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

Mike Phillips · 12-02-2009, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by Dalton Blevins

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

DLB

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

Originally Posted by dragster

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!

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 · 12-02-2009, 08:22 AM

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** · 12-02-2009, 08:28 AM

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

**dragster** · 12-02-2009, 09:39 AM

Palm sander?

**RTexasF** · 12-02-2009, 10:06 AM

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?

Mike Phillips · 12-02-2009, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by RTexasF

Which is the new one?

Left side is first generation
Right side is the second generation

The new one has the black rubber grip over the head of the unit and the on-off switch has been moved forward.

Good catch, I fixed the double use of the word "right".

Mike Phillips · 12-02-2009, 05:02 PM

Just to update...

I few minutes ago I tried the 3.5" purple foamed wool pad with the GG 3" Mini Polisher and the tool did not like this pad at all. It was very hard to keep the pad rotating. It's really the wrong pad for this kind of tool and remember, this tool was never designed for this kind of work so keep that in mind.

Pictures...

Heavy Duty Compound

Testing the Purple Foamed Wool Pad on #2000 Grit Sanding Marks

Not working good. The wool pad was too hard for this tool to keep rotating at a good clip.

Tried again with more product, pd still not rotating...

Switched over to foam pad and it rotated much better. Still a struggle as this tool is not designed for this kind of extreme correction work.

After spending some more time with this tool it is for light correction work. You still have to use good technique with it just like any other DA style polisher.

**MikeyC** · 12-06-2009, 11:01 PM

Nice demo Mike! Since I sold off my PC when I got my Flex I need something for tight areas. This could be it!

**detaildave** · 12-07-2009, 08:25 AM

Mike, Excellent detailed demo as usual. Whoooooooooo my order with the new gen 2 should arrive today. Why yes I'm feeling like a KID @ Christmas. Man I LOVE this place!!! Merry Christmas to all the hard working staff @ AG & all the Members here as well.