lets talk buffers

Bumping this old topic.

I just ordered Flex PE14-2-150 with a set of pads and V series compounds from chemical guys.

I should have it by the end of the week.
 
I got the PE8 cause i have to 1 hand it. 1" to 3" pad is spec, does get warm quick if using 5-6".
I noticed some of its gear lube leak out when new & warm but that's it.
Quite quiet, button takes getting used to. Works great, light enough.

Anyone repack gears with high temp wheel bearing grease? Sounds good to me.
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I have a Flex, and I can't recommend it. After about a year, the motor started acting up. I stoned the commutator, and it has been running ever since. As so many have mentioned, it gets really hot. Only time will tell if the heat will affect the longevity of the gear box, but it is not comfortable to use in my opinion. It is light, ergonomic, and quiet, but I hate using it because it burns my hands. Considering the price point, and Flex's refusal to cover my commutator problem under warranty, I would not recommend Flex.
 
the motor does get hot. it is small but still has an 11 amp motor like the bigger units. i do not keep my hand on the motor. i use the forward loop .
eddie , try a mech glove to help fight the heat. there are several gloves out today that claim to insulate against heat.
 
I looked for a while and saw a range in sizes for the flex offerings. I'm also a big fan of metabo tools, I have one of their grinders and we love it. I was so tempted to go metabo because of that grinder. I don't think I could really go wrong with either.

Research here and other sites led me to the PE-14 for my complete car body jobs. I have a dynabrade 3" air unit for my tight area one hander tasks.

I don't know if I got the right model, but I'm pretty sure I'll like it over my milwaukee boat anchor that I've been lugging for many years.
 
my red beast is about 12 lbs. That was fine when I was in my 20's-30's..... getting closer to 50 now and it's not fun at all any more. lol!

I can't wait!
 
Well I have it, it's pretty awesome. The 14 isn't as light as yours Shine. But at 5.6 lbs it's still half the weight of my old one and I love how smooth and quiet it runs.

I'll do an overall polish tomorrow on a 64 ford that needs help getting ready for an indoor show. That should be a pretty good test run.
 
mine is not that quite. it has heavy gears in it. it is a rotary. i did change the grease in mine. i have always changed out the grease from time to time.
 
I use the older style Flex rotary and would get a used one in the same model if I was looking for another one it is simply the best I ever used and runs cool.
 
Shine- how much sweeter did it sound with fresh grease.
Gears metal? I'd love to remove some slop.
 
Compared to my Milwaukee it's very quiet.

It did warm up on me but not out on the end where I was gripping it and not down by the trigger. It was more through the mid section under side. I guess it didn't bother me or effect the work, it was just an awareness thing. Never did it smell hot and I don't believe it kicked off any more heat than my old milwaukee unit.

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This one is now the designated loaner.

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Here's the car I was trying the new buffer out on.

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Nice. My pe8 has locking slide switch, not trigger.
I likely heated it using larger pad then spec's 3"

I opened its diff for 1st time with only a couple complete buffs on it.
They skimped on grease if ya ask me. Couple teeth on pinion are chipped or defect.
No pieces were inside & grease is like new.

I put a enough of this high temp thick stuff i had to where another fingerfull wouldn't fit.
I also left the .004 shim? out to remove some slop from ring & pinion, still has some warm & cold.
I will pull it apart after a little work to see if it's rubbing a stop i noticed. Actually i might do it now.
Sounds quieter unloaded. Smooth too.

Took pics but i'll compress them 1st.
 
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that flex and metabo were the same company.
 
I'd stick with this wealth of info thread.

To the overheating wearing quick issue, there's always a tradeoff.
Sure a 500hp 350 & 454 exist & might push same boat but which is crying uncle 1st?
Is universal gonna swirl after 100 washes more then euro? Probably but what do most of us love to pop eyeballs not shoulders with? Heh.

My Flex was shorted grease big time from factory. Filled now. Too much? I'll find out.
Small pad makes less mess & surely eases strain.
 
my 3403 is somewhere around 10 years old. it has been run hard and put up wet . i've run it for many 8 hr days . when and if it ever dies there will be a new one to replace it .
i can tell you this from my years at it that a guy who lays into a buffer will be buying new ones. just like the guy who runs his air tools at 100 lbs .
 
Shine (and others).

If you buff sanded clear coat, what do you start with? (wool or foam?)

I'm using eagle products for sanding, ending with black bufflex. I tried starting from there with orange hex pad and V series 32. All i did is make heat, it was something new for me as I have always started with 8" wool and compound followed by foam and polish products.

I gave up on the orange foam (seriously it just made the panel hot and wasn't getting me anywhere) I was buffing 2 day cured universal clear. I whipped out my old dinosaur milwaukee rotary with a wool pad and boom, I was done compounding (a section of a panel) in a minute and a half.

I think I need a wool pad for my PE14
 
have not used wool in a long time. if your making heat you are applying too much pressure - running too high of a speed - staying in one spot too long . i don't buff anymore.i spend my time sanding then polish.
 
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