Should I get the Flex?

termigator

termigator

New member
I've started reading more on the Flex and I'm seriously considering acquiring one. I currently only use a PC and I am wondering if the Flex is going to be that much better than the PC that I should plunk down $300 to get it. I personally am not a fan of polishing and anything that will make it easier and quicker to get to an LSP ready surface will be worth it for me. I guess the big question is whether the Flex is as good as a rotary or should I throw caution into the wind and think rotary.
 
Flex eats a PC, Rotary DEVOURS a Flex... If you have the time to invest to learn the rotary I would suggest it. It may just help you love levelling the clear.. I know it did for me.



If you don't want to learn the rotary stepping up from a PC to the Flex RO is a HUGE improvement but not the same level as a rotary
 
I'm also considering this as well. If you can achieve most correction with a PC, and achieve "harder, better, faster, stronger" correction with a Flex, then I think it's worth it to move up in baby steps. Besides, the odds of me buying a rotary and then spending $300 to get a RO are slim, but I bet I won't regret it if I buy one now!
 
We use PC, Cyclo AND The Flex. FLex makes a great machine!! You can do a great deal of correction with the right pad/chem combo on a Flex. But, IMO, still can't get rid of the PC!!



Drew
 
Finish Line said:
We use PC, Cyclo AND The Flex. FLex makes a great machine!! You can do a great deal of correction with the right pad/chem combo on a Flex. But, IMO, still can't get rid of the PC!!



Drew
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I'm not looking to dump the PC. I'll be doing LSP's with it and since the Flex only comes with one backing plate, I'll be needing the PC with my 4" pads for harder to reach areas.:)
 
There has to be *someone* that says "No, don't get the Flex!" so I guess it'll be me. :)



The PC is so close to the Flex that I can't imagine dropping three hundred bucks on a machine that duplicates the use of another machine. Prior to M105 and M205 I woulda said you should get the Flex. Now... not so much. After seeing what a PC can do with those two products, having a Flex would really be redundant. Yes, a Flex will get you to your destination faster. But three hundred dollars worth faster? Prolly not.



Three hundred bucks would go toward *a lot* of good detailing supplies...



Instead of duplicating a machine that you already have, you could buy a Makita 9227. For that matter, you could buy a 9227 and the DynaBrade attachment to use the Makita as the Ultimate Flex, and still pocket about twenty bucks.
 
Finish Line said:
We use PC, Cyclo AND The Flex...
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Same here, plus two rotaries. Even though I like using the Cyclos the best, the Flex is the real ticket for getting things done quickly and easily. GET THE FLEX 3401.



SuperBee364 said:
The PC is so close to the Flex that I can't imagine dropping three hundred bucks on a machine that duplicates the use of another machine. Prior to M105 and M205 I woulda said you should get the Flex. Now... not so much. After seeing what a PC can do with those two products, having a Flex would really be redundant...
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Heh heh, I think this makes twice in one week that you and I have disagreed :eek:



When fixing the quick-lube place marring on the Yukon's hood, I was able to directly compare the Flex 3401 and the PC, using a Meg's 8006 pad and M105.



Two types of marring: *VERY* light from the quick-lube guy's wiping of the hood and 3 not-so-light random scratches. The really light stuff was almost hologram-light and the 8006/M105 combo seemed perfect for it.



Used via PC, the 8006/M105 simply did *not* remove even the light marring with two passes (I left half of it untouched with this combo). I put the 8006 on the Flex, added a *tiny* bit more M105, and took the marring out with one go. Moved on to the previously untouched stuff and it too came right out.



Then I moved to the deeper scratches- two passes took 'em right out.



So...even though the PC/yellow-orange 4" combo has worked wonders for me with M105, this experiment with a larger, milder pad seemed to demonstrate how much more the Flex can do.



MotorCity said:
...Rotary DEVOURS a Flex...
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IME (which is, I gotta say, limited compared to pros who do this stuff all the time), the only time my rotaries can do stuff the Flex can't is when the rotaries are used with really harsh pad/product combos, real rocks-in-a-bottle stuff. Even in those cases, I've been able to wetsand with ~2-4K paper and then clear up the sanding marks without the rotary. I dunno...for me the Flex 3401 has basically retired my rotaries, simply cannot imagine a case where *I* will ever have to use them again. But hey, as I keep saying, I'm not a pro and I only have to deal with my own vehicles.
 
Great.... i was as much trying to convince myself as well as the OP that we don't need Flexes. Now I want one, too. I hate this place. ;)
 
SuperBee364 said:
Great.... i was as much trying to convince myself as well as the OP that we don't need Flexes. Now I want one, too. I hate this place. ;)
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:rofl



His posts makes me want a flex sooner than later, and my rotary lust just went out the window.





Also, I'll add (granted my experience is limited to the PC) that the ergonomics of the Flex are so much better. The PC is not exactly the most fun thing to hold in your hand for 8+ hours a day. By looking at pictures of people holding and working with both, you can tell that they put a RO motor into a piece of plastic meant to be held, and not the other way around. I think this is why both the Flex, and the Metabo (in the rotary world) is so well liked, even with limited backing plates and stuff.



The PC is a motor with a plastic casing, and I was disappointed to see that the new one is as well.
 
Accumulator said:
IME (which is, I gotta say, limited compared to pros who do this stuff all the time), the only time my rotaries can do stuff the Flex can't is when the rotaries are used with really harsh pad/product combos, real rocks-in-a-bottle stuff. Even in those cases, I've been able to wetsand with ~2-4K paper and then clear up the sanding marks without the rotary. I dunno...for me the Flex 3401 has basically retired my rotaries, simply cannot imagine a case where *I* will ever have to use them again. But hey, as I keep saying, I'm not a pro and I only have to deal with my own vehicles.[/COLOR]
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I suppose it's a matter of what you are used to, to me the rotary provides much more fluid motions and is much easier to manipulate. The final finish I get from my final polsihing steps with a rotary can not be touched with my Flex... But that's just me.
 
MotorCity said:
I suppose it's a matter of what you are used to, to me the rotary provides much more fluid motions and is much easier to manipulate. The final finish I get from my final polsihing steps with a rotary can not be touched with my Flex... But that's just me.
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Yeah, I know that plenty of people feel that way about the rotary, and if it's somebody's machine of choice that's certainly understandable (and cool with me). I can sure understand true Rotary-Meisters wondering why anybody would bother with the Flex but I simply don't *like* using my rotaries. Didn't like the Milwaukee I used back in the day either..like you said, it's just me. For people who want some effective/efficient alternative to the rotary, the Flex 3401 seems to fit the bill pretty well.



I do my final polishing via Cyclo, and on the paints I work there's no detrimental effect from that. Good thing, as I just can't seem to finish out 100% hologram-free via rotary, not that I've bothered trying very much. Since I'm just working on my own stuff I guess I have a lot more leeway than pros do so I just do what gives me the results I want in the easiest manner possible.
 
Damn you Accumulator! :D My wife is going to kill me. "You just got a PT, or whatever the hell that thing is called, last year" she'll say. I knew I shouldn't have read this thread! :)
 
Yal said:
Damn you Accumulator! :D My wife is going to kill me. "You just got a PT, or whatever the hell that thing is called, last year" she'll say. I knew I shouldn't have read this thread! :)
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Uh oh.. I think we may be married to the same woman...
 
No disagreements from me about getting the 3401. I did about 3 cars with the PC and quickly realized that stuff's for the birds. Like many others I was a little hesitant to go straight rotary. I also have purchased a Flex 3403 and started using it, but I still reach for the 3401 first as I still find it more comfortable to work with...for now.
 
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