abstract) how it compresses closer to BP size.

Here the pad is hybrid white 5", Now compare to picture above. You can see how beveled edge gives you security without compromising precision.

Notice how beveled edge keeps you from 'hitting the tool' on raised borders while polishing (not the best example, but again, please abstract).

Imagine the above with the 4" Lake Country Flat pad:


In detail, a 4" LC white flat pad fitted on 4" BP at 3401.

Here I've used a 4 1/4" Microfiber DA pad from Lake Country, it's an option for going small:


However I've now ordered the thicker 4 1/2" Rotary MF pads to use with 3401, unfortunately I haven't runt them yet but the fit is great and I'm pretty sure will do an excellent job.

This:

4 1/2 Inch Ultra-Fiber Rotary Microfiber Pad (2-Pack)

Can't be seen at the pic above but they are ~3 x as thick as the DA Microfiber pad.

This is an 'old pic' I have that for me expresses how 5" LC Hybrids are the 'small pads' for the Flex, while they may feel Bulky (too thick) for DAs like Meguiar's / PC style DAs - (LC Hybrid Yellow Pad in Meguiar's DA)

They go butter smooth on the Flex and it's likely where the 5" hybrid on the 3401 wont fit you're 'condemned' to polish by hand... hahahah Sure, try the 4" pads like shown above (I use them often) but most of times it's more a 'tool casing size issue' than 5" or 4" pad issue.

You can always go for a PE-8 and precision accessories, but solve the 4" plate for 3401 first!

See here for more details
Flex Precision Pads 1 inch 2 inch 3 inch
Credits: Mike Phillips

That's my $0.02, hope that helps.

Kind Regards.

Great pics, and insight, Tato!

I ordered Rupes microfiber pads for my 3401, the 6/7"... but they are thinner and stiffer than the 5/6"! I'm going to give them a shot on the 3401, but at this point I'm guessing they will end up on the porter cable with the 6" plate for those larger areas. I too was also thinking that the LC ultra fiber rotary pads would be the way to go for the 3401