First date with The Beast, aka Flex 3401 VRG

budgetPlan1- Glad the work van went well. Sounds like you`re just well-suited to how the Flex 3401 handles.

felixthecat- IME it`s more of an overall "gee, this polisher gives me a workout" for the people who feel that way. But really, I just don`t see you needing it. And FWIW the 21mm throw is more than *I* would want too.

Heh heh, all this discussion of aggressive polishers for non-Pros gets me primed for one of my "if you have to do much correction then something`s drastically wrong" rants :D
 
My 21 with a 5in plate is perfect. Any tight areas I just bust out the Rupes Nano ibrid. The 3401 was great for quick AIO jobs but I rarely do those. For me it gave a workout on my shoulders etc when using for long periods of time. If you are a weekend enthusiast who does a few vehicles a year then a 3401 is definitely top of the list.

Now that I am in business full time. Comfort, defect removal and speed are my priority. More often than not when I had both the 3401 and G21 in my possession I found myself grabbing the g21 after trying to use the 3401 cut with. The G21 just worked better and faster for me. Ended up ditching the 3401 and used the money for a Ibrid Nano.
 
felixthecat said:
Seems like when the 21`s came out most everyone jumped on the 21 bandwagon vs the 15....
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I`d think it`s a matter of what kind of correction one`s doing most of the time and on what kind of vehicles, and/or the need to prioritized time-efficiency.

Plus, I can imagine a "more is always better" mentality in play that experience may have altered.
 
Some follow up info in this post ( http://www.autopia.org/forums/machine-polishing-sanding/174189-m100-m101.html#post2094435 ) ; didn`t see the need to suck up bits and bytes with posting here as well.

End of day:
- FLEX 3401 + Gray Force Hybrid + Megs M101 = Quick killer (in this situation anyway)
- Flex can overcome current poor technique with brute force
- Flex is a bit more tiring to use but can be mitigated somewhat by thoughtful body positioning, keeping arms in tight as possible (especially vertical panels). For me, moving whole body as opposed to reaching when doing a section helps to keep pad flat on surface, minimize walking.
- Any added effort offset (for me) by time saved. Using a GG6 for 6-8hrs equivalent to using FLEX for 4hrs and results will be identical (if not likely better with FLEX)
- Shock absorbing gloves (i forgot them yesterday) greatly improve the comfort of using the thing.

Is it gonna be the first tool I reach for when doing a car that perhaps only needs a quick once over with something like Menz 2400 or 3500? Nah...the Rupes will be much more entertaining to use methinks. I think the FLEX is for when you want/need to just plain get the jobs done; the Rupes is more for getting the job done and enjoying the process, time takes a back seat by likely a small fraction.

In the end, wasn`t sure about getting this in addition to the Rupes I bought a few weeks before; even said to myself "That was dumb..." but after using it, I have no regrets...it might not be used as much as the Rupes going forward as it`s not as `fun` but for those times when I just wanna take care of business, it will be a `go to` for sure. Choice is always good. Of course, in a few weeks after I increase my Rupes time, I`ll probably start wondering about the Duetto...because that`s just how it goes with hobbies. Strangely though, I have no interest in the Nano iBrid. Yet
 
BudgetPlan1- I`m really glad it`s working out so well for you, and your experience/opinions basically mirror mine.

Kinda funny perhaps, but I have zero interest in the Rupes Duetto. Wonder if I`m missing something there...
 
BudgetPlan1 said:
Some follow up info in this post ( http://www.autopia.org/forums/machine-polishing-sanding/174189-m100-m101.html#post2094435 ) ; didn`t see the need to suck up bits and bytes with posting here as well.

End of day:
- FLEX 3401 + Gray Force Hybrid + Megs M101 = Quick killer (in this situation anyway)
- Flex can overcome current poor technique with brute force
- Flex is a bit more tiring to use but can be mitigated somewhat by thoughtful body positioning, keeping arms in tight as possible (especially vertical panels). For me, moving whole body as opposed to reaching when doing a section helps to keep pad flat on surface, minimize walking.
- Any added effort offset (for me) by time saved. Using a GG6 for 6-8hrs equivalent to using FLEX for 4hrs and results will be identical (if not likely better with FLEX)
- Shock absorbing gloves (i forgot them yesterday) greatly improve the comfort of using the thing.

...
Click to expand...

Seems to me you`ve discovered that "proper" ergonomics, positioning, and gloves (AKA, personal safety equipment) makes a HUGE difference in using a polishing machine. I think this is one aspect of polishing machine use that can only be learned by experience actually doing it, versus reading about it in a book or online in this forum. Like learning to play golf, it`s all about the practicing and executing the proper techniques that will produce the desired results.

Many under-estimate the physical requirements to using a polishing machine for an extended period of time, and if anyone who does this on a limited basis, like a novice or week-end warrior, it can be rather taxing to the body physically. I would think that this is another reason many detailers, both novice and professional, have migrated to Long-throw dual-action polishers like the Rupes Bigfoot or Griot`s Garage BOSS polishers. It`s just easier on the body to use.
 
Cold to agree more Lonnie. The Rupes is so smooth and easy on the body, much more pleasant experience than the 3401 despite it being a very capable machine.
 
jrock645 said:
Cold to agree more Lonnie. The Rupes is so smooth and easy on the body, much more pleasant experience than the 3401 despite it being a very capable machine.
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Thats the impression I`m getting now. For me if it takes a tad longer, as long as the long as my forearms aren`t getting a big workout, as w/ a p/c, GG6.
 
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