Help deciding on polisher

Heh heh, if we're talking "industry standard for many years", IMO the Cyclo fits the bill with decades to spare :D Most durable RO polisher ever, my older one from the early '80s is just getting broken in and it was (ab)used for years in a commercial setting.

Ccrew said:
No, the GG 6 uses a standard threaded backing plate so that will definitely fit.
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As will numerous other plates in varying sizes.
 
I'd suggest your first machine purchase is the Griots Garage 6 Inch Random Orbital Polisher with a Meguiars Soft Buff DBP5 DA Polisher 5 inch Backing Plate It's a GREAT machine to start with.

You can use the Megs 5" microfiber pads and D300, The Carpro 3"-5" Flash Pad with M101 or the variety of Lake Country 5.5 inch Flat Foam Pads or Hydro-Tech 5.5 x 7/8 Inch Foam Pads.
I'd even suggest a Meguiars Soft Buff DBP3 DA Polisher 3 Inch Backing Plate with the Meguiars DA Microfiber Cutting Discs, 3 inches and some small Lake Country 3-4 inch Flat Foam Pads
 
I have the GG6 and have only used it for my own personal car and I really like it. If you are on a budget there is nothing wrong with the 6" backing plate on it. Also, I am not sure what the advantage even is by dropping to a 5" plate with 5.5" pads. I think it is a waste of money. JMO.
 
I have the rupes, porter cable, and the griots. I love the rupes and think that its a lot better then the other two! However, both porter cable and griot machine is great for polishing and waxing. It is also good for compound use but will take a lot more time. Personally, I would choose the griot since it offers more power. Hope this helps.
 
pwaug said:
Another vote for the GG DA. With a 5" backing plate, 5.5" pads and the right products there isn't anything it can't handle. The lifetime warranty is extra icing on the cake. Later if you want to move up to something else you can equip the GG with a 3" or 3.5" backing plate for tight areas on the car like bumpers etc.

Make sure you get enough pads--trying to do the whole car with one or two pads is a recipe for failure. Here's an article by Mike Phillips -- How many pads do I need to buff out my car? - Auto Geek Online Auto Detailing Forum
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With this info you made a good choice you won`t be sorry ...
 
skibik said:
I have the GG6 and have only used it for my own personal car and I really like it. If you are on a budget there is nothing wrong with the 6" backing plate on it. Also, I am not sure what the advantage even is by dropping to a 5" plate with 5.5" pads. I think it is a waste of money. JMO.
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If you compare the cost of pads over time it'll easily pay for itself. And you can use a 5" pad or a 5.5" with the 5" BP. If you're the kind of user that buys one of any pad then buffs a whole car with it then yeah, probably won't see the point. Or the best job for that matter.
 
Meguiars Soft Buff DBP5 DA Polisher 5 inch Backing Plate I have a big stack of 6.5" pads and since I switched to 5.5"(years ago) I've never looked back. BTW - Megs new DA pads are thin not fat like the 6.5".

Lake Country 5.5 inch Flat Foam Pads or Hydro-Tech 5.5 x 7/8 Inch Foam Pads. IMHO All the 6" DA's work best with a 5" backing plate and 5" pads. They are thinner, work better and handle better.

I'd start with a 6 pack of Lake Country 5.5 Inch Flat Pads 2) Orange 2) White 1) Blue and 1) Grey with some M101 and M205. You won't regret going 5". I use 5" for all my pads. rotary, Rupes, Flex etc.

Come to think of it...I can't remember when the last time was I used a 6"-6.6" pad. Well maybe once I used a 6" wool on the rotary for an "extreme makeover". Thinner pads are the way to go with a DA. They do not twist.
 
Ccrew said:
If you compare the cost of pads over time it'll easily pay for itself. And you can use a 5" pad or a 5.5" with the 5" BP. If you're the kind of user that buys one of any pad then buffs a whole car with it then yeah, probably won't see the point. Or the best job for that matter.
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So if it is only a cost difference then I would never see an advantage then because I don't do comercial work and only do my own car. I did just look up the difference in cost in pads. I am surprised at the difference now since I bought my 6 inch pads a couple years ago. I paid a couple dollars more per pad then what the 5.5 costs now. I bought a couple of each of a few different color pads and now the difference would have paid for the plate. But the pads I have would last me a few years since I only do my own car. So I guess I do see the advantage in cost of the pads.
 
skibik said:
So if it is only a cost difference then I would never see an advantage then because I don't do comercial work and only do my own car.
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There's also the fact that a smaller pad is less mass and therefore doesn't load the DA as much which tends to keep everything spinning. There's a Mike Phillips dissertation around here somewhere related to smaller/thinner pads and their ability to correct better.
 
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