My Flex XC 3401 VRG review

Ruttrow said:
Thanks Zoran. I'll get done twice as fast now.
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You are welcome, but first jump and then say hop. You do not have UDMs in your hands yet and once you do have them (assuming you do not hit the voice mail or dial wrong number, in which case forget everything) I am curious which hand you plan to use to press them down? Or it will be manufacturer's fault if you end up few hands short?
 
Now back to serious business. I just came home with my package and I am happy to say whole experience was smooth.



I have ordered it on 08/17 when it was too late to get it shipped out same day. Cost was $300 shipped. It was shipped very next business day and distributor e-mailed me tracking number moment it was available to him. Package arrived on 08/24.



Place I ordered it from is Western Tool Supply. Person that was extremely helpful and pleasant to deal with there is Peter Isaacson. His number is 503-371-1411. His e-mail address is peteri. Dot com part of address is westerntool.



So, to reiterate, whole experience was smooth, painless, pleasant, very quick, and not demanding. All it takes is one call to number above and you are ending with all that plus lowest price I am aware of.
 
First impressions (and I will try not to repeat what frostydog said):



I have not taken it off yet but backing plate leaves impression of not having any chance to fly off.



I like low profile design of head and plate. I yet have to try it but I have a feeling this will let me reach into "mouth" on front bumpers, which I can not do with PC/UDM.
 
To answer question of those that were wondering would they get support if there are issues: Flex included a list of two Master Distributors for service and service parts and 29 Authorized Service centers in the States (and 3 in Canada).
 
Further thing that establishes confidence Flex designed bp mounting in a manner that doesn't allow for bp to fly off: Their manual tells you that, once you have changed your pad, to run the polisher without engaging it for approximately 30 secs to check for balance and vibrations.
 
I wanted to follow up with a few pics of my car after I polished it with the Flex. :grinno:



Sorry about not having any comparable pics, but so much of the car’s finished appearance is based on lighting and whatnot…I’m not sure if in any picture you’d be able to see a clear difference vs being polished with a PC.



What I can say is it did produce an incredibly sharp and reflective finish in less time than a PC.



I used an LC 6.5â€� white pad and Menzerna FPII…other than that there is just one coat of DG 105 on the car. I have a bottle of 106, but wanted to use FPII for the comparison, because I have more experience/history with FPII. Although after I’ve seen what the Flex can do, I’m quite excited to try the 106 with it.



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frostydog said:
I wanted to follow up with a few pics of my car after I polished it with the Flex. :grinno:
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You braggard :D Now, if you would please excuse me while I :drool:



More I have to wait to use mine more I am looking forward to it. In the meantime I keep constantly going back and looking at the hood of my black Supra as I still can't believe what high OPM short throw (DeWalt) brought out of it.
 
That looks great. I have been reading about this tool for a bit now because I want something that I can get a car done quicker than the pc.
 
[quote name='frostydog']I wanted to follow up with a few pics of my car after I polished it with the Flex. :grinno:



The car looks great! Just curious, based upon your initial post you used only IP at either a 5 or 6 speed. Did you get any hazing and have to go over with 106 or other finishing polish?



Howard
 
The car looks great! Just curious, based upon your initial post you used only IP at either a 5 or 6 speed. Did you get any hazing and have to go over with 106 or other finishing polish?



Howard
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You know what...that's a really good question. I only used IP/orange pad on the area of my hood with the scratch. I then polished the entire car with FPII/white pad. Since I knew I was going to polish the entire car with FPII I didn't even bother to pull the car out in the sun to see how just the IP and orange pad finished.



I really should have. :wall



I my memory serves me correct, and though not sun light I do have some pretty decent lighting in my garage, I didn't see any major hazing after the IP/orange. But it wasn't nearly as sharp and glossy as the finish produced by FPII...but that's kinda expected.
 
MobileJay said:
So how many passes did it take to remove the scratch, and would you have been able to do so with a pc?
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It took me two rounds. The first round I went over it with the Flex on 5 and only added a small amount of pressure. That helped, but there was still a bit to remove. So the second round I turned it up to speed 6 and pushed down a bit harder...that removed about 95% of the scratch.



I stopped there...I just wasn't familiar enough with the Flex to feel comfortable going at it anymore (trying to remove the scratch was the first thing I did with the Flex).



Even during the second round I was moving the polisher pretty quickly over a somewhat large area. I have to practice with the Flex a bit more to feel comfortable with how much and how quickly the Flex can correct...if I were to say just push down and hold it in one spot. :nixweiss



That scratch was pretty deep...but I have removed scratches that deep with a PC and 4" yellow pad (should note Acura clear is somewhat soft). Although whenever I would try to remove scratches like that with the PC it took many, many, many passes.
 
do you use it like a pc as in how you move the machine(slow) or do you have to move it faster like you would a rotary? With the speed will it burn paint or is it as idiot proof as a pc?
 
I could def move quicker with the Flex...



See post #31 about burning the paint. Surely more time is needed to know for sure.



hopefully soon some others, like Zoran C ;) (kidding buddy, I understand all you have going on right now)...will start to use the Flex and we can do some compare & contrast.
 
frostydog said:
I could def move quicker with the Flex...



hopefully soon some others, like Zoran C ;) (kidding buddy, I understand all you have going on right now)...will start to use the Flex and we can do some compare & contrast.
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Dude.....don't worry about it, cool thing is you are able to answer every question, so you paid attention as you used the machine. We all appreciate your help! Zoran C review will come down the road but in the mean time thanks for your answers. To tell you the truth other than a question about vibration I'm pretty much sold on the machine. Even if it vibrated as much as the PC the less time to correct would certainly alleviate the numbness.



Howard
 
YankeeFan said:
Dude.....don't worry about it, cool thing is you are able to answer every question, so you paid attention as you used the machine. We all appreciate your help! Zoran C review will come down the road but in the mean time thanks for your answers. To tell you the truth other than a question about vibration I'm pretty much sold on the machine. Even if it vibrated as much as the PC the less time to correct would certainly alleviate the numbness.



Howard
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oh, no worries...it's my pleasure to help out.



My only concern is it would be nice to have others either agree or challenge my findings for the benefit of all. I don't want to come across as sounding like a Flex cheerleader :getdown



But I surely don't mind answering any questions I can.
 
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