Rupes Mark V vs Flex XFE7-15

[Mike Phillips]

I guess you can't wait to try the new Optimum 27mm stroke machine (perhaps you did if you got to walk around this year at SEMA). I just kind of shook my head at that one and wondered if Dr. G was just trying to one-up Yvan with his 25mm, and wondered who will be the first to come out with a 30mm stroke?

Dr. David Ghoudussi or Dr. G. as most people know him, mostly because I think too many people are too lazy to learn how to speak and spell his last name), stopped by the FLEX booth to say hello. It was pretty short though as I stay super busy at this show doing demonstrations and answering questions.

I did not get out of the booth at all at this show, just too slammed. Thus, I have not seen nor tried the Optimum 27mm polisher, nor have I tried the DIY 25mm polisher. I heard there was even a 30mm coming out.

But to me - unless one of these super impresses me - I'll stick to these,

• Cordless FLEX Rotary Polisher - Fast, heavy duty paint correction
• FLEX Supa BEAST - All brawl, zero stall
• PC or G9 - For soft paint and/or soft plastic windows

My own experience shows me that the longer the stroke, the easier it is for the pad to stall, as in low to no pad rotation and low to no pad oscillation.


Do Long-Stroke Polishers Stall More? (Mike's Theory)

With my own personal style of detailing, these tools are simply too slow. Great for enthusiasts that are not in a hurry. So, something for everyone.


Mike

 

[ag256]

After using the new corded, brushless FLEX 15mm free spinning, random orbital polisher on a 1960 Corvette and a then using at SEMA - it's a fine tool for a tool in this category. I simply RARELY use free spinning, random orbital polishers from any company/brand. Too slow for me plus I don't like the Brain Drain that comes with marking the side of the backing plate and/or buffing pad and then the entire time I'm buffing paint I need to LOOK to SEE - if the pad is rotating and oscillating or just vibrating against the paint. (Brain Drain). Thus, I use the Supa BEAST as my go-to choice for orbital polisher.

IF I do need to use a free spinning, random orbital polisher due to trying to finish out on SOFT paint - then I use either the Porter Cable 7424XP and/or the Griot's Garage G9 - both of these are SHORT stroke polishers, not LONG stroke like the 15mm, 21mm and 25mm polishers. Both of these tools do a better job of maintaining pad rotation and pad oscillation when buffing out concave curves, thin panels and tight areas.

The longer the stroke, the more likely for pad stalling due to how the outer edges of the spinning buffing pad has leverage over the drive spindle. See my video below.


Do Long-Stroke Polishers Stall More? (Mike's Theory)

What Does Orbit Stroke Diameter on Polishers Mean? (Visual Explanation)

But as far as a corded, brushless long stroke 15mm free spinning, random orbital polisher goes - the new and the old FLEX 15mm Finishers perform as advertised.


Not sure if the above helps?


Mike

thanks Mike very helpful, it sounds like it is worth a try, I'm working on soft paint and the porter cable vibration was something I was looking to see an improved product on.

How would you compare the vibration between this and Rupes Mark V or even the porter cable

 

[ag256]

Mike if you are interested in selling this polisher since you are not a huge fan of the Brain Drain shoot me a PM b/c i'm interested. thanks

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Perhaps my sarcasm was too subtle, when the Rupes machines first came out, it was said that the 21mm was best suited to larger vehicles...so I guess maybe a 30mm throw would be nice if you were doing a big rig trailer, but it's hard to see how that would help you on a "normal" vehicle. It just seems like the increasing stroke has become a marketing gimmick, however, I have not listened to the sales pitch for the 25 and 27mm polishers.

Full disclosure, I have no long-stroke polishers, once I got my Flex 3401, I've just stuck with that.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Mike if you are interested in selling this polisher since you are not a huge fan of the Brain Drain shoot me a PM b/c i'm interested. thanks

I have over $50,000.00 worth of tool in our shop for my classes.

So it never matters what I like, I put these tools in the hands of the people that take my classes and let THEM decide. So, sorry, don't want to get rid of any of the tools in our collection. Me? I show people how to use all the different types and brands of polishers and then simply turn them loose on really cool cars that need help.


From this recent class,

371 Pictures - 2-Day September 2025 Car Detailing Class - 8 Cars Detailed! - No Chairs! - ALL Hands-on PLUS REVIEWS!


Examples

FLEX cordless rotary polisher

Harbor Freight cordless rotary polisher

Griot's Garage G9

FLEX Supa BEAST

Griot's Garage G9

RUPES Mile - 5mm gear-driven orbital

RUPES Long Neck Nano with 3" Extension in Rotary Mode

FLEX Shaft Drive plus PXE-80

RUPES Cordless 15mm

FLEX Cordless BEAST or CBEAST

FLEX PXE-80

The above is just a sample from one class. Just sharing because I know there are some people that will read this thread into the future that DON'T know what my classes look like, so there's some examples.


Again sorry, but once tools come into the shop... they never leave...


Mike

 

[Mike Phillips]

Perhaps my sarcasm was too subtle,

Apologies, I'm still a little slow after returning from SEMA - I show why here,

Here’s breakfast and lunch traveling home from SEMA

when the Rupes machines first came out, it was said that the 21mm was best suited to larger vehicles...so I guess maybe a 30mm throw would be nice if you were doing a big rig trailer, but it's hard to see how that would help you on a "normal" vehicle.

Before I did more research and then wrote the RUPES car detailing how-to book, I did a Side-by-Side test using the (new at that time - 2013), RUPES BigFoot 21mm and 15mm polishers. And of course, in my normal style of offering a professional courtesy to Guido Valentini, (President of RUPES), and the entire RUPES organization, I did the testing using ALL RUPES tools, pads and products as RUPES does not like Co-Mingling

Amazing the video is still around,

And even more amazing, the pictures still show up for my article.

Rupes Polisher Time Lapse Video - 1955 Ford Crown Victoria by Mike Phillips

It just seems like the increasing stroke has become a marketing gimmick, however, I have not listened to the sales pitch for the 25 and 27mm polishers.

Like the old saying,

More is better

I'm not too sure about more being better when it comes to orbit stroke length but when it comes to my gas tank and wallet - definitely more is better.

It's the nature of man and specifically the car detailing world to push the envelope to the limit and I think this is a good thing. I know having SO MANY tool options can be frustrating when doing research into polishers, but the opposite, having TOO FEW CHOICES isn't more gooder than too many optioins. At least in my humble opinion.

Polishers are kind of like colas - some people LOVE Coke and HATE Pepsi, and just the opposite, some people LOVE Pepsi and HATE Coke. Crazy world

Full disclosure, I have no long-stroke polishers, once I got my Flex 3401, I've just stuck with that.

There's not much the BEAST cannot tame.


Mike