Had the opportunity to try a few machines

[Sydster]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

Great Reviews Mike! I too have a a PC, G100, Flex, Makita, and a G110 coming soon ( which I'm scared of because of the issues of dead units lately). Have not gotten the chance to play with the Flex yet, as soon as I do I will post my comments about it too.

[Tom Weed]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

Well, thinking back, I will admit, the first couple of times I used the Flex, it did take me for a ride a few times, but so did the rotary when I first used it. I've since become very comfortable with it. So yes, I guess there's a learning curve involved.

Tom

P.S. maybe we should list a pro's-con's for each machine?

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

Thanks for posting your review Mike!

Your comments have definitely peaked my curiosity. Did you notice a vibration difference between different pads and/or sizes of pads? Ie. Solo pads, versus W-8000 or W-8006 pads, LC, 3M etc on the Flex unit?

I would be concerned if your hands tingled afterwards. I do not know if you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in your hands/wrist but I do and any tool that aggravates it, I must not use or I will suffer for weeks until it calms down again. Some tools do bother it and others do not. A lot has to do with the closeness of your grip along with the vibration.

Again I have never tried the Flex but I wonder what pads are being used for some to get vibrations while others are not...????

Tim

[Ticman]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

Absolutely personal preference, and I think it's great that we have choices. In my opinion, for my own uses, I simply don't see a need for the Flex and if I'm 100% honest, I don't think I'd purchase the Dynabrade attachment either as I simply don't see a huge need for a tool between the rotary and the DA. Maybe the tingling sensation I got was specific to me, and I certainly will admit that upon initial use of the Flex it produced much less vibration of the frequency exhibited by either the 7424 or G110. Something about that high frequency vibration just stuck with me though, and I didn't care for it. I am also very, very glad that I had a chance to test this out before dropping $280 on one!! Imagine how I would have felt if that happened!!

I just find that for my purposes I can achieve what I need/want/demand using a good rotary and a good DA. Heck, take the Dynabrade adapter out of the mix and you can pick up a good rotary and DA for just a few dollars more than the Flex on its own. I'd still take that combo for the money.

Also, I'm not saying there's a right or wrong to this and I certainly didn't intend to slam anyone who is a fan of the Flex and enjoys using it. I just thought I'd offer up my impressions of some tools that I had a chance to use for the first time.

Well said Mike. I have to agree with having a DA and rotary combo is hard to beat. I have the G100 and Makita 9227 and I find myself using the Makita more than the G100. The rotary has no vibration so I really like it because of athritis in the fingers.

I've only tried a flex for a few minutes but it does work very well. It's like having both machines in one. I guess if you had to only use one machine and didn't want to go with a rotary the Flex would be good choice.

For me there's nothing that can beat a rotary.

Tic

[yalerd]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

Kevin, it might be all matter of perspective that is dependant on where person is. With your knowledge, skill, and experience you can probably do perfect waltz with a rotary with eyes closed. Many others are nowhere near and Flex for them might be equivalent of an energy pill that helped them leapfrog several levels.

Maybe but I agree with what Mike said, I know that many of us are afraid of the rotary, I'm one of them, but each time I use it I feel more and more confident with it and a great combo is using your rotary followed by your G110/G100

[Tom Weed]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

Thanks for posting your review Mike!

Your comments have definitely peaked my curiosity. Did you notice a vibration difference between different pads and/or sizes of pads? Ie. Solo pads, versus W-8000 or W-8006 pads, LC, 3M etc on the Flex unit?

I would be concerned if your hands tingled afterwards. I do not know if you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in your hands/wrist but I do and any tool that aggravates it, I must not use or I will suffer for weeks until it calms down again. Some tools do bother it and others do not. A lot has to do with the closeness of your grip along with the vibration.

Again I have never tried the Flex but I wonder what pads are being used for some to get vibrations while others are not...????

Tim

Tim,
you may have something here, I think I've noticed the machine wanting to get away from me or "grab" more when I had a new white 6.5" LC pad on it, maybe more so than a yellow meguiars polishing pad, but again, that could have been me getting used to the machine too. Vibrations have never bothered me, on this or on the PC.

Tom

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

Did you notice a vibration difference between different pads and/or sizes of pads? Ie. Solo pads, versus W-8000 or W-8006 pads, LC, 3M etc on the Flex unit?

I didn't have a chance to use a wide variety of pads so I can only assume that you'd notice differences in pads on the Flex just as you would when using them on a rotary. Whether the differences would be more or less noticeable I can't address at this time.

I would be concerned if your hands tingled afterwards. I do not know if you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in your hands/wrist but I do and any tool that aggravates it, I must not use or I will suffer for weeks until it calms down again.

Nope, no Carpal Tunnel in these hands and so I never even thought about that, but I can certainly see where it could be a huge issue for some.

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

I didn't have a chance to use a wide variety of pads so I can only assume that you'd notice differences in pads on the Flex just as you would when using them on a rotary. Whether the differences would be more or less noticeable I can't address at this time.

Nope, no Carpal Tunnel in these hands and so I never even thought about that, but I can certainly see where it could be a huge issue for some.

With the rotary's direct drive, you notice very little difference in pad vibration through the polisher (assuming you have the pad centered). None of my Makita's or Dewalt seem affected by different pads.

But you may with a Flex DA as the extra jiggle from the DA action may be exacerbated since it has more power than the G-100/G-110 etc. I guess it would also depend on its size of its orbit and how that too may be affected by the size/weight of the pad.

I did not think I had Carpal Tunnel either until I went to a Specialist for tingling fingers that one day did not go away. Simple test. Next time the fingers are tingling, take a side of a smooth pen etc and go up and down the sides of your fingers. If they all tingle except the pinky finger and the ring finger on the inside (by the pinky finger), that would be the making of Carpal Tunnel.


Tim

[ZoranC]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

Tim,
you may have something here, I think I've noticed the machine wanting to get away from me or "grab" more when I had a new white 6.5" LC pad on it, ...

CCS or flat?

[Tom Weed]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

CCS or flat?

CCS pad, but haven't noticed it in a while. Either the pads are broke in now, or I am just used to the machine, did you have the same experience when you started using yours?

[hot rod]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

Did anybody try the cyclo?

[sneek]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

I also want to buy the 1250 DEVS. I have heard it mentioned a few times. It sounds like it is slower speed, but has to run on turbo mode to get the forced rotation.

[ZoranC]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

CCS pad, but haven't noticed it in a while. Either the pads are broke in now, or I am just used to the machine, did you have the same experience when you started using yours?

Yes, same experience regardless of which machine is in question (Festool, Flex, 1250DEVS, or BO6040) as long as it is CCS pad on the machine in forced mode. Much less when using flat pads.

[Tom Weed]

Re: Had the opportunity to try a few machines

Just wanted to follow up with a problem I had and also Sydster had with the Flex VRG, as the replacement backing plate they are shipping with now will ruin a W8006 pad. The backing plate is slightly larger than the velcro on this pad and when using the machine it cuts right into this pad. This picture is compliments of Sydster who had this same problem shared this with me:



I've used the LC-CCS pads and the Meguiars Solo foam pads with no problems whatsoever, actually the Solo pads fit perfectly on this machine but it appears that this machine will ruin the Meguiars 6.5" pads. Just a heads up.