Grit Guard Washboard - Initial Impressions Review

[Angus]

Ever since I saw photos of Grit Guard’s new “Washboard” insert at the 2015 SEMA show I’ve been eager to get my hands on one. That day finally came this past Wednesday, 5 months later, when UPS delivered one to me!



Opening the top flap reveals straightforward assembly instructions:



I believe part of the delay with Grit Guard bring this to market was around issue of the Washboard separating while in use. From what I can tell, GG has overcome this by adding these small barbs to the legs you insert into the Washboard:



Notice how the barbs are different on the opposite side:



Once inserted the legs feel very secure and do not give the impression they’ll easily come out:



Infact when you insert the Washboard into the Grit Guard, the slits on the legs opens are a hair too narrow and expand ever so slightly to form a nice tight grip on the GG base:



Had I realized this was going to happen, I would have taken before/after photos to share with you. Sorry!

Another new feature (I think) GG added is this little lip that helps to lock the Washboard’s base into the Grit Guard and helps to align the Washboard’s legs directly over the GG’s bottom fins :



With all the above details combined, the Washboard feel very secure and not at all loose from the Grit Guard. I’ve read comments from early Washboard users complaining about pieces separating while in use and needing to use zip-ties to hold everything together. From everything I can tell, I would be very surprised if that happens now. But if it does I will be sure to share my findings.

Here’s how the Grit Guard + Washboard look once inserted into my 5 gallon bucket,



The Washboard sits 4 ¾ inches from the top lip:



For some reason I expected it to reach higher in the bucket. I’m sure this fine though.

From the outside you can see the Washboard’s shadow hits the bucket’s 3 ¾ gallon marking:



Last but not least, perhaps the single best thing about the Washboard:



It’s very nice to see this was made in the USA.


For the now the Washboard only comes in black, but I’m sure with time GG will offer it in the same range of colors the Grit Guard is currently available in.


I’ll be sure to share my experiences using the Washboard during 2 bucket washes and if any of my above observations are proven incorrect during normal use.

Hope this review was helpful!

 

[ascarbo27]

update us when you can! i want one of these but the regular gg works i dont want to waist money for something that is just a convenience

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Great review, Angus! I guess that's going to stick out the top of my 3.5 gal buckets.

I'm still trying to figure out what those square "wrench flats" are towards the bottom of the legs. Do you think you can remove the washboard from the Grit Guard if you wanted to take it apart for some reason?

 

[Angus]

Great review, Angus! I guess that's going to stick out the top of my 3.5 gal buckets.

I'm still trying to figure out what those square "wrench flats" are towards the bottom of the legs. Do you think you can remove the washboard from the Grit Guard if you wanted to take it apart for some reason?

Thanks, Setec! Good question about the wrench flats:



After taking a closer look, I can't see an immediate or obvious use for them. Maybe someone can help enlighten us?

As far as separating the washboard form the grit guard - I'm sure you can. After I've used it a couple of times I'll see how much effort is required to do so.

 

[Priyaka]

Excellent review and pictures. Look forward to seeing how it works during the wash.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Thanks, Setec! Good question about the wrench flats:

After taking a closer look, I can't see an immediate or obvious use for them. Maybe someone can help enlighten us?

I'm a little rusty on my injection molding, but maybe that's where the runners come in? I don't know why it would be on all four sides though.

I guess it's one of those great Grit Guard mysteries, like whether it works. (I think it works, some people are less convinced.)

 

[Frank70]

Angus - excellent review. Do keep us posted after the first use.

 

[Bunky]

I'm a little rusty on my injection molding, but maybe that's where the runners come in? I don't know why it would be on all four sides though.

I believe it is a level surface for the ejector pins to push against rather than have special higher maintenance slanted ejectors. The indentions look like ejector pin marks to me. I do not see any gates there but they could inject through center of pin...hard to tell without closeup.

Or it is there to hold while core slide is removed.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

So the mark further up is the runner location? Do you see ejector marks on both flats?

 

[rlmccarty2000]

I'm still up in the air if it is really necessary. I already own a few things that I really didn't need, I wonder if this is another one? The jury is still out.

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Nice review Ian. Thanks for taking the time to add detailed pictures of the unit into to the review.

Keep us updated.

 

[Angus]

I'm still up in the air if it is really necessary. I already own a few things that I really didn't need, I wonder if this is another one? The jury is still out.

Hopefully my follow up review after using the washboard will help answer that very question and if my $12 was well spent. Like you, I also have a bunch of things in-retrospect I probally didn't need...

Nice review Ian. Thanks for taking the time to add detailed pictures of the unit into to the review.

Keep us updated.

Thank you good Sir!

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Hopefully my follow up review after using the washboard will help answer that very question and if my $12 was well spent. Like you, I also have a bunch of things in-retrospect I probally didn't need...

I have no doubt that this is going to be a great addition, I would have ordered a couple already if they came in all the colors. I was able to get a Dirt Dropper a couple of years ago when they were still available. It never caught on in my house. I remember thinking "why doesn't Grit Guard do something like this, but better?"

Oh wait, I think I know the answer to that, the Dirt Dropper says "Patent Pending" on it. I'm guessing they didn't get the patent or it's lapsed, allowing Grit Guard to proceed with theirs--that's presuming that the Washboard would have violated the patent.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I believe part of the delay with Grit Guard bring this to market was around issue of the Washboard separating while in use. From what I can tell, GG has overcome this by adding these small barbs to the legs you insert into the Washboard.

With all the above details combined, the Washboard feel very secure and not at all loose from the Grit Guard. I’ve read comments from early Washboard users complaining about pieces separating while in use and needing to use zip-ties to hold everything together. From everything I can tell, I would be very surprised if that happens now. But if it does I will be sure to share my findings.

I was able to get a Dirt Dropper a couple of years ago when they were still available. It never caught on in my house. I remember thinking "why doesn't Grit Guard do something like this, but better?"

I dragged out the Dirt Dropper today to remember why I didn't like it...well, it doesn't fit tightly in the bottom of the bucket, and they want you to bolt the vertical part to the side of the bucket. I don't know about you, but I don't like holes in my buckets, and don't we all take our Grit Guards out after a wash to clean the bottom of the bucket? I don't need to be unbolting anything, it takes me long enough already to get cleaned up.

So without the Dirt Dropper bolted into the bucket it simply moves around and the "washboard" component comes detached. I think Grit Guard is the winner here, and I'll be ordering my Washboards as soon as they come in the rest of the colors, unless Angus gives us an unexpected bad review.

 

[srpurdy]

Grit Guard is a gimmick anyway. It doesn't actually help and it is like 3 times overpriced. $5 tops for such a piece of plastic. Than maybe it will be worth the 7 dirt partials that would get "trapped". What gets me is that anyone in their right mind would pay $10 or more for such a thing. Nature included something when the cosmo's were created, and life started on planet earth. It is called Gravity. Dirt will naturally fall to the bottom of the bucket anyway, If you stick your hand into the ocean do a million dirt partials get stuck to your hand? the guard isn't going to stop it from coming back out if you are careless and allow the water to move violently enough for it do so. Otherwise it will just stay at the bottom.

 

[Daviddear30]

Grit Guard is a gimmick anyway. It doesn't actually help and it is like 3 times overpriced. $5 tops for such a piece of plastic. Than maybe it will be worth the 7 dirt partials that would get "trapped". What gets me is that anyone in their right mind would pay $10 or more for such a thing. Nature included something when the cosmo's were created, and life started on planet earth. It is called Gravity. Dirt will naturally fall to the bottom of the bucket anyway, If you stick your hand into the ocean do a million dirt partials get stuck to your hand? the guard isn't going to stop it from coming back out if you are careless and allow the water to move violently enough for it do so. Otherwise it will just stay at the bottom.

So without a grit guard if I rinsed my wash mitt off in the bucket the dirt gets stirred up into the water?
With GG it doesn't stir up as much?

Does it cost 10 bucks to make? No way but that's how businesses work. They have to make profit and it's worth what people will pay

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Grit Guard is a gimmick anyway. It doesn't actually help and it is like 3 times overpriced. $5 tops for such a piece of plastic. Than maybe it will be worth the 7 dirt partials that would get "trapped". What gets me is that anyone in their right mind would pay $10 or more for such a thing. Nature included something when the cosmo's were created, and life started on planet earth. It is called Gravity. Dirt will naturally fall to the bottom of the bucket anyway, If you stick your hand into the ocean do a million dirt partials get stuck to your hand? the guard isn't going to stop it from coming back out if you are careless and allow the water to move violently enough for it do so. Otherwise it will just stay at the bottom.

Yeah, whatever. For me it falls in the category of "cheap insurance".

 

[AGOatemywallet]

Srpurdy,

Have you used a GritGuard?

What is your current method for removing particulate from your wash mitt during your washing process?

 

[Marc08EX]

Excellent review Angus!!!

 

[srpurdy]

Srpurdy,

Have you used a GritGuard?

What is your current method for removing particulate from your wash mitt during your washing process?

I wanted to, but not at a $10 + price tag. I wanted to at least try it. See if it's worth the hype. I don't really have a problem with cleaning out my mitt. It is not about the money pre-say. I've probably spent around $2000 on products in the last 6 months. $10 seems high for a simple piece of plastic. I could probably make my own for less.

I use typical 2 bucket method. I only put the mitt into the first top third of the water bucket, move it gently around to let the dirt fall out of the mitt. Than I ring out the mitt outside the bucket. It comes out clean everytime. I don't have a problem with dirt mixing around because I don't mix my dirty water bucket. If the bucket gets too soiled I will just replace the water / clean out the bucket. The reason I only use the top 1/3 of the bucket for cleaning the mitt out is because like I said above the dirt will fall down to the bottom anyway. So if I go lower down, then of course you can pick up dirt. But why would anyone do that?

I guess if you do hardcore mixing of the dirty water bucket. The Guard would help keep the dirt from moving around, but I don't really do that. So maybe that is why I don't think it would help me lol.

BTW Thanks Angus for the review.

Shawn