Swap out backing plates or get multiple polishers?

B

Bluelude1

New member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
I'd like to buy a DA polisher for personal use, but I am kind of stalled out on which direction I should go.

I have multiple vehicles of varying sizes.

  • F350 Dually
  • Sienna Minivan
  • Honda CRV
  • Honda Civic

The Hondas and Sienna have a lot of intricacies particularly on the front end, but the truck & Sienna have large panels as well. I could easily make a case for a 3in polisher & a 6in, but considering this is personal use it's easy to buy a bunch of stuff but not as easy to justify.

I've never been a fan of buying "cheap" tools so that has me wondering if it is possible/feasible to go with a better 15mm machine and use a 3in backing plate as needed?
 
Last time I checked it’s not possible to attach a 3” backing plate to a 15mm DA Polisher. You can only swap out to a 3” backing plate on a 8mm polisher i.e. GG6 DA Polisher can do it, along with similar polishers.

If you get that 15mm polisher and that alone, then you either better be ready to be real good if need be, or your vehicles are ideal and don’t provide any real intricate areas, or you’re going to have to be ok with certain areas not being completely “perfect” because you couldn’t get into them... Or you do those areas by hand.
 
I would recommend the Griot’s G8 and G9 combo. Their prices aren’t bad and you get both of the needs you’re describing taken care of. They share the same power cord which can make it easier depending on your environment.
 
Bruno is correct. I have g9 and have barely used a 15 since I got it. The g8 is a powerful 3 inch machine that comes with a 3" and a 2" backing plate.
 
Buy one machine and various size backing plates. Would be a big waste of money to buy alot of machines for just a couple family vehicles.
 
F-350 dually? Griots g15 and G8 or flex pixie. Lot of real estate on that truck. Got a 15 and 3” combo and thoroughly happy. G-15,for that Sienna too. Faster and an awesome polisher.

I am thinking of adding a g9 also but a 15mm is not bad too work with. Took me a out 30 mins to figure it out



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I am sure it's been covered before, but with the given selection of vehicles I am working with, am I really going to notice a huge difference in working speed going with a 15mm over the G9?
 
I own single forced rotation DA with 5 inch backing plate. I polish tight areas by hand. This is another option.
 
I have a Flex 3401 & a GG G8. I like having 2. I can hit the tight spots, headlights, & my motorcycle with the G8. I didn't buy them both at once so it was easier on the budget. I second the G9 & G8 being a good value on some quality machines. But if you have your heart set on 15mm then go for it.
 
madtrucker said:
... But if you have your heart set on 15mm then go for it.
Click to expand...

I'm not locked on anything in particular outside of getting the most sensible/practical setup. Just seems to be a lot of support for the G9 which had me wondering about the realistic value of even considering moving up to a 15mm machine in my scenerio.
 
In any case, you'd have to buy a variety of Pad Sizes. It depends on "how many sizes" you choose to have to be able to use?

Let's say with the purchase of an older model GG6 (which there's nothing at all wrong with, and I believe still available from Griots Garage at a discount), or a Porter Cable 7424XP, with these two, you can outfit either with 3", 3-7/8", and 5" Backing Plates, and use 3", 4", and 5.5" Pads respectively.

The 3" and 3-7/8" Backing Plates will have to be Yellow Urethane Lake Country Backing Plates, and for the 5" Backing Plate, then get the Griots Garage Ventilated Plate, nicer than the LC 5" Yellow.

Takes 2 minutes at most to swap a Plate. Numerous makers in the Pad Sizes I mention above.

Yes, two Tools are more convenient, and for tight spots, something like the Griots G8 will work better than either tool I mention above outfitted with 3" Pads.

Either tool I mention above is capable of good correction on paint, even though they are not forced rotation machines, or long throws.

just some food for thought, all depends what you personally wish to do, and how much you're willing to invest?
 
I think for the home user a G9 is plenty good. No need for a 15mm polisher if you're not doing higher volume of cars. I have a G15 but only because the G9 wasn't available then. I think if I were to get new ones now I'd go G8 and G9 combo (which together probably cost the same or less than the G15 alone).
 
Reason I say "willing to invest", it does get expensive in any case, whether choosing one tool with multiple Plates and Pads, or a variety of a number of separate tools.

Factor the Pads. One should have at least a 1/2 dozen of any size and type. At $6-$9 a pop, Pad investments become pricey, running into multiple hundreds of dollars. Factor as well buying a decent Pad Cleaner to clean those Pads, APC's work poorly and harm Pads.

The Various Plates. And then the various Polish Chemicals. Figure Towels, Clay, various other accessories, one can easily invest $500 with just one machine and various Pads, Plates, Chemicals.

Consider though such an investment is for 4 vehicles, not 1, and as well not a "one time use", you'll have this equipment on hand for years if cared for.
 
Bluelude1 said:
I am sure it's been covered before, but with the given selection of vehicles I am working with, am I really going to notice a huge difference in working speed going with a 15mm over the G9?
Click to expand...

On the dually for sure. Sienna probably.... other teo probably not



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