Perfect time to get a flex?

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imported_2DudesDetailing

New member
I was using My PC when it suddenly started going off and on then completely stopped working. I have been eyeing the Flex 3401 and I figure this is the perfect opportunity to get one. I hear people talk about the GG Polisher, which to me seems exactly like the porter cable. What is the advantage to the GG polisher over the PC?



Also, If I do go through with the Flex where can I get the best price for it?
 
gg has more power than the pc. gg also has a lifetime warranty.



flex price seems to be pretty well controlled, most place are typically within $10 of each other. so it comes down to how is having the best sale on it.
 
wascallyrabbit said:
gg has more power than the pc. gg also has a lifetime warranty.



flex price seems to be pretty well controlled, most place are typically within $10 of each other. so it comes down to how is having the best sale on it.
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Good advice.







On a side note, I know of two detailers who are ditching their Flex 3401s since the GG paired with Surbufs/MF pads are so effective and easy to use. I'm even considering selling mine, but still not sure I want to do that. Honestly, the GG is the one a grab first. And don't forget that the Flex only has one other backing plate option so no good way to use anything smaller than 5.5" pads.
 
2DudesDetailing said:
I was using My PC when it suddenly started going off and on then completely stopped working....
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Probably just the brushes. They're cheap.



Fix the PC and buy a new polisher anyway. (You can't have too many buffers.)







pc.
 
I can't tell you how much I love my FLEX. I used to be a rotary/PC guy but now there's nothing I can't do with the FLEX. It is truly better than a PC in every way and I only need to break out my rotary to get out deep individual scratches. There is never a bad time to get a FLEX. I know that everyone swears by a certain combo but I think the 3401 with Menz power gloss, power finish and PO85RD is unstoppable for any correction you could ever run into.
 
I have a GG and a new PC. I like them both without a real preference. I keep 4" pads on one and 6" pads on the other. I have a Makita rotary which is smooth as butter and extremely powerful.
 
I kill polishers like a maniac. I think what I personally like better on the GG is the side switch for 1 handing. On-off whenever I need to.
 
mikenap said:
On a side note, I know of two detailers who are ditching their Flex 3401s since the GG paired with Surbufs/MF pads are so effective and easy to use. I'm even considering selling mine, but still not sure I want to do that. Honestly, the GG is the one a grab first. And don't forget that the Flex only has one other backing plate option so no good way to use anything smaller than 5.5" pads.
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I was going to say the same thing, there are probably going to be a few used ones on the market soon from people getting rid of them. Might be best to wait and pick one of those up if you're convinced that is the direction you want to go.
 
Like everyone else, I bought a Flex when it seemed that it was the best thing since sliced bread. I tried real hard to like it, I really did since it costs about 3 times as much as my old PC. But, I honestly didn't like it, I traded it for a Cyclo. Now with MF pads, I'd advise everyone to get a PC or one of the clones like Groits. I currently have a PC, PCXP, Cyclo and DeWalt rotary. I use the PC's the majority of the time.



Oh yeah, my old PC did the same thing, got it fixed at a DeWalt repair shop and it ran better than it did when it was new.
 
I hate to start a flame war but there is one undisputable fact about FLEX machines. They are a forced rotation DA. You can apply pressure to them without losing the rotation like you do with a PC. With a PC, you can add pressure if needed but they become a jitterbug machine that essentially just vibrates without doing anything. Also, you get better breakdown with self depleting abrasives when using a FLEX. Again, Everyone has a preferred machine and everyone swears by a certain combination but the FLEX is in incredibly safe and powerful tool to add to your arsenal. It truly combines the cutting power of a rotary with the safety and jeweling power of a PC. I can do a black car in 2/3 the time of a traditional rotary, PC combo 2 step correction. You can't go wrong buying good tools and the FLEX is the best thing since sliced bread.
 
I have both the flex and griots machine. Both serve their purpose well, but griots vibrates your hands numb and flex is difficult to work in tight spots. I would choose the flex o er the griots, but the cyclo is my favorite d.a. Polisher, well balanced and easy to use.
 
JohnKleven said:
I have both the flex and griots machine. Both serve their purpose well, but griots vibrates your hands numb and flex is difficult to work in tight spots. I would choose the flex o er the griots, but the cyclo is my favorite d.a. Polisher, well balanced and easy to use.
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Per usual JohnKleven and I are in partial agreement, and I think our diffs are primarily personal preferences.



I too have 'em both, and while I'd really hate to choose between them, I think I'd go with the Griot's. Maybe.



My GG doesn't vibrate all that much, but maybe I'm still used to my PCs (GG is much better).



But yeah...my fave to use is the Cyclo, just doesn't do the same correction for me that the Flex 3401 and the Griot's do.



And I do always think that I get a better final finish with the GG or the Cyclo as opposed to the Flex. No, I'm not using a glossmeter, but I'm pretty sure those machines simply finish out a bit better with the pads/products I'm using.



pmnewton said:
I hate to start a flame war but there is one undisputable fact about FLEX machines. They are a forced rotation DA. You can apply pressure to them without losing the rotation like you do with a PC.
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Yeah, the PC does seem pretty easy to bog down, but I hear the XP is a bit better in that regard. The Griot's is actually *VERY* good when it comes to maintaining rotation under pressure, but you're right that a forced-rotation polisher is simply a different animal.
 
Accumulator said:
Yeah, the PC does seem pretty easy to bog down, but I hear the XP is a bit better in that regard. The Griot's is actually *VERY* good when it comes to maintaining rotation under pressure, but you're right that a forced-rotation polisher is simply a different animal.
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That's what sold me on the G110v2... you can put a lot of weight on it and it'll still rotate due to the cruise control circuit:



 
Also another thing I should have included is I'm using this on my car as well as others for money. I wouldn't call it a business just yet, but when the opportunity arises to do someone else's car I jump for it. I currently have someone with a Black CTS waiting for me to replace the polisher, so I'll just consider that a little discount on whatever I get. =)



Thanks for all the help so far, I'm very new to this forum btw



Im sure the GG is great but for some reason I feel like I need the flex! I don't know what it is but it's killing me!
 
2DudesDetailing said:
Im sure the GG is great but for some reason I feel like I need the flex! I don't know what it is but it's killing me!
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In terms of flexibility, nothing beats a good quality d/a. While they may not have forced rotation, they can still do a lot of correction with the right pads and products. Unlike the machines that offer forced rotation (flex 3401 or makita bo6040), using different pads sizes (save for the larger ones) is no a problem; you can go from midsized pads down to much smaller pads for the finese work just by swapping out backing plates. Another advantage is that you can get cyclo brushes to do interior work including seats, rugs/ carpet, paneling, etc. None of which can be done with the flex 3401 or the makita bo6040 (unless there are adapters that I dont know about). In fact, you could realistically get yourself 2 good d/a machines for the price of one forced rotation machine.
 
I'm one of those guys who bought the Flex, loved it at first, then hated it and sold it. I can now achieve a better finish in the same amount of time or less with either of my traditional DA's.
 
Shiny Lil Detlr- Thanks for posting that, I don't know from the Meguiar's unit so that was educational.



2DudesDetailing- Heh heh, I know the feeling, and the Flex is handy for doing some serious work. You can usually work around the fixed/large pad size. I'd still recommend the Griot's instead, but it's not like the Flex 34401 is a *bad* choice or anything...but I bet you'll end up getting a conventional RO unit before too long, either to replace or augment the Flex.
 
2Dudes having been in your shoes I understand the gadgetry appeal of flex. It made me buy one too :).



As I have written before, money wise it makes more sense to go for a DA and a rotary. I got the rotary anyway to compliment the flex's difficulty with small pads. It looks like many people nowadays make everything only with the DA and the newest pads systems.



If your budget allows it get the flex and a rotary.
 
Last night I Kind of bought the GG on an impulse because it was on Autogeek for sale. The flex is definitely on my "To buy" list but at least I'll have a new toy to play with until that time comes.



What do u guys think about the Meguiars 3-pad system? I ordered the orange(Med correction) lake country, the red(wax) lake country, and the purple meguiars(med correction) and since it has the interchangeable backing plate, I'll already have a few pads on top of the ones I ordered from my old polisher. I just wanted to try the lake country out. and after I bought them I remembered I had the megs in my amazon shopping cart so I figured I'd try one of those out as well.



Sorry for rambling on hehe. Heres the question restated "What do you guys think about the Meguiars 3-pad system?"



ok I'm done :)
 
I just detailed my Mazda6 this past weekend and I already have 3 people wanting me to do their cars(a total of 4 cars). I didn't take many pics, but heres one 50-50 I took on my cell phone. When I'm doing some, or all of the others I'll create a thread showing what this 17 year old detailer is capable of ;)



IMAG0009.jpg
 
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