Which Pads for use with Griot's?

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Ross

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I recently purchased a 6" Griot's Garage after my Meguiar's DA failed. For my three step detail (Ultimate Compound--> Ultimate Polish--> NXT 2.0 Tech Wax), I used to use a yellow pad for compounding, and separate black pads for polishing and waxing.

Now that the Meguiar's pads are worn and the polisher is gone, I was wondering which pads would work best with my products and Griot's?

Apologies if this is a basic or redundant question, however, I've heard Lake Country's CCS orange for compounding, white for polish, but grey/blue/red for wax and am a bit confused. Any help would be much appreciated.
 
Why not stick with Griot? Orange for polish and red for wax/sealant - that's it. I think that is all they use for everything at Griot's Garage, well, at least those are the only pads they sell for their 6" machine. I know they have a special glass pad (white) and one for shower stalls, tile and other applications (yellow) but I think orange and red are all that is needed with their machine on the car paint itself. I've not used my Griot polisher yet except for cleaning my hot tub and shower (yellow pad). I suppose their auto paint pads can be used for compounding too with more pressure or speed but I don't know that for sure.
 
My current favorite go to pads are the Lake Country Hydro Tech 5 1/2 x 7/8 (low profile). Only three pads to chose from so nice and easy. I won't waste the bandwidth so do a search as you will find tons of info on these pads but you will find that the pads finish out nice and the 5 1/2" low profile cut better and are much easer to work with then a 6 1/2 pad. You going to need a different backing plate as the backing plate that is included with the Griot's is to large.

3 pack on sale:
Lake Country Hydro-Tech 5 1/2 x 7/8 Inch Foam Pads , hydrotech foam pads for water-based polishes, lake country foam pads, buffing pads



Lake Country 5" Backing plate on sale also:
lake country 5 inch backing plate, 5 inch backing plate, 5 inch hook and loop backing plate
 
I've been using the orange pads for polishing for a couple years now w/o a problem but then again the cars I usually work aren't destroyed either. I have used Optimum mf polishing/cutting pads w/ my GG 6" w/o a problem as far as correction but they have come apart on the sides so I think I'm sticking w/ foam from now on.

Just to pass along a little tip and its something covered already but I don't mind bringing it up here for sure, when using the GG 6" RO, don't use speed #6 or too much pro

Sent from my SPH-M930 using AG Online
 
I may convert my backing plates because IMO it should do an even better job due to a smaller cicumfrence, thus using more torque, right. Not only that but your working a smaller area with the slightly smaller diameter.

Sent from my SPH-M930 using AG Online
 
Klasse Act said:
I may convert my backing plates because IMO it should do an even better job due to a smaller circumference, thus using more torque, right. Not only that but your working a smaller area with the slightly smaller diameter.

Sent from my SPH-M930 using AG Online
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The smaller diameter wont bog the machine down as much as a larger pad when you put some pressure on it and also a low profile pad will cut better. Once you try a 5 1/2" or a 5" on your DA you will never go back to a larger pad.
 
I use Griots orange and red pads 6" from my local Griots in Tacoma, WA. Nice too buy from but they don't like it when u return something.
 
ReflectiveAuto said:
I use Griots orange and red pads 6" from my local Griots in Tacoma, WA. Nice too buy from but they don't like it when u return something.
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Hello to you from sunny South Florida. I just had a vehicle detailed by Polished Image Detailing in Tacoma. They did a great job.
 
Wondering the difference between the Griot's Orange and Red Waxing Pads?

Does anyone know?

Is the Orange Pad considered a CUTTING PAD, and the Red considered a FINISHING PAD?

Want to know because was informed that if you use an orbital polisher too often on a car surface, could wear down the clear coat? Is this true?

Also, wondering what should be concerned about when using an orbital polisher on car surface, like the corners, and wearing down crowns?

Thanks,
 
bbk11 said:
Wondering the difference between the Griot's Orange and Red Waxing Pads?

Does anyone know?

Is the Orange Pad considered a CUTTING PAD, and the Red considered a FINISHING PAD?

Want to know because was informed that if you use an orbital polisher too often on a car surface, could wear down the clear coat? Is this true?

Also, wondering what should be concerned about when using an orbital polisher on car surface, like the corners, and wearing down crowns?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

The orange is more a firm polishing pad as opposed to a cutting pad, while the red is a soft finishing/finessing pad.

If comparing them to Lake Country pads, I'd put the Griots Orange pad above the lake country white, but below the Lake Country Orange, and the Griots red pad would be above the Lake Country red, but below the Lake Country Gray/Black.

They are decent pads, and if you don't really need much defect or paint removal or compounding done, you can just use the griots combination over and over. Once you do a solid detail on a car, you are always more careful. And yes, using a polisher too often does wear away the clear coat. Remember, the only way to fix swirls and defects is to remove some of the clear coat. It's usually microns but the more you wear it down, the thinner it gets.

As for the rest, you have to be careful around corners and tight spaces. Always tape off the area so as to not damage places. You could also get the Griots 3" polisher or get a smaller 3" or 3.5" backing plate and use 3" or 4" pads on your normal DA polisher.
 
Klasse Act said:
Just to pass along a little tip and its something covered already but I don't mind bringing it up here for sure, when using the GG 6" RO, don't use speed #6 or too much pro

Sent from my SPH-M930 using AG Online
Click to expand...

Can you elaborate a bit more? I routinely use speed 6 on my GG unit and a lt of pressure. No issues as of this post.
 
PHP: 
The orange is more a firm polishing pad as opposed to a cutting pad, while the red is a soft finishing/finessing pad.

If comparing them to Lake Country pads, I'd put the Griots Orange pad above the lake country white, but below the Lake Country Orange, and the Griots red pad would be above the Lake Country red, but below the Lake Country Gray/Black.

They are decent pads, and if you don't really need much defect or paint removal or compounding done, you can just use the griots combination over and over. Once you do a solid detail on a car, you are always more careful. And yes, using a polisher too often does wear away the clear coat. Remember, the only way to fix swirls and defects is to remove some of the clear coat. It's usually microns but the more you wear it down, the thinner it gets.

As for the rest, you have to be careful around corners and tight spaces. Always tape off the area so as to not damage places. You could also get the Griots 3" polisher or get a smaller 3" or 3.5" backing plate and use 3" or 4" pads on your normal DA polisher. [PHP]
[/PHP]



What if you just use the Red (finishing) pad. Would this wear down the clear coat after a while? Understand if you are using the Orange pad to get rid of scratches, this would wear down the clear coat because the scratch is in the coat.

What about the crown's on the car (the indented, or angled area on the surface to give the a better look to the car)...can't tape this off because would then tape off a lot of the car down the sides, front, roof. Is there concerns about these angles when using an orbital polisher?

Thanks
 
What if you just use the Red (finishing) pad. Would this wear down the clear coat after a while? Understand if you are using the Orange pad to get rid of scratches, this would wear down the clear coat because the scratch is in the coat.

What about the crown's on the car (the indented, or angled area on the surface to give the a better look to the car)...can't tape this off because would then tape off a lot of the car down the sides, front, roof. Is there concerns about these angles when using an orbital polisher?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Well the red finishing pad has no "cut" and so it won't wear down the clear. You can use it over and over again with a wax or sealant if you wish, it'll be no different than if you were to apply by hand.

As for buffing on angles and curves, maybe this video/thread by Mike Phillips might help. http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...lus-concave-convex-curved-panels-machine.html
 
Madness87 said:
Well the red finishing pad has no "cut" and so it won't wear down the clear. You can use it over and over again with a wax or sealant if you wish, it'll be no different than if you were to apply by hand.

As for buffing on angles and curves, maybe this video/thread by Mike Phillips might help. http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...lus-concave-convex-curved-panels-machine.html
Click to expand...


Thanks for the answers. Feel much more secure about the Red Griot's pads now. Was concerned about using the orbital polisher too often with the Red Pads, but because of your answer, feel very comfortable now.

Thanks for the link too.:xyxthumbs:
 
I have a GG 6 and 3.
Have used their orange with M105/205 a lot and gotten good results.
Used their red with sealants/wax stuff. For me, if I'm not really getting after something,I prefer the GG-6 with a 5" plate and the 5.5 CCS pads from Lake County for the feel. But that's just me.
Take a big flat hood of a vehicle that you can see obvious imperfections in. Take a GG6 orange pad and some M205 and improve the surface. Get a feel for that pad. Then take a LC CCS red pad and work in a nice sealant or wax. You'll feel the difference. You may prefer one way or the other, but you'll fell the difference,
 
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