Metabo PE12-175 or Flex L3403? Input Needed.......

Need to know from the people that have actually used these machines….

Even better if you have worked with both.

Again, please limit discussion to these two machines and 1st hand experience.

Thanks in advance..

I am not going to list all of the pros and cons of each, only those that directly differ from the other being compared.

Metabo PE12-175 Lightweight Rotary Polisher:

Pros:
600 min RPM rpm’s

Cons:
Controls not positioned in an intuitive manner.
More expensive of the two


Flex L3403 VRG Lightweight Rotary Polisher:

Pros:
Intuitively positioned controls
Less expensive of the two

Cons:
1100 min RPM

 

I have and use the 3403 daily. I wish it had a lower rpm range as well but other than that, it rocks. A full two pounds lighter than my Makita and its smoother at 2500rpm than my Makita at 600. I always wear earplugs when polishing so the extra noise is a mute point. It will over heat on very hot days if there is a lot of drag on the paint but has a built in safety that only allows it to run at minimum speed until it cools down. Only happened once last year and it was our hottest summer in years.

 

i would agree with ken, flex is a great machine wish it would start off at a lower RPM.

metabo was my 2nd rotary, it was great because it was lighter than the big machines. it was very easy to get use to coming from a pc. however over time I thought machines with triggers like the flex were achieving better results.

I can also tell you first hand we have sold many more 3403's over the metabo.

 

i really like the flex it has worked out great for me i mostly used the makita which i love only used the metabo once so really did not get a feel for it. i have since gotten the makita b06040 had it for 2 months now an it is really starting to be my main machine just need a smaller backing plate hint hint for someone to make lol.

 

The metabo was my first rotary, and I bought a flex a year later. Now the metabo is sold, and I don`t it.

 

Can't say much for the Flex but the Metabo was my first rotary and I like it. I was actually thinking of purchasing another Metabo but I may give the Flex a try. From what I've read, the Flex is only a pound lighter than the Metabo and also cheaper.

The controls on the Metabo take some getting used to but I have used it enough where I can actually change speeds on the fly with my little/pinky finger.

 

I have the 'big' three rotaries, at least that's how i think of them; the makita,metabo,a nd lastly the lw flex. I reaaly enjoy using the flex and makita alot more than my metabo. The makita and flex seem to fit more naturally in my hands which makes them more comfortable to use. The flex is a little louder but to me it isn't that bad. The higher starting rpm(1100) hasn't been bad to me at all and seems slow enough for whatever that rpm point could be used for. I hope this was helpful.
Marcus

 

Being that it will not be my primary machine and only used for small pads/areas I don't think thermalshutdown will be applicable.. It's just the fact that it doesn't have anything lower than 1100 that is sticking with me?? On some paints slower speeds while jeweling is really needed...

Thanks Ken

Thanks Phil

Ya see, if it came with smaller set up it would be on its way to me already...lol I need something small and nimble.

Thanks Ketil!

Hmmm... Very interesting... Thanks Denzil

You are speaking of the smaller rotaries correct ?

Thanks Marcus!

 

Yes I am talking about those.

 

I honestly would go with Flex...simply because you don't need 600 rpm speed, and it's cheaper...