Huh. New Griots.... Rotary

Hmm. I, too, wonder why Griot`s is going into the rotary market

Lonnie said:
That and there are a lot of gel-coated fiberglass truck caps/bed covers, water boats, and recreation vehicles that are best corrected and polished by a rotary.
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One thought I have is that guys that already have a full size rotary, don`t really need a smaller rotary. The nice thing about rotary polishers, is that you can use various size backing plates, from 1" all the way up to 7" - granted, doing some fine detail work with a 1" on a big rotary may not be the easiest, but it is certainly possible. Some extensions, and voila, you can get into some tight spots!

Lonnie said:
Now here`s the big question: if you are an Autopian hobbyist detailer, would you buy this tool?
I suppose it depends on how "serious" a hobbyist you are (the-right-tool for-the-right-job mentality) and if your personal detailing budget can afford it.
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I often consider myself a hobbyist, but if I`m honest about it, I`d say I`m a bit more. Not full-on Pro that does paint polishing on a regular basis, but more so than I do my own cars.

If I did ONLY my own cars, then I`d probably not buy the tool. But having a small rotary with 1" backing plate has made my life easier. I was running a Flex PE8 for a while, even though I had a Flex PE14. Lacking seat time with rotary tools, I just felt safer using a smaller machine!

With the current design trend from Griot`s, maybe they just figured for "just a little more" development, they can adapt their current line of tools to be made as rotaries. The GR3 has the same basic shape of the new G8. (At least that`s how it looked to me!).

I don`t know. Just thinking.

Though, if all these tools use the same quick connect cord feature, it would be nice to just have ONE cord plugged in, and be able to swap between 2,3, or more tools. I tend to carry between 4 and 5 tools on mobile jobs.

BUUUUUT..... I`m really like CORDLESS tools. Currently using a Flex PxE, and a DeWalt 20v Max 15mm.
 
Accumulator said:
I sure like the sound of *that*, but I gotta ask...how has it made your life easier compared to doing [whatever work it is] via other means?
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I used to have to get creative with polishing certain areas. Coming at [certain areas] from different angles, different pad sizes. There were times where I`d have to do the polishing by hand. No thanks.

No longer have to do all that. I just grab the small polisher, extension, and the pad of choice. Less thinking involved, less time spent doing those areas.

Off the top of my head, the areas that come to mind are the door panel, around the side mirrors. Around emblems in certain cases.
 
JustJesus- OK, just wondered. I`d still want to use a RO/DA for anything that didn`t *have* to be done by hand.

Don`t you get holograms from using the rotary for those areas and have to follow-up anyhow?
 
I "driveway detailed" for 50 years without a 1-3" rotary. But now that I have one, my mind flashes back to all the times over the years I could have used one and saved a whole lot of arm rubbing!

My most used combo: a 1" Flex orange buff with an extension.

Where`s it used the most: removing "rash" off the corners of painted bumpers & marks in paint.

Do I really need it: Nope

Reaction of friends when I remove a blemish off their car in seconds: Priceless.

Flex ext installed.jpg
 
Accumulator said:
JustJesus- OK, just wondered. I`d still want to use a RO/DA for anything that didn`t *have* to be done by hand.

Don`t you get holograms from using the rotary for those areas and have to follow-up anyhow?
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Does the mini rotary cause holograms..absolutely, but on small areas they are not noticeable.
 
Rsurfer said:
Does the mini rotary cause holograms..absolutely, but on small areas they are not noticeable.
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Maybe not...*UNLESS* you inspect the way I do.

Yeah..I know :o but holograms are a pet peeve of mine and my wife`s. We simply will not drive a vehicle that has them. Period. No, I don`t expect others, even other Autopians, to be so fanatical about it. But we are.
 
I`d think that an air powered mini orbital would be cheaper and just as effective providing someone has a large enough air compressor.
 
Accumulator said:
JustJesus- OK, just wondered. I`d still want to use a RO/DA for anything that didn`t *have* to be done by hand.

Don`t you get holograms from using the rotary for those areas and have to follow-up anyhow?
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I tend to stick with softer pads and lighter polish (not heavy pad / compound) for the times I bring out the mini rotary. This has been working okay for me, mainly because....



Accumulator said:
Maybe not...*UNLESS* you inspect the way I do.

No, I don`t expect others, even other Autopians, to be so fanatical about it. But we are.
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There`s only ONE client I have that would be that fanatical. On one of his cars, a 1976 Porsche 912 that received a "frame off" restoration, you bet I`ll do anything and everything to make it as perfect as I can get it within the budget and time constraints. His other cars, depending on what he`s asking for, may not need to be as "Accumulator worthy" :)

To date, in the [not that many] cars I`ve done, I haven`t had a single person that wasn`t satisfied. Or point out a left-over swirl or hologram.
 
wannafbody said:
I`d think that an air powered mini orbital would be cheaper and just as effective providing someone has a large enough air compressor.
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Effective, yeah..but, I suspect, not as efficient if doing something really aggressive. It`s an OK trade-off for me, but maybe not for others. And yeah, I can see applications where a little rotary would be just the thing so I`m not just being a rotary-hater.

Much as I *really* like my 3" (Griot`s) pneumatic, it has its limitations; simply put, it`s no rotary. Maybe there are better units available...

That said, I do use that more than anything else these days since I (hopefully) only do spot-correction. It doesn`t need all *that* big of a compressor either: like my Tornador Black, I have to dial down that air station from what I usually use to what`s best for those units.

JustJesus said:
To date, in the [not that many] cars I`ve done, I haven`t had a single person that wasn`t satisfied. Or point out a left-over swirl or hologram.
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That`s great! And to me, it shows that what you`re doing is perfectly fine as-is. I sure don`t expect others to, uhm...be the way my wife and I are about this stuff!
 
Accumulator said:
That`s great! And to me, it shows that what you`re doing is perfectly fine as-is. I sure don`t expect others to, uhm...be the way my wife and I are about this stuff!
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Thanks Accumulator. I do get surprised sometimes as to how ecstatic some people get when I`m done; while I`m thinking, "I sure hope this is good enough for them"[given the job agreed upon, of course].

I do believe you and Accumulatorette are on a different level altogether. Something I totally respect!
 
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