Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher - Extreme Demo - Warning!

[Mike Phillips]

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)

Warning! Please don't try this on your own car.


I've had a number of people ask me about the power offered by the new Generation II Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher and so after scratching my head and trying to think of some kind of demonstration I could do and then share the pictures from I came up with the below Extreme Demo.

Please understand, it's only common sense that this 3" Mini Polisher is not made for or intended to be used to remove sanding marks out of clear coat paints. In a best "worst case" scenario, you would finish out with #3000 or #4000 grit paper. I chose #2000 to make it extreme.

This 3" polisher definitely has more power than the first generation offered by Griot's Garage but it's not for removing sanding marks, it's for removing light surface defects with an emphasis on the word LIGHT. It can also be used for applying wax or paint sealant to small or thin panels or for things like Motorcycles.

Note: There are more aggressive products you can use and it's possible to make a more aggressive 3" pad but in my life I've noticed when working with small pads like this there's a tendency for increased potential for haze and micro-marring when getting small. It is important to keep the surface slippery for this kind of defect removal.

And for what it's worth... I've been doing this for a few years and sometimes a little experience in the craft of polishing paint can go a long ways...


Without further ado...
The polisher on the left is the first generation, the polisher on the right is the new Generation II Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher. I chose the Wolfgang Twins because they are both very wet products and you need hyper-lubricity to help aid in pad rotation when removing below surface defects, or in other words to remove a little paint.

Meguiar's #2000 Nikken Finishing Papers were used to give me an extreme test section and I used the Griot's Garage foam polishing and waxing pads for sanding mark removal and final polishing.

Not pictured is the Detailers Pride Max Wax which I applied after polishing
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/790/pushingtheEnvelope001.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/790/pushingtheEnvelope002.jpg



One section of the test hood was thoroughly wet-sanded using Nikken #2000 Finishing Papers
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/790/pushingtheEnvelope003.jpg



If you look closely you can see a few very light tracers, in the REAL World, anytime you're doing sanding you would remove the sanding marks using a rotary buffer and/or a DA Polisher if you have the knowledge and skill to use these two types of tools for this type of work. You would not use nor expect these kinds of dramatic results from the tool I used but I'll let the results speak for themselves.

After results
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/790/pushingtheEnvelope004.jpg


Nikken reflection shot
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/790/pushingtheEnvelope005.jpg


Flipped horizontally...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/790/pushingtheEnvelope005r.jpg


In this shot I'm actually focusing on the sanding marks between the wall poster and the reflection of the wall poster.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/790/pushingtheEnvelope006.jpg


In this shot I'm focusing on the reflected image...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/790/pushingtheEnvelope007.jpg


In this shot you can see the subtle distinction between the seam in the poster in the reflected image.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/790/pushingtheEnvelope008.jpg



And a self-portraight... :D
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/790/pushingtheEnvelope009.jpg



Question: Does the new Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher have more power?

Answer: You betcha!


Should it be the only polisher in your detailing arsenal? No not at all. It's a nice complimentary tool for thin panels, small components, motorcycle detailing and anything else you can find a use for it.


Products shown
Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-orbital-polisher.html)
3-Pack of 3" Polishing Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-orange-pads-3.html) - You want lots of these, 2-3 packs
3" Waxing Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-foam-wax-pad.html)
Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0 (http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-total-swirl-remover-car-polish-3-0.html)
Wolfgang Finishing Glaze (http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-finishing-glaze-finishing-polish-3-0.html)
Nikken Finishing Papers (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-sandpapers.html)
Meguiar's E-7200 Backing Pad (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-sanding-pad.html)

Not shown
Detailer's Pride Max Wax (http://www.autogeek.net/cobra-supreme-buff-microfiber-towel-6pack.html)
Cobra Supreme 530 Microfiber Towel 6 Pack (http://www.autogeek.net/cobra-supreme-buff-microfiber-towel-6pack.html)


I use to live life on the edge of the razor blade... now I live life on the blade of the butter knife - Mike Phillips


Had to throw that last quote in there, I made it up years ago and after doing this extreme demo it seemed fitting...


:)



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[mchess1]

Wow, fantastic write up on an apparently fantastic tool.

Nice camera work and text as always Mike.:dblthumb2:

[Impressions]

Mike, as always-great write up!


Mike took me back to show me this panel this afternoon. Really wasn't expecting that kind of finished product from a 3" machine.

The shine and reflection was as good as a rotary w/DA to polish... all from that little machine.

Thanks Mike for the sneak preview.

:xyxthumbs:

[ZoranC]

Cool! How much time it took for that section?

[Nappers]

You are like Mcgyver in the detailing world Mike.....

Give you a spoon and a bucket of sand in the desert and you can make a car shine.....

I like that GG 3" machine more and more.....

[Gary Sword]

Nice demo Mike! Looks like a nice tool to into those tight areas.

[ICEMAN]

it would def be nice to have one of these with some really nice pads instead of ALWAYS using my 3M headlight kit pad with my drill, lol.

[detaildave]

WOW, just as I expected from the "Master of Correction". Excellent work Mike!!!
I see a new purchase in my future.
Ok suggestion for another Demo & use for the new gen2 3" GG polisher PLEASE.
How about an "Extreme Water Spot" windshield demo using GG's winshield / glass polishing pad's, glass polish, etc. Seems in my area Hard water spots coupled with "Well Water" run's amuck for my clients. I noticed that AG doesn't carry the 3" glass polish pad's or I haven't seen them (could very well be an oversight on my part).
Again, Excellent work Mike & thank you for all you do.:dblthumb2:

[DLB]

Very nice! Would love to have one of these someday.
But, where do you pick up the posters? My garage could use some love. :D

DLB

[dragster]

Mike how do you think it would work for sanding headlights?
Going to offer this service next year and try to come up with a system. I don't won't to use air. I don't have room for a large compressor in my truck.
Thanks for any info Jim

[Mike Phillips]

Very nice! Would love to have one of these someday.
But, where do you pick up the posters? My garage could use some love. :D

DLB

I don't think the posters are available but AG does offer 4 different banners




Mike how do you think it would work for sanding headlights?


Hi Jim,

Looks like this was your first post to the forum so...

Welcome to Autogeek Online! :welcome:

As to your question,

I don't think it would work very good for sanding headlights as a normal process. I think the grit on the sandpaper would grip the plastic too much and interfere with rotating ability. An air sander would be the way to go but I hear you on the lack of on-board room for an air compressor.

Hand sanding would be a better option. Remember this was an extreme demo, this tool is not intended to remove sanding marks.

[Mike Phillips]

Over on DetailCity.com I was asked a question about this tool in my post over there, I'll share my answer here if you want to read the question you can find it over on DC

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A few comments...

First I just want to note that my review and extreme demo of this tool isn't an endorsement of this tool, if anyone re-reads my initial post that started this thread I stated that I've had numerous people ask me if the new version indeed has more power than the first generation and the purpose of my demo and this thread was to answer that question and show that it has more power.

I think my post and the demo accomplished that goal.

Second, I don't know who manufactured the first generation and I don't know whose making the second generation. The first generation looks like a red Metabo, (Metabos are green), and it worked just like my old green Metabo which by the way I never used because it didn't have enough power to rotate a pad thus it didn't have enough power to do any correction work.

As for how long it will last that's anyone's guess. I have to use the black panel for another project this week so I need those sanding marks removed which I'm going to use a rotary buffer to remove them, but... I will test out the purple foamed wool pad to a similar sized section and see how the foamed wool pad works on this tool. That will kill two birds with one stone, it will test out the wool pad and it will see if the machine will tackle another test spot like I quoted you from your post.


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I'll post the follow-up over there...

[dragster]

Thanks Mike, I will look into maybe a fesco.
Thanks Jim

[dragster]

Palm sander?

[RTexasF]

Without further ado...
The polisher on the left is the first generation, the polisher on the right is the new Generation II Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher.

Which is the new one?