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

Ed Abbondanzio said:
Interested to hear what you think. I made the same switch and went from a GG6 to the G9 (both with 5" backing plate). Going to the G9 made me realize I had some bad habits that needed to stop.
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Any examples of the bad habits?
 
vwite said:
Any examples of the bad habits?
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I was stalling out the G9 a ton when I first started using it due to buffing on edges, and not always having the pad properly parallel with the panel.

Most of the stalling was due to using thinner pads with the G9 but it was still a good learning lesson that my technique was sloppy. I only really do production buffs that I don't market as paint correction.
 
After using my G9 today, I am super impressed with it.

Balance is great, power is plentiful, and I love the tool rest on the back of the head and the trigger/trigger lock features. Also, I find it to run very smoothly. I keep reading how the Rupes is the smoothest-running machine out there, and if that is true, kudos to them. But I thought the G9 was a pleasure to use.

I churned LC Flat pads, but popped on 2 Thin-Pros toward the end. No real noticeable difference between the two except maybe that the Flats are a little easier to make "dance" in some concave body accents.

My opinion: The G9 is a nice machine. Griot's did a great job on this.

For anyone considering a first polisher, this would be a great choice.
 
I’m hoping to pick one up soon. I’m sure it’s a great machine, can anyone comment on longevity? For example using often as correcting paint and last?
 
TrustJesus said:
I’m hoping to pick one up soon. I’m sure it’s a great machine, can anyone comment on longevity? For example using often as correcting paint and last?
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Since it’s only about 8 months old it’s hard to say how long they last. But you can bet it’s good quality and if it dies, Griot’s lifetime warranty comes to the rescue and they replace it.
 
Purchased mine this month. I polished my Jeep with it, looks great thanks to the M100 and M205 compound. I started polishing my 1970 Monte Carlo with it. Made it halfway thru, and it died. It spins, then shuts off. Spin then shuts off. Wont stay running more than a few seconds. Was hoping it would last more than one car's worth of buffing.
 
MSLUCY said:
Purchased mine this month. I polished my Jeep with it, looks great thanks to the M100 and M205 compound. I started polishing my 1970 Monte Carlo with it. Made it halfway thru, and it died. It spins, then shuts off. Spin then shuts off. Wont stay running more than a few seconds. Was hoping it would last more than one car's worth of buffing.
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Contact Griot’s, they’ll take care of you.
 
Santa Claus brought me a Griots G9 last year and it is a great machine. It is powerful, well balanced, comfortable and it has never stalled on me. The perforated backing plate allows the pad to run much cooler. Little features make a big difference too such as the detachable power cord and rest pads so that the tool can lay flat on a workbench. The speed control dial can be accessed from both sides of the handle but the one issue for me as a lefty was the trigger lock button. It is located on the left side of the handle only, accessed easily with your right hand. I emailed Griots and asked them to consider placing an additional trigger lock button on the right. They did answer me and said they would consider it.
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UncleDavy said:
The speed control dial can be accessed from both sides of the handle but the one issue for me as a lefty was the trigger lock button. It is located on the left side of the handle only, accessed easily with your right hand. I emailed Griots and asked them to consider placing an additional trigger lock button on the right. They did answer me and said they would consider it.
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Even as a righty I found the placement of the trigger lock to be a little awkward when using it on vertical panels. I'd have to position the machine and rotate it so that I could reach the trigger lock, then reposition it to start the section pass.
 
Great review, Mike. Very little doubt this will be my next GG6 upgrade polisher.

Just to compliment what Mike wrote, I recently watched a Youtube video where some guys compared 23 polishers. The put the G9 at the top of the pro corded category. One guy said "It's not a forced rotation unit, but you never see the pad stop turning."

I've been trying to figure out what to get to as an upgrade to my GG6. It works well but is hard to keep rotation going on very curved panels. I was considering G15 or a forced forced rotation machine. I think this one is the right answer. G15 looks fine. G9 looks better. Forced rotation sounds great for very curved panels, right until I accidentally get onto a ridge or dig in the edge of a pad. For an amateur the G9 seems much safer.
 
BSoares said:
Contact Griot’s, they’ll take care of you.
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Called them this morning. I have to send it back, and they will send out a new one they say. Hopefully it doesnt take too long, since I am stuck with half a car that still needs to be buffed . I will say, aside from the failure, its a nice tool and the results were great with it .
 
RippyD said:
Great review, Mike. Very little doubt this will be my next GG6 upgrade polisher.

Just to compliment what Mike wrote, I recently watched a Youtube video where some guys compared 23 polishers. The put the G9 at the top of the pro corded category. One guy said "It's not a forced rotation unit, but you never see the pad stop turning."

I've been trying to figure out what to get to as an upgrade to my GG6. It works well but is hard to keep rotation going on very curved panels. I was considering G15 or a forced forced rotation machine. I think this one is the right answer. G15 looks fine. G9 looks better. Forced rotation sounds great for very curved panels, right until I accidentally get onto a ridge or dig in the edge of a pad. For an amateur the G9 seems much safer.
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Interesting observation I had when using my G9 after being a GG6 user - with the GG6, it was always pushed how "Thin is in" to maintain pad rotation. I was surprised to find when doing my wife's Q5 how the G9 actually seemed to prefer the regular (non-BOSS) 6.5" pads when doing the curvy areas to keep pad rotation going. It was more prone to slowing when using thin/5.5" pads.

Having done a few cars with it now, I really like that G9. I also like how, compared to the GG6, I generally run it a notch or two lower speed wise (since pad rotations not an issue) which cuts down on it's noise level.
 
oneheadlite said:
Interesting observation I had when using my G9 after being a GG6 user - with the GG6, it was always pushed how "Thin is in" to maintain pad rotation. I was surprised to find when doing my wife's Q5 how the G9 actually seemed to prefer the regular (non-BOSS) 6.5" pads when doing the curvy areas to keep pad rotation going. It was more prone to slowing when using thin/5.5" pads.

Having done a few cars with it now, I really like that G9. I also like how, compared to the GG6, I generally run it a notch or two lower speed wise (since pad rotations not an issue) which cuts down on it's noise level.
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Great post.

I posted my observations back in July on the G9. I used some Thin-Pro's toward the end, but not on anything too curved.
 
MSLUCY said:
Shipped the polisher back to them on Dec 4. Tracking shows they received it on the 7th. Today is the 14th, and called to check on the status. They dont have any information on it in their system, and basically told me they will call me when they find it, or get it processed. At this point, I dont think I'll be purchasing any more Griots products. Bought a polisher, used it twice, and it failed. Who knows how long it will take to receive the replacement at this point. Meanwhile my half buffed car sits here waiting to be finished. I would have been better off buying the Bauer one from harbor freight, at least I could have had a replacement the same day had it failed.
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Sorry to hear that you might have "slipped through the cracks" in the system.

If this is the case, you are certainly the exception, and not the norm. Griot's has such a huge following because of their great customer service, not in spite of it.

I know none of what I say here will make you feel any better about the situation, but it is true.

I hope you get an answer sooner than later. Maybe mention that you posted this here on AGO?
 
PaulMys said:
Sorry to hear that you might have "slipped through the cracks" in the system.

If this is the case, you are certainly the exception, and not the norm. Griot's has such a huge following because of their great customer service, not in spite of it.

I know none of what I say here will make you feel any better about the situation, but it is true.

I hope you get an answer sooner than later. Maybe mention that you posted this here on AGO?
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I deleted the last post. I made a mistake. My wife told me they "should have" recieved it on the 7th. After checking the tracking info on USPS, it shows "shipped', but hasnt arrived yet. So, the problem is actually with our postal system, and not Griots. I apologize for the mistake. I am corresponding with their customer service , and will update later. Sorry!
 
MSLUCY said:
I deleted the last post. I made a mistake. My wife told me they "should have" recieved it on the 7th. After checking the tracking info on USPS, it shows "shipped', but hasnt arrived yet. So, the problem is actually with our postal system, and not Griots. I apologize for the mistake. I am corresponding with their customer service , and will update later. Sorry!
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Good to hear. (Not about your postal service) Lol

I am sure GG will make it right by you. And yes, please post the outcome. :)
 
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