Customized FLEX in Action

Customized FLEX in Action!!!

I was fortunate enough to be able to get my FLEX while there were still some in the U.S. However I did get it w/ the old red backing plate. It works very well w/ the LC CCS 6.5 pads, but I prefer something a little smaller while trying to correct. I’m still waiting on my new plate, but I too impatient so I got a buddy of mine to help w/ some backing plate trimming. He does a lot of custom motorcycle work and car restoration, so I figured he could help. I asked him about using a jig saw to trim off about ¼” off the edge and he just laughed. He then proceeded to show me a lathe. It’s a tool that spins an object, and allows you to precisely cut around the edge of something. I should have took pictures, but I didn’t have my camera. Sorry! The lathe worked wonderfully. I was dying to use the FLEX w/ the new trimmed plate, so I took it in the garage for a quick trial test. I was amazed at how the smaller pad increases the speed. I started on speed 2 which felt like at least 4 w/ the larger pads. Speed six really really moves! The only problem I had was I think when we cut around the edge we removed a lot of glue which caused the Velcro to come loose. To fix this problem I took the plate off the machine and rubbed on some concrete outside to roughen it up a little. I then used Gorilla glue to put a small bead all around the plate. Next I place the Velcro back on the plate and set it down on the garage floor w/ two 50 pound weights on top. After an hour I gave it another go, and it seems to be fine. Here are a few pictures and short video.

PICTURES:

Pads used: LC low pro white and orange, LC CCS blue, and small black waffle






FLEX w/ LC orange low pro: notice the amount of overlap.




VIDEO: I was using SIP on speed 1 to spread, then moved up to 4, followed by six just to let you hear the speed, and then finally back to 4. I hope this helps you owners and potential owners.

 

Nice!

3 days and counting till mine arrives...

Assuming FedEx stays on schedule.

 

Great work on the customization there shady. I have the new 5.5" bp but I also work with some guys who are very talented with the lathe and milling machine we have at work so I may take my old one and try some customization of my own!

 

this looks like it has a lot of potiental.

very cool video....haha who needs factory when you have friends with skills and tools. I wonder if trimming it effects the durability.

 

Hey wolf, Ill send you mine and see if you can do the same!! I need smaller plates!

 

That's a great idea and it looks like it worked great.

The video is nice too, that Flex looks like the Metabo...wonder if it will feel like the Metabo as well :shead: guess I'll find out shortly :thumb:

Thank you for sharing that video eace:

 

Yeah send it on. I'll talk to a couple of guys about it on Friday. A few of the guys are very talented as I've seen there work on a few "government projects" as we like to call them.:shh:

 

I wonder if we can get some the "old" backing plates and modify them all!

 

Wolf I will send you mine too if possible. If we can get them to 5" that would be awesome. Let us know. :giterdone:

 

Yeah I'm going for the 5" if that's possible. I'll be doing my "research" on Friday so check back Friday evening and I'll have an update as to how it went.

 

Just got my backing plate done and it is exactly 5" in diameter, I told you I worked with some talented guys. Cool thing about it, when he had it on the lathe he cut the plastic away and left the velcro, so I could take a razor and cut the velcro away. That way the machine didn't tear the velcro and hopefully I won't have to re-glue it. I'll post up some pics when I get home tonight.

 

My gorilla glue failed the other day, so I'm going to get some expoxy. Hopefully it will do better.

 

When your guy cut yours did he cut the velcro away too or did he leave that intact and you cut it away?

 

OK I got my pics uploaded.

You can see from the first one that we decided to do something a little different from shadybreal's. My buddy thought it would be a good idea to leave the reinforcement ridge on what is now the very outter edge, so instead of using a lathe he put the plate in the milling machine. He said he thought this would aid in the backing plate keeping some sturdiness. Since I wanted it 5" he said he would take a fraction off the ridge and still leave it there. He measured it with a caliper and saw that if he took just a fraction off that ridge it would end up being 5". That is the awesome thing about this machine is the precision it can cut with.




You can see in this pic the 5.5" bp on the left and the newly modified 5" bp on the right.


Modified bp on the Flex


Modified bp with an orange lo pro 5.5" pad


I pulled numerous pads on and off the new plate and didn't see any problems with the velcro. I think leaving the velcro intact and cutting the backing plate off underneath it is the key. Like I said some of these guys are very talented with this machine

 

so how is the vibration of the flex...is it very minimal?

 

Haven't cranked it up with the modified bp yet but with the others it was very minimal and 1000 times less than the PC.

 

thats what im looking for..thanks

 

Man that looks wicked, I like the comparison picture you can really see the difference and what your friend did was briliant :applause: well done thank you for sharing.

 

No problem, and as soon as I get to use it I'll post how it does as compared to the size it was and compared to the new 5.5" plate.

 

bump incase someone missed the pics.