Using the Flex PXE 80 mini cordless polisher

The Flex PXE 80 battery polisher is a small cordless polisher for places a big machine cannot reach well: mirror caps, door handles, spoilers and bumper edges. You switch between rotary and orbital drive in seconds, with a 3 mm or 12 mm orbit. That lets you refine a spot, remove holograms and finish the job with one machine. Below you can read what it does and how to polish with it, step by step.

The Flex PXE 80 at a glance

This Flex mini polisher is made for detailers, painters and damage repairers who need precision on small surfaces. These are the key facts:

Feature	What it is
Drive	Rotary or orbital, with a 3 mm and 12 mm orbit
Speed	Variable via the trigger, plus 4 fixed settings on the LED display
Battery	10.8 V, fits every Flex 10.8 V battery
Motor	Brushless, with EMS protection
Backing plate	75 mm
Supplied with	2 batteries, charger and backing plates

The trigger controls the speed continuously and has a lock for continuous running. Soft grip surfaces and optimised vibration keep long sessions comfortable, and a shock ring protects the paint if you touch it by accident. Because the motor is brushless and the electronic EMS system monitors the machine, it lasts longer.

Rotary or orbital: which do you choose?

Rotary cuts faster and suits targeted correction on a small area, such as a sanding mark or a deeper scratch. Orbital moves more gently, which makes it a good choice for a hologram-free finish. The 3 mm orbit fits narrow parts, while the 12 mm orbit spreads the movement over more paint and works well on slightly larger areas. Because you change drive without tools, you do not need another machine for the next step.

Situation	What you use	Why
Holograms on a mirror cap	Orbital 12 mm, soft pad	Gentle movement, no new marks
Fixing a sanding mark or scratch	Rotary, fine polish	Targeted correction on a small area
Narrow edge or door handle	Orbital 3 mm	Short stroke fits tight spaces
Grille or badge	With the extension shaft	Reach without the machine getting in the way

How to do it

Choose the drive. Set the changeover system to rotary or orbital, depending on the job. If you are unsure, start with orbital: it is the gentlest way in.
Clean the area. Wash and dry the part and work in the shade on a cool panel. Grit under the pad gives you scratches you made yourself.
Pick pad and product. Fit a pad that matches the 75 mm backing plate and use a few drops of polish. For correction, Koch Chemie Fine Cut F6.01 works well and is silicone-free and oil-free. Tip: a thin layer works better than a lot of product.
Spread the product. Put the pad flat on the panel before you pull the trigger and start on a low fixed setting. Pitfall: switching on while the pad hangs in the air, which flings the product off.
Work in small sections. Take an area a few pad widths across, make overlapping passes with light pressure and let the machine do the work. Keep the pad flat, especially on edges and ridges.
Check and finish. Wipe off with a clean microfibre cloth and use a lamp to see whether the scratches are really gone. For a hologram-free finish, switch to orbital with Menzerna Final Finish 3000 and a soft pad. With Bilthamber Cleanser-Fluid you remove polish oils, so you see the real result before applying wax or a coating.

Common mistakes and tips

A pad that overhangs the backing plate runs unevenly. Choose a pad that fits the 75 mm plate.
Too much polish makes the pad sticky and the correction worse. A few drops per spot is enough.
Charge the second battery while you work with the first. Two come with the machine and every Flex 10.8 V battery fits.
Use the fixed settings on the LED display when you want the same speed every time, and the trigger when you want to adjust by feel.
Test on an inconspicuous spot first, especially on plastic parts and thin paint on edges.
Clean or replace the pad as soon as it is full of dried product. A clean pad cuts and spreads more evenly.

What to combine the Flex PXE 80 with

This machine complements a larger polisher. These go well with it:

For tight corners: the Flex Extension Shaft for PXE 80, a 10 cm aluminium extension for wing mirrors, spoilers and bumpers.
For whole panels: pick a larger machine from polishers and read best polisher for beginners.
For the full process: polishing your car and removing swirls.
For other small jobs: polishing headlights.
For the product: have a look at polish and compound.

What is the difference between rotary and orbital on the Flex PXE 80?

Rotary spins the pad round and therefore cuts faster, which suits targeted correction. Orbital moves more gently and suits a hologram-free finish. You switch between the two in seconds.

Which battery fits the Flex PXE 80?

Every 10.8 V battery from the Flex range fits the machine. Two batteries and a charger come with it, so you can keep working while one charges.

How do I set the speed?

You control the speed continuously with the trigger. If you want to run continuously, you lock the trigger. You can also choose from four fixed speeds that you read on the LED display.

Can I polish a whole car with this machine?

It is made for small surfaces and details. On large panels such as a bonnet or roof you work faster with a bigger machine. The PXE 80 complements that on mirrors, handles, spoilers and edges.

How do I reach tight corners and the backs of mirrors?

With the 10 cm aluminium Flex extension shaft. You fit it straight onto the PXE 80 and change as quickly as with a normal backing plate. You can use it with a backing plate up to 50 mm.

Which pad do I use on the Flex PXE 80?

Choose a polishing pad that fits the 75 mm backing plate, with a maximum pad size of 80 mm. For correction use a cutting pad, for finishing a soft pad.

Using the Flex PXE 80 cordless polisher: how it works