Griots G9 worth it? advice please

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1981z28

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Looking at buffing the paint on my 1981 Camaro. Looking at Groits G9, did a bit little of research and the smaller 5" Polisher is much better for polishing like G15 but this is not something I will be using daily,

Is it worth buying the Groits G9 and installing a 5" backing plate? or just use the standard 6" that comes with it?

Also

What buffing pads do you guys reccomend with the g9?

I'm going to be using ;

Menzerna Heavy cut 400
then
menzerna 3500 super finish

Thanks for all the advice
 
Eldorado2k said:
I don’t mean to hijack, but I figure you may know the answer.

Do you know if the 1st gen Boss long throws 15G & 21G are the same size in regards to the body of the polisher? With only the backing plate & throw being the difference?
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I don’t have both to say for sure but I heard the new ones are taller and slightly shorter. The older ones seem a little more balanced but also not as powerful. I didn’t replace my G15 as it works pretty well for my needs.
 
Bruno Soares said:
I don’t have both to say for sure but I heard the new ones are taller and slightly shorter. The older ones seem a little more balanced but also not as powerful. I didn’t replace my G15 as it works pretty well for my needs.
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I think he means if the first gen. G15 and G21 have different bodies. :D I'm not sure either.

I love my first gen. G15 it as lots of power IME. And in my opinion the build quality is better then my G8.
 
noorth said:
I think he means if the first gen. G15 and G21 have different bodies. :D I'm not sure either.

I love my first gen. G15 it as lots of power IME. And in my opinion the build quality is better then my G8.
Click to expand...

Oh, now that I read that again I think you’re right. I’m not sure but I do think the body is the same size on the G15 and G21.
 
Love mine, by no means am I a professional using it daily - just wanted to begin detailing my own vehicles and researched a lot here. I ended up purchasing the G9 late last year and couldn’t be happier.
 
1981z28 said:
Looking at buffing the paint on my 1981 Camaro. Looking at Groits G9, did a bit little of research and the smaller 5" Polisher is much better for polishing like G15 but this is not something I will be using daily,

Is it worth buying the Groits G9 and installing a 5" backing plate? or just use the standard 6" that comes with it?

Also

What buffing pads do you guys reccomend with the g9?

I'm going to be using ;

Menzerna Heavy cut 400
then
menzerna 3500 super finish

Thanks for all the advice
Click to expand...

To answer your question most seem to switch the BP to a 5” as the random orbital can keep rotation better with it. Most recommend thinner pads and i’d recommend the Griots BOSS pads as I use these with my g15 and they are awesome with that.

I use the yellow and orange.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
5" pads are cheaper as well so the 5" backing plate will eventually pay for itself.
 
I can chime in having had a first and third gen GG6 (the predecessors to the G9) as well as a G9 (and G8, but I'll stay on topic).

I'm gonna go the other way a bit here and say that a 5" plate on the G9 isn't the only way to use it.

I feel like the recommendation to go straight to a 5" backing plate and thin pads goes back to the previous generation machines (both Griot's and Porter Cable). The 8mm stroke probably didn't come into play as much, but the lower power of previous machines definitely played into the thin pads being needed to keep pad rotation up.

What I've found with my G9 is that with the extra power as well as the digital speed controller they use, a thin 5" pad isn't mandatory for good results. To the contrary, I've been finding there are times it's actually easier to keep the pad spinning with a thick 6.5" pad - namely tighter body contours like on the hood/front fender area of my wife's Q5 or curved surfaces like on more conventional fender profiles.

If you go the 5" route (which I do honestly recommend having on hand as well - you can never have too many pads, and it's nice to have the flexibility of options!), definitely stick with the Griot's 5" backing plate made specifically for the G9 - the backing plate is designed into the cooling system for the machine.


I'm just a hobbyist, but this has been my experience. If Sizzle runs a 5" plate, I'm inclined to spend more time working with my 5" pads next time I get a chance to run my machine, as he's got waaaaaay more hours behind a polisher than I do!

For pads, I use the Griot's stuff for simplicity's sake - Mainly Orange (both standard thickness and BOSS thins). I've also used their BOSS microfiber and Fast Finishing microfiber pads. I've got hard Audi paint, so I haven't used my yellow pads much. Recently picked up a couple white Fast Correcting pads but haven't had a chance to use them yet.

From what I gather from what I've read, the Orange Griot's pads tend to be a little on the softer side if you're looking for a cutting pad, so depending on what your Camaro's paint is like you can decide if they sound like a good match or not. I'm not familiar with other brand pads so I can't make any recommendations there. I'm also not familiar with the Menz polishes, I use the BOSS creams.
 
oneheadlite said:
I can chime in having had a first and third gen GG6 (the predecessors to the G9) as well as a G9 (and G8, but I'll stay on topic).

I'm gonna go the other way a bit here and say that a 5" plate on the G9 isn't the only way to use it.

I feel like the recommendation to go straight to a 5" backing plate and thin pads goes back to the previous generation machines (both Griot's and Porter Cable). The 8mm stroke probably didn't come into play as much, but the lower power of previous machines definitely played into the thin pads being needed to keep pad rotation up.

What I've found with my G9 is that with the extra power as well as the digital speed controller they use, a thin 5" pad isn't mandatory for good results. To the contrary, I've been finding there are times it's actually easier to keep the pad spinning with a thick 6.5" pad - namely tighter body contours like on the hood/front fender area of my wife's Q5 or curved surfaces like on more conventional fender profiles.

If you go the 5" route (which I do honestly recommend having on hand as well - you can never have too many pads, and it's nice to have the flexibility of options!), definitely stick with the Griot's 5" backing plate made specifically for the G9 - the backing plate is designed into the cooling system for the machine.


I'm just a hobbyist, but this has been my experience. If Sizzle runs a 5" plate, I'm inclined to spend more time working with my 5" pads next time I get a chance to run my machine, as he's got waaaaaay more hours behind a polisher than I do!

For pads, I use the Griot's stuff for simplicity's sake - Mainly Orange (both standard thickness and BOSS thins). I've also used their BOSS microfiber and Fast Finishing microfiber pads. I've got hard Audi paint, so I haven't used my yellow pads much. Recently picked up a couple white Fast Correcting pads but haven't had a chance to use them yet.

From what I gather from what I've read, the Orange Griot's pads tend to be a little on the softer side if you're looking for a cutting pad, so depending on what your Camaro's paint is like you can decide if they sound like a good match or not. I'm not familiar with other brand pads so I can't make any recommendations there. I'm also not familiar with the Menz polishes, I use the BOSS creams.
Click to expand...

I haven't tested it or anything but i personally "think" the orange BOSS pad as more cut then both lake country's SDO orange and rupes yellow foam. The foam itself is sharper to the feel and it's harder to compress then the other 2 pads. I find the pad too dry and stiff personally but it worked great a few years ago. The results are there of course.

Just an observation.

The white foam is super course. I will get a Blue SDO pad today in the post - finally - and i'm thinking it will be softer/less sharp then the BOSS white pad.

Edit: Just got the blue SDO! Beautiful color and it feels less aggressive then the BOSS white pad.
 
oneheadlite said:
I can chime in having had a first and third gen GG6 (the predecessors to the G9) as well as a G9 (and G8, but I'll stay on topic).

I'm gonna go the other way a bit here and say that a 5" plate on the G9 isn't the only way to use it.

I feel like the recommendation to go straight to a 5" backing plate and thin pads goes back to the previous generation machines (both Griot's and Porter Cable). The 8mm stroke probably didn't come into play as much, but the lower power of previous machines definitely played into the thin pads being needed to keep pad rotation up.

What I've found with my G9 is that with the extra power as well as the digital speed controller they use, a thin 5" pad isn't mandatory for good results. To the contrary, I've been finding there are times it's actually easier to keep the pad spinning with a thick 6.5" pad - namely tighter body contours like on the hood/front fender area of my wife's Q5 or curved surfaces like on more conventional fender profiles.

If you go the 5" route (which I do honestly recommend having on hand as well - you can never have too many pads, and it's nice to have the flexibility of options!), definitely stick with the Griot's 5" backing plate made specifically for the G9 - the backing plate is designed into the cooling system for the machine.


I'm just a hobbyist, but this has been my experience. If Sizzle runs a 5" plate, I'm inclined to spend more time working with my 5" pads next time I get a chance to run my machine, as he's got waaaaaay more hours behind a polisher than I do!

For pads, I use the Griot's stuff for simplicity's sake - Mainly Orange (both standard thickness and BOSS thins). I've also used their BOSS microfiber and Fast Finishing microfiber pads. I've got hard Audi paint, so I haven't used my yellow pads much. Recently picked up a couple white Fast Correcting pads but haven't had a chance to use them yet.

From what I gather from what I've read, the Orange Griot's pads tend to be a little on the softer side if you're looking for a cutting pad, so depending on what your Camaro's paint is like you can decide if they sound like a good match or not. I'm not familiar with other brand pads so I can't make any recommendations there. I'm also not familiar with the Menz polishes, I use the BOSS creams.
Click to expand...

I agree with this whole post, 100%.

The G9 has all the balls to churn a 6" set-up, no question.

Mr. Snoop mentioned that the 5" set up (plate/pads) are cheaper, and he is correct. This is what I run since I already had all of the 5" pads for my PC & GG6.

As for the BOSS orange pads, I also agree that they seem a "tick" less aggressive than say, a Lake Country orange pad. But not by much at all. And I have no problem reaching for either when I am polishing.

And ditto for the BOSS Creams. They have become my go-to if I need to do any kind of correction.
 
PaulMys said:
I agree with this whole post, 100%.

The G9 has all the balls to churn a 6" set-up, no question.

Mr. Snoop mentioned that the 5" set up (plate/pads) are cheaper, and he is correct. This is what I run since I already had all of the 5" pads for my PC & GG6.

As for the BOSS orange pads, I also agree that they seem a "tick" less aggressive than say, a Lake Country orange pad. But not by much at all. And I have no problem reaching for either when I am polishing.

And ditto for the BOSS Creams. They have become my go-to if I need to do any kind of correction.
Click to expand...

One thing i learn the last few days not all lake country orange pads are the same according to their aggression charts.

For instance the LC orange flat + CCS pads are 6/10 cut and 6/10 finish but the HDO/SDO line the orange is rated at 6/10 cut + 9/10 finish.

https://www.lakecountrymfg.com/20190909-LCM-Catalog.pdf

I really like the SDO pads, i have the blue and orange now. They are my favorite pads. The rupes pads are nice too but i like the smaller face and the little extra softness of the SDO pads. I like both lineups better then the BOSS pads. Which i first started with 3 years ago.

Not sure if its buff and shine or lake country that makes the BOSS pads..I'm guessing lake country.
 
Good to hear about the G9. I have a rotary and a PC right now but was planning on a getting a G9 in the spring.
I have a Autopia gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket.


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline
 
how often can you polish a car with the Griots G9 before it damages/reduces the clear coat? Once every few months?
 
tim500 said:
how often can you polish a car with the Griots G9 before it damages/reduces the clear coat? Once every few months?
Click to expand...

if you use quality products and use good technique when washing and drying the car, you shouldn't need to polish often...
 
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