Review: Griot's Garage 3 inch Pneumatic Orbital Polisher - Mighty Mouse!

[Mike Phillips]

Review: Griots Garage 3 inch Pneumatic Orbital Polisher - Mighty Mouse! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/new-car-care-products/100914-review-griots-garage-3-inch-pneumatic-orbital-polisher-mighty-mouse.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104608


I like to call this tool Mighty Mouse because like the mouse cartoon character it's small but it's

POWERFUL!


This is a mini polisher that runs off air and because of it's small, compact size it enables you to get into tight intricate areas and polish or wax till your heart is content. It comes with a 3" backing plate and works great with 3" and 4" foam, wool and microfiber pads.

How much air do you need?

That's is the most common question when it comes to air tools and here's the deal, you need

4 CFM @ 90 PSI

So if your air compressor can handle that then this is the tool for you. Let's take a closer look at what's in the box and then I'll show you some pictures of this tool in action on a car I've been buffing out for a few days.




Here he is still in the box....

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104593


Here's everything taken out of the box except for the thread tape which I keep in the garage.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104594


NICE
Seems most air regulators that come with most products don't really work. You either have the option of full on or just a trickle of air. Not so with this air regulator. It has detent that you can feel as you adjust the pressure to your liking and these detentes lock the setting to where you put it. That's nice but what's better is it actually works. This means you can adjust the air pressure going into the tool and thus control the speed of the buffing pad. Just set it and forget it.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104595



Attaching the backing plate
This little pin wrench comes with the kit and you use this to hold the spindle from spinning while you attach the backing plate and snug it down.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104596

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Ready to rock and roll!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104600




Adjusting the pressure
I've already compounded and polished this old 2-door Chevy so next I'm going to machine wax it using the Griot's 3" Mini Pneumatic Random Orbital Polisher with a Lake Country 3" white foam polishing pad and some Dodo Juice Rain Forrest Rub Soft Wax. While your eyes probably go to my fingers making the adjustment for power if you look at the pad you can see she's a spinning.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104601




I'm a machine guy!
Why do anything by hand unless you have to right? Simply rest the face of the pad against the wax in the jar and blip the throttle a few seconds and you're wax machine!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104602



Need to make sure the paint between the two mini chrome skulls is protected.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104604

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Don't forget the wheels...
Now this is handy as all heck getting in here and machine polishing the paint on these wheels....

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104613

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104614

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If you like air tools and you have an air compressor this will be you new favorite air tool.



On Autogeek.com

Griots Garage 3 inch Pneumatic Orbital Polisher (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-garage-3-inch-pneumatic-orbital-polisher.html)


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104620



:)

[Firehouse Mike]

Mike...how does it compare to the 3" Electric version? I have one now i reserve for headlights and tight area if i have A LOT of time. I'ts not exactly the most powerful thing. I was looking at going to a Flex or Rupes, but if the air model is comparable I'll go that route.....

Mike

[Nick McKees37]

Mike...how does it compare to the 3" Electric version? I have one now i reserve for headlights and tight area if i have A LOT of time. I'ts not exactly the most powerful thing. I was looking at going to a Flex or Rupes, but if the air model is comparable I'll go that route.....

Mike

I'll reply on Mike's behalf because he's just starting a long 3 day weekend...:)

The 3" pneumatic polisher is easily twice as powerful as its electric counterpart - easily.

Like Mike said, if you have an air compressor do yourself a favor and get one of these now!

:dblthumb2:

[Firehouse Mike]

Alright I'm sold....and I was at Griots store in Tacoma earlier today too!!

:buffing:

[VISITOR]

yet another fine offering from the GG, awesome! :)

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Very cool! Looks like that little guy is a beast!

More pictures of the classic Chevy please.

[Mike Phillips]

More pictures of the classic Chevy please.




Well you're right about it being a Chevy...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104620




But I think we're past using the word classic....

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=104621




Three words....


Wait for it



:)

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Well you're right about it being a Chevy...


But I think we're past using the word classic....



Three words....


Wait for it



:)

Hmmm, Maybe its sitting on a mid 80's model Silverado or mid 90's model Blazer frame?

Anxiously awaiting...

[Desertnate]

The tool is pretty nice, but I have to admit the '55~'57 Chevy converted into a lifted 4x4 is what really caught my interest!

[Impressions]

It has to be one of the coolest tri-fives around!

[Dan K]

I'll reply on Mike's behalf because he's just starting a long 3 day weekend...:)

The 3" pneumatic polisher is easily twice as powerful as its electric counterpart - easily.

Like Mike said, if you have an air compressor do yourself a favor and get one of these now!

:dblthumb2:

Nick, I have been eyeing this polisher for a while now. However, I have read multiple reviews on other sites where the backing plate has worn out and needed replaced. Is this backing plate unique to the polisher and only available through Griots?

[Nick McKees37]

Nick, I have been eyeing this polisher for a while now. However, I have read multiple reviews on other sites where the backing plate has worn out and needed replaced. Is this backing plate unique to the polisher and only available through Griots?

We have extra backing plates for this unit, so if you do end up wearing it out (which can and will happen with every tool eventually), we'll gladly replace it free of charge.

[Dan K]

We have extra backing plates for this unit, so if you do end up wearing it out (which can and will happen with every tool eventually), we'll gladly replace it free of charge.

That's the fantastic service that everyone has become accustomed to from AG. I can see a purchase in my future.

[Mike Phillips]

Mike...how does it compare to the 3" Electric version? I have one now i reserve for headlights and tight area if i have A LOT of time. It's not exactly the most powerful thing.



With an air compressor that can maintain the 4 CFM at 90 PSI I'd say it's more powerful.

I like the Griot's 3" Mini Polisher and have at least a half a dozen articles for this tool. That said I don't use it to remove swirls out of paint as it's not powerful enough and I have other tool options that do have the power and can be used with smaller pads.

I use the Griot's 3" Mini Polisher as a wet sander and a headlight sander and to machine apply waxes. For these three jobs it's great!






I was looking at going to a Flex or Rupes, but if the air model is comparable I'll go that route.....

Mike




Have not used it to machine sand headlights yet but for paint polishing with the right pad it seems to have a lot of power. In the pictures I posted I never turned it up to full speed as all I was doing was applying a finishing wax. I hope by now that most people reading this thread know the difference between a finishing wax and a cleaner/wax.


:)

[thedodo]

looking fresh - nice little machine too, will have to have a play next time i am over 8)