Ray in Kingwood
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- May 29, 2007
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Guys......this post I put on a couple of detailing forums and was not meant for here the review is on the buffer. But I wanted to show the Hoe!!
Ray
My Friday afternoon and Saturday with the The Flex 3401.
First off I washed it well with a lambwool mid and Mothers deep sudsing shampoo utilizing the 2bucket method and grit guards. Then I made up a 3 gallon buket of sudsy solution as a lubricant and using the saturated mitt I clayed the entire vehicle. I first started off with the yellow bar of Mothers from the kit, but it was too fine and took tot damn long. So I went with a purple clay I had purchased and it worked wonderfully and required a lot of lubricant so as not to drag. Then I did a rinse and blew it off with the lleafblower.
Then per the advice on the detailing forums, I used a white pad and went straight with the Menzerna Final polish to level the paint. My paint was relatively new with no swirls and in good condition so I bypassed the Super Intensive Polish and went straight to the Final Polish.
Using the techniques I read on the detailing forums I first misted my white pad with XMC pad conditioner and put a a couple of dime sized product on the pad. Started on 1 to spread the product over a 2 by 2 area, sped things up to 6 and made a double overlapping pass, and slowed to 3 till the polish broke down exactly as I saw in the videos on Youtube.
I then buffed off the product utilizing a microfiber towel turning frequently.
Once this was completed, I had to chase down 4 asperin with a beer cuz doggone it......all this bending and wiping got my old wrinkled butt sore. So, another quick Hieniken and I washed the entire vehicle again prior to LSP sealant. I know some washed and some did not after polishing, I just felt a good wash would get rid of all traces of polish leftovers. Then it was a blowjob with the leafblower, a wipe down with MF to get rid of grrrrr damn water spots..
Final sealant I applied with the machind and a microfiber applicator for the places I could not reach with the machine. I applied using the GREY pad. Once again first dampening with XMC pad conditioner as this was a new pad. I used Wolfgangs Deep Gloss paint sealant. After application, I let it dry for 3 Heinikens and now the asperin has kicked in so I feel better.
Buffed it all off by hand with a MF towel. It came off really easy and looked fine so I saw no need to use the machine.
Here is an overalll view of the Tahoe.
I went back after this pic and wiped off the polish just above the handle. Thats what it was, I thought it was a swirl in the paint..
Nice reflection off of drivers door.
Same goes for the passenger side
These next two show how well the hood came out....
And finally an overall shot of the vehicle. Now remember, I have only sealed this with the Wolfgangs sealant. It requires at least 12 hours to cure. I will let it cure a few days and then WAX. I have NOT waxed this truck yet. The difference from stock paint to this is astounding. I would like to thank all you fellers for the tips and techniques I would never have learned on my own. I am well pleased with the results so far.
My experience with the Flex 3401
I bought this unit based on the reviews I had read on the detailing forums on the net. I cannot compare it to a rotary as I had not used one, nor a pc for that matter. I find this to be a well engineered product that performs its intended function quite well. Some feel its pricey, personally I think cheap tools are very expensive, and a quality tool results in a quality job done. I found I did not like holding the tool at 12 and 6 oclock as it came configured and opted instead for the handle. MUCH better and easier to control. I like the soft start so that you dont fling product all over the vehicle. As I was about 35 feet from my garage, I made sure I had provided the flex with plenty of electrons using a 10 guage extension cord with a gfi just in case II happened to spill a Heiny.
Overall I am quite pleased with my purchase of the Flex and feel it was worth the $$$. This is my very first detail of a vehicle and so far I am happy with the results. I suspect it will look even better with a good coat of premium wax...
.....but that is next weekend.
So there iit is fella's, hope you enjoyed the review.
Ray
My Friday afternoon and Saturday with the The Flex 3401.
First off I washed it well with a lambwool mid and Mothers deep sudsing shampoo utilizing the 2bucket method and grit guards. Then I made up a 3 gallon buket of sudsy solution as a lubricant and using the saturated mitt I clayed the entire vehicle. I first started off with the yellow bar of Mothers from the kit, but it was too fine and took tot damn long. So I went with a purple clay I had purchased and it worked wonderfully and required a lot of lubricant so as not to drag. Then I did a rinse and blew it off with the lleafblower.
Then per the advice on the detailing forums, I used a white pad and went straight with the Menzerna Final polish to level the paint. My paint was relatively new with no swirls and in good condition so I bypassed the Super Intensive Polish and went straight to the Final Polish.
Using the techniques I read on the detailing forums I first misted my white pad with XMC pad conditioner and put a a couple of dime sized product on the pad. Started on 1 to spread the product over a 2 by 2 area, sped things up to 6 and made a double overlapping pass, and slowed to 3 till the polish broke down exactly as I saw in the videos on Youtube.
I then buffed off the product utilizing a microfiber towel turning frequently.
Once this was completed, I had to chase down 4 asperin with a beer cuz doggone it......all this bending and wiping got my old wrinkled butt sore. So, another quick Hieniken and I washed the entire vehicle again prior to LSP sealant. I know some washed and some did not after polishing, I just felt a good wash would get rid of all traces of polish leftovers. Then it was a blowjob with the leafblower, a wipe down with MF to get rid of grrrrr damn water spots..
Final sealant I applied with the machind and a microfiber applicator for the places I could not reach with the machine. I applied using the GREY pad. Once again first dampening with XMC pad conditioner as this was a new pad. I used Wolfgangs Deep Gloss paint sealant. After application, I let it dry for 3 Heinikens and now the asperin has kicked in so I feel better.
Buffed it all off by hand with a MF towel. It came off really easy and looked fine so I saw no need to use the machine.
Here is an overalll view of the Tahoe.
I went back after this pic and wiped off the polish just above the handle. Thats what it was, I thought it was a swirl in the paint..
Nice reflection off of drivers door.
Same goes for the passenger side
These next two show how well the hood came out....
And finally an overall shot of the vehicle. Now remember, I have only sealed this with the Wolfgangs sealant. It requires at least 12 hours to cure. I will let it cure a few days and then WAX. I have NOT waxed this truck yet. The difference from stock paint to this is astounding. I would like to thank all you fellers for the tips and techniques I would never have learned on my own. I am well pleased with the results so far.
My experience with the Flex 3401
I bought this unit based on the reviews I had read on the detailing forums on the net. I cannot compare it to a rotary as I had not used one, nor a pc for that matter. I find this to be a well engineered product that performs its intended function quite well. Some feel its pricey, personally I think cheap tools are very expensive, and a quality tool results in a quality job done. I found I did not like holding the tool at 12 and 6 oclock as it came configured and opted instead for the handle. MUCH better and easier to control. I like the soft start so that you dont fling product all over the vehicle. As I was about 35 feet from my garage, I made sure I had provided the flex with plenty of electrons using a 10 guage extension cord with a gfi just in case II happened to spill a Heiny.
Overall I am quite pleased with my purchase of the Flex and feel it was worth the $$$. This is my very first detail of a vehicle and so far I am happy with the results. I suspect it will look even better with a good coat of premium wax...
.....but that is next weekend.
So there iit is fella's, hope you enjoyed the review.
