The GG polisher is as good as the 3401?

K

kbohip

New member
Joined
Jan 23, 2010
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
The GG polisher is as good as the 3401?


First of all a little background info. I currently use a Cyclo. I've had it for quite a few years now and it works good but I want something with more power (read correction) for my aging cars. I've been doing a lot of research lately on the best polishers currently out and had come to the conclusion that the Flex 3401 was the very best. Now I've been reading from quite a few different posts across different forums that the new Griot's Garage 6" polisher is as good as the much more expensive Flex 3401.:confused:

The other thing I'm wondering about the Flex now is if it will hold up in the long run. Keep in mind I'm used to the bulletproof reliability of the Cyclo. I won't be the slightest bit happy if the $300.00 Flex breaks in 5 years. The Griot's comes with a (albeit questionable) lifetime warranty which leads me to believe it has to be pretty well built.

I posted this in the Flex forum because I really didn't know the best place to put it. I'm new here. Mods feel free to put this where you think it might best go.
 
I first had the newest GG 6" polisher, returned it and bought the Flex 3401. I like the 3401 a lot better!
 
I should also add that I picked up a Dewalt 849 rotary a couple of weeks ago too. My plan was to use this for the heavily oxidized stuff, ie my wife's 1991 black Nissan Maxima. I know a lot of people will say just use the Dewalt first and finish up with the Cyclo. Yes, this works but it also takes forever and I just don't have the time to kill a couple of days like that. I figured the Flex 3401 would be sort of a combination of the two, thereby saving me an extra step.

PS, Richard Griot is out of his mind telling people not to use a rotary no matter how much experience you have.:doh: In my first 5 minutes of using the "scary" rotary I got incredible results on the hood of the old Maxima.
 
kbohip said:
I should also add that I picked up a Dewalt 849 rotary a couple of weeks ago too. My plan was to use this for the heavily oxidized stuff, ie my wife's 1991 black Nissan Maxima. I know a lot of people will say just use the Dewalt first and finish up with the Cyclo. Yes, this works but it also takes forever and I just don't have the time to kill a couple of days like that. I figured the Flex 3401 would be sort of a combination of the two, thereby saving me an extra step.

PS, Richard Griot is out of his mind telling people not to use a rotary no matter how much experience you have.:doh: In my first 5 minutes of using the "scary" rotary I got incredible results on the hood of the old Maxima.
Click to expand...
So if you got incredible results with the Dewalt rotary why would you even consider getting the Flex? Even if you went over with the Cyclo do you know for a fact that the Flex would save you more time. Dunno! It's not like you are doing this every weekend.
 
360_detail said:
What was it about the gg you didn't like?
Click to expand...
It's not that I didn't like the GG, I just should have sprung for the 3401 in the first place. Since I'm sticking with a DA, I wanted the best! The 3401 is worth the extra $150, IMO.
 
Rsurfer said:
Same question here cause I love my Griot. BTW you can't advertise for sale items on this forum.
Click to expand...

WHAT??? really?? Im a member of 2 forums...Jeepforum and Autogeek. People sell stuff on JF all the time. They even have a dedicated thread for sale items....

Why is this? No one has said anything to me about it...

anyway, to the OP, I dont get it....you're not even detailing for money, what was so horribly slow about GG that you paid an extra 150 to shave all of an hour off your detail? Succumbed to overhype maybe? You're vehicles dont need extensive polish all the time so why not use a GG? Did you return it? Want to sell it? I want one.

I have no need for a Flex. I just got a Makita and it is very smooth and easy to use. I can use a DA for the awkward areas and finishing if needed...To each his own bro. Im the MAN
 
360_detail said:
anyway, to the OP, I dont get it....you're not even detailing for money, what was so horribly slow about GG that you paid an extra 150 to shave all of an hour off your detail? Succumbed to overhype maybe? You're vehicles dont need extensive polish all the time so why not use a GG? Did you return it? Want to sell it? I want one.

I have no need for a Flex. I just got a Makita and it is very smooth and easy to use. I can use a DA for the awkward areas and finishing if needed...To each his own bro. Im the MAN
Click to expand...
Hate to break it to you, but your reasoning for me not detailing for money makes no sense as to why I opted for the 3401. It's a *direct drive* DA, the GG is not. The build shape is like a rotary, GG is not. Feels *much* better in my hands. It has a lock button so I don't have to hold the trigger all the time. It's *much* better quality than the GG. I don't care if I polish one car every five years, when I do, I want the best DA experience. Good enough reasons?
 
Last edited:
IIRC, the Flex is used on auto assembly lines in Europe - that's a pretty strong recommendation in my book.

Regards,
GEWB

(happy with my Flex)
 
Last edited:
360_detail said:
WHAT??? really?? Im a member of 2 forums...Jeepforum and Autogeek. People sell stuff on JF all the time. They even have a dedicated thread for sale items....

Why is this? No one has said anything to me about it...

anyway, to the OP, I dont get it....you're not even detailing for money, what was so horribly slow about GG that you paid an extra 150 to shave all of an hour off your detail? Succumbed to overhype maybe? You're vehicles dont need extensive polish all the time so why not use a GG? Did you return it? Want to sell it? I want one.

I have no need for a Flex. I just got a Makita and it is very smooth and easy to use. I can use a DA for the awkward areas and finishing if needed...To each his own bro. Im the MAN
Click to expand...

I'm the OP and I think you have me confused with someone else. I don't have a GG or a Flex...yet. My question was is the GG as good as the Flex? It seems the answer is no it's not but GG users here seem to think it's better because it's cheaper or they own one.:rolleyes: I'm happy for you and your Makita...bro.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
Hate to break it to you, but your reasoning for me not detailing for money makes no sense as to why I opted for the 3401. It's a *direct drive* DA, the GG is not. The build shape is like a rotary, GG is not. Feels *much* better in my hands. It has a lock button so I don't have to hold the trigger all the time. It's *much* better quality than the GG. I don't care if I polish one car every five years, when I do, I want the best DA experience. Good enough reasons?
Click to expand...

Exactly. I didn't ask anyone which machine is worth the money more. I asked which one was better. As I was saying in my first post I want a machine that can do 90% of what the combo of my Cyclo and Dewalt 849 can now, but in a lot less time. It appears to me that the Griot's is inferior as it doesn't have the forced rotation. I might be wrong though and this is why I'm here to learn.
 
kbohip said:
PS, Richard Griot is out of his mind telling people not to use a rotary no matter how much experience you have.:doh:
Click to expand...
What a moron, seriously. I understand he wants to sell his product, but damn, don't be foolish. I can't believe he said that...
 
Yeah thats cool I was more or less saying that if you're doing your own car why the rush to shave an hour thats all. People have been polishing paint with just a basic PC for YEARS. With the right polish and pad combo you can get anything out with a PC. It just may take longer. If you have serious defects you can always wet sand and then machine it out...was just trying to save a weekend warrior an extra 150. But if you can float the bill then by all means!
 
kbohip said:
It appears to me that the Griot's is inferior as it doesn't have the forced rotation.
Click to expand...
The GG does not have forced rotation. The build quality of the Flex is way better. There's been a few threads on how GG polishers have quit on them. The GG is not a bad polisher, I just think the 3401 is a lot better in several different ways. :xyxthumbs:
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
The GG does not have forced rotation. The build quality of the Flex is way better. There's been a few threads on how GG polishers have quit on them. The GG is not a bad polisher, I just think the 3401 is a lot better in several different ways. :xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...

What do you mean by that? They break down quickly?
 
Clutch34 said:
What do you mean by that? They break down quickly?
Click to expand...
I didn't have a problem with mine for the short time I had it, but there's been a few threads on how the GG have broke down on them. If you search, I'm sure you can find some threads. I'm not saying the GG is a horrible polisher, it's not! There's just a better DA out there........the FLEX 3401!!! :dblthumb2:
 
NO WAY I can afford the Flex lol Nor do I need a $300 DA, I'll be fine with the GG. But this whole thing about it breaking down bothers me.. *sigh* Researching it will have to wait a few weeks tho.
 
360_detail said:
WHAT??? really?? Im a member of 2 forums...Jeepforum and Autogeek. People sell stuff on JF all the time. They even have a dedicated thread for sale items....

Why is this? No one has said anything to me about it...

anyway, to the OP, I dont get it....you're not even detailing for money, what was so horribly slow about GG that you paid an extra 150 to shave all of an hour off your detail? Succumbed to overhype maybe? You're vehicles dont need extensive polish all the time so why not use a GG? Did you return it? Want to sell it? I want one.

I have no need for a Flex. I just got a Makita and it is very smooth and easy to use. I can use a DA for the awkward areas and finishing if needed...To each his own bro. Im the MAN
Click to expand...
:iagree:using a Makita and a DA. Read the rules you cannot advertise anything for sale. You can trade, but not sell. Any yes, other sites allow you to sell, so post your UDM there.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
I didn't have a problem with mine for the short time I had it, but there's been a few threads on how the GG have broke down on them. If you search, I'm sure you can find some threads. I'm not saying the GG is a horrible polisher, it's not! There's just a better DA out there........the FLEX 3401!!! :dblthumb2:
Click to expand...
I've heard of the 1st generation mini Griot breaking down, but only a couple new Griot having problems. Hell, even PC will sometimes have problems.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top