Griot's 3" Random Orbital Polisher

G

gdumond

New member
I'd like to get some feedback from anyone who may have purchased the Griot's 3 inch orbital polisher. I was considering purchasing one of these. I have a Porter Cable with a 6 inch pad. However I have an upcoming detail on a Cord which if you are familiar with this classic it has a tall engine compartment with deep fender well which are difficult to access with the larger buffer. I like the idea of the compact Griot's machine if it works?



Thank you, Greg
 
gdumond- I have the older version, and I hear the new one is a lot better. Some people simply *hate* these little things, but I like mine.



Still, I dunno if it'll be as good for what you envision as you might expect. I'm trying to picture a Cord and I gotta admit it's been a while....yeah, between the front fenders and the engine compartment sides...I'm also wondering about the slats that run around the engine compartment (see below, where I mention overhanging portions of large pads)



Yeah, the Griot's works. See if you can find the thread about it by Mike Phillips, it might be in the Autogeek forum. It has some good info.



If all you have now is the PC, then I can see the Griot's 3" being able to do effective work in tight spots. BUT, I often find that using a *larger* pad, on a more powerful machine (e.g., Flex 3401) works better for areas where the bodylines/panel contours conspire against you; you use the *overhanging* outer section of the larger pad to fit into the tight spots, keeping the machine's body/housing out away from the area of operation. It's often the machine's body/housing that gets in the way. I'd be thinking about using the overhanging pad approach on the Cord's engine compartment slats.



(Let me know if I'm misremembering how Cords are, as I said, it's been a while since I've seen one.)



Note that the PC doesn't have sufficient power to make use of the "big pad overhang"; you simply need a rotary or the Flex to do this IME.



Find Mike's thread about the Griot's and see what you think.
 
I have been thinking about getting one of these for a while. Still might but ya never know.



I emailed Griot's a question about the yellow pad that they claim does a great job on tires, carpets, mats...etc. I offered up that they should think about coming out with a brush attachement for use on carpets and mats. Their response was that they don't carry one but I should try the yellow pad for that application.



Has anyone used this yellow pad of theirs on carpet or mats with any success?
 
Wow, I didn't expect such great feedback especially from Mike Phillips at Auto Geek. Thanks Mike for all the demo pictures and feedback!



Fortunately my upcoming project isn't as intense as your sanding mark removal demo. I have only light scratches under florescent lighting to deal with.



The challenge I have is the type of car and customer I am dealing with. This is a best of show type of vehicle with a very particular owner who has a discriminating eye for perfection. That is why I was interested in the Girot's compact 3" polisher for this particular car.



It is a 1937 Cord 812 Turbo charged. This picture is the same car only mine is black. As you can see by the design of the vehicle it has some tricky and tight areas to polish out particularly on the front inside fender areas. Thus the inquiry for feedback on Girot's small compact polisher.



It sounds like this machine would bode well for this application. Check out the photo. By the way I have not tried out the Wolfgang product line. Sounds like it might be worth looking into. Any other recommendations for a good polish for micro fine scratches and or spiddering?



Here is the link to the Cord... 1937 Cord Sportsman Convertible Coupe Pictures
 
Greg -

I have 1 of these - it works wonderfully. The motor is just right although I use mine mostly for headlights, I have used it for spot compounding as well.



One of the best purchases that I have made.



-Jim
 
gdumond said:
.. Any other recommendations for a good polish for micro fine scratches and or spiddering?
Click to expand...



I'd be just a *little* wary of ending up with too high a gloss as it might not be concours correct for that car. I'd probably go with M205, which left the right look on my pal's '60 Jag which had been reshot with b/c (hard to get the "period look" when the paint isn't period-correct to begin with).



Thanks for the pic, yeah, the Griot's 3" might be just the ticket for the area you mentioned.
 
Thanks again for all the feed back guys! I now feel that the Griot's WOULD be a good purchcase. I also agree with Jim that this could be a very handy tool for head light restoration.



Greg
 
gdumond said:
Thanks again for all the feed back guys! I now feel that the Griot's WOULD be a good purchcase. I also agree with Jim that this could be a very handy tool for head light restoration.



Greg
Click to expand...



the nice thing is there is a lifetime warranty and not to mention if you don't like it within 180 days of purchase, you can return it and get a refund...



At Griot's Garage, we want you as a customer for life. Everything you purchase from us comes with a lifetime guarantee against defect. We want you to enjoy our quality products for 180 days and have fun with them! If you don't like it for any reason during this time, return it for a full refund or credit. After that, you're covered with our lifetime guarantee against defect, in which we will either repair it, replace it, or credit your purchase price if we are able to do neither. Some items have a life span during normal use and they wear out. Our warranty does not include replacement of such items after normal use. Of course our guarantee doesn't cover abuse... But you already knew that.

Customers for life. That's our guarantee.
 
gdumond said:
By the way I have not tried out the Wolfgang product line. Sounds like it might be worth looking into.
Click to expand...



The Total Swirl Remover is incredibly easy to work with when using a PC, or G110v2 or Griot's Garage Polisher, even a Cyclo or Flex 3410, it has a long play time and wipe off is easy.



I've used enough products in my life where wipe-off wasn't easy and it's not that it can't be done but it does take the fun out of the project and you risk putting toweling marks back into the paint if you're not careful.



I have a picture of a black Porsche that is covered in a hard-to wipe-off product and that wasn't' any fun. I'll try to dig-up a picture of it and post it.



The Wolfgang Twins are easy to work with, this isn't the best term to describe them but here goes anyways.. they're "Bubba-Proof".



gdumond said:
Any other recommendations for a good polish for micro fine scratches and or spiddering?
Click to expand...



M205 by Meguiar's is very easy to work with and it also wipes off easy. M105 on the other hand can vary depending upon temperature, humidity and what you're working on... great product but sometimes a short buffing cycle and hard wipe-off. I was actually expecting and hoping, (that's two things) to see my friends at Meguiar's announce that M105 had been reformulated at SEMA this last fall but alas that didn't happen.



All the Menzerna light polishes are super easy to work with as are the Optima light polishes. I've found both the Menzerna Power Gloss, (Menzerna's Heavy Cut Compound to have a short buffing cycle like the M105.



It's been a while since I worked with the Optima compounds and polishes but that's on my to do list.



Did you ever share with us if the Cord has single stage or a clear coat finish?



Just because it's old never means it's single stage because so many restoration shops shoot bc/cc



:)
 
Mike,



So happens that we had to do a little bit of color sanding the other day to remove a few blems and one panel was completely orange peeled. We haven't got to the polishing sequence yet and I appreciate the feed back on the products you mentioned. I will

experiment with a couple of your suggestions. I was told by the owner who bought it from someone else that the paint job was around 20 years old. I have my doubts about that since most clears from what I understand didn't come about till the mid 80's. To answer your question it definitely has a clear coat finish.



Thanks again,



Greg
 
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