Meguiar's Microfiber DA Correction System with Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Meguiar's Microfiber DA Correction System with Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher


Since thin pads rotate better on tools that use a Free Floating Spindle Assembly, a number of people have asked how the new 3" Microfiber Discs work on the Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher? So I did a little testing and below are the results...

First I dampsanded the paint using Meguiar's Unigrit S6F3000 Foam Backed Finishing Discs

Unigrit Discs leave behind a shallow and uniform sanding mark pattern that buffs out quick and easy with a wool pad and a compound on a rotary buffer. This is the traditional way of removing sanding marks.

The new Meguiar's Microfiber DA Correction System is not intended to be used in body shops, nor is it a replacement for a traditional approach to remove sanding marks using a rotary buffer, a wool pad and an aggressive cutting compound.

I merely used #3000 Grit Sanding Marks as a way of doing some controlled testing so I would know the depth of the defects being removed.

In the real world, when a person is detailing cars they are removing random swirls and scratches of varying depths. In most cases the shallow swirls and scratches will be removed first leaving behind only the RIDS or Random, Isolated Deeper Scratches.

In this type of test since all the sanding marks are the same depth, the goal is 100% removal AND to test if the 3" Mini Polisher will work with the thin microfiber buffing pads.

On the 3" Griot's Garage Mini Polisher is a cutting disc that has been primed with the D300 Correction Compound and now has 3 pea-sized drops of product on it.

Speed setting was 6 and about 8 section passes were made twice, the second time I cleaned the pad and added fresh product. The tool was able to maintain pad rotation as long as I make sure it was flat to the surface and didn't push down too hard. I also misted some water onto the surface anytime the product started to dry, the water helped increase lubricity and this made it easier for the pad to rotate.

After the second section pass I wiped the residue off then wipe the surface with some IPA and had about 99% defect removal with just a little haze left in the paint.

Next up some D301 Finishing Wax, it was much easier for the 3" Griot's Garage Mini Polisher to maintain pad rotation with this product.

Time to remove the tape and check out the result...

I wiped off the residue and then re-wiped with the IPA to see the true results,

• Sanding Marks 100% removed
• No Swirls
• Light Micro-marring left in the paint

To me it looks like at this point the paint needs to be hit with a light or fine, dedicated intermediate polish to refine the paint a little more to really maximize gloss and clarity before applying the wax.

Keep in mind, this is a repainted hood and all paints will react differently.

Next up I tested the Bug Sponge to see if it would work to clean the pads on the 3" Griot's Mini Polisher and it did work but like when you're polishing, you need to keep the face of the pad flat against the Bug Sponge as any extra pressure on just an edge of the face of the pad slowed down pad rotation.

So did the 3" Griot's Mini Polisher work to remove defects with the new Microfiber DA Correction System?

Yes, but it would be faster with a normal size DA Polisher with a 3" backing plate or with one of the air tools that go with the system.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Mike,

D301 wasn't aggressive enough to remove all the micro-marring?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Mike,

D301 wasn't aggressive enough to remove all the micro-marring?

This was more a test of the tool... it could have been the finishing pad leaving the micro-marring too, I would have to do some testing to isolate the problem. Don't forget where the paint started out at and that was dull with sanding marks, the tool, the pads and the chemicals fixed the problem, that is they removed the sanding marks. Taking the finish to a flawless, show car finish is just a matter of a little more time dialing in the system to this paint.

Also, I pointed out that this is a repaint, not factory paint, all paint systems will react differently and this system is formulated for and targeted at factory paint.

I'm not done with my testing but I'm out of time for testing today...

 

[CEE DOG]

Thanks for the quality write-up Mike! Great pictures too!
I would imagine its difficult to get the pad rotation needed using the 3" GG with pads that have texture like that. Unless mine is weaker than others I've found it difficult to keep pad rotation in general.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Thanks for the quality write-up Mike! Great pictures too!
I would imagine its difficult to get the pad rotation needed using the 3" GG with pads that have texture like that. Unless mine is weaker than others I've found it difficult to keep pad rotation in general.

Me too. I found the Griot's 3" to be worthless. :dunno: No chance I'd use the 3" Griot's when I have the standard Griot's DA that can use a 3" backing plate.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Thanks for the quality write-up Mike! Great pictures too!
I would imagine its difficult to get the pad rotation needed using the 3" GG with pads that have texture like that. Unless mine is weaker than others I've found it difficult to keep pad rotation in general.

You have to really focus on the task at hand, usually the way I write it is to say you have to use expert technique and all I mean by this is you have to hold the pad flat to the surface and you have to monitor your downward pressure.

The Finishing Wax definitely rotates a lot easier than the Correction Compound. With the 3" Mini Polisher, having ample lubrication on the surface is necessary but since Meguiar's recommends not overusing these types of products I tried misting a little water onto the paint and right or wrong, this did help a lot.


Keep in mind, the biggest reason I tried this was because I've read people asking if the 3" Mini Polisher could use these new microfiber discs, the answer is "yes" but you have to use expert technique and it would be more effective and faster just to use a full size DA Polisher with a 3" backing plate.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Me too. I found the Griot's 3" to be worthless. :dunno:

It works, as I demonstrated here over a year ago... but it takes perfect technique and extra time as compared to a full size DA Polisher.

Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher - Extreme Demo - Warning!

One section of the test hood was thoroughly wet-sanded using Nikken #2000 Finishing Papers

No chance I'd use the 3" Griot's when I have the standard Griot's DA that can use a 3" backing plate.

I think that's kind of what I posted too...

:xyxthumbs:

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

It works, as I demonstrated here over a year ago... but it takes perfect technique and extra time as compared to a full size DA Polisher.

You have proof to back up your statement. :dblthumb2: However, I don't think it's nearly the best tool to use for the job as you kinda stated already.

 

[James K]

I got to see the results in person, and I have to say I was quite impressed.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

You have proof to back up your statement. :dblthumb2: However, I don't think it's nearly the best tool to use for the job as you kinda stated already.

Agreed. For the few limited occasions where it can get into tight spots other polishers can't reach I'm sure it's great, but ultimately it seems like it'd be more hassle than it's worth.

That said, I would love to see a side-by-side comparison between the 3" Griot's and the 3" mini-Pneumatic tools from CP and/or Meguiar's.