11-08-2015, 04:40 PM | #1 |
|
Flex Swirl Finder Light
Ok having used this for a year I wanted to post a thread about it for anyone who is considering buying it.
First off, this light is NOT made by Flex, it is a Cree Light, made in China. That said, it does work well to find swirls and defects in your paint when used properly. The price of this light is WAY overpriced, most places you find it. $45 The EXACT same light can be bought at Sarge Knives online for $30 and $5 shipping. Only the rubber handle has "Sarge" on it instead of "Flex". The battery holder which uses 3 AAA batteries, is not a very durable construction. Mine fell apart after my last use. I did find in research that you can get replacements for it on Ebay. I got 3 for $1.30/free shipping. If you own a Flex light, I strongly recommend you go ahead and get a few of these, so if and when your battery holder breaks, you'll have a spare. http://www.ebay.com/itm/3pcs-AAA-Bat...EAAOSwpDdVHQIX I did some research on Amazon as well today, (too cold to detail anything today!) This light has all the same features, is also made by Cree, $15. They have some even cheaper priced. Before you buy the Flex, or even the Sarge, look on Amazon for a 3 mode adjustable zoom light, 250 lumens or less. Save your money.
__________________
Roto-Fab intake, SW 1 7/8" LT w/hi flow cats, Flowmaster outlaw exhaust, UDP, 160* stat, Circle D 3200, Moroso catch can, TCI line lock, Zex Nitrous 125 shot, 3.91 gear, Eaton True-trac, DSS 1000hp axles. |
11-08-2015, 05:17 PM | #2 |
|
Good info. I just bought the FLEX last week though lol. I wanted the Brinkmann but they are always out of stock.
|
11-09-2015, 08:54 AM | #3 |
Drives: Supercharged 2013 AGM 2SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 786
|
Good to know! I also just bought one from Autogeek when they had 25% off and free shipping for a couple of days, so worked out to about the same price. Seems it wasn't quite the great deal I thought it was!
__________________
2013 AGM 2SS/RS
SLP TVS2300, Edge CAI, 3" Magnaflow catback, BC Racing BR series coilovers, HRE FF15's (20x10 square) with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S's, GM STB, BMR front and rear sway bars and toe links, Prothane subframe bushings and front control arm inserts, JDP rear upper control arm bushings, Elite Engineering catch can. Tuned by Cunningham Motorsports. 1967 Bolero Red 396 SS/RS Convertible |
11-09-2015, 01:14 PM | #4 |
Drives: 2015 2SS/RS vert, Spring Green Edtn Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 1,284
|
Looks like this is the popular light right now - I just bought one too (about 2 months ago), under the impression that it was in fact made by Flex. With shipping I paid about $50.00 from AutoGeek.
Negative marks to AutoGeek for perpetuating the lie. From their website: "FLEX is a name that’s synonymous with quality and innovation, and the FLEX Swirl Finder Light is no exception." I thought that was high priced, but if it did what it's supposed to, I don't mind paying that much. Well, it's a good light, but not perfect. After I was done with the car and got it back out in direct sunlight I still saw a few swirls that the (so-called) "Flex" missed. Amazon has other Cree lights for next to nothing. I got this one for about $3.00 with free shipping. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o01_s00 It was shipped direct from China, so it took a few weeks for delivery. It's smaller, but I think it will do as well as the counterfeit Flex. Next time I detail I'm going to use them side by side and post the results.
__________________
2015 2SS/RS vert, Spring Edition Green Flash (2015 - present)
2014 1LT vert, Blue Ray Metallic (2014 - 2015) |
11-09-2015, 01:44 PM | #5 | |
|
Quote:
I will be waiting for a while to get the 3 new battery holders. They are shipped from Hong Kong. The battery pack falling apart made me question the light, so I did a lot of research on it to find out what I did. I have in the past recommended this light here on C5, as it does work well, and if I influenced you to purchase it, or anyone else, I apologize. I thought it was a "special" light just for detailing made by Flex Germany. I wanted to make this thread just to tell the newfound truth I discovered about this light, so others wouldn't fall into the same trap. Again if you have this light, I would suggest you get a few of the battery holders off Ebay, so when/if the battery holder falls apart, you have a spare. 3 for $1.30/free shipping.
__________________
Roto-Fab intake, SW 1 7/8" LT w/hi flow cats, Flowmaster outlaw exhaust, UDP, 160* stat, Circle D 3200, Moroso catch can, TCI line lock, Zex Nitrous 125 shot, 3.91 gear, Eaton True-trac, DSS 1000hp axles. |
|
11-09-2015, 04:37 PM | #6 | |
Drives: 2015 2SS/RS vert, Spring Green Edtn Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 1,284
|
Quote:
__________________
2015 2SS/RS vert, Spring Edition Green Flash (2015 - present)
2014 1LT vert, Blue Ray Metallic (2014 - 2015) |
|
11-09-2015, 05:54 PM | #7 |
|
Rupes
I went with the Rupes. They all seem to do the same job. If they help identify issues during correction then who cares whats on the lable.
__________________
Laus Deo
|
11-09-2015, 07:34 PM | #8 | |
|
Quote:
That's the whole point of my starting this thread, not to spend the exaggerated price on the Flex swirl light, when the exact same light can be had for less money, and one almost identical for even less. Lots of products are bought and "branded" by sellers today, then marked up severely just because they put their name on it, just don't want people to spend money on something when they can get the same thing for less. Also to let owners of this light know that the battery case has issues, I'm not the only one who has had this issue with this light, and where they can find a replacement if/when they have the same issue.
__________________
Roto-Fab intake, SW 1 7/8" LT w/hi flow cats, Flowmaster outlaw exhaust, UDP, 160* stat, Circle D 3200, Moroso catch can, TCI line lock, Zex Nitrous 125 shot, 3.91 gear, Eaton True-trac, DSS 1000hp axles. Last edited by Joe M 2012 2SS; 11-09-2015 at 07:49 PM. |
|
11-09-2015, 11:16 PM | #9 |
Tri-County Camaro SWFL
|
So what's so special about this light? Does it have a rubber around it incase it drops on the car? Is it super light weight? Or its just an ordinary flashlight with a brand name?
I've used my MAG-LITE MAG-TAC flashlight before and it worked great for illumination and allowong me to see swirls.....so I was just wondering the benefit of using a Flex swirl finder or Rupes swirl finder vs any other LED flashlight.
__________________
|
11-10-2015, 04:36 PM | #10 | |
Drives: 2015 2SS/RS vert, Spring Green Edtn Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 1,284
|
Quote:
I bought mine because I've never owned one and needed it. I had nothing to compare it to, so I went with the FLEX that this thread is about mainly because (I believed) it was a brand that I'd heard of. I got fooled, so I'm going to flood every review on it that I can find.
__________________
2015 2SS/RS vert, Spring Edition Green Flash (2015 - present)
2014 1LT vert, Blue Ray Metallic (2014 - 2015) |
|
11-10-2015, 08:51 PM | #11 |
Drives: 2013 ZL1 A6 Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Posts: 199
|
Funny...I also just purchased this during AG's 25% off/free shipping. Thanks for the heads up
|
11-10-2015, 10:02 PM | #12 | |
|
Quote:
If you are working in a garage that has overhead lighting, I'd recommend turning these off when inspecting the hood, top, and trunk lid/spoiler. You won't get the best view if it's "competing" with other light sources. The issues I have with it, is it's not made by Flex, but is sold as if it is. It's way overpriced, and the battery holder is not high quality. I have used it for a year, changing the batteries out 10x, they run for about 5 hours. I never dropped or forced new batteries in it, the holder just fell apart. I measured it, and the link I posted has exact fit, and looks identical to the original one. The card that comes in the case really irks me as well as it says: The FLEX Swirl Finder Light is far more than just a flashlight. FLEX set out to design a compact, lightweight, reliable light that makes it easy for you to track your progress as you polish your vehicle - preferably with a FLEX polisher! You can see yourself that this is such a LIE!! It's not made by Flex, Sarge Knives has the EXACT same light! It's made by Cree. They put it in a box that says Flex and the rubber cover says Flex as well. Rebranded and marked up!
__________________
Roto-Fab intake, SW 1 7/8" LT w/hi flow cats, Flowmaster outlaw exhaust, UDP, 160* stat, Circle D 3200, Moroso catch can, TCI line lock, Zex Nitrous 125 shot, 3.91 gear, Eaton True-trac, DSS 1000hp axles. |
|
11-11-2015, 08:14 AM | #13 |
Drives: The shiny ones. Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: In the detail shop!
Posts: 5,979
|
Joe Thanks for posting this thread......
|
11-11-2015, 11:09 AM | #14 | |
Drives: 2015 2SS/RS vert, Spring Green Edtn Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 1,284
|
Quote:
The only explanation would be that this IS in fact marketed by FLEX, but sub-contracted out to Cree for manufacturing.
__________________
2015 2SS/RS vert, Spring Edition Green Flash (2015 - present)
2014 1LT vert, Blue Ray Metallic (2014 - 2015) |
|
|
|
|
|