Anyone buy a Griots Buffer/Waxer system? What's your opinion...?

[Mfr426]

If this thread is misplaced please feel free to move me but I figured it was body related?

Hey All, my birthday is coming up and my wife has offered to get me the $200 Griots buffer/waxer kit. I have a buddy at work here who is VERY meticulous about his cars (BMW's, MB,etc.) and he says that it cuts his waxing time by 75%. He is not very handy and he says you just cant screw up the job with this kit and he really promotes it. 

Here's the kit:

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L1=L1_1000&L2=L2_1004&SKU=11119

Anyone use this product? Any comments on it's performance?

Thanks all!

Mike R in Reading PA

[bill440rt]

Mike,
I use a lot of Griot's stuff. Some of their stuff is all I will use. They have excellent products.
I have never tried their machine waxing system, as I prefer to wax my show cars by hand. I do, however, wax my everday drivers with an orbital polisher. You don't necessarily need an expensive orbital machine to get a good job. Mine is a Ryobi from Home Depot. Works fine with wool bonnets.
For a show car, you won't need paint cleaning clay. That is for removing imbedded dirt & other impurities from the finish before polishing/waxing. If you're like me (it sounds like you are, I'm anal to the extreme), you won't let your Charger's paint get that dirty.
The Speed Shine is an excellent detailer. I've never used their Best of Show Wax, but I have a friend who has & he said it was very good. I would imagine their paint polish is very good, I use a similar product from 3M called Liquid Polish. It's basically a mild white polish that removes minor swirls. The orbital machine just speeds up the process. You could use this system on your Charger, but I think all that buffing is more suited for everyday drivers that are more exposed to road elements, dirt, scratches, etc.
I use the 3M polish once a year if necessary, then follow up with a good pure carnauba wax (I use the wax from Fleetwax, or 3M's show car wax paste). Zero abrasives in this wax, it is pure wax. Griot's sells this too, you'll see it in their catalog.
What is also good from them is their Car Wash soap & wheel cleaner (I use them on everyday drivers), Chrome Polish (I do NOT use chrome polish on bumpers, but theirs is very low-abrasive), Interior Cleaner, the blue wipes (work great on glass), cotton polishing cloths (with the RED stitching on the edge, NOT the microfiber ones). They also sell an AWESOME cotton terry cloth fender cover, with built in pockets. It has sewn-in magnets so it sticks to the car. VERY soft, will not scratch like a typical foam rubber one. 

[Mfr426]

Hey Bill, yeah I saw that clay and have used a clay bar before. I doubt I'll be using that on my car (although my MDX came up awesome after using it). If my car is ever that bad it will be long after I've sold it  I thought about getting somthing like that Ryboi that you got at HODO but am concerned at the way the unit buffs. Griots goes to great measures to explain that their unit is designed to make it goof proof. I have a BIG angle grinder/buffer but it is way too noisy and you could fry your paint in seconds with one false move. How well does your Ryobi work as far as getting the paint hot??? Also, do they have a good selection of buffing bonnets, etc?  Thanks for the time to comment.

[bill440rt]

Mike,
The Ryobi buffer is an ORBITAL buffer, just like (or should I say similar) to the one Griot's sells. Griot's looks like more of industrial-type unit orbital sander/polisher that they converted &  now sell as a buffer. Same principal, only smaller & right-angled. Neither are in no way like an angle grinder/polisher like the one you describe, I also have one of those.
The Ryobi buffer/polisher is a little bigger & made of plastic. I use it on my '98 Ram, my wife's '03 Tribute (next truck WILL be a Mopar, dammit!), and my 24' Wells Cargo trailer (it's black, BTW). It does a fine job. There are two speeds to choose from, OFF or ON. That's it, pick one. The Griot's one seems to have a variable speed, no?
What is nice about the Ryobi is that I can go to any auto parts store & pick up 12" bonnets to use. I can use wool, terry cloth, or whatever. I put the wax on the vehicle with a terry covered 5" round wax applicator, let it haze, then buff it off with the Ryobi. I go over any hard to reach areas by hand with a cloth & to smooth out anything the buffer leaves as residue (you'll have to do this anyway no matter what your using to buff). Cuts my time down by alot.
Bottom line, if you want to spend a little more on an industrial unit or if variable speed is a factor, go for the Griot. Or, save a few bucks & go to your local HODO & pick up the Ryobi. Or, Craftsmen, etc. All are very similar. They fit my purpose on my daily drivers, but I still won't use one on my Chargers. I just prefer to do them by hand. I may use it on my '68 this season, I drive that one the most to cruise nights, shows, etc. My '70 R/T is 9 times out of 10 on a trailer going to the bigger, farther shows.
Good Luck with whatever you choose, Mike. And keep me posted!
Bill

PS- Why not try the Ryobi? If you don't like it, take it back. HODO will take back ANYTHING!! Keep in mind the supplied pads aren't the greatest.