Griot's and what pads should I try (GM paint)?

G

Grimm

New member
Being busy with young kids I've been severely neglecting on car care the last couple years. The PC just wasn't cutting it (literally) for me either. It just took way too much time to get decent results. Not wanting to invest much $$ I tried one of the cheap HF rotaries, which lasted a whole 3 partial uses before it crapped (it works, but only at the highest speed). I'm leaning toward trying the Griot's DA. I could also use a few new pads, so I'm wondering if anyone can give me some advice in that respect. I've got a couple GM vehicles to keep up with (Black 2003 Bonneville and Red 2008 Enclave). I've got a few of the standard 6" flat LC pads (yellow/orange/white); orange low profile 5.5", and 5.5" CCS. The white pads are thrashed, so I definitely need replacements there. The mf pads sound pretty nice, but not sure I want to invest that much $$. Polishes I have include the old Optimum Compound and Hyper Compound, Menzerna Super Intensive Polish and Micro Polish. Thanks in advance.
 
You know, you might want to consider keeping the PC and changing your pads/polishes. Sure, the GG DA is a great choice, *but*...



M105/M205 have kinda been game changers; they've brought the DA up to being a serious correction/finishing tool. When used with Meg's new Microfiber pads, the results can be quite impressive.



I'd get:



1. M105/M205



2. a two pack of Meg's 5.5" Micro fiber cutting pads



3. a two pack of Meg's 3" Micro Fiber cutting pads



4. a two pack of Meg's 5.5" Micro Fiber Finishing pads



5. a two pack of Meg's 3" Micro Fiber Finishing pads



Take these polishes/pads for a spin on your PC and see how it turns out. Chances are, you'll be happy with the results, not to mention money ahead by not shelling out for a new polisher. If you're still not satisfied with the power of the PC, buy a GG DA and use the same pads/polishes with it. :)



With PC or GG DA, you would probably do very well with the above pads/polishes.



IMO, you'll be far better off by changing the polishes/pads you have and keeping the PC. The polishes you listed are not really up for serious DA work like Meg's 105/205 combo.
 
Take it back to HF, they have always taken care of any defective tools I have bought.

Anything mass produced can fail quickly, just the way things are done.

I have had new Milwaukee buffers, a DeWalt buffer shoot craps in less than a week, so I accept that stuff happens.

Grumpy
 
That might be a good option to just try new pads and polish, though I hate to add yet anther polish.



I'd love to send the HF POS back, but it's now like 2 years old. Sucks I've probably done the equivalent of less than two cars with it.
 
Grimm said:
That might be a good option to just try new pads and polish, though I hate to add yet anther polish.



I'd love to send the HF POS back, but it's now like 2 years old. Sucks I've probably done the equivalent of less than two cars with it.
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I totally understand, but you kinda missed out on something... saying that 105/205 were/are revolutionary products for the DA is kind of an understatement. Prior to them, pretty much everyone considered the rotary to be the only tool capable of *serious* correction work. The DA was relegated to finishing work only (if that). After 105/205, many other polish makers either brought out new polishes to compete with them, or updated their line ups to be more in line with what 105/205 can do with a DA. A perfect example of this is the updated Optimum polishes. Yeah, 105/205 are *complete game changers*. Many pros have hung up their rotaries, in favor of using the DA for the majority of their work. The common denominator being 105/205. Take a look around Autopia for a bit (and all the other detailing related forums), and you'll see...pretty much everyone using DA's are using either 105/205 or the updated-to-work-with DA's version of competitor's products.



Keep the PC... change the polishes. :D
 
Is the 205 a large step ahead? I've been happy with the Menzerna Micro Polish for the final polish. I just need more cut on the front end.
 
Grimm said:
Is the 205 a large step ahead? I've been happy with the Menzerna Micro Polish for the final polish. I just need more cut on the front end.
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Yeah, it is. It'll clean up after compounding and leave a very nice shine. You can, however, clean up on 205's very nice gloss even more with the Micro Polish (if you don't mind doing a three step process: 105-205-micro polish). There's a darn good chance, though, that you'll be happy enough with the finish left by 205 to skip the MP.
 
Spray some contact cleaner in the "wheel area" of the speed control, or better, take it apart and clean it.

Maybe that's all that is wrong.

Your problem made me think about how I have not been doing maintance on my buffers, like blowing out the dust and junk from the armature, etc.

Grumpy
 
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