Griots 3" DA

[CAMAROZL1]

Hello Mike and fellow AGs,
Im looking into buying the 3" DA. I have searched the forum for other opinions and getting mixed reviews. I like the fact I can use it on A,B, and C posts of my vehicles, smaller areas, and small angled areas. It sounds like the 3" has had problems with real power i.e. getting swirls out and polishing. I have also seen that the "new" 3" has the power needed. I have also looked into getting 3" bp and smaller pads, though seems the power difference is great and the settings for polishing and removing swirls seems to differ compared to using a 5.5" pad. As a weekend warrior, I would love to have one and can afford it, but only if it truly will do the job.

[Setec Astronomy]

It's not going to have as much power as a (even original) PC with a 4" setup, but it works great with the 3" MF pads. I use mine a lot for repairing skipping DVD's :p

[tw33k2514]

I don't think you will get a lot of correction potential even with the MF pads. They are great for headlights, and DVD's apparently.

[Setec Astronomy]

I don't think you will get a lot of correction potential even with the MF pads. They are great for headlights, and DVD's apparently.

It takes a lot of work to even correct DVD's...if there were 4" MF's I think I would use the PC for my DVD corrections, LOL. The GG 3" is small and light...but it's not the most powerful machine in the world. You can get some defect removal with it on small areas with appropriate time. I think Mike Phillips was pretty candid about it in his review when the new version came out Griots Garage Professional Random Orbital 3 Inch Polisher Review (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-garage-3inch-polisher-review.html)

[5.4 Shelby]

I have been using mine for headlights and wet/dry sanding paint. I love it for both of those.

For regular correction, I go to my PC with a 3 or 4 in backing plate. I use the PC for 3 in MF discs.

[CAMAROZL1]

Thanks guys is there an article or more preferably an video to show how to remove the back plate? I don't want to take it off and god forbid it falls off while polishing or can't get it back on.

[tw33k2514]

Thanks guys is there an article or more preferably an video to show how to remove the back plate? I don't want to take it off and god forbid it falls off while polishing or can't get it back on.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIlCAwS6m78]Porter Cable 7424 - 3-1/2 inch Backing Plate Installation - Chemical Guys - YouTube[/video]

[rakkvet]

My opinion:

The Griots 3" polisher is a complete waste of money. It vibrates like crazy. It has no power unless you crank it up to 6. When you do that it vibrates even worse. It is big and clunky when you try to get into small areas like rims. It offers little if any correction. It works okay with the glass polishing pads. The 3" pneumatic polisher works much better. The downside to that is you need an air source.

I own both the pneumatic and motorized 3" polishers. I bought the motorized one a little over a year ago.

[opie_7afe]

i say just go with a full size porter cable 7346,7424 or griots fullsize and use a smaller backing plate, reasons are, more power,less cost(can buy more product or pads with the extra!),one less machine to worry about breaking down,even though it has warranty any machine going down sucks.

To rakkvet why not post the griots in the samples/trade thread and trade it for product or something you could use :)

[5.4 Shelby]

My opinion:

The Griots 3" polisher is a complete waste of money.

The 3" pneumatic polisher works much better. The downside to that is you need an air source.

I own both the pneumatic and motorized 3" polishers. I bought the motorized one a little over a year ago.
I thought it was too. Until I started using it for sanding. IT is a great tool for that. The pneumatic griots 3 in is a great polisher/sander , but, the air hose makes it extremely cumbersome to use.

As Opie said, trade it out. I bet someone will make that deal.

[Mike Phillips]

I teach machine dampsanding using the 3" Griot's Garage Mini Polisher and even suggest that it be a tool in every detailers tool arsenal. Heck even wrote an article to that effect...


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)


Dampsanding
This is a match made in car detailing heaven. This mini dual action polisher works flawlessly as a 3" dampsander. It makes sanding close to edges safe and easy. It makes sanding small thin panels faster and easier.

With this combination of polisher and 3" sanding disc with an interface pad for conforming to the shape of the panel you can quickly and easily sand out a minor or small defect with surgical precision in an isolated area with only a small footprint.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/772/mini3dampsanding001.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/772/mini3dampsanding002.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/772/mini3dampsanding003.jpg



Removing Sanding Marks
The Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher is also able to rotate the Meguiar's microfiber discs. This is a 3" microfiber cutting disc removing #3000 Unigrit dampsanding marks.

It works but it's so much faster and effective to learn how to use a rotary buffer if you're going to sand down and buff out an entire car. If you're just doing spot repair then it's doable.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/772/mini3dampsanding004.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/772/mini3dampsanding005.jpg






on Autogeek.net



Meguiars Unigrit 3 Inch Finishing Discs (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-3in-finishing-discs.html)

Meguiars Unigrit 1000 3 Inch Finishing Discs (http://www.autogeek.net/mg-s3f1000.html), 15 per box


Meguiars Unigrit 3000 3 Inch Finishing Discs (http://www.autogeek.net/mg-s3f3000.html), 15 per box


Meguiars Unigrit 3 Inch Foam Interface Pad (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-3in-interface-pad.html)


I can't recommend enough getting the Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher


Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-orbital-polisher.html)

Note: Make sure you get a couple of 3" Interface Pads you want this for contours and curved panels.




:xyxthumbs:

[Mike Phillips]

I've read all kinds of opinions on the tool and it's true it is anemic, or weak when compared to a FULL size DA Polisher. That said, using perfect technique, it can do work.


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...


:)

[Mike Phillips]

Griot's 3" Mini Polisher works great as a 3" Dampsander


Most people don't need to wetsand and probably shouldn't wetsand but if you're ever working on a project that requires sanding then do yourself a favor and get yourself a Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher and then get the Meguiar's 3" Unigrit Finishing Discs and the 3" Interface Pad and you're going to love what this little tool can do.


Here's a few pictures from our recent Wetsanding Project where we machine dampsanded my friend Jay's 1989 K5 Blazer which you're going to see on the 2nd Season of our TV show, What's in the Garage".

Because the 3" sanding and finishing discs have such a small footprint the are EASY to control so you can sand close to edges or tape lines with accuracy.

If you're NEW to any type of sanding, the Griot's 3" Mini Polisher used as 3" Dampsander is a great way to learn and increase your confidence in the art of machine sanding.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1377/3inchdampsanding001.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1377/3inchdampsanding002.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1377/3inchdampsanding003.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1377/3inchdampsanding004.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1377/3inchdampsanding005.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1377/3inchdampsanding006.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1377/3inchdampsanding007.jpg


End results...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1377/jaysk510.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1377/jaysk505.jpg


On Autogeek.net



Meguiars Unigrit 3 Inch Finishing Discs (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-3in-finishing-discs.html)

Meguiars Unigrit 1000 3 Inch Finishing Discs (http://www.autogeek.net/mg-s3f1000.html), 15 per box


Meguiars Unigrit 3000 3 Inch Finishing Discs (http://www.autogeek.net/mg-s3f3000.html), 15 per box


Meguiars Unigrit 3 Inch Foam Interface Pad (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-3in-interface-pad.html)
I can't recommend enough getting the Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher


Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-orbital-polisher.html)

Note: Make sure you get a couple of 3" Interface Pads you want this for contours and curved panels.




:xyxthumbs: