First time polisher user- Flex 3403 & LC pads

Just got the package from phil a week ago, great guy helping me with rotary polisher and LC pads I need and arranging the package to be shipped overseas less than a week. After a couple of month browsing and couldn't decide which polisher to go with I decided to get feather weight Flex 3403. I have never used any polisher before, only waxing my car. This is my first post after a couple of months browsing around a couple of forums and has been learning from all of you. Initially I was thinking to start with DA polisher but I think I got 'too much' information as what DA polisher to get PC? UDM? G220? 3401?...
finally decided to take the plunge of rotary and leave the DA argument behind :cool2:

I managed to take the first try succesfully (without leaving any marring or buffer trail) on my honda accord trunk and leaving the surface swirl free. Thanks to all of you for sharing great experience using rotary. IMHO, Flex 3403 is a good rotary for newbie like me especially its light weight which does not put additional psychological pressure during learning process (comparing to those heavier rotary...definitely feather light polisher is an advantage combined with good weight balance). I also find the lowest speed of 1100rpm is not such a big problem. I applied Menz IP with white CCS 6.5" pad followed by Final Polish with gray CCS 6.5" pad, resulting swirl free surface. I'll post the pics later on as still trying to reduce the size of them.

Thanks again guys for sharing great experience using rotary and making this forum a great place for learning :thumb:

 

Congrats and can't wait to see the pics. I started with a hitachi, moved on to the metabo and have used the flex 3403 on about 5 cars now. They all have their place, but after a few uses I am really starting to like the 3403.

 

Here are pics of my first try on Flex 3403 result. Menz IP+CCS white pad followed by Menz FP+CCS gray pad applied M21 as the LSP. Only half part of the trunk was polished (left part) but hard to tell from the pic to compare with the other half unpolished

Second pic better shows half part polished (left side of the trunk). pic taken after rain. can easily tell the gloss difference between polished and unpolished parts although poor water beading from M21

Third pic shows the result after I stripped M21 and replaced with Collinite 476. Love 476 for its price and performance

 

Beading pic...Awesome.....:thumb:

 

wow great job and u deff went all out starting with a rotary I have gone through the ranks and still do not feel comfortable but getting ALOT better

 

thanks guys for your input.

@Sparkie
yes definitely I'll go with Collinite over Meg21. value for money wax, especially because I live in tropical country although we don't have winter (what Collinite is famous for) but we have interchangable heavy rain and strong sun. So, I was thinking durability is preferable over slight better look.

@DieselMDX
glad to hear you're improving. I was initially planning to get Flex DA 3401vrg but it is a bit pricey beside it's still not rotary where I can potentially get better corrction on paint imperfection. Getting one polisher is already big decision for me and I want one polisher to suffice my detailing need. I hope I can do polishing to finishing stage without buying DA polisher. I think my limitation to get different variety of polisher (both rotary & DA) has somehow encourage me to be able to work with rotary. I even planned to get the polisher locally (do not have to pay shippng & custom fee) in order to save some money but unfortunately spindle thread size does not fit US standard backing plate.

 

nice work great post!

 

wow i just noticed dd's great price on the rotary. man.. more thinking.

 

Lance yes sir...$205 shipped.

 

man. i wish I wouldve seen it, couldve shipped all together.

 

you won't regret with flex 3403. very smooth polisher...I couldn't be happier especially this is my first time polishing (not just with rotary but with any polisher) and it went well. will keep update my experience with this polisher perhaps after doing whole car polishing

thanks again to Phil for his great help..appreciate it buddy !!

 

anytime.

 

OP excellent post.

If he still has one in stock on the 31st I'm going to buy one then.

 

Any pics of your order???

 

Cooooooool! You're gonna skip the 3401 altogether...hope it's still in stock for you on the 31st!

 

Can anyone provide any clarity on the speed issue with the 3403 ?

Some people suggest that the no load speed of 1100rpms is to high and others say it's not a problem, what do some of the rotary pro's have to say about this ?

TIA

 

Congrats! Looking forward to more pics!

 

Hey Phil, is there a starters package you can put together with pads for the 3403?

 

what were you thinking of.

e-mail me or pm me.

 

Carn asked a valid question in regards to rpm concerns on the flex 3403, if anybody can provide feedback, it would truly appreciated, considering the learning curve involved when using a rotary for a beginner. Thanks.