What's the optimal pad size for the Flex 3401?

[Mc'lovin]

Hi all,

I'm inches away from purchasing the Flex 3401.
However the size of most of my pads is 5.5'', and I really don't want to start stocking up on new 6.5'' pads (Currently I have the European version of the Griot's Garage polisher which is identical)

I can buy the mini backing plate for these pads, but my question - Is it worth it? Do you have good experience with the 5.5'' pads on the Flex, or does it only perform well with the 6.5'' ones, in which case I might decide not to buy it after all?

Thanks!

 

[Colinpd137]

From what iv'e heard and what i'm going to purchase next sale; The 5" Hybrid pads with the 4 3/8 backing plate are an awesome pair with the flex.

 

[mwoolfso]

The Flex is certainly powerful enough to handle both sizes with ease, so you won't have any problem whatsoever. It's win-win for you no matter what you decide. My personal preference is to start off with 5.5" pads and I will move up depending on what I am looking to accomplish as well as the contour of the panels I am correcting. I have used both successfully.

 

[tuscarora dave]

As long as none of the backing plate sticks out further than the outer edge of the pad, any size pad will work fine with the 3401. Generally the larger the pad, the more the machine will try to walk on you so 5.5" is actually the perfect pad for this machine with the 4 3/8" backing plate.

 

[BobbyG]

Like everyone else, I've settled pretty much on the 5 1/2 size for both the Flex 3401 and Porter Cable 7424....

 

[Danube]

5.5" works best for me.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

As long as none of the backing plate sticks out further than the outer edge of the pad, any size pad will work fine with the 3401. Generally the larger the pad, the more the machine will try to walk on you so 5.5" is actually the perfect pad for this machine with the 4 3/8" backing plate.

Dave just nails the answer to the wall.

The factory backing plate is 5.5" wide as are 5.5" pads but there's nor safety margin at all with this fitment.

Also, like Dave said, the larger the pad the more pronounced the walking characteristic but the walking characteristic shouldn't be a point of focus as all it's telling you is that you're not holding the pad flat to the surface so adjust your grip accordingly.

I like 6.5"pads on the factory backing plate for tackling large flatter panels. The 5" Hybrids are nice for thin panels but you need the 4" backing plate.

If you're just starting out, any of the Lake Country 6.5" pads work great, this would include,

CCS Pads
Flat Pads
Hybrid Pads
Hydro-Tech Pads


You can always add more backing plates and pad sizes down the road...

 

[Ryry11]

+1 on 5.5's on my flex too. Not too big, not too small, good control, and fits most any areas...does anyone else read that and say "that's what she said"? Lol

 

[Andr3wilson]

Before I got my flex, all I had was the 6.5'' CCS pads. They work great on it, but when it comes down to smaller panels and tighter areas, smaller pads are an asset.

So if you have the 5.5", stay with them on a 4 3/8 backing

 

[TheCougarGuy]

I just picked up a 3401 a few weeks ago and like you, I have a lot of 5.5" LC flat pads. I bought the 4 3/8" backing plate so I can use the 5.5" pads. When it's time to buy more pads, I may give the 5" hybrid pads and 4" backing plate a try.

I picked up the intro kit with the Flex bag, 3 6.5" pads and the pad conditioner and pad cleaner.

FLEX XC3401 VRG Orbital Polisher Kit with Free FLEX Polisher Bag, FLEX Dual Action Polisher and storage bag, FLEX bag kit

 

[richy]

I ordered the smaller BP when I got my Flex and never even ran it for one second with the larger one. I use 5.5" Buff and Shine pads. I have never had the "walking" problem people complain about. Like Dave said, I think that's key.

 

[mwoolfso]

I subscribe to Mike's assertion that 6.5's make the walking attribute more pronounced on the 3401. Even though it is just an inch more in diameter you do need to be more diligent in keeping the pad flat. You will become an expert with the 3401 much sooner with 6.5's compared to 5.5's so there is a benefit for sure in terms of skill-level-improvement opportunity. ;-)

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Just to comment...
The walking aspect is a characteristic, not a problem. It has to do with the gear-driven, forced rotation feature of this tool. I don't really see people "complain" about it, just "comment" about it.


Smaller Pads
By shrinking the diameter of the pad you reduce the felt characteristic of walking if you do hold the polisher so that pad isn't flat against the surface.

If a person feels the polisher trying to steer to one direction or another, then this is feedback to the person that they are not holding the pad flat and they need to adjust the way they hold the tool to the surface. In this way, the Flex 3401 is "self-teaching" and this can help a person to hone their skills.


My recommendation is to get the 4" Lake Country Backing Plate and then get the 5" Hybrid Pads and this combination plus the factory backing plate and some 6.5" pads will let a person match the pad size to the panel size to work the panel in the most efficient manner.

I took the Flex 3401 to Lincoln, Nebraska for the full wetsand, cut and buff we did on the 1969 AMX and Eric Dunn shipped out a nice collection of both 6.5" and 5" Hybrid Pads in Orange, White and Black for the final finishing of the JetBlack "House of Kolor" paint and we used the larger 6.5" pads for any of the large flat panels and then switched to the 5" pads for the thinner panels.

This approach worked like a charm and Ben #1, the painter, who had never used a Flex 3401 thought it was a pretty cool set-up.

You can see the Flex 3401 being used at the very end of the time lapse video from this project.


Wetsanding a car from start to finish - Time Lapse Video


You can see the pads Eric sent to the right here... (Thanks Eric and everyone at Lake Country)

Here's some more info on the 5" Hybrid Pads with the 4" Backing Plate...



New 5" pads for 4" Backing Plate on Flex 3401



5" Hybrid Pads for the 4" backing plate on the Flex 3401!

These new pads are not in stock yet but you can get a glimpse of them in action below....

Live Broadcast Video - 1965 Plymouth Valiant - Extreme Makeover


***Live Broadcast Video - Extreme Makeover - 1965 Plymouth Valiant***

[video=youtube_share;VGnDSmMLwk8"]Live Broadcast Video -..." target="_blank">Live Broadcast Video -...[/video] ​

Here's some still pictures I took from the Valiant Extreme Makeover with Justin using them...

My friend and forum member Tom Risk tried them out, he said,


"They make using the Flex 3401 easier than any other pad"



Forum Member Tom Risk aka ShineTimeDetail visits Autogeek.net

Here's Tom using a 5" Hybrid Pad on the Flex 3401

On Autogeek.net

Lake Country Hybrid Power Finish 5 Inch Foam Pads

You'll need the 4" backing plate to use these pads...

FLEX XC3401 Changeable Backing Plate System




For those that will read this thread into the future, here are a few more articles on this tool from my article list...



Flex 3401 Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher

The Flex 3401 Polisher is a powerful tool but also incredibly safe. This is a Pro-Grade tool that can be used 6-days a week in a heavy production environment and will hold up to all the abuse you can throw at it.

Video: All about the FLEX-3401 Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher

New 5" pads for 4" Backing Plate on Flex 3401

New 4" and 6" Backing Plates for Flex 3401

Lubricating the Felt Ring on the Flex 3401

Speed Settings for the Flex 3401


:buffing:

 

[Mc'lovin]

Everyone,

You're awesome. I love this forum. Thanks for taking the time to give your advice.

"...My recommendation is to get the 4" Lake Country Backing Plate and then get the 5" Hybrid Pads..."

Mike, thank you sooooo much for the great detailed response with the relevant reading material!
I did not know (and couldn't find it either on AG's website) that lake country makes backing plates for the Flex... Do they or was it a mix up?

Thanks again :xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Everyone,

You're awesome. I love this forum. Thanks for taking the time to give your advice.



Mike, thank you sooooo much for the great detailed response with the relevant reading material!
I did not know (and couldn't find it either on AG's website) that lake country makes backing plates for the Flex... Do they or was it a mix up?

Thanks again :xyxthumbs:

Here's the link,

FLEX XC3401 Changeable Backing Plate System


Here's the deal...

The 4" backing plate is part of the Changeable Backing Plate System. It's not available by itself with the adapter.

You need these components...

The protruding tabs lock into the slots on the interface plate and then both are bolted to the spindle.

You also get the larger backing plate as part of the kit...

 

[Kaban]

My favorite and the ones I use 90% of the time with this machine are the LC flat pads 6.5". If I need smaller pads I just use a rotary for tight spots.