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View Full Version : Review: Griot's CORDLESS 5 inch polisher....



glen e
12-19-2014, 10:38 AM
Ok, before I start this,let me just say I do not expect a hand held orbital to be anywhere near as powerful as a the griots plug-in 6 ½ inch, or any orbital. This cannot be your only polisher. I "get that" all day long, how could it? I don't need super "correction" on my new car that gets meticulous care. But it's a bit more than a "wax spreader".

And I have a specific use in mind for it, so bear with me here…

First this is Griot’s new Lithium cordless, it’s been out since early 2014 and it’s perfect for “spot or panel" polishing.I have been looking for this for a few years. If you have done a car with an orbital, you know you end up holding a 6.5 polisher sometimes upside down on your back holding it with one hand for rockers, etc. My back aches from thinking about it. And so you do a lousy job there , and that's where you need the protection! Besides, I’m too old for that. This product solves that problem.


http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h307/gersly123/22ff199fbad42945b9c80bd97000a10f.jpg (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/gersly123/media/22ff199fbad42945b9c80bd97000a10f.jpg.html)

So as you can see here it comes with a charger, battery, pad, but I suggest you get the Gift bag special because the second battery is cheaper. The unit is powerful, I would say that it is about speed 4 on a std Griots 6 inch. But it is one speed. Not being able to vary the speed means you must vary the pad and the product to get the proper polish job you want. So today I did the only part of my car that I didn’t do with my recent 6 mo makeover: the rear diffuser . So the process was:

1. Alcohol/water scrub
2. Meguire’s 205 finishing polish with the white 5 inch pad – alcohol wipe off, not buff off
3. Blackfire Total polish and seal on the blue pad
4. Blackfire Crystal seal by hand.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h307/gersly123/A72FE74F-6F4E-4A4F-81B7-811C0E7BFFF9.jpg (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/gersly123/media/A72FE74F-6F4E-4A4F-81B7-811C0E7BFFF9.jpg.html)

Diffuser -small picture to show you how glasslike it gets when you polish...
glass
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h307/gersly123/glass.jpg (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/gersly123/media/glass.jpg.html)



So if you like toys, and you like detailing, this is a very nice toy to have. I can see it being used a lot in my condo where I just want to do the front end or windshield because of bugs, etc….You definitely can do the whole car with the two batteries, and I’ll go forward from here and report on batt life.

And do you think I have a problem with having an addiction to cordless stuff in my workshop?
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h307/gersly123/EAC0B564-F45C-449C-ADC1-938B0F4025DF.jpg (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/gersly123/media/EAC0B564-F45C-449C-ADC1-938B0F4025DF.jpg.html)


Any questions PM me. As I'm posting this in a few forums, some don't allow links, it's avail thru autogeek, other detailing sites and of course , the griots garage site.

Tato
12-19-2014, 10:56 AM
Very good writing and straightforward review.

I like your initial considerations about limitations of the product, however you were able to show good potential in the meanwhile.

Thanks a lot for sharing your honest thoughts,

Kind Regards.

Nick McKees37
12-19-2014, 10:57 AM
Great review Glen. :dblthumb2:

I played out with this when we first brought it in, and I actually really liked it.

For light polishing and waxing, it's a very nice tool. :props:

FUNX650
12-19-2014, 12:13 PM
I realize you said that want questions addressed through PMs...So I'll just register a few open comments.


From the pictures: I really can't tell for sure...
But it doesn't look like this polisher completely solved your lying upside down on your back while trying to polish rockers, etc.

And if all I had left over, and was going to do for the day, was to detail a diffuser...holding either of the other GG polishers would not have been a make-or-break situation for me. It would have been a money saving venture as well.

Also:
If having to deal with product overspray...from numbskulls not-knowing-how/caring-not-to use proper product application techniques (let alone proper etiquette) at Cruise-ins or Car Shows...was not enough to grind my gears:

Now I'll have to possibly contend with the idjits throwing splatter everywhere, what with their lack of public/buffing-skills!!!


So...YES...I definitely have to get one of these babies! :dblthumb2:


Bob

Tato
12-19-2014, 01:41 PM
Seems it can be used with Nanoskin autoscrub / clay substitute pads?

Although never got a problem (and all safety taken), I don't like cords on wet environment (generally when I'm 'nanoski'in').

That would be a very useful feature. Do you have one to try out?

Machine decontaminating the paint can save time...

Thank you in advance,

Kind Regards.

KBsToy
12-20-2014, 11:01 AM
I have this polisher and it worked fine for me when I did wife`s CTS with a AIO. I used MF pads and car came out looking good. Her car was not in bad shape because of proper washing procedures and its light in color.

I have spent $$$ on waxes, MF towels, detailers etc this is just another item added to my collection to make things easier for a senior :)

Remember he who dies with the most toys wins !!!!

dlc95
12-20-2014, 12:10 PM
Thank you for the review! Something like this would be perfect to have at my gf's apartment, or out on vacation when I need to get my "fix".

Gunslinger
12-25-2014, 12:58 PM
Thanks for the review. I've considered buying one myself as I like Griot's products. This looks like a fine tool to have with you at car shows for touch up work.

dcjredline
12-25-2014, 01:27 PM
Thanks for the review.

Is it just me or does it drive anyone else crazy when people spell Meguiars wrong? Just like Camaro when people spell it Camero (specially when they are SELLING ONE!!!!!!!)

You own the product and can even go look at the bottle, come on spell it right.

Paul Mitchell
12-25-2014, 08:10 PM
Thanks for the review.

Is it just me or does it drive anyone else crazy when people spell Meguiars wrong? Just like Camaro when people spell it Camero (specially when they are SELLING ONE!!!!!!!)

You own the product and can even go look at the bottle, come on spell it right.

When I became a member of certain forums I noticed incorrect spellings and grammatical errors but I learned that I had to focus on the content and the message and now it doesn't bother me at all. The correct spelling is actually Meguiar's as it requires a possessive apostrophe after the "r".

dcjredline
12-29-2014, 11:02 AM
Oooo, good catch. Autogeek doesn't use it on their site but Meguiar's does.

RMCY
01-04-2015, 08:38 PM
Hi guys,
How can I use this cordless machine with hybrid or hydrotech 5" LC pads? Which is the right accessory to make it match, since these pads work with 4" BP?
Regards,
Rafael

John U
01-31-2015, 04:29 PM
I purchased the kit with two battery's. I've used mine twice on my minivan and have had enough power with one battery for an application. It's great to spread a coating of AOI on quickly. The Flex will still remain my workhorse but overkill for simple "spreading".