What backing plate and pads size for flex 3401

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PurpleHaze

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I am going to be purchasing a Flex 3401 very soon. I am a bit confused about what backing plates and pads to get. Will the Flex 4 3/8 backing plate be good for 5 and 5.5 inch pads? I heard thats the best size for pads on flex. Or will the 4 inch backing plate which comes in the changeable backing plate be better for 5 and 5.5 inch pads?
It is going to be my first polisher so want to make sure I am on the right track.
 
PurpleHaze said:
I am going to be purchasing a Flex 3401 very soon. I am a bit confused about what backing plates and pads to get. Will the Flex 4 3/8 backing plate be good for 5 and 5.5 inch pads? I heard thats the best size for pads on flex. Or will the 4 inch backing plate which comes in the changeable backing plate be better for 5 and 5.5 inch pads?
It is going to be my first polisher so want to make sure I am on the right track.
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Get the Flex 4 3/8 FIRST. It will work with the 5" and 5.5" Pads no problem. It comes standard with a 5.5" Backing Plate and that is good for 6" or 6.5" Pads.

Lake Country sells the Flex backing plates that come in 4" and 7" (I believe).

I have them all and if I had only 1 choice get the Flex 4 3/8" backing plate. I have yet to use the Lake Country backing plates.

CJ
 
The standard backing plate will give you plenty of room with 5.5" pads (very slow security margin, not optimal, but can be made), perfect with 6" and 6.5" pads.

The 4 3/8 backing plate is the correct plate for 5.5" pads, but can also be used with 5" pads with enormous success.

The 4" plate is to be used with 4" pads (zero security margin, but can be made) and it's PERFECT for the 5" hybrid pads.

The 4" plate is too small (in my opinion) for 5" and larger pads.

The 5" hybrid pads are the best addition to the Flex 3401. Unfortunately, to be able to use them, you'll have to order the WHOLE set of lake country plate system.

That means, a lot of cost, a 4" very nice plate for the flex, and a rarely used (at least, by me) 6" plate.

The 5" hybrids will not work with 4 3/8 plate because the 5" hybrid pad is beveled which has exactly 4" velcro side size, and 5" foam side size. (it's velcro is too small to be used on 4 3/8" plate).

The hybrid pads are the best pads for the Flex, that said, unfortunately, if you want to get the most from your machine, you'll need to get them.

I have all the options (standard, 4 3/8 and LC system), use them all, but mostly the 4" plate with 5" hybrids.

Another setup I like is 4 3/8 plate and 5.5" flat pads.

The Rupes pads (at least, the yellow which I have tested) in 6" works nice with the Flex 4 3/8 plate.

Difficult not to recommend polishing with a white hybrid pad if you have a Flex 3401...

Hope that helps (you spend more money, lol!)

Kind Regards.
 
LC interchangeable backing plate kit and LC 5" Hybrid pads. Best combo yet that I've used on my Flex. Meg's MF pads also work beautifully for moderate / heavy correction with minimal hazing.
 
The Hybrid pads are the cats meow on the 3401. The larger 6.5" pads fit directly on the factory Flex 5.5" backing plate.

To run the smaller 5" Hybrid pads you will need the Lake Country interchangeable plate system.
 
Just02896 said:
LC interchangeable backing plate kit and LC 5" Hybrid pads. Best combo yet that I've used on my Flex. Meg's MF pads also work beautifully for moderate / heavy correction with minimal hazing.
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Mike@DedicatedPerfection said:
The Hybrid pads are the cats meow on the 3401. The larger 6.5" pads fit directly on the factory Flex 5.5" backing plate.

To run the smaller 5" Hybrid pads you will need the Lake Country interchangeable plate system.
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Why can't you use the 4 3/8" BP with them?
 
My Flex has the 4 3/8" BP and I only use 5.5" B/S pads with it. Works perfectly with that setup.
 
Ah, I can't decide what to get. There are some reviews that state the LC kit has broken. I don't recognize any of the names though, unlike you guys. Have any of you had issues with this or heard of such issues?

Why are the hybrid pads so great with the Flex? What makes them better?

I currently have only the stock backing plate and 6.5" pads. I love it, but that pad size is much too big for many areas of a vehicle; 5" or 5.5" inch pads don't seem like enough of a decrease in size that it will make much of a difference (anyone want to correct me on that, maybe I'm wrong in my thinking?). Four inch pads sound great, but then there's no room for error if you accidentally bump into something.

Any advice guys?
 
Oh, and I've only ever used the CCS pads. Are flat pads easier to control with the Flex?

How do hydro-tech pads differ from the others?
 
StuDLei said:
Oh, and I've only ever used the CCS pads. Are flat pads easier to control with the Flex?

How do hydro-tech pads differ from the others?
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The CCS pads are generally considered easier to control than flat pads in the 3401


Is anyone using a foam interface pads when using the Megs DAMF pads on the 3401?
 
allenk4 said:
The CCS pads are generally considered easier to control than flat pads in the 3401


Is anyone using a foam interface pads when using the Megs DAMF pads on the 3401?
Click to expand...

Really? Thought I had always read the opposite. Either way, I'll find out soon enough. I ordered the LC kit yesterday, along with a few pads and some other goodies I've been want to try (especially Powerlock!)
 
StuDLei said:
Ah, I can't decide what to get. There are some reviews that state the LC kit has broken. I don't recognize any of the names though, unlike you guys. Have any of you had issues with this or heard of such issues?
Click to expand...

My LC kit broke on me, there's a thread here at AG and I've put my feedback there. Few days later I was using the replacement sent (for free, sure) by AG. Lake Country contacted me to ask if everything was fine, etc, like we all know, ordering at AG you'll be covered.

No more issues.

StuDLei said:
Why are the hybrid pads so great with the Flex? What makes them better?
Click to expand...


Size: Perfect fit velcro and beveled edge helps distributing polishing action evenly. 5" pads will fit virtually any panel design and polish complex curves with perfection.

Foam Technology: Hybrid pads can be compressed (adding pressure while polishing) offering great increase in cut, on the other hand, if you use it without any pressure (other than only machine's weight) it gives you the feel of a finishing pad, which gives you best of both worlds, Great Cut, Awesome Finish.

Durability: If you take good and proper care of it, it'll last a lot of jobs.

If I remember any other reason, I can add here.



StuDLei said:
I currently have only the stock backing plate and 6.5" pads. I love it, but that pad size is much too big for many areas of a vehicle; 5" or 5.5" inch pads don't seem like enough of a decrease in size that it will make much of a difference (anyone want to correct me on that, maybe I'm wrong in my thinking?). Four inch pads sound great, but then there's no room for error if you accidentally bump into something.

Any advice guys?
Click to expand...


5" Hybrids are the answer for you. There's a huge difference in 6.5" to 5" pads regarding control and ease of use, it's a pleasure to polish even an entire car using the 5" hybrids (although I may use the Rupes 21' for flat larger parts or switch to a larger plate on the Flex when I need to gain some time).

5" hybrids can be used in many places you would use 4" pads, and if you need, you can just switch the hybrid for a 4" pad and work a tighter spot, then return to the 5" hybrid...

I mean, Hybrids, Flex, and if you like it, Menzerna Polishes, are great companion to the 3401.

Just my opinion,

Best Regards.
 
Tato said:
The 5" hybrids will not work with 4 3/8 plate because the 5" hybrid pad is beveled which has exactly 4" velcro side size, and 5" foam side size. (it's velcro is too small to be used on 4 3/8" plate).

The hybrid pads are the best pads for the Flex, that said, unfortunately, if you want to get the most from your machine, you'll need to get them.
Click to expand...

Likely a stupid question, but what difference does it make if the 4 3/8" pad overlaps the 4" Velcro on the 5" hybrid pad?

its only a little over 1/8" on each side.

I get the bevel at the velcro side of the pad, but does it much matter?

seems that the flex 4 3/8" plate is a better bet, just can't see how there's that much of a case for concern with a 5" hybrid. Even a 5" can't be used fir that much fine wok, a mini RO is a better bet on small stuff...
 
The general consensus is that if the BP velcro is on the foam part of the pad, the BP will chew up the foam, and shortly thereafter cause a pad failure. Anything from a pad's edge breaking off, to the pad's velcro separating from the foam and having the pad flyoff (the effect at the paint surface doesn't need much imagination to foresee).

There was a similar issue with the HF backing plate and the pads that were delivered with it. The HF would chew up its pads. No great loss, its not like the pads were very good anyway, but if the HF would do that, you can just imagine what a 3401 will do (as it has twice the power and is a forced rotation polisher, so the pad turns, no matter what).

Unless you have the 5" LC Hybrid pads already, this isn't much of a consideration, as the 5" pads are no longer being made, Their replacement, the Hybrid Force pads come in 5.5", and are not even available in the 5" size.
 
Thread revival :)

So lots of talk on a few threads about 5 inch LC hybrid pads on the 4 inch changeable backing plate system.

Now on AG site I see that the pads are listed as 5.5 inches, and there is a flex mini 4.5 inch backing plate.

Were the 5 inch pads replaced with 5.5 inch pads to avoid the need for the changeable backing plate system and instead used with the 4.5 backing plate?

Thanks for the clarification
 
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