Griot's Garage G9 - 9mm Orbit Stroke Random Orbital Polisher - What's in the Box?

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Griot's Garage G9 - 9mm Orbit Stroke Random Orbital Polisher - What's in the Box?



Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher

Here's everything that comes inside the box removed.

The zipper bag contains the user's manual and directions, the backing plate wrench, one set of replacement brushes and a Griot's sticker.

The User Manual has all the information you need to correctly and safely use the tool.

The User's Manual also includes the complete line of pads and products for use with this tool.

The back of the user's manual explains how to use the polisher to remove swirls and scratches.

Also in the box is the Backing Plate Wrench

Also included is one set of replacement brushes

There's a Griot's sticker so you can share your favorite brand of car detailing supplies.

On the back are the different ways to connect with Griot's via social media

Tool features...


The Speed Dial is placed where you can easily make speed adjustments on the fly using your thumb on either side of the tool.

There's a soft rubber Tool Rest so you can set the tool down without it falling over.

The area over the speed dial is also soft rubber so when you lay the tool down upside down it won't slide around or tip over.

The Speed Lock Button is large and located at an angle so it's easy to engage to lock the tool power in the >on< position.

Under the rear grip is a progressive trigger which is large and easy to operate

Just in front of the speed trigger is a clean air intake to keep the tool running cool

On each side of the tool are fresh air vents with removable screens.

The screens prevent dirt and other debris from getting into the tool and can be removed and cleaned.

The forward handle is made of soft rubber and is textured to provide excellent gripping while reducing felt-vibration.

What's behind the backing plate

To remove the backing plate, use the backing plate wrench and slide it in on the OPPOSITE side of the counter weight.

With the backing plate removed, you can see what I mean by inserting the backing plate wrench on the opposite side of the counterweight.

This is the counterweight

These tabs on the side of the counterweight act like fan blades to create an air current to evacuate air out of the inside of the shroud, which helps to remove heat build-up.

The air is pushed out of the side vents on the shroud.

High quality sealed bearings are used throughout the tool for long life.

Swapping Backing Plates

Griot's has a new 5" backing plate that is manufactured at the higher quality specifications for this tool. At the time I wrote this I did not have the new 5" backing plate. You can use the other 5" Griot's backing plate that has been historically used with the Griot's 6" Random Orbital Polisher but just to note, the NEW G9 backing plates are from a new manufacture for Griot's and are of much higher quality.


Here's the factory installed 6" backing plate removed.

Strong rivets used to hold the matrix of backing plate materials together.

This is called a Compression Washer - it prevents metal to metal contact.

MAKE sure it is in place before attaching a backing plate to the spindle or the metal on the backing plate will come into contact with the metal spindle and create a lot of heat and also make a lot of noise.

Compression Washers wear out over time. Autogeek sells replacements here.



The specs for the new G9 backing plates are incredibly tough and built to withstand more OPMs than you'll ever create with ANY random orbital polisher.

There are 6 air cooling vents on the back of the backing plate that vent into and then out of the shroud.

Note there are 8 more vent holes around the outside of the FACE of the backing plate.

These vent holes vent out through holes on the edge or side of the backing plate.

Here's a side-by-side of the G9 6" backing plate and the G6 5" backing plate

They both use a 5/16" fine thread stud to attach to the free spinning spindle of the tool.

To attach a backing plate, place the backing plate wrench onto the 6 sized spindle to prevent it from spinning.

Then thread the backing plate into the spindle and tighten until snug.

Here's a shot of what a 5" backing plate looks like when attached to the new Griot's G9 Orbital Polisher.

My comments....
The Griot's G9 has TONS of power and can easily maintain pad rotation using the factory 6" backing plate and 6" and 6.5" pads. One reason 5" backing plates are popular for this type of tool is because a smaller 5" and 5.5" diameter buffing pads will tend to fit thinner body panels on modern cars better than larger pads.

Detachable Power Cord
This is unique to our industry, a removable power cord. This makes it easier to store your polisher when not in use. It also makes it easier to coil-up your cord for storage when not using the tool without damaging the cord.

The way the power cord locks into the tool is via a locking tab on the male end.

To attach or remove the cord, press down on the tab button then insert or remove the cord.

Another nice feature is a velco tie to hold your cord coiled up when not in use.

And there you go, the new Griot's G9 Random Orbital Polisher.

On Autogeek.com


Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Re: Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher - What's in the Box?

More


How to replace the brushes

Normal wear component
Brushes are a normal wear component of most electric polishers. How often you will need to replace the brushes depends on how much you use the tool. For an enthusiast, you might never need to replace the brushes. For a professional that uses this tool 8 hours a day, 6 days a week, you will probably have to replace the brushes once a year.


Brush replacement is real simple

Step 1: Remove the brush cover using a flat head screwdriver

Step 2: Grab the base of the spring and gently pull the brush out of the brush slot.

This is a brand new tool so there is no wear showing on the brush. For a worn out brush, the grey rectangular brush head will be much thinner from wear.

Step 3: Align the brush to fit into the rectangular shaped slot and gently slide it in.

Step 4: Re-attach the brush cover
You'll need to make sure the brass end of the spring aligns with the slots where it rests in the port.

If you need extra brushes, contact Griot's Customer Service.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Re: Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher - What's in the Box?

More....

Here's the link to my review...



Review: Griot's G9 Random Orbital Polisher by Mike Phillips

 

[Billy Baldone]

Re: Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher - What's in the Box?

Thank you for the details Mike. Let me ask a dumb question... Most tool manufacturers know that for 15mm and smaller throw machines, we prefer the 5'' pads. The Boss 15 comes with a 5'' backing plate, but yet this one does not???? The Flex XFE 15 I just got only came with the 6'' backing plate also. Can we get manufacturers to just include both backing plates and charge accordingly? It seem like a no brainer to me

 

[VISITOR]

Re: Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher - What's in the Box?

thanks for sharing mike. any chance of a short clip of it through all the speed settings?

 

[luckydawg]

Re: Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher - What's in the Box?

Very through
Nice job

 

[oneheadlite]

Re: Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher - What's in the Box?

thanks for sharing mike. any chance of a short clip of it through all the speed settings?

This.

I'll find out tomorrow when mine arrives, but I've been very curious to hear feedback on the noise (and vibration) levels compared to the GG6.

 

[PaulMys]

Re: Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher - What's in the Box?

Awesome tool.

Excellent write up as always, Mike.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Re: Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher - What's in the Box?

Ding dang - forgot to mention what the 9 means in the G9

9mm Orbit Stroke

The Griot’s Garage 6” Random Orbital Polisher is 8mm orbit stroke length.


Most tools like the Griot’s Garage 6” Random Orbital Polisher are 8mm. So this is a new change feature about this tool that separates it from all the 8mm tools.

Still considered a short stroke polisher.

 

[luckydawg]

Are they considered long stroke once they are in the double digits ( 10mm & up ) ?

If not , @ what mm throw does the term long start?

Thanks

 

[PaulMys]

Re: Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher - What's in the Box?

Ding dang - forgot to mention what the 9 means in the G9

9mm Orbit Stroke

The Griot’s Garage 6” Random Orbital Polisher is 8mm orbit stroke length.


Most tools like the Griot’s Garage 6” Random Orbital Polisher are 8mm. So this is a new change feature about this tool that separates it from all the 8mm tools.

Still considered a short stroke polisher.

Yup. 1 millimeter is a very negligible improvement in stroke, but the moniker of G9 is a great marketing tool.

Very smart marketing. And the added power just makes the whole package a steal at $150.

I really hope any lurkers/hopefulls to machine polishing will jump on this deal.

 

[Mgavin1985]

The lifetime warranty is the steal never had an issue with any product from those folks. If it really is 150 it’s a steal. I have gg6, makita rotary newest version and then a shurhold 21mm because it’s more powerful than rupes so when I do 1 steps I do a ton of pressure trying to get around the vehicle quickly it’s also 1/3 the price. It’s a boating company....felt like I had to explain.

I would put the Griots build quality right there with makita/dewalt and above the shurhold. The lifetime warranty is a buying point for me in that the seller has confidence in the build quality and design......where ever it’s made../ even if it’s outside of USA.

 

[VISITOR]

it has the body of a rotary/long throw polisher but in small compact size (judging how small the box is that it comes in). being light it shouldn't cause fatigue after long hours of use in addition with the excellent ergonomics (being smooth which i'm sure it is too) as well. very nice... :dblthumb2:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Thank you for the details Mike. Let me ask a dumb question... M

ost tool manufacturers know that for 15mm and smaller throw machines, we prefer the 5'' pads. The Boss 15 comes with a 5'' backing plate, but yet this one does not???? T

he Flex XFE 15 I just got only came with the 6'' backing plate also. C

an we get manufacturers to just include both backing plates and charge accordingly?

It seem like a no brainer to me

Makes sense to me. And in my very popular article I link to down below, I've been recommending to people that purchase the GG6 to go ahead and get a 5" backing plate and start INVESTING in 5.5" pads instead of NOT getting the 5" backing plate forcing the new machine user to use the larger 6.5" pads. It's real easy to invest a lot of money not just into a tool but also pads to go with the tool. As you know, in almost all of my write-ups, I show how many pads I use to do the job correctly and that's because anyone new to machine polishing simply don't know it takes more than one or two pads to effectively compound a full size car.

So back to backing plate size, if a newbie gets the GG6 and because it comes with a 6" backing plate, they start investing in large pads to fit the backing plate only down the road to read how all of the rest of us installed a 5" backing plate so we can turn and churn 5.5" pads, they feel remorse.

But to be fair, unlike the Porter Cable, a tool that struggles to maintain pad rotating with large, thick foam pads, the Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital Polisher has no problem spinning these same pads. And this is also true for the new G9. I tested some very THICK pads on it and it has no problem maintaining pad rotation.

For anyone reading this into the future that is NOT aware of the 5" pad versus 6" pad issue, it stems from most 8mm free spinning polishers NOT being able to maintain pad rotation (historically), because until recently, most of the pads on the market were not only large diameter but also THICK. Thick foam pads, and especially thick foam pads that become WET with product, don't and won't rotate on these types of tools.

No pad rotation = no work being done

Thin pads are in context, a new option. I coined the term, thin is in back in 2010 when I wrote this article,

Thin is in...

Before 2010, pretty much all foam pads were about 1 1/4" thick or thicker. And thick foam pads don't rotate well on free spinning random orbital polishers.


Then in 2016, Lake Country, Meguiar's and Griot's all had THIN pads options and I documented this with this article,

5.5" SUPER THIN FOAM PAD OPTIONS for your Dual Action Polisher



The OTHER REASON smaller diameter pads are better and more popular with the detailing world is because unlike cars with large FLAT body panels from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and even the 1980s, modern cars have a lot of THIN body panel designs. By this I mean on the hood, fender, trunk lid, doors of cars, you'll have edges and raised bodylines outlining a "shape" to the panel. Because it's a "Best Practice" to NOT buff on edges or raised body lines, smaller pads fit modern cars better than larger pads.


Once you read the above and then buff out a couple hundred cars, it will all make sense.


As to why Griot's decided to stick with a 6" backing plate, like they sold with the Griot's 6" Random Orbital Polisher is a Griot's decision. Me? My natural inclination knowing what I know and how I buff out cars I would have leaned towards a 5" backing plate. But, I was not part of their design team. I'm sure they have great reasons for going the direction they did. One simple reason is this,

For people NEW to machine buffing, a larger buffing pad, and even a thicker buffing pad is SAFER. Period. As a newbie gets experience, hones their skills and reads a forum like this or takes a class like I teach, they can always do like my wife does when she buys a new dress. They can accessorize. That is they can purchase a smaller backing plate and smaller pads. Then they can choose and use the backing plate and pad size to match the "thing" they are buffing out. For example, I would opt for the 6" backing plate and larger pads if I were buffing out things like RVs or boats. Or Detroit Iron with large panels like I did here,


Review: Griot's G9 - 9mm Orbit Stroke Random Orbital Polisher by Mike Phillips

In the really BIG PICTURE - everything works out the way it's supposed to.

thanks for sharing mike. any chance of a short clip of it through all the speed settings?

I'm using a new product today on an old 2-door Chevy and using it with the new G9, so "yes" I'll take the video. I have to post it to my Facebook page as I cannot post video like this to the Autogeek YouTube Channel and I cannot have my own YouTube channel.

Very through
Nice job

Thanks bud, not only is it a really nice tool, I love working on COOL cars. I'm not a huge fan of buffing out modern cars, most are not what I would call cool. So it's hard to get excited about the "work".

Awesome tool.

Excellent write up as always, Mike.

Thanks Paul.

Are they considered long stroke once they are in the double digits ( 10mm & up ) ?

If not , @ what mm throw does the term long start?

Thanks

I know 12mm is considered LONG stroke, I'm not sure 10mm and 11mm are?

I'm not really sure who the expert is to decide where the line is drawn or if there's a mathematical equation for determining short stroke from long stroke. I know there are "opinions". :laughing:


I think I have one resources I can look at and see what it says. I have two new product reviews to do today, that means

1. Use the products
2. Take the pictures
3. Process the pictures
4. Write the reviews

And I'm taking off for Ohio tomorrow, so time is short today.

Yup. 1 millimeter is a very negligible improvement in stroke, but the moniker of G9 is a great marketing tool.

Very smart marketing. And the added power just makes the whole package a steal at $150.

I agree. I'd call that Griot's teamwork and excellent execution of a plan that started years ago.

I really hope any lurkers/hopefulls to machine polishing will jump on this deal.

I agree and with the introduction of this new tool I'll have to write a new version of this article,

Here's what you need to get into machine polishing - Recommendations for a beginner by Mike Phillips

I would put the Griots build quality right there with makita/dewalt and above the shurhold.

I agree. Also to note, Griot's is using a completely different partner to manufacture these new tools and backing plates than the company used for the BOSS tools and the GG6. The company was sourced with the full intent to bring out a super high quality tool.

The lifetime warranty is a buying point for me in that the seller has confidence in the build quality and design......where ever it’s made../ even if it’s outside of USA.

I agree. That's simply great marketing and top notch customer service and it's based on "their" confidence in their tool.

it has the body of a rotary/long throw polisher but in small compact size (judging how small the box is that it comes in). being light it shouldn't cause fatigue after long hours of use in addition with the excellent ergonomics (being smooth which i'm sure it is too) as well. very nice... :dblthumb2:

Lots of power in a lightweight, compact size tool.

Win/Win


Thanks for all the comments and questions everyone!

 

[bcgreen]

I have owned my PC 7335 for many years now and I am considered a weekend warrior where I do my own vehicles and an occasional friend. Would it be a good move to add or step up to the G9? Will it improve my work and shorten the work time?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Re: Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher - What's in the Box?

thanks for sharing mike. any chance of a short clip of it through all the speed settings?

Sorry, couldn't get to it today. Had to detail a car and write 3 new reviews.


Wont' be back in the office until next week on Tuesday as I'm leaving tomorrow at O'Dark Thirty in the morning for my Ohio class.


Roadshow Detailing Class in Powell, Ohio - September 14th & 15th

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

My good buddy Aaryn from New Zealand asked for this picture in my review thread, see post #9

Review: Griot's G9 - 9mm Orbit Stroke Random Orbital Polisher by Mike Phillips


Size comparison shot

The above are all the current electric tools Griot's offers. The new G9 is the 4th tool over from the left.

 

[Dr Oldz]

Awesome job, Mike!!! Thank you for show casing this in such a detailer manner!!!!!!!

So many awesome features. I personally love the cord. That is a fantastic concept and I wish more manufactures did it!!

 

[Aaryn NZ]

My good buddy Aaryn from New Zealand asked for this picture in my review thread, see post #9

Review: Griot's G9 - 9mm Orbit Stroke Random Orbital Polisher by Mike Phillips


Size comparison shot

The above are all the current electric tools Griot's offers. The new G9 is the 4th tool over from the left.

Awesome Mike, thank you. rops:

Oh yeah, that is “stalky/stubby” ... I like it, bet it feels great in hand.

I personally love the cord. That is a fantastic concept and I wish more manufactures did it!!

Yeah :iagree: 100% Dr Oldz. Imagine doing a job that requires multiple tools set up & instead of running cords for all ....having this feature!!! C’mon, y’all know it would rock. :buffing: It’s genius.

... And the price!!! What’s with the price!?


Aaryn NZ. :dblthumb2:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I like it, bet it feels great in hand.

I used it on speed 2 setting to machine wax an old 2-door Chevy yesterday.

No problemo...




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