The New FLEX PE14-2-150 Rotary Buffer

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The New FLEX PE14-2-150 Rotary Buffer


At SEMA 2010, Flex introduced their brand new compact Rotary Buffer. I was honored to receive the #2 production unit and it's already seen lots of use at this year's SEMA show. In fact I encouraged everyone that stopped by our booth to test it out and most people did.

The fit and finish is excellent on this new lightweight rotary buffer and I'll stick to what I said in the video we made with Bob Eichelberg and that is it's the Mercedes-Benz of lightweight and compact rotary buffers...

Here's a new video we shot with Bob Eichelberg, the President of Flex North America, just a few weeks before SEMA

The FLEX PE14-2-150 Rotary Buffer
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YShAVw7zMkE]YouTube - Autogeek's Show Car Garage - New FLEX PE14-2 Rotary Polisher[/video]



The new PE14-2-150 Flex Rotary Buffer actually starts out at 400 RPM via the trigger and sets at 600 RPM with the trigger lock engaged for the low RPM

The maximum RPM is 2100 RPM and that's actually a good call on the part of the Flex Engineers as you just don't need or want higher speeds for working on modern clear coats.

High speeds with a rotary buffer can lead to extreme heat build-up on the paint surface causing burn-through or as our friends on the other side of the pond call it, strike-through.

For years and probably decades I've seen others post that heat is necessary to break-down diminishing abrasives in compounds and polishes and this is a common miss-understanding. Diminishing abrasives are broken down under pressure over time and heat is an un-necessary and un-wanted by-product.


This new rotary buffer offers the power of a full size rotary buffer in a compact size. We couldn't get it to bog down when you put it under heavy load and the body never became hot under use at the SEMA show; of course the real test will be a full size car.

Flex recommends a max size of a 7" buffing pad but says it will work an 8" pad also with no problems.

If you're looking to step up to using a rotary buffer or looking to replace you're current model, I'm confident you're going to love this new compact model from Flex.

I give it Two Thumbs Up! :dblthumb2:


On the Autogeek.net Store

Flex PE14 Lightweight, Compact Rotary Buffer

:xyxthumbs:
 
Looking forward to our first shipment!!! It will be like a kid on Christmas morning.
 
I've had my Milwaukee for years.....it might be due for a replacement.....but the thing just wont die!! I need something to happen to it so I can justify to my wife a need to replace it. Mike any suggestions?! Haha just playing, but dang just the light weight of this thing will be worth it, I did an RV that nearly killed me!
 
So Mike, I'll repeat a question I asked in a different thread: do you think this makes the 3403 light-weight unit obsolete? Or does the 3403 still have the ability to do jobs this unit can't?
 
Pricing is probably determined for this, could we have an estimate of the cost for this unit? I know I will be saving cans to buy this, or I might be able to convince the family to get me some gift certificates this year. I know I will be buying them when offered with the bonus.

I should have bought them last year when you could get $200 bonus with a $1000 purchase. I was like I won't be spending $1000 any time soon. Boy, was I wrong.

Don
 
So Mike, I'll repeat a question I asked in a different thread: do you think this makes the 3403 light-weight unit obsolete? Or does the 3403 still have the ability to do jobs this unit can't?

:whs:
Good question.I would like to know as well?
 
So Mike, I'll repeat a question I asked in a different thread: do you think this makes the 3403 light-weight unit obsolete? Or does the 3403 still have the ability to do jobs this unit can't?

Must have missed it the first time you posted it or didn't pay attention...

I have not heard of any discontinuations... just of new introductions...


:props:
 
Must have missed it the first time you posted it or didn't pay attention...

I have not heard of any discontinuations... just of new introductions...


:props:

Right... but what I meant was for someone that currently owns a full-size rotary and a 3403, do you feel that the PE14-2-150 can adequately handle the jobs of both other tools in one unit, or would there still be a good reason to own more than one rotary in order to tackle different jobs?

Or in other words, because the 3403 is still around a pound lighter than the PE14-2-150, and the body of the 3403 appears to be slightly physically smaller, are those differences significant enough to where you'd pick up and use a 3403 instead of a PE14-2-150 to do any jobs, or would the PE be your go-to tool of choice?

I know you don't like to play favorites among buffers, but what I'm trying to decide is if it would be worthwhile to purchase the new Flex since I already have a Makita and a 3403. If the new unit can fill the shoes of both of the other tools (so I can consolidate down to only one rotary on the shelf instead of two) it's clearly a worthwhile purchase. If there are still jobs where one of my current tools would be a better choice, however, I see no point in buying a new toy.... I mean tool.

Feed back please
 
The new Flex that I recieved from Flex is in route here to Autogeek, when it gets here I'll be able to start buffing out some cars with it and that's when I can best answer your great questions.

Flex has said this new rotary buffer has the power and ability of a full size rotary buffer, I take them at their word and to date I've been impressed with the tool. Can't really add any more than that...

:)
 
Right... but what I meant was for someone that currently owns a full-size rotary and a 3403, do you feel that the PE14-2-150 can adequately handle the jobs of both other tools in one unit, or would there still be a good reason to own more than one rotary in order to tackle different jobs?

Or in other words, because the 3403 is still around a pound lighter than the PE14-2-150, and the body of the 3403 appears to be slightly physically smaller, are those differences significant enough to where you'd pick up and use a 3403 instead of a PE14-2-150 to do any jobs, or would the PE be your go-to tool of choice?

I know you don't like to play favorites among buffers, but what I'm trying to decide is if it would be worthwhile to purchase the new Flex since I already have a Makita and a 3403. If the new unit can fill the shoes of both of the other tools (so I can consolidate down to only one rotary on the shelf instead of two) it's clearly a worthwhile purchase. If there are still jobs where one of my current tools would be a better choice, however, I see no point in buying a new toy.... I mean tool.

Feed back please
Since you already have a Makita and a 3403, I see no reason why you would need the new Flex. Of course if you are like me, I will get one. The Makita can handle the wool compounding and horizontal panels and the 3403 can handle the vertical and 4" pads. The new Flex fits right in the middle and would be an awesome tool for someone just starting out with a rotary.
 
Since you already have a Makita and a 3403, I see no reason why you would need the new Flex. Of course if you are like me, I will get one. The Makita can handle the wool compounding and horizontal panels and the 3403 can handle the vertical and 4" pads. The new Flex fits right in the middle and would be an awesome tool for someone just starting out with a rotary.

That's my dilemma exactly. I use my Flex and Makita pretty much exactly how you describe when I'm doing a rotary correction (except that I don't often use wool), and figured that since the new Flex fits right in the middle of the two I could buy it and sell my current rotaries on another forum or on eBay. Since I've also got a 3401 DA and an original G100A which I also frequently use I figure one less buffer would be better with the limited storage space I've got.

Of course to add to that I'm also mulling over picking up the new mini pneumatic DA and Rotary polishers that Meguiar's just introduced at SEMA since they would be able to tackle spot work that even the Flex 3403 can't do. That's yet another factor to think about.

Too many tools, too little time/space/money to own them all Im the MAN

The new Flex that I recieved from Flex is in route here to Autogeek, when it gets here I'll be able to start buffing out some cars with it and that's when I can best answer your great questions.

Flex has said this new rotary buffer has the power and ability of a full size rotary buffer, I take them at their word and to date I've been impressed with the tool. Can't really add any more than that...

:)

Fair enough! I had been under the impression that you'd been using the new tool for a while now, but if not obviously you won't have had a chance to form a good impression of it for long-haul use. :buffing:
 
Hey Apokiliptik1

Isn't there a saying... "If you have to ask then you don't want to know"

Is it me or does there seem to be too much "hype" and "fanfare" so as to "justify" the mystery price??

rumour has it around $369.00

Don

Feed back please

And just when I was comtemplating on getting a makita $250 CDN on sale?:caflag:
 
rumour has it around $369.00

Yeah, that was a shock, I was expecting it to be somewhere between a 3403 and a 3401, not way more than a 3401.

I have not heard of any discontinuations... just of new introductions...

Flex has said this new rotary buffer has the power and ability of a full size rotary buffer

I do notice that the LK603 is on sale if that portends anything...
 
Hey Apokiliptik1

Isn't there a saying... "If you have to ask then you don't want to know"

Is it me or does there seem to be too much "hype" and "fanfare" so as to "justify" the mystery price??

rumour has it around $369.00

Don

Feed back please

And just when I was comtemplating on getting a makita $250 CDN on sale?:caflag:
I was just curious but you are right alot of hype = alot of $
 
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