The Little Red Train That Can---Griot 3"

[TMQ]

Let me tell you---That bitty 3 inch griot polisher combined with thin pro pads cuts as good as a Rupes MKII using UHS pad and polish!!!

This was done on the 1931 Auburn project. Paint was very hard that I had to resort to the UHS at speed of 4 to 4 1/2 to achieve desired cut.

https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/112064-1931-auburn.html

I have is a Rupes 15 mk II, griot 6" and the griot 3". The Auburn has many small areas, tight spots and difficult to reach areas. I was about to slap on a 3" backing plate on the griot 6". The problem with this set up was the griot 6" was just too big and way too heavy to hold in awkward positions. As well as in very small and tight areas.

I've heard so many negative things about how this bitty 3" griot wasn't worth a damn. I tried it on another detail and thought the same thing---useless.

Well I was in a bit of a pickle standing before the Auburn. Half of the darn car was inaccessible with the 15 Rupes and Griot 6"

So I had no choice, broke out the the bitty little thing---griot 3" combined with orange thin pro cutting pad with UHS polish.

Bingo!!! I'll be damned---that little thing just ate up 70-80 % scratches on the sides of hood after 4 section passes!!! I could not believe it! Hit the same spot for a couple of more passes---hood sides came out flawless!!!

I also have thin pro gray "heavy" cutting pads. I've tried those with the UHS polish, thinking it would cut more---no dice. Didn't make a dent in removing scratches. So I resorted back to the orange "cutting" thin pro pads and scratches just disappeared!

I just don't get what the nay sayers are saying but this bitty griot 3" polisher that can just ate up over 30 % of Auburn detail!!!

I am in love with this thing---very very small and very light. I could reach out over the front fenders at arms length and cut as good as a Rupes 15"

I will post a couple pictures in next post...

Tom

[Route246]

Thanks for posting this. I am going to be ordering one of these shortly, mainly because of the reported size and light weight. You reinforced my perception in a positive way.

[TMQ]

Photos...

All of these plus many areas was done by this bitty thing---The little Griot that can!

[TMQ]

Thanks for posting this. I am going to be ordering one of these shortly, mainly because of the reported size and light weight. You reinforced my perception in a positive way.

Make sure you get the thin pros pads. These will make the 3" polisher more powerfull.

Tom

[briarpatch]

TMQ - have you tried the 3" BOSS pads with it yet? I was gonna buy the 3" backing plate for my 6" too, but the idea of swapping them out in the middle of a job made me think of getting the smaller DA

[TMQ]

TMQ - have you tried the 3" BOSS pads with it yet? I was gonna buy the 3" backing plate for my 6" too, but the idea of swapping them out in the middle of a job made me think of getting the smaller DA

No I haven't tried the Boss pads but someone on forum, believe it was Mike P or someone said---thin pros made the 3" griots very very effective polisher. So I just went with that and glad I did...

Now that I've discovered how well this set up is with the 3", I'll just leave the 6" with 5" backing plate on it for now. I doubt I'll ever use a 3" on the 6" polisher. Too big and too heavy and not worth the trouble...

Tom

[JustJesus]

TMQ - have you tried the 3" BOSS pads with it yet? I was gonna buy the 3" backing plate for my 6" too, but the idea of swapping them out in the middle of a job made me think of getting the smaller DA

I've used BOSS pads with it. They work well together. Well, seems like the new(er) thinner pads are great on "older" machines! I've also used Megs MF pads on the little peanut with success.

There's a post somewhere on here where I took the little guy, with some BOSS cremes and polished out some sanding on a test panel. Worked well for me. Too bad photobucket screwed me with the pics.

I've been pushing that the Little Griot's 3" CAN get results. I've seen it first hand, and have pics to show it.

Most recently used it to get into the pockets of a 2017 BMW M2's front bumper. It worked great in those tight spaces!

[BadgerRivFan]

This little tool also works well for restoring plastic headlights. I just used it to wet sand and polish my niece's headlights before she left for college. Used the LC ThinPro pads (Orange & White) for the final compounding and polishing steps prior to sealing. The ThinPro's work very well with the GG3 and definitely make it a more effective tool.

For polishing paint, I prefer the Rupes LHR 75E Mini. Yeah it's way more expensive, and is like comparing an apple to an orange vs. the GG3, but both can be real nice to have for specific needs.

[Duy]

I love the 3" thin pro pads! I used it on my porter cable for the tighter areas and headlight restorations. Thing cuts awesome. I had thought about getting rid of it when I picked up my Makita but it's now my dedicated 3" polisher.

[oneheadlite]

It's also a champ for polishing wheels. :xyxthumbs:

[Mike Phillips]

No I haven't tried the Boss pads but someone on forum, believe it was Mike P or someone said---thin pros made the 3" griots very very effective polisher.




I probably have about a dozen articles on the Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher. Topics include,

Machine waxing
Machine sanding
Machine compounding and polishing
Headlight sanding


Here's 12 write-ups...


NEW! 3.5" ThinPro Foam Pads! Thin is in and you're going to love these new small foam pads! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/new-car-care-products/103201-new-3-5-thinpro-foam-pads-thin-youre-going-love-these-new-small-foam-pads.html)

Review: NEW Griot's 3.5 THIN BOSS Buffing pads!" (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/new-car-care-products/105976-review-new-griots-3-5-thin-boss-buffing-pads.html)

Dampsanding with 3" Griot's Garage Mini Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wet-sanding-cutting-buffing/38475-dampsanding-3-griot-s-garage-mini-polisher.html)

Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher - Extreme Demo - Warning! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/22065-griot-s-garage-3-mini-polisher-extreme-demo-warning.html)

3" Mini Polisher- 2nd Generation Griot's Garage Mini Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/21846-3-mini-polisher-gen-ii-griot-s-garage-mini-polisher.html)

Meguiar's Microfiber DA Correction System with Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/33110-meguiar-s-microfiber-da-correction-system-griot-s-garage-3-mini-polisher.html)

Spindle size on the Griot's 3" Mini Polisher - Also... don't do this... (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/2009-2016-how-articles-mike-phillips/107581-spindle-size-griot-s-3-mini-polisher-also-don-t-do.html)

Griot's 3" Mini Polisher works great as a 3" Dampsander (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wet-sanding-cutting-buffing/46341-griot-s-3-mini-polisher-works-great-3-dampsander.html)

Griot's Garage 3" BOSS HD Orbital Backing Plate (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/new-car-care-products/105978-griots-garage-3-boss-hd-oribital-backing-plate.html)

Headlight Sander - Takes the work out of sanding headlights... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wet-sanding-cutting-buffing/50172-headlight-sander-takes-work-out-sanding-headlights.html)

Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher for Wetsanding Class (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wet-sanding-cutting-buffing/70893-griot-s-garage-3-mini-polisher-wetsanding-class.html)

Why hand wax? Machine waxing is the ONLY way to go! Let me show you have to make it fast, easy and safe! (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/2017-new-car-detailing-how-article-mike-phillips/115344-why-hand-wax-machine-waxing-only-way-go-let-me-show-you-have-make-fast-easy-safe.html)



:)

[VISITOR]

i have used the 3.5" microfiber FAST cutting pad (no foam interface) with the GG3 and it worked really well...

Griots Garage 3.5 inch Micro Fiber FAST Cutting Pad (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-3-microfiber-fast-cutting.html)
https://sep.yimg.com/ay/autogeek/griots-garage-3-5-inch-micro-fiber-fast-cutting-pad-16.gif

[TMQ]

This little tool also works well for restoring plastic headlights. I just used it to wet sand and polish my niece's headlights before she left for college. Used the LC ThinPro pads (Orange & White) for the final compounding and polishing steps prior to sealing. The ThinPro's work very well with the GG3 and definitely make it a more effective tool.

For polishing paint, I prefer the Rupes LHR 75E Mini. Yeah it's way more expensive, and is like comparing an apple to an orange vs. the GG3, but both can be real nice to have for specific needs.

I love the Rupes system. I can't remember if I held one or not but is the mini small and light like the griot 3"?

Tom

[TMQ]

It's also a champ for polishing wheels. :xyxthumbs:

Will keep that in mind!

Tom

[TMQ]

I love the 3" thin pro pads! I used it on my porter cable for the tighter areas and headlight restorations. Thing cuts awesome. I had thought about getting rid of it when I picked up my Makita but it's now my dedicated 3" polisher.

Almost threw it in trash! But now I KNOW it will be my go to for tight places!

Tom