ok so basically everything i have read about fimming and topping has told me that they are basically the same exact thing! i realize fimming is done to the new growth earlier but whats the point? which one works better? do they produce diff. effects?
You need to read DierWolf's How-To : Fimming and Topping made Easy. It tells you everything you need to know. The difference between the two isn't time, it's what is cut.
Top and then fim. Fimming results in more branches growing, but topping you are guranteed the Y shaped colas. Best option is to Top and then fimm the new growths eventually. You can always fimm after topping so if ur confused just top your plant. Picture by DIerwolf from his fim/top sticky.
From the guide. In short, topping gives you two main stems and fimming will give you four. I personally prefer fimming because I like short bushy plants.
Fimming can give more than 4, but almost always an even number. As a plant shoots up new growth the very beginnings of not just the next node but of the next several nodes may be in there. Look at that diagram, it shows the next 2 nodes already getting started but it could be more. When you fim you cut through all of these embryonic node sites, each of which after cut will develop into a new shoot or top. So could be 4 new tops (cut through the next 2 nodes), 6 new tops (cut through the next 3 nodes), etc.