Flex 24V Platform Offers Three Polishing Solutions for Professional Auto Detailers
Flex began as a European tool brand, making a name for itself with its automotive detailing tool lineup. For the past few years, the brand has also been in American hardware spaces, offering a variety of 24V power tools. We’ve gotten our hands on quite a few Flex tools since their U.S. launch, including one of their 24V polishers. Now, I’m considering the the Flex 24V polisher lineup as a whole to help you determine which ones deserve a spot in your detailing arsenal.
Flex 24V Rotary Polisher FX3311
First up is the FX3311 polisher, which has a speed range from 550 RPM to 1800 RPM. You can choose between 11 speed modes and feather the variable speed trigger to match your speed to the application. There’s also a trigger lock button to let you work without constantly holding the trigger, reducing fatigue.
With this tool’s speed range, you can cut through clear coat to remove chips, swirl marks, and other inconsistencies. Flex also claims that this polisher maintains your desired speed even under pressure, without bogging down as you work. That’s the beauty of a quality brushless motor and its electronics package.
Key Features
- Model: Flex FX3311
- No-Load Speed: 550 RPM – 1800 RPM
- Brushless motor
- Polishing diameter: 6 inches
- Weight: 4.6 pounds
- 11-speed control dial
- Variable speed trigger
Should You Buy It?
Since this is a rotary polisher, there’s no orbital movement. This is ideal for correcting heavy imperfections, like oxidation and deep scratches. However, since they can be less forgiving than random-orbital polishers, rotary polishers like the FX3311 are ideal for experienced detailers and not as beginner-friendly as other models.
Price: $569 bare; $699 kit with (2) 5.0Ah batteries and 160W fast charger
Flex 24V Random Orbital Polisher FX3321
If you’re after something a bit more versatile, Flex’s FX3321 polisher features a random orbit design. This means that, along with the rotary motion, a 15mm orbital diameter is added to the mix. Orbital polishers are more forgiving than rotary-only tools, so if you’re not as well-versed in auto polishing, this may be a better option for you.
This tool sees top speeds of 4350 RPM, with an orbital rate of up to 8700 OPM. It has the same 6-inch polishing pad diameter as the previous model, with a hook-and-loop attachment style for your polishing pads.
Key Features
- Model: Flex FX3321
- No-Load Speed: 150 RPM – 4350 RPM
- Orbit rate: 2700 – 8700 OPM
- Orbit diameter: 15mm
- Brushless motor
- Polishing diameter: 6 inches
- Weight: 4.6 pounds
- 11-speed control dial
- Variable speed trigger
Should You Buy It
The FX3321 polisher uses a random orbital movement pattern, which combines circular (rotary) and oscillating motion. This results in a more beginner-friendly tool that blends more easily, since these types are less aggressive and more controlled than rotary-only polishers. If you’re already on Flex’s 24V system and you need a polisher to put the finishing touches on your automotive paint job, the FX3321 is worth considering.
Price: $539 bare; $679 kit with (2) 5.0Ah batteries and charger
Flex 24V Gear-Driven Orbital Polisher FX3331
Finally, Flex’s last polisher on the 24V system is the FX3331, which has a gear-driven orbital motion. Like many gear-driven polishers, this model has slower top speeds, reaching up to 700 RPM. It keeps the same orbit range of 2700 OPM to 8700 OPM that we saw in the FX3321 mentioned above. However, it does have a smaller orbit diameter, at just 8mm.
Key Features
- Model: Flex FX3331
- No-Load Speed: 225 RPM – 700 RPM
- Orbit rate: 2700 – 8700 OPM
- Orbit diameter: 8mm
- Brushless motor
- Polishing diameter: 6 inches
- Weight: 4.4 pounds
- 11-speed control dial
- Variable speed trigger
Should You Buy It
Gear-driven polishers like the FX3331 lie somewhere in the middle between rotary and orbital polishers in terms of material-removing power. While they can be more aggressive than random orbital models, they require more physical effort to operate. However, thanks to this Flex polisher’s gear-driven design, you can put more pressure on the tool without worrying about the orbital motion stopping.
Price: $539 bare; $679 kit with (2) 5.0Ah batteries and charger
