Rupes 21 or Flex 3401 Poll

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ShawnF350

New member
I'll be receiving my 21 tomorrow.
I have the Rupes 15, Mini, 3401 and a Makita rotary.

Without explaining the pros and cons, I'm looking for which you would keep if you had to unload either the 3401 or 21.
I think I have an idea what will win but want some votes.
Just a reply of which one of the two you would part with will do.
Please vote only if you have used both polishers!
 
I'll find this interesting (won't be participating as I only have the Flex 3401). Wonder if it'll boil down to the Flex's "recoil".
 
Personal vehicles and friends and family.
Not removing sanding marks.
Plan on removing swirls and mild scratches if needed.
 
you don't do this professionally but you have well over $1,000 in polishers? seems like a waste of money, no? the 3401, 15, or 21 would do any of your friends and family's cars just fine, especially if not doing sanding. I'd sell everything else and spend that money on some others things.
 
I have both.
The Rupes 21 is my Go-To machine.
The 3401 collects dust.

I'm looking at adding a Griot's Garage BOSS 21.
 
I have the 3401 & the Rupes 15 and mini. I vote to keep them all you already have them, so cash was not an issue, you just never know which one and when you may need one of them. It's all personal choice for me I love my 3401 I'll bet I'll use my 15 90% of the time but it always on standby.
 
It's going to come down to user preference and really it's only a question you can answer. I sold my Flex 3401 after about 18 months so the answer between those 2 units for me would be to keep the Rupes 21. ;)
 
Such a tough one to answer.

Thats why I have both and use the 7in pads on the 21 and 5-5.5in pads on the 3401.

Just got my father to try them both out and he liked the Rupes better on his hands/joints/etc...maybe that's worth something??
 
I want a machine that will not stop or have a hissy fit with certain panel shapes..
The Flex 3401VRG fits my preferences and needs, and the Makita9227C will always be used first.. :)
Dan F
 
ShawnF350 said:
Personal vehicles and friends and family.
Not removing sanding marks.
Plan on removing swirls and mild scratches if needed.
Click to expand...

Well I'm not busting on you for $1k in tools, I think I may be a few up on you so I have zero room to talk.

Personally with you not doing heavy correction or production work I'd probably keep the Rupes and sell the 3401. Well, I'd probably sell neither because tools :). I'm not sure I'd have bought the 21 with owning the 15 and the 3401 though. The one that I'd have in your arsenal instead would be the PE8
 
Ccrew said:
Well I'm not busting on you for $1k in tools, I think I may be a few up on you so I have zero room to talk.

Personally with you not doing heavy correction or production work I'd probably keep the Rupes and sell the 3401. Well, I'd probably sell neither because tools :). I'm not sure I'd have bought the 21 with owning the 15 and the 3401 though. The one that I'd have in your arsenal instead would be the PE8
Click to expand...

I've had an opportunity this past year to work plenty of overtime. So with the price I've been getting the tools for, I figured I could always sell what I don't use..in time.
But it's nice to have all to try.
I haven't used the Makita yet but have plans for it. It does go well with my pad washer though.
Maybe I'll get aPE8 for cleaning the smaller pads...
Just kidding of course.
:blink:
 
I own a Makita rotary, 3401, PE8, GG 3in mini. Really contemplating a boss 21. In the same boat as you. Do I keep my 3401 or ditch it all together.
 
I'd sell all but the rotary and one of the others, then use that money as a head start for some 20 inch chromes, or spend a weekend in Atlantic City, Virginia Beach, DC, etc...
 
I love the 3401 for correction and just use my PC for smaller jobs and/or for 3" pads. Never used a Rupes so I cannot comment on that.
 
I did a Black Acura yesterday that this gentleman had recently purchased from a dealership.
It was covered in holograms and tons of DISO swirls. It was truly horrible and looked awful.

I find the Flex 3401 aggressive and the Rupes 21/15 corrects & finishes.
After doing a test spot, the 3401 barely made a dent correcting the swirls.
I had to reach for the PE-14 rotary with a Carpro 5" Flash pad & Megs M101.
Once corrected I used the Rupes 21 with the Carpro 5" Gloss pad and Reflect.

Note: The Scholl Concepts 5 1/2" Spider Sandwich Pad was way too aggressive!
This pad trashed the black paint. I corrected it with the Rupes 21. Lesson learned.

The point is, IMHO no one machine is "better". They each have their pros and cons.

I like to work from least aggressive.
I don't use a rotary if the 3401 will work.
I don't use a 3401 if the Rupes 21/15 works.
I don't use the Rupes if the ...you get the idea.

For me the Rupes 21 is my go-to "Git 'er Done" machine the majority of the time.
If I no longer had the Flex 3401 in my arsenal, it probably would not be missed.
I'm still looking forward to taking the Griot's BOSS 21 "once around the block".
I find this machine interesting. It could turn out to be a "best of both worlds".
 
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