Thinking about a FLEX DA

[Blown F-150]

Hi Guys, I'm curious of you're thoughts. I know it has been discussed before  But since I only do a handful of cars a year, I'm thinking about ditching the Makita and getting a FLEX XC 3401. This would be for larger vehicles or heavier correction work that I wouldn't use my PC for.

I'm pretty much sold on the FLEX, I just am curious if I would have any luck selling my Makita and a bunch of the 7-8" pads I have for it. I can't fund the FLEX unless I sell the Makita.

Come spring time, I actually have about 6 cars lined up for some level of paint correction and would like to do them in one or two steps,  Like 105 followed up by a AIO since the clients expectations aren't all that high and I'm doing them for cheap. I would think a FLEX would speed up my process.

If there are any links to other threads on the subject, please post them up.
Thanks!

[Poorboy]

definitely the Flex is nice .. but if money is an issue and you already have a PC and rotary, I'd pass right now. The larger pads will not work on the Flex .. 6.5 is the absolute maximum.
You will need to replace all your pads too. 

[Blown F-150]

Thanks for the info. I would like to sell all my 7-8" pads with the rotary as I probably only have 4 or 5 of them. I have quite a few 5.5" and 6.5" pads that I think I can use on the flex with the right backing plates. I don't really want to count but I probably have over 50 pads of various sizes and cutting ability.

I still leave holograms behind with the rotary and have to follow up with the PC if I had the power of the rotary (or close to) with the action of the DA, I think it would be ideal.

Maybe I'll put the Makita up for sale in some different classifieds and go from there.

[Rollingrock]

Well I love my FLEX, and well I love my DA's too....and I am learning to love my Makita, but I hate my dewalt. 

I am thinking of doing an overhaul on my Flex, mine sure is loud. 

[Blown F-150]

What pads are you running on the Makita? I have been doing some reading and maybe I just need a smaller backing plate and smaller pads to make more use of the rotary...

[Poorboy]

I use the same 6.5" pads on my Makita as I do on my PC  ... both have 6" backing plates

on the Flex is use my special made Flex pads which are 5.5"

[Kaleb G]

I've been debating between the two, and I'm in the same boat you are with only doing a few cars a year.  My decision is coming down to how long it will really take me to master a rotary based on the time between uses, not having a lot that I can really practice on (I would love to pick up scrap but it's not realistic for a college apartment), and the fact that the cars I would mostly be using them on are A) not mine 2) black III) very important to my work's appearance - a hearse, a lead car, and a home removal van.

That being said, I don't currently have a Makita.  It would be nice to have the Flex, Makita, and my PC, but money is a little tight.  I would say that if you are able to sell the Makita for a good price with all the accessories that you would not be able to use with the Flex, the Flex is easily justified.  That is keeping money in mind though.  From what I've heard and read, the cost for a Flex is very much ignored after first use.

That's just my opinion, but I've never used either of them.  Don't think you can really go wrong either way.

[Blown F-150]

Thanks a lot for the input. I think to save some pennies for now, I will order a 6" backing plate and a extension to try on the rotary for my next couple of details. I think I have quite a few 6.5" pads but I got my pad sizes mixed up last time, so I'm gonna pull out my storage box and do some measuring to confirm.

Does anyone of our sponsors carry backing plates and/or an extension for a rotary?

Thanks again!

[Poorboy]

Thanks a lot for the input. I think to save some pennies for now, I will order a 6" backing plate and a extension to try on the rotary for my next couple of details. I think I have quite a few 6.5" pads but I got my pad sizes mixed up last time, so I'm gonna pull out my storage box and do some measuring to confirm.

Does anyone of our sponsors carry backing plates and/or an extension for a rotary?

Thanks again!

we carry 6" and 3.5" backing plates for rotaries and PC's

[Blown F-150]

Great, I will measure my pads tonight and hopefully put in a order with you shortly after.

[Blown F-150]

[/quote]

we carry 6" and 3.5" backing plates for rotaries and PC's
[/quote]

Thanks, I went to order a couple more pads and the 3.75" backing plate and it wanted to charge me $200 shipping!

Should I call it in tomorrow?

[Kitzy]

Haha.  Wow!  I heard Fed Ex was going to start charging more but that's ridiculous.

[Poorboy]

we carry 6" and 3.5" backing plates for rotaries and PC's
[/quote]

Thanks, I went to order a couple more pads and the 3.75" backing plate and it wanted to charge me $200 shipping!

Should I call it in tomorrow?
[/quote]

lol ..that's how we prevent people from out of the US from just ordering and then playing the real shipping cost game.  Yeah just give me a call and we can figure which is the fastest and cheapest way to ship. (probably USPS but which service)

this did backfire once ... a guy from Europe ordered like $600 in supplies and the shipping came out to $200 which meant I ate a big chunk of change since the actual was over $300. 

[Blown F-150]

Backing Plate and some more pads ordered! Hopefully, this will renew my love of the rotary! 

Thanks for your time Poorboy!

[Poorboy]

my pleasure .. Pockets will be heading to the post office as soon as FedEx arrives to remove a few pallets