When the Flex just won't work

[Street Dreams]

Forced rotation machine could have caused the surbuf to "dig" into the clear too much, very odd that it only happened on the hood however. The v2 for me has been smooth sailing on all paints.

Sometimes there is no explanation for why combos act up or just dont work in certain places.

 

[gmblack3]

David will correct me if I am wrong, but I believe this happened with a tangerine padM105 on the hood too. At least the tangerine pad on the flex with M105 would not fix it. But as David noted the same tang pad on the G110v2 did fix it.

It was weird for sure.

If my festool was not down for the count we could of tried that in F/O mode.

On another note, Bret and I polished a pearl white LS400 today. I was using the G110v2 w/ tang/M105. I really did miss the ability of the festool as its almost impossible to bog it down.

 

[Harleyguy]

Question and a little off your post .Haven't seen to many detailer using the festool how do you rate it compared to a rotary or the flex or even the G110v2 you own.Seems like you either own or owned most of the machines out there.

 

[weekendwarrior]

Question and a little off your post .Haven't seen to many detailer using the festool how do you rate it compared to a rotary or the flex or even the G110v2 you own.Seems like you either own or owned most of the machines out there.

The Festool was definitely the smoothest of the bunch. It was also the loudest. I would say that it did not neccessarily cut any more than the Flex, but you could use it with 1 hand. Is it worth the price? That is all subjective.

Street Dreams...just to clarify...Bryan had not used the Surbuf on the Flex...we were just using foam on it.

 

[imported_wfedwar]

I can't get Flex+M205 to finish down well, and that's trying black or red finishing pads. White or orange would probably be worse. An RO machine or a rotary do better. The forced, jerky motion of the Flex just doesn't allow M205 to leave a good finish on softer paints for me. Try switching to a diminishing abrasive, like FPII or similar. That's what I've done and it works fine.

 

[imported_Luster]

The forced, jerky motion of the Flex .

That is the comment I keep reading over and over about the Flex. Otherwise I'd have one.

 

[weekendwarrior]

That is the comment I keep reading over and over about the Flex. Otherwise I'd have one.

I think it definitely serves a place in one's arsenal..it just isn't the "silver bullet" a lot of folks make it out to be. Just one guy's opinion.

 

[imported_Luster]

I think it definitely serves a place in one's arsenal..it just isn't the "silver bullet" a lot of folks make it out to be. Just one guy's opinion.

And there's just something about that bass-ackwards spin motion!!!!:banghead:

 

[imported_wfedwar]

That is the comment I keep reading over and over about the Flex. Otherwise I'd have one.

It has its place. I like the insurance against holograms but I can get at least as good results with a rotary, generally speaking. I always finish with my Flex because with a super-fine polish, I can't tell the difference between rotary and Flex results, at least at my skill level and to my eyes.

 

[RustyBumper]

Several months ago I polished my wife's '02 Acura RSX with my Flex 3401, Megs twins and LC pads. In the end, the car looked better than new and I was very happy with the results that I had achieved. A few weeks later, after having a lot of rain, I was washing her car when I noticed that the hood had horrible marring all over it!! The marring had the shape of rainbows (for lack of a better description). I wonder if the Flex's rotation pattern caused it?

I'm stumped because while I was polishing it, I made sure to do IPA wipes after each section that I had polished. Everything looked great and I wasn't able to detect anything.

How does the Griot's polisher's rotation compare to the Flex's? I'm now thinking about purchasing it.

BTW, sorry to hear that your Festool is down for the count. What happened to it? You haven't had it very long, have you?

 

[gmblack3]

Question and a little off your post .Haven't seen to many detailer using the festool how do you rate it compared to a rotary or the flex or even the G110v2 you own.Seems like you either own or owned most of the machines out there.

Via the KBM with a tang pad/m105 on severe defects, the flex and festool are in a "power" class of their own. This is using the festool in r/o mode. I still have not played around with the festool in f/o mode enough.

They are still very different machines. I had not used a flex in 2 years, it does feel different with its reverse f/o rotation. I used it on the rear quarter panel of the ESV, it did not take me that long to readjust to the motion. I would est that the flex cuts just as quick or maybe a tad quicker as the festool in r/o mode.

The festool requires more pressure, but the flex is a little harder to handle. I wish we would of had more time, I would of loved to compare the flex to the festool in f/o mode.

I have used both the XPPC and the G110v2. I prefer the G110v2 out of those two. Less vibration and seems to bog down less under extreme pressure then the XPPC.

G110v2 vs festool:

With the $495 price tag of the festool you get:

Much less vibration, maybe 50% less. This is due to the extreme quality construction of the festool and it has a shorter stroke.

Much more power. With a 6.5" tang pad, it is very hard to get the festool to bog down. After you get use to applying what some might consider excessive pressure while using the festool, I have to back off with the G110v2 to keep the pad rotating.

As far as a comparision with a rotary, I have not had the need to pick one up in almost 18 months now...

 

[imported_Luster]

How does the Griot's polisher's rotation compare to the Flex's? I'm now thinking about purchasing it.

I can't compare the GG to the Flex since I haven't used the Flex. But..... The GG has the most power of all of the "PC-Type" polishers (PC, Megs, Griots).

I always thought the GG was just a PC with a red case. Wrong!!! I have found it to be an extremely powerful machine that is nearly impossible to stop the rotation, even with HEAVY pressure. I can correct in almost half the time as when using the PC.

Keep in mind, however, the GG is NOT a forced rotation machine like the Flex.

*PC = 4.5 Amps / 500 watts
*Megs = 4.2 Amps / 430 watts
*GG = 7 Amps / 850 watts

(* Info posted by Mike Phillips @ AG Forum)

 

[imported_TLMitchell]

I always thought the GG was just a PC with a red case. Wrong!!! I have found it to be an extremely powerful machine that is nearly impossible to stop the rotation, even with HEAVY pressure. I can correct in almost half the time as when using the PC.

(thread hijack!)

Bill, how's the vibration on the GG compare to the PC? I picked up a 3403 rotary a while back for a song w/free shipping and along with the PC found I wasn't using the 3401 so I peddled it. The fact that the 3401 restricts you to larger pads than I prefer as well as being limited to the one size backing plate (unless you want to go Edge, which I didn't) always annoyed me.

TL

 

[imported_Luster]

(thread hijack!)

Bill, how's the vibration on the GG compare to the PC? I picked up a 3403 rotary a while back for a song w/free shipping and along with the PC found I wasn't using the 3401 so I peddled it. The fact that the 3401 restricts you to larger pads than I prefer as well as being limited to the one size backing plate (unless you want to go Edge, which I didn't) always annoyed me.

TL

Hey TL... (Hijack acknowledged!) The GG is less vibration than the PC, but not really an issue for me. My first job, back in the late '60's, was running a JACK-HAMMER!!!!:rofl: But I'm very impressed with the GG machine!:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[CEE DOG]

I purchased the GG before I found the Flex and my experience with the GG was that it vibrated WAY too much. I find the flex to run extremely smooth. The vibration of the GG was actually my biggest gripe.

 

[imported_Luster]

I purchased the GG before I found the Flex and my experience with the GG was that it vibrated WAY too much. I find the flex to run extremely smooth. The vibration of the GG was actually my biggest gripe.

Yeah, I think "RO's" just tend to vibrate because it's the nature of their movement. Like I stated above, vibration is a non-issue for me... I don't even feel it.

 

[Junebug]

No love for the Cyclo? Man, I just did my GTI with the typical hard VW paint - Cyclo with M105 took care of the water spots and scratches.

 

[imported_TLMitchell]

The GG is less vibration than the PC, but not really an issue for me.

I s'pose if I was going to use a PC a lot I'd be wise to invest in some gel-cushioned gloves. At full bore the PC numbs my hands pretty good. No matter since I'm destroying my paint with a rotary these days.

My first job, back in the late '60's, was running a JACK-HAMMER!!!!:rofl:

I remember Jack Hammer! Mickey Spillane's detective-guy... :huh:

But I'm very impressed with the GG machine!:thumbup::thumbup:

From some of your previous posts it's hard to tell. :biggrin:

TL

 

[rockymountaindetail]

I use my Flex almost exclusively. I have my PC dedicated to 4 inch pads for tight spots and small spot scratch removal. I have not encountered any marring using white, orange or black foam pads using 105/205.

In addition, I feel the flex vibrates much less than my pc. With a 6.5 pad it's a smooth dream. The 7.5's can be a little tricky as they can "grab and go" if you aren't careful. I found that having good pressure centered over the machine is the key. Once you start "reaching" out there with it, it can start to get a mind of it's own. Kinda like a dog w/ an attitude.... best kept on a short leash.