Polisher for weekend warrior

Texchappy

Texchappy

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2015
Messages
944
Reaction score
284
Mike, what would your recommendation be for a DA for a weekend hobbyist in 2021?

that’s the question in general. I fit that description. I’ve had a Porter Cable since 2006ish that still works for me but wonder what the tool would be if I started today.
 
Griot’s Garage G9. But there’s nothing wrong with using a Porter Cable. It’s just not as refined as a G9.
 
It looks like Harbor freight is now selling a knock off from one of the Griots or rupes unit, has anybody bought one of these yet? It looks interesting
 
Weekends are short for pros and enthusiasts alike. You want to get as much time out of them as you can. Flex 3401 carves time off paint correction.
 
word of wisdom from me, whatever tool you think will work for you...try to buy something even better than that. I purchased a megs mt300 years ago for my personal vehicles, this was before i found this forum with all of you knowledgeable folks. i thought the mt300 would be enough for me. started doing other peoples vehicles. learning what i am learning now from all of you... i want a flex to cut down on time!
 
glen e said:
It looks like Harbor freight is now selling a knock off from one of the Griots or rupes unit, has anybody bought one of these yet? It looks interesting
Click to expand...

I bought the HF version of the PC years ago, and while it has been reliable and worked pretty well, it is still a loud and rough running tool. Some parts are rather cheap and crude. My guess the HF competitor to the Griots is the same. I've only looked at them on the display. My advise is to spend the extra money for a really well made tool and the lifetime warranty that goes with it.

opie said:
word of wisdom from me, whatever tool you think will work for you...try to buy something even better than that.
Click to expand...

Great advice. I started off with a HF DA polisher and all of it's compromises years ago. After recently upgrading to a Griots G15 and seeing how much better it is, I realize I should have just bit the bullet and bought a good polisher from the beginning.
 
Texchappy said:
Mike, what would your recommendation be for a DA for a weekend hobbyist in 2021?

that’s the question in general. I fit that description. I’ve had a Porter Cable since 2006ish that still works for me but wonder what the tool would be if I started today.
Click to expand...


What are you working on?

One car. Two cars, Three cars?

One truck and a motorhome?


:)
 
Mike Phillips said:
What are you working on?

One car. Two cars, Three cars?

One truck and a motorhome?


:)
Click to expand...
3 cars now... ‘14 Lincoln Navigator in Black, ‘08 Mini Cooper convertible in Astro Black, ‘17 Honda Civic in blue. I’m looking at getting a new Ranger which my youngest says has to be red. I’m also helping my helper with her Jeep Patriot in silver/gray. She has a friend that has a new black Toyota that has some paint issues.
 
Texchappy said:
3 cars now... ‘14 Lincoln Navigator in Black, ‘08 Mini Cooper convertible in Astro Black, ‘17 Honda Civic in blue. I’m looking at getting a new Ranger which my youngest says has to be red. I’m also helping my helper with her Jeep Patriot in silver/gray. She has a friend that has a new black Toyota that has some paint issues.
Click to expand...


If I were you?

Those are all nice cars. You're time invested into paying for them and now your time invested in maintaining them is substantial.

Get the FLEX Supa BEAST, a 6" backing plate and RUPES 7" yellow and white pads. Never look back. You can maximize your time and energy simply via a gear-driven orbital polisher.

The FLEX BEASTS - All Brawl - ZERO stall!


If you don't want to spend that kind of coin - then get the Griot's G9. Also get a 5" backing plate and Buff & Shine 6" Uro-Tec pads. The yellow pads are a good all-around polishing pad.


6 Inch Buff & Shine Uro-Tec Foam Pads



:)
 
So you’d suggest the Flex over the Rupes. I was looking at both and thinking they were kind of the two top dogs at the moment.
 
Texchappy said:
So you’d suggest the Flex over the Rupes. I was looking at both and thinking they were kind of the two top dogs at the moment.
Click to expand...


I recommended a very specific type of FLEX.

The counterpart to it in the RUPES line would be the Mille.


To date, I prefer buffing with 8mm versus 5mm. Just a personal preference, I'm not a "fanboy" type of person.


:)
 
Ok...that answers a question for me then between the two. The Beast must have the larger throw. Haven’t had time to research them yet, but I did briefly look at the polisher page and seen that the Rupes turns clockwise.

Had a chance to use Mike’s Beast in person several years ago at a detail event in Evansville, Indiana. The counterclockwise turning didn’t seem to bother me at past about the first 5 seconds. Seems easy enough to get used to. Only thing that concerns me would be I that I heard the Beast will be discontinued. The video I heard that in said “in two years”, but I wasn’t able to put that into context because I forgot to look and see when the video was made. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of any Beast’s being returned/repaired though I’m sure there’s been a few. Seems like a tool that would work and last for a weekend warrior.

I should have bought and owned two of them by now, just never pulled the trigger. Very nice machine I thought. You can feel the power, for sure.
 
My recommendation would be the Griots lineup of polishers. Excellent quality tool with lifetime guarantee.

My old GG3 started having major deflection in the bearing of the spindle. It would wobble so bad I was afraid the bp/pad would shear off during a detail and damage a customers vehicle. Reached out to Griots and sent in my old machine (10 years old or so) and the current G8 was sent back to me.
 
The "feel" of the MT300 is quite nice for me. I'm a short dude at 5'6" - and it feels light, and nimble.

HOWEVER, After having a taste for direct drive (Flex 3401) back before the Mille was introduced, I PREFER the NO STALLING feature, ergonomics (for me) be damned. I've learned to hold the tool in a way that is comfortable to hold for extended periods.

Love the tool so much, I have TWO of them. And one has been customized. Ohhhhhh yeaaaaah

Preference is a big thing. I've tried (and own) several types and brands. 15mm, porter cable, Rupes, Flex, 21mm...etc. For me, the Flex 3401 just does it when I'm "working" - if I have time to leisure around and just chill with the detailing, I may bring out a different tool.
 
So the Flex you recommended is forced rotation if I understand correctly. Is that part of the reason for the recommendation?

Also, can’t seem to find if the G9 is forced also. Since it doesn’t say, I’m assuming it isn’t.
 
Texchappy said:
So the Flex you recommended is forced rotation if I understand correctly. Is that part of the reason for the recommendation?

Also, can’t seem to find if the G9 is forced also. Since it doesn’t say, I’m assuming it isn’t.
Click to expand...

No, the G9 is not a forced rotation.

I would personally recommend it though. If you are anything like the rest of us on here that takes care of just our own vehicles, you will never have any serious correction to do since you will only be using the best washing/drying practices, etc.

The G9 is way more than capable of tackling anything a hobbyist will ask of it. And, the machine is 100% guaranteed for life. No questions asked.

That said, if you have the cash and want the most powerful machine on the market, then it would be a FLEX. Hands down.
 
I have a G9 that I upgraded to over an old Porter Cable style polisher. While it's not a forced rotation polisher, it has TONS of torque and will keep the pad spinning in most situations. And it's such an affordable and bulletproof entry into these types of tools that it's almost a no-brainer to get one. I switched mine over to a 5" backing plate because all the pads I own are 5" but I might try it with the 6" plate soon because it's so powerful. I can definitely recommend this tool!

That being said, I've been drooling over the CBEAST (aka the Flex XCE 8-125) for a while now and it's probably something I'll get myself into in time. Forced rotation will have the advantage especially doing edge work and being able to polish at different angles that will make even the most powerful free spinning DA stall.
 
Even though I don't have one, I'd also recommend the G9. I recommended this polisher to a friend of mine a month or so ago and he loves it.

My personal free-spinning polisher is a MT300. But if I were buying one today it would be the G9. I have two other Griot's polishers, a G8 and a GR3, and have no complaints with either. I'm sure the G9 would be the same.
 
Mike@DedicatedPerfection said:
My recommendation would be the Griots lineup of polishers. Excellent quality tool with lifetime guarantee.
Click to expand...

:iagree:

to the OP: delegate your PC to the smaller pad set-up (3"- 4" pads), and pick up a G9 (as mentioned by many already) or a G15 if you would like a long throw polisher with a little more versatility...


Griot's Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher
Griot's Garage 5 Inch Vented Backing Plate

Griots Garage BOSS G15 Long-Throw Orbital Polisher
 
Mike@DedicatedPerfection said:
My recommendation would be the Griots lineup of polishers. Excellent quality tool with lifetime guarantee.

My old GG3 started having major deflection in the bearing of the spindle. It would wobble so bad I was afraid the bp/pad would shear off during a detail and damage a customers vehicle. Reached out to Griots and sent in my old machine (10 years old or so) and the current G8 was sent back to me.
Click to expand...

I thought the same with my GG3. It wasn't the bearing, but the housing part that holds it. See the pic.

I called Griot's as well, but in my case, I think they wanted my old tool plus some money on top. I declined the offer and instead saved a little more and got the PXE.
7ccc8bb95d32471c237073345663af80.jpg


Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top