Car Detailing History - First Generation Griots Garage Polisher

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Car Detailing History - First Generation Griots Garage Polisher



I forget the year Griot's first ventured into offering a polisher in their line but my guess would be around 2006? Maybe 2007?


I remember answering questions on the MeguiarsOnline.com forum about this polisher and mostly they were about how to use it to remove swirls. This first polisher was borrowed from the wood sanding industry, like the Porter Cable only unlike the Porter Cable, which can rotate a buffing pad under pressure, this polisher was lacking for this same power. The good news is Griot's quickly reacted and introduced the second generation of their random orbital polisher which was much more powerful and today I believe we're on the 3rd generation tool and from my own experience it is the most powerful 8mm random orbital polisher on the market and also has the best warranty.

A few years ago one of our forum members was visiting Autogeek and asked me if I would like to have it for my antique wax collection and I said "sure", so that's how I obtained this polisher. Of course what I like to do is to share products and tools in my collection on the forum via the magic of pictures.


Here's the 1st generation Griot's polisher

The backing plate is held on by 4 Phillips screws

One of the screws is very tight and a little stripped out so I have not been able to remove it to take a picture of the reciprocating action.

Here you can see the wood dust evacuation port. This would have somehow been hooked to a vacuum line to suck or extract wood dust while sanding.

The current version is on the left...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued....


I meet a lot of people ready to make the change from polishing and waxing by hand to polishing and waxing by machine and if that describes you then this is a great value for your first polish.

On Autogeek.com


Griot's Garage 6" ROP - Standard cord

Griots Garage 6 Inch Heavy Duty Random Orbital Polisher - HD Cord - 25' Heavy Duty Cord already pre-wired

 

[WaxMaster1]

Very cool, Mike. Thanks for sharing the history. I predominantly use my MKII 15mm and 3401 but I picked up a clean 2nd gen and 3rd gen GG6. They are great tools which surely get the job done.

 

[Kamakaz1961]

Way cool! Just curious....I have the PC7424XP, I believe the earlier version was the PC7424. Was there an earlier version? If so what type was it. Either way, cool pics of the OLD GG.

 

[atgonzales]

Mike

I have Griots first dry towel and wax towel both retired, so intersting as how the performance and technology has evolved in the industry

 

[Paul A.]

Kamakaz, I don't know if this answers your question directly but my first Porter Cable was a 7336. The 7424 wasn't out yet when I bought my first PC. I still use it!

 

[VISITOR]

there was also a 2nd gen GG6 that came out (pictured below) with the removable backing plate which had basically the same body style as the 1st gen with a different cosmetic change or two. also, the first batch of the 2nd gen had the sticker which read polish 5-6 wax 3-4 and some time after it changed to polish 4-5 wax 2-3. the GG6 (LIL' BOSS) is an awesome DA (lots of torque/power) and if anyone is looking for a traditional pc-style DA and only wants one polisher, i would highly consider it (over the pcxp any day of the week) and you can buy different backing plates/pads to adjust to what you are wanting to accomplish (very versatile). there really isn't much you can't do with it given the variety of different pads/polishes/compounds that are available these days...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Very cool, Mike. Thanks for sharing the history.

I think I'm the only guy in our industry that knows or remembers our history and also knows how to type.


Just a guess... I don't see much content from anyone else anymore...


:dunno:

 

[Klasse Act]

Got mine in 2011, love it

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[brianshaeffer]

I bought my first polisher from Griot's Garage in 1997. I remember it because I also had a new truck that year to use it on. It wasn't anything unique. It was a rebranded Porter-Cable (7336 I think?). I still use it today.

 

[JustJesus]

I think I'm the only guy in our industry that knows or remembers our history and also knows how to type.


Just a guess... I don't see much content from anyone else anymore...


:dunno:

Thanks for sharing! You know I love the history (Also read on MOLs site)

I can [mostly] type, but so new to detailing/paint correction/what-have-you, I don't know enough to write about. PLUS, you already have the other book in the works (even if it's in your head, notes, etc).

When did Meguiar's come out with "their" first polisher? A rebranded Porter Cable?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

When did Meguiar's come out with "their" first polisher?

A rebranded Porter Cable?

Late 1980's.

I went to work for Meguiar's in 1987 and I think it was in the Meguiar's line-up at that time.

I can't find anyone that remembers? I'll check with Mike Pennington, he might remember.