FLEX brought a new cordless polisher to SEMA this week and it does something no other mini polisher has done before. The FX3361, which FLEX is calling the Mini BEAST, switches between rotary, free-spinning random orbit, and gear-driven orbital polishing on one compact body. You swap adapters instead of switching machines.
If you have spent any time polishing tight trim, headlights, or around door handles with a full-size buffer, you already know why this matters. A 6-inch polisher does not fit there. A free-spinning mini pad stalls the moment it hits a curve. Gear-driven movement keeps the pad turning when the panel fights back.
What the FX3361 kit includes
FLEX packed a lot into the box. Here is the verified parts list from the manufacturer’s launch material and the hands-on review published by Mike Phillips at Dr. Beasley’s.
| Component | Included |
|---|---|
| Tool | FX3361 polisher body |
| Polishing adapters | Rotary, 6mm gear-driven orbital, 3mm / 6mm / 12mm free-spinning random orbital |
| Backing plates | 1-inch, 2-inch, and 3-inch, plus a 1-inch adhesive sanding pad |
| Batteries | Two 24V 2.5Ah packs |
| Charger | 160-watt fast charger |
The backing plates use dual threading so the same plate works on both the free-spinning adapters and the gear-driven one, which runs reverse-threaded. FLEX says the tool-free quick-change system is the point of the whole design.
Controls and light
Speed is set with a touch sensor instead of a dial. It was designed to register through nitrile gloves, which detailers wear constantly. An LED readout shows the selected RPM.
There is also an integrated detailing light with adjustable color temperature for inspecting paint as you work.
One detail worth knowing before your first session: Phillips found a Turbo Mode. Tap the number 6 on the speed control twice and maximum no-load speed climbs from 4,000 to 6,000 RPM. That setting is not obvious from the control layout.
How it stacks up against the PXE-80
FLEX has sold a cordless mini polisher since 2019, the PXE-80. It combined rotary and free-spinning random orbit on a 12V battery, and detailers have liked it for tight work. The gap was always pad stall on curves and saturated pads, because free-spinning orbit only rotates as fast as friction allows.
The Mini BEAST fixes that with the gear-driven adapter, and it moves to the 24V platform so it shares batteries with the rest of FLEX’s lineup. For anyone already invested in FLEX 24V, that is a real advantage over a dedicated 12V tool. If you are weighing machine types for paint correction, our DA vs rotary polisher breakdown covers when each motion is the right call.
Price and availability
MSRP on the kit is $595.99. Autogeek has a SEMA introductory price of $549.99, and the company told Phillips it holds an exclusive US launch arrangement, so it is first to stock the tool. Ohio Power Tool also lists the FX3361-2A as available.
Outside the US the same tool is sold as the PXCE 18-EC. Shipping dates vary by retailer, so check the listing before you order.
The FX3361 is worth watching because it is the first mini polisher to offer forced rotation. That is a genuine capability change, not a spec bump. For the current crop of corded and cordless buffers, see our best dual-action polishers roundup.
Where FLEX fits right now
This launch lands in the middle of a bigger story about FLEX’s retail position. Reports this week suggest the brand could take shelf space at Home Depot that Makita currently holds. If that happens, the 24V platform becomes much easier to buy into, and tools like the FX3361 get a national channel. We covered that separately in FLEX could replace Makita at Home Depot.
FLEX has also been shipping smaller 24V tools built for tight spaces. The FLEX 24V mini grinder uses the same compact-tool logic, and it runs on the same batteries as this polisher.