How do you control the Flex OB? Its a beast!

[mystickid]

Was polishing my first time with the Flex 3401 and its really powerful. I tried my best to keep my pad as flat as possible while polishing. The horizontal passes aren't so difficult to control but when cross-hatching using vertical passes, this baby wants to wander off because of its rotation and power.



By the way I'm not a little weakling...the flex is a powerhorse.



Just want's some tips..some of the pros make it look so suave and have absolutely perfect control.



Tips....

 

[Accumulator]

Make sure the pads are properly primed/loaded with product. I wouldn't worry all *that* much about keeping it perfectly flat; it's not a rotary and that's not a huge issue IMO as long as you don't overdo the tilting to the point where a) you get excessive action at the point of pad/paint contact or b) force the backingplate into contact with the machine's felt ring or housing. Otherwise, I think it's primarily a matter of getting accustomed to it.

 

[mystickid]

Make sure the pads are properly primed/loaded with product. .

Thanks for the advice on my various questions. But Yes perhaps i should give more time to getting accustomed to it. Just wanted to see if there were any special tidbits I was overlooking while using the flex.



About the Pad priming/loading though,....Since I'm using the KB method with 205 on the flex. Once I prime the pad into all the pores. I only add 3 pea size drops per new section and never re-prime the entire pad into the pores until I switch to a new pad, right? While considering that i do clean the pads via MF or air on each new section.

 

[jaynick808]

u have to 'walk' it in the right direction. you will notice what directions it likes to go in and do like aikido and use its power to continue its direction instead of fighting it. different polishes and pads are more grabby than others also so keep that in mind.

 

[Accumulator]

About the Pad priming/loading though,....Since I'm using the KB method with 205 on the flex. Once I prime the pad into all the pores. I only add 3 pea size drops per new section and never re-prime the entire pad into the pores until I switch to a new pad, right?

First part is OK, but after I do a panel/large section I might clean the pad out so thoroughly that I need to reprime it. And I switch to a new pad quite frequently, going through a scad of pads; if you're not switching pads that often you'll need to clean/reprime more.

While considering that i do clean the pads via MF or air on each new section.

I use both. Watch that you don't overlook a need to reprime and make sure those "sections" aren't too big.