Trade Down Rotary for DA?

W

wn1998

New member
Hey guys,

I just found this forum last week and have been reading constatly. I did some perfessional detailing for a small family owned car wash/with 3 detail bays 2001-2003 in college. I currently have a milwaukee 5455 7"/9" rotory polisher.



I have never burned any paint and have always used Meguiars Fine cut #2 with a Meguiars pad but after reading all of the threads on here I think this rotory is just too much machine for me. I am very interested in both the PC 7424XP as well as the Flex 3401.



My Milwaukee 5455 is rated at 1750 rpm and I am interested in selling or trading it for a PC or a flex. I have been reading and watching youtube clips and it seems that the PC can do what the Flex does just the flex can do it faster. Is this correct.



Also, anyone looking to trade for my milwaukee. It is a few years old and probably only been used a total of 20 hours.



I am in Northern Illinois.
 
wn1998 said:
..it for a PC or a flex. I have been reading and watching youtube clips and it seems that the PC can do what the Flex does just the flex can do it faster. Is this correct?
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Pardom my mealy-mouthed answer, but "yeah, it's *kinda* true, at least in theory, but not so much in practice".



With some time and the right technique, you can do most anything via PC. But *IME* (and other people might have different experiences), the Flex 3401 does the work *so* much faster/easier that I'd absolutely buy the Flex if you can possibly afford the higher cost.



I haven't touched either of my rotaries since getting the Flex, and I hardly ever reach for my PCs either, just for spot-correction with 4" pads and for applying certain LSPs. The Flex is just *so* much more efficient...I hardly ever use my beloved Cyclos any more either, and I *like* using those!



Here's one vote for buying the Flex 3401.



Oh, and Welcome to Autopia!
 
Each machine has it's own positive's and negatives. If I were you, and could afford it, I would keep the rotary and invest in either the PC or the Flex. I have a Dewalt Rotary, a PC and a Flex. There are going to be those times when you need a rotary, and those times when you are going to need either the PC and/or Flex. For example, as Accumulator said, for quick touch ups, the PC/Flex is good. For HEAVY correction, the rotary may be your best bet, especially if doing any wet sanding. Personally, I am not good enough with the rotary to finish down perfect, so if I do end up having to use the rotary, I will finish it off with the PC or Flex to remove any holograms, etc., making for a flawless finish.
 
Ryan,

thanks for the advice but I don't see myself doing any more major corrections in the near future. I think a PC or maybe a flex would be just fine. I am typically only doing my personal cars and a few for friends.



My rotary has been sitting in my spare bedroom for about a year and after reading this site, I am really scared to use it anymore in fear of burning paint. I think the flex or PC is my best bet from here on out. Also, I would need to sell my rotory to get some money for a PC or flex or my wife my strangle me in my sleep! :lol
 
Well I have been reading and really wish I thought a PC 7242 would make me happy but I think I would always lust after a flex 3401. I typically always want the best! Is the Flex 3401 really worth the cost (2x the cost of a PC)?
 
wn1998 said:
Well I have been reading and really wish I thought a PC 7242 would make me happy but I think I would always lust after a flex 3401. I typically always want the best! Is the Flex 3401 really worth the cost (2x the cost of a PC)?
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I don't own a Flex, nor have I used one (I have used a PC extensively and also own and use a Rotary) but if I were starting over, I would definitely go for the Flex!



Search the forums and you find many opinions from happy owner/users.
 
wn1998 said:
Well I have been reading and really wish I thought a PC 7242 would make me happy but I think I would always lust after a flex 3401. I typically always want the best! Is the Flex 3401 really worth the cost (2x the cost of a PC)?
Click to expand...



Lot of pro's are getting great results with the new G110vs and the new Griot's DA. And when I say pro's.. I'm taking seasoned Pro's. When only the 1st generation PC, the cylco, 1st generation Griot and UDM was around,,,, Flex ruled. But now with the KBM..105/205 and the new and more powerful DA's ... the game has changed. I myself opt to go the Griot route instead of the Flex. If by chance I should need more correction like taking out sanding marks... I have a Flex 3403 and a Makita.
 
BTW for 1/3rd the cost of a Flex and your not stuck with a 6" backing plate. You can use 3" and 4" pads and still spin a 6.5" pad for faster coverage.
 
Legacy99 said:
Lot of pro's are getting great results with the new G110vs and the new Griot's DA. And when I say pro's.. I'm taking seasoned Pro's. When only the 1st generation PC, the cylco, 1st generation Griot and UDM was around,,,, Flex ruled. But now with the KBM..105/205 and the new and more powerful DA's ... the game has changed. I myself opt to go the Griot route instead of the Flex. If by chance I should need more correction like taking out sanding marks... I have a Flex 3403 and a Makita.
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Hey Legacy, I'm not up to speed on this one. Which Griots polisher are you referring to?
 
Rob,

I am also interested to see if you are reffering to the new Griots 6" DA. It has a larger 7amp motor over the PCXP's 4.5amp motor. I would like to be able to get a few pads and some product and start working on my families cars for under $200 but I just don't want to spend the money, only to buy a flex in 6 months.
 
Yeah, the new Griot's polisher *does* have its appeal :D I'd kinda like one myself! Hey, Christmas is coming too ;) That said...



Even though I have not used the Griot's unit, I can't help but think that having both motions powered simply puts the Flex in a different category of tool.



I haven't found the fixed (~6") pad size of the Flex to be an issue with the exception of doing very small spot-repairs. The idea of using small pads to "fit into tight spots" never really pans out that well for me, and/but I do *very* well using the overhanging outer portion of *big* pads to get into tight areas.



Eh...I don't think you'd go wrong with either one. But I'd *definitely* go with one of those two.
 
would you guys take the risk of buy a used flex? Are they known for any failures? I have seen a few that claim to be "lighty" used in the $225-$250 range shipped without any pads or accesories.



Also Accumulator so if I didn't get the flex you would suggest the griots 6 inch polisher over any of the others? I have been reading about the PCxp, Meguiars 110v2, and the Griots and they all sound great but the reviews on them are all over the board.
 
wn1998 said:
would you guys take the risk of buy a used flex? Are they known for any failures? I have seen a few that claim to be "lighty" used in the $225-$250 range shipped without any pads or accesories...
Click to expand...





Given all the issues people had with Flex 3401s for a while there..the lubrication issues and the way the plastic/composite/whatever-it-is gears can wear, no, I wouldn't buy a used one myself. It's not like buying a used Cyclo ;)

Also Accumulator so if I didn't get the flex you would suggest the griots 6 inch polisher over any of the others? I have been reading about the PCxp, Meguiars 110v2, and the Griots and they all sound great but the reviews on them are all over the board.
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AFAIK/IIRC the Griot's is the most powerful of the new wave of PC-type polishers. As I recall, Mike Phillips compared a few of them and said the Griot's was the best, and Mike's opinion is good enough for me.



While lifetime warranties are fairly common with such tools, it's nice if you never need that, and I haven't heard any criticisms of the Griot's unit other than a few people saying they were able to overload/bog it down (which shouldn't be any surprise; that's why the Flex is special). I'll repeat myself: if *I* were buying a polisher I'd get either the Flex 3401 or the Griot's. If I didn't want/need a better battery charger more than an *eighth* polisher, I'd ask my wife to get me the Griot's for Christmas :D
 
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