What machine to buy?

[Jared]

Well, after watching a friend do some correction on my car, and how easy it seemed, I am ready to purchase some stuff by the end of summer to take care of the car this winter while I'm bored.

He used a Rupes, I know some like Flex, PC and Griots. Don't want to spend a ton, and it's just for my car, not a side hustle or family cars.

I tried going back and looking for threads, didn't find anything that had any good comparisons.

 

[2005_Silverado]

HF polisher and get the warranty

/thread

 

[Cheeny23]

HF polisher and get the warranty

/thread

my rotary from hf is still going 6 years later.

 

[Jared]

Thanks. I'm going to pick something up for my birthday in December. Should give me something to do during winter. Maybe I'll practice on Hector's truck first?

 

[ScottyBoy]

I have the Harbor Freight DA polisher, and it does the job. I only paid like $50 for it with a 20% off coupon.
It works good with the Chemical Guys backing plate and Hex Logic pads.

 

[DeanH1290]

Might have to look into the harbor freight ones as well. Didn't think to look at one of those when I got my meguiars DA power system.

 

[iTzTy]

I bought the HF (Chicago Electric) DA about 3 months ago and its perfect for what i use it for. Google a 25% off coupon, there's one circulating that's good until like January right now.

 

[Ginger]

I've had a pc. They are ok but slow. I love my rupes. It's so much nicer and faster. I would only get that or the flex. I talked to Sam he suggested the rupes and he has a flex.

 

[TechieTruckGuy]

Get a griots garage. Relatively inexpensive. Doesn't have the extreme vibration that the HF Polisher has. I still have a HF Polisher but use a DA brush on it for doing floor mats.

Griots Garage 6 Inch Random Orbital Polisher

 

[SamCarroll]

HF polisher and get the warranty

/thread

Truth.

For your situation I'd do this Jared.

 

[Adjusted]

Get a griots garage. Relatively inexpensive. Doesn't have the extreme vibration that the HF Polisher has. I still have a HF Polisher but use a DA brush on it for doing floor mats.

Griots Garage 6 Inch Random Orbital Polisher

The Griots is what I have, only used it once so far but it was easy for a beginner.

 

[slicksierra]

Also have the griots its 150 for the 25 foot cord version which is what you want. Has more power than a PC but doesn't have the throw of the rupes. But do you need a huge rupes with a 15mm or 21mm throw? I dont think so with the G8. Hell I did my truck with just the griots and that has 16 feet worth of bed panels not to mention the rest of the truck. For nearly a quarter of the cost it would be a great machine for semi annual swirl removal, applying sealant and or wax and removing other light defects. This machine with a 5" backing plate did wonders for my paint but you just cant expect it to remove stuff that needs wet sanding.

 

[Cheeny23]

I have a griots from back when it was just a normal pc lol.

Sent from pasta.

 

[slicksierra]

I have a griots from back when it was just a normal pc lol.

Sent from pasta.

Yeah they up'd the torque since then

 

[TechieTruckGuy]

Don't get me wrong I would love to have a rupes but I can't justify it since I don't detail a car every single day. What I will be purchasing is the 3 inch model of griots garage as well great for tighter areas


Sent from my Stealth Lookin iPhone using Tapaturd

 

[SamCarroll]

I have a flex but use my PC for 3" pad. Love it

 

[Jared]

Good info! For the price I'll probably try the HF since so many say it's decent.

 

[AlwaysSomethin]

I have PC, just got 3" pads. But am impressed. Definitely want flex or rupes for larger panels now though.

 

[Jordan]

I have the HF polisher with a 5" Astro backing plate and use 5.5" CG HexLogic pads and the combo seems to work great and you can't beat the value. For what you're looking to do, I agree with Sam and Ed... definitely the HF polisher.

 

[DylanVK]

IMO the $50 or $60 you save buying the HF over the PC or GG polisher isn't worth the added vibration and noise. If we were talking $100+ swing in price, sure.

Its not that the HF isn't capable of doing all the same things, I just think some level of comfort/quality is worth the extra $$$ and its not exactly a big price jump.