Junebug
JAFO
I got an E-mail from ZoranC - he is happy with the Flex, he was going to do a write up on it, I'll stand by and report when I hear back. Me? I'm still lusting for a Cyclo!
Flex XC 3401 VRG Review w/ Pics
- Thread starter DJ_JonnyV
- Start date
superchargedg said:
Yep, those guys at Powerhouse are best. Guess I'll have to call this week to get on the waiting list for the smaller BP. Of course, I'm also still running the red velcro as well. After part of it initially came up, I haven't had many issues with it. It will want to come off though if you try switching pads after polishing for a while. So, I try to let mine cool off a little before swapping pads.
As compared to a PC, it's probably like having a 4" spot pad on a PC and running it at a speed 6. But, you can cover more area due to the larger pad you can use, therefore allowing you to work quicker. I think it's also a bit easier to control and work than a PC w/ 4" pads. I still like the PC and a soft 6.5" pad for applying waxes though.
I think Frostydog and I have kind of covered this before in our reviews, but it's probably hard to dig some of this stuff up. In summary, I have never gottent the tingly fingers/hands sensation with the Flex that I would get with the PC. As stated before, it's a bit different vibration. I'm not sure from a quantitative standpoint if it's more or less. It's a different type vibration. One with more sense of purpose to it. Any power tool is going to vibrate, whether it's your cordless drill, circular saw, or other. Some power tools vibrate, but you don't really notice it that bad when you're using them. Your mind gets wrapped around what you're doing with the tool and the vibration and noise becomes an afterthought. That's how it is with the Flex for me.
As for the noise, it's a smoother noise I guess. The PC sounds like a bat out of hell running at speed 6, while the Flex still makes a fair amount of noise, it doesn't seem quite as bad. I generally don't run an power tools outside after 10 p.m. Also, I've run the Flex full bore duing my kids' naps inside the house, and it has never bothered them. Baby girl is especially a litght sleeper. Hope this helps...
As for the noise, it's a smoother noise I guess. The PC sounds like a bat out of hell running at speed 6, while the Flex still makes a fair amount of noise, it doesn't seem quite as bad. I generally don't run an power tools outside after 10 p.m. Also, I've run the Flex full bore duing my kids' naps inside the house, and it has never bothered them. Baby girl is especially a litght sleeper. Hope this helps...
steelwind101
New member
The car looks great!!
What did you the Prima car wash?? Was its sudsy?? A good cleaner??
Geoff
What did you the Prima car wash?? Was its sudsy?? A good cleaner??
Geoff
DJ_JonnyV said:
Sorry for the redundancy but the info on Flex is really fragmented. Seems some had it, didn't use it very long when they 1st got it or used it on another vehicle, some held back giving their opinion, etc. Anyway, thanks for the info and I am finally gonna buy one. Been looking for a good DA since March. Happy I held off buying other models as I saw a post by Zoran mentioning the Flex was going to be available in the states.
Howard
Well folks I am finally a part of club Flex. I received mine today along with some LC CCS pads. I am waiting to get the black bp before I do some work though. I cranked it up to 6 after messing with the other speed and WOW I am scared to use 6 on a car. It seems really fast. Maybe because no pad and no pressure but seems fast. Can't wait to try it. Thanks for helping me spend money. lol
Outstanding!!! Welcome to the club. If I were you, I wouldn't wait for the black bp. You'll be fine initially using the red velcro. Just be careful not to start taking pads off after polishing for a while. That's when mine started to separate.
As for speeds, I remember thinking the same thing as you. My recommendation would be to do a test spot maybe on a 4 or 5 first, and check your work. It also depends upon how much correcting you need to do and polish and pad.
Can't wait to here your results!
As for speeds, I remember thinking the same thing as you. My recommendation would be to do a test spot maybe on a 4 or 5 first, and check your work. It also depends upon how much correcting you need to do and polish and pad.
Can't wait to here your results!
MobileJay said:
haha...sounds like you had a similar reaction as I did the first time I turned it up to 6. Except mine was more along the lines of "HOLY CRAP!!!" Although it really isn't as bad as it seems once you get going. I started out using the Flex at speeds around 5.5-6.0...more because I felt like I HAD to. I guess I'm a typical guy...if you give me power, I'm sure going to try to use it. But I guess I'm getting older...for the most part, for general polishing, I've settled into speeds more in the 4.5-5.0 range. I'll still crank it up for spot corrections, but that's really the only time I'll use the highest speeds. I can move at a plenty fast enough pace (for me) at the slightly slower speeds.
I'm pretty sure Jonny is still using the highest speeds when he polishes...man Jonny you must be flying around those cars.
I also agree with Jonny...go ahead and give it a try with the red backing plate. I still had no issues with mine. Who cares if you ruin it...you have another one coming. I really think if you just let the polisher sit for a minute or two before removing the pad you'll be fine for awhile using the red BP. Of course if you don't feel comfortable..then certainly ignore my recommendation.
frostydog said:
We'll see how fast things go this weekend when I have a black MDX to do with some considerable correction needed. BTW, I picked up some CCS pads from Detailer's Domain and will be giving them a whirl too. Also have the OP and OPHC in hand to maybe try out as well. All the cars up to this point have bene silver or gold/champagne and have really been hard to pick up swirls before / after correction. I've been able to know that the correction has happened by backing out into sun, but it's been real hard to tell the story for Flex with these lighter colored cars. Hopefully the MDX will give me the pics I need and we'll see about working times per 2 x 2 section...
superchargedg
Twin Turbos
Got my flex today and cant wait to try it this sunday....and a few other goodies.Some menzerna stuff.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/superchargedg/flex002.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/superchargedg/flex001.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/superchargedg/flex003.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/superchargedg/flex002.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/superchargedg/flex001.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k48/superchargedg/flex003.jpg
Alright, guys, I'm tired as hell, but drinking a cold Bud Light, watching Sports Center (to catch up on college ball), and about ready to doze off in my chair. I did want to post a few before and afters and a few other thoughts from today's MDX. Well, it will actually be finished up tomorrow. It's sitting in my garage right now waiting for it's FMJ in the morning.
This thing was nasty when it showed up. I think the owner figured he would get his money's worth and not wash the thing for about 2 months. I washed down the engine using P21s Total Auto Wash. Did the wheel wells, tires, and wheels with Adam's APC and various brushes. Wasched with Prima Mystique. I know Geoff asked about this stuff. I was turned on again by Mystique again today. I was kind of so-so on it from last time I used it, but was really digging it today. Provides nice suds and good cleaning ability. I then clayed with a combination of Adam's QD and their purple and gray clay bars.
So, onto the polishing action. As you can see here, this MDX was pretty hammered with swirls in general:
Seriously, who the hell lets get their car this dirty???
Oh, and here's the latest addition to the detailing family in the garage:
Here's some before / afters:
Attempting to show a 50/50:
Well, I'm litterally falling asleep in my recliner. I gotta go to bed. I defititely have some more thoughts, but the key takeaway today is I didn't like the CCS pads all too well. They were a pain to control, skipped like all hell, and almost did as much bad stuff as good stuff for a test area that I was working. Did most of car using IP, Flex, and Erasure orange pads for the most part. I gotta go!!!
Oh, and if there are any spelling or grammatical errors...then pardon me due to lack of sleep!!!
This thing was nasty when it showed up. I think the owner figured he would get his money's worth and not wash the thing for about 2 months. I washed down the engine using P21s Total Auto Wash. Did the wheel wells, tires, and wheels with Adam's APC and various brushes. Wasched with Prima Mystique. I know Geoff asked about this stuff. I was turned on again by Mystique again today. I was kind of so-so on it from last time I used it, but was really digging it today. Provides nice suds and good cleaning ability. I then clayed with a combination of Adam's QD and their purple and gray clay bars.
So, onto the polishing action. As you can see here, this MDX was pretty hammered with swirls in general:
Seriously, who the hell lets get their car this dirty???
Oh, and here's the latest addition to the detailing family in the garage:
Here's some before / afters:
Attempting to show a 50/50:
Well, I'm litterally falling asleep in my recliner. I gotta go to bed. I defititely have some more thoughts, but the key takeaway today is I didn't like the CCS pads all too well. They were a pain to control, skipped like all hell, and almost did as much bad stuff as good stuff for a test area that I was working. Did most of car using IP, Flex, and Erasure orange pads for the most part. I gotta go!!!
Oh, and if there are any spelling or grammatical errors...then pardon me due to lack of sleep!!!
superchargedg
Twin Turbos
I used mine today and was gonna take a few pic,s and the damn battery,s died on the camera.All i can say is wow what a tool it has way more then enough power to handle what you need.My car wasnt even close to being as nasty as the one you just did jonnie but it did have a lot of swirling.I started on the trunk with ip then pulled it out into the sun and.................wow,went back in and used some 106ff/white ccs pad.Back out into the sun and holy cow and took not even half the time as a pc and only one pass for each polish!!!!!I will say my ccs pads also would hop around quite a bit at first until i learned how to control this beast.Since it is the first time i have used it there is a little learning curve to go thru and i would say the car looks almost good as new and far far less time then with a pc.
Hey, Superchargedg, that's good to hear. I'm kicking myself right now as I thought I took some pics of the MDX in the sun after putting on some FMJ. Just went to grab the SD card, and I forgot to put it back in from last night. I'm going to call the owner to see if he can take a few for me.
Sounds like you're starting to catch on with it. Good to hear you are getting favorable results. From your sig pic, looks like you have a red Infiniti G35? It'd be good to see how the 3401 does on red cars. From your post, sounds like it handles them pretty nicely.
As for the CCS pads, I think I'm going to lay off them for now. I really didn't like my experience with the orange CCS pad and Power Gloss. The dang things are stiff as a board and I'm not sure if those little dimples actually help or hurt things. The thing just skipped and bounced around way too much for me. I think I'm sticking with the Erasure pads for now primary and the Detailer's Paradise pads after that. I was able to move much quicker last night than I ever would've had with my PC (and I would think UDM for that matter).
Baby's crying, gotta go!
Sounds like you're starting to catch on with it. Good to hear you are getting favorable results. From your sig pic, looks like you have a red Infiniti G35? It'd be good to see how the 3401 does on red cars. From your post, sounds like it handles them pretty nicely.
As for the CCS pads, I think I'm going to lay off them for now. I really didn't like my experience with the orange CCS pad and Power Gloss. The dang things are stiff as a board and I'm not sure if those little dimples actually help or hurt things. The thing just skipped and bounced around way too much for me. I think I'm sticking with the Erasure pads for now primary and the Detailer's Paradise pads after that. I was able to move much quicker last night than I ever would've had with my PC (and I would think UDM for that matter).
Baby's crying, gotta go!
Alright, I was able to finally get some good sun pics of the MDX today. These definitely show the goods!!!
And how 'bout that nasty hood:
Also, by this time there is some extra dust and other stuff on the hood, but I think you get the idea. As you can see, I wasn't able to get all the deeper scratches out, but they were greatly reduced. Check back on page 3 to see some before pics.
Well, that's it for now. I'm picking up a white Honda Accord tomorrow that also has some pretty bad swirling. I've been using Menzerna products exclusively so far with the Flex. I tried the CCS pads, and didn't like them so much. The other thing left to try is some other polishes. I think I'm going to take a run at the Accord with some Optimum polish 4 oz. samples I picked up. This might be hard to do since the Menzerna polishes have been working so well.
And how 'bout that nasty hood:
Also, by this time there is some extra dust and other stuff on the hood, but I think you get the idea. As you can see, I wasn't able to get all the deeper scratches out, but they were greatly reduced. Check back on page 3 to see some before pics.
Well, that's it for now. I'm picking up a white Honda Accord tomorrow that also has some pretty bad swirling. I've been using Menzerna products exclusively so far with the Flex. I tried the CCS pads, and didn't like them so much. The other thing left to try is some other polishes. I think I'm going to take a run at the Accord with some Optimum polish 4 oz. samples I picked up. This might be hard to do since the Menzerna polishes have been working so well.
superchargedg
Twin Turbos
Awesome job!!!!