Best Orbital Polisher?

[astglenn]

What is the best orbital? I have the CH unit. I was waffling between that and the Flex. I also have a great 7" older Makita straight rotary that I think is now useless with this BLACK car.

When I was a kid, working in my old man's body shop, the orbital was me. It was a piece of cotton gauze cloth, followed by a diaper, a box of corn starch and a sincere desire to get my old man off my back regarding swirl marks in his lacquer job. Things have changed.

I take my question to my friends here that are professionals and pro-sumers. What say you regarding orbitals?

[JaredPointer]

From my personal experiences, and everything I have read on here, it would be tough to beat the Flex.

[astglenn]

Somehow I should have known that because I bought the CH.

Jared: I love the avitar. LOLOL.

[JaredPointer]

Maybe I am dense, but I don't know what the CH unit is.

[astglenn]

That's because I'm an idiot. I meant Porter Cable. (PC)

I was thinking Campbell Hausfeld as I am heaving one of their compressors in the scrap metal pile today.

sorry for that.

[JaredPointer]

The PC is a good machine, and will do a lot. It also costs about a third of the Flex.

[Ronkh]

Love my flex

[black bart]

I have never used the flex but from what I have read here from several detailer's I believe the flex is faster at paint correction.

If I was detailing for a living I would buy a flex because time is money.

I'm retired and on a fixed income and only do my own cars.
I have a pc and I use it about every 2 years to correct my paint.

If my PC was to fail it would be a hard decision but I probably would buy another PC because saving $200.00 dollars would be better than spending a hour ever 2 years detailing my car.
If I was making 50K a year or detailing for a living I would have a Flex.

[sal329]

I vote Flex I wish I could afford one

[bigron62]

i think the pc is great ...its all ive ever used for orbital .. anything i have a makita rotary for

[black bart]

I forgot to mention I have a rotary so it is not likely that I will ever have a flex.
They are faster than my PC but since I already have a rotary and the PC I can do my own cars with what I have.

[groebuck]

here is a question - if you already have a pc would you buy a flex? I am almost pulled the trigger a few times....

[JaredPointer]

Originally Posted by groebuck

here is a question - if you already have a pc would you buy a flex? I am almost pulled the trigger a few times....

I did. The Flex is just more machine - it can do more in a shorter timeframe than the PC.

[groebuck]

dammit lol....now I have to buy one.

[ArmstrongDetailing]

Originally Posted by groebuck

here is a question - if you already have a pc would you buy a flex? I am almost pulled the trigger a few times....

If you're a pro where time is money, I believe the FLEX is a must have. I spent way too many years without one. Since I started using it, it's all I use. My PC and rotary are collecting dust now. Actually I have had 1 or 2 times when I have pulled out my rotary but they were extreme cases.

I buffed on a buddies Hobie Cat the other day that my FLEX was no match for. The rotary was needed for removing bad gel coat.

Bottom line is it saves time and steps. It's a quality machine and is definitely worth the money. However, if I were just doing my own cars, I'm not sure I would have made the purchase because it is a big chunk of change.