Machine polishing suggestions

Kinda bringing my thread back up from the dead-

Been thinking more and more about machine polishing and having the right tools-

As I mentioned previously in this thread- I do the bulk of my work using my Makita rotary. However, I tend to go to my old Porter Cable to ensure I’ve removed all the holograms from the paint.

I’m wondering- would the Flex 3401 be the machine to provide me the best of both worlds?




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Screw the 3401
Check out the Makita PO5000C ..better then the 3401 in every aspect and less money

Lake country Thinpros are best pads to get for foam
If you need more pad then something like lake country foam lambs wool pad and or Buff and shine uro finishing wool
I know a site that sells it for 320..can always get autogeek/autopia to pricematch also
 
Kinda bringing my thread back up from the dead-

Been thinking more and more about machine polishing and having the right tools-

As I mentioned previously in this thread- I do the bulk of my work using my Makita rotary. However, I tend to go to my old Porter Cable to ensure I’ve removed all the holograms from the paint.

I’m wondering- would the Flex 3401 be the machine to provide me the best of both worlds?




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3401 is alright. I have a lightly used one for sale/trade. After I broke my elbow I can`t really use this machine there is enough vibration. It is a great middle ground machine if you know how to handle the machine.

On the other hand rupes is great, but pricey and I feel that gg boss is an affordable alternative that brings same results.
 
So the new Makita is basically a DA and a rotary all in one machine?

As i mentioned earlier, my old Makita still works flawlessly. But often times then not, I find myself running over to the DA to finish it off with a white pad.

*off topic- what pads (green or black from LC) are used with the fine finishing polished from Menzerna?

I’ve got a couple black cars that are in very good condition (summer cars only) and want something to keep their gloss!


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So the new Makita is basically a DA and a rotary all in one machine?

As i mentioned earlier, my old Makita still works flawlessly. But often times then not, I find myself running over to the DA to finish it off with a white pad.

*off topic- what pads (green or black from LC) are used with the fine finishing polished from Menzerna?

I’ve got a couple black cars that are in very good condition (summer cars only) and want something to keep their gloss!


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The new Makita is dual mode
Forced DA just like a 3401 and Mille.
Free spin D/A line your Porter Cable..but 5.5 mm in freespin struggles to keep pad rotation..best to keep in forced when compounding and polishing..

Freespin mode works for sealant application, clay disc and machine sanding.
Best pads will be LC thinpros
Always perform test spot on each vehicle as theirs no one majic combo for every vehicle
 
Striker -
Here we go again ! :)

I use nothing but a Makita Rotary with Lake Country Hydro-Tech Cyan (Blue) pads and sometimes the Orange Hydro-Tech pad.

There is about nothing I cannot remove with the Cyan, lots of downward pressure, speed below 1,000, keep the area moist so all the product works until it`s gone, and the pad then cleans up everything, and there is very little to wipe off.. +

Sometimes on harder paint like Porsche Cayenne metallics, BMW any except for Jet Black, any Audi, Mercedes, I may have to make a couple passes, sometimes 3 full passes using above method, and I am most always good to go..

The Hydro-Techs are a european closed foam that that keeps all the product, moisture, on top of the pad and very little is absorbed, like other pads do..

The Hydro-Techs not only correct well, but finish down really clear and glossy...

I have used these pads with Meguiars 105, 101, 205, All the Menzerna line of compounds and polishes, Optimum Hyper-Polish, Finish Polish, and Sonax Profiline Perfect Finish,

Tried a whole lot of pads before they invented the Hydro-Techs, and I used them so hard, I re-named them Hydro-Shreds... I believe if I don`t let them get too hot they will be less apt to shred, and I could see them wearing them out when it was really busy...

I don`t hologram or leave anything in the paint, but if you still want to use your Random Orbital after, you will be going a lot faster with the Makita, so you should be saving time as well.. If you have a Flex 3401VRG, you could use that after the Rotary work and it would work very quickly and efficiently to apply whatever you wanted.. It`s just counter-clockwise rotation, so that is the opposite of all other machines...

Love all the new technology out there, I am glad for it; it has made paint correction so much more available and easier to more people who don`t want to lug around a 10lb machine all day..
But the work out for me is worth it, and you get big forearms, arms, and hands that are very strong from doing this for a few years.. :)

If I ever have something that looks impossible to do with the above there is always the Lake Country Purple Foam Wool pad that cuts really quickly and finishes down pretty darn good.
Since its not totally just wool, there is some shedding of it at the beginning but once you have it moist enough it goes away..

I have used these Purple Foam Wool pads with M105 on that nasty, hard as concrete Airplane paint, and they really made it look great; when I got to the M205 and just plain flat, white foam LC pads, this totally cleared and glossed the Airplane up so good, the Owner was stunned... He took it right out of the hangar to take pictures...

All of the above on your and my machine, the Makita Rotary, 1 main pad type, another pad type for really bad paintwork including Airplane paint.. :)

Dan F
 
Thanks as always Dan.

So essentially I need to learn to finish with a rotary a little more.

This is something a good friend of mine always swears by. Every time we do a black car, he takes out his old bottle of 85rd after he finishes correcting and the results are stellar.

This is going back to our previous convo from a few days ago regarding pads and menz finishing polishes.

Believe it or not I only have LC orange and white pads! It’s time to stack up on the Menz 3500 paired with some green and black LC pads.


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