Recommended VX Paint Polishing System - Griot's Garage

[workmeistr]

Hi, Folks,
I have been tediously polishing the paint on my ’01 Fox Fire with 60K miles. I have been a fan of Griot’s Garage products while restoring Land Rovers over the last 15 years, and my experience with their paint polishing system on the VX has been so good I wanted to share my experience.
If you rub your hand over your paint and you feel particles on the surface and if you have some light to medium scratches, this system works great. As far as I can tell, you can’t screw this up or burn into the paint.
So it starts with Clay, Polish, Wax, using a random orbital machine.

3" Random Orbital, (Plenty to do panels in sections, cheaper, and much more controllable than the larger orbitals), $80
Three Mini 3" Orange Polish Pads, $13
Three Mini 3" Red Wax Pads, $13
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...dom+orbital.do

Paint Clay & Speed Shine Kit, (Speed Shine is a great product and in this case is used as lubricant for the Clay), $46
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...d+shine+kit.do

Machine Polish 2 (Mild Polish) 16 Oz., (I have used the finer #3, and Griots says to finish with #3 before waxing, but the #2 does a much better job at removing scratches and does not produce swirl marks), $13
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...h%29+16+oz..do

Wax: I use Griot's Best of Show Wax using the red orbital pads. After polishing, you can use your favorite wax, though.

Throw in some quality microfiber towels and that’s it. I have always been leary to do this kind of stuff myself as I never wanted to thin the paint, produce new swirl matks, etc. You can not do that with this system. It really is fool proof and you get what you pay for. Not real cheap, but an investment to achieve that Tony Stewart stare-at-you-ride moment (Ever noticed that his Slurpee doesn’t melt down the whole time he’s staring at his Vette?). There is also a $10 DVD with polishing instructions, but the instructions on the labels of the products are enough to get you started.
I’ll do pictures as soon as I get the ride back from the tinters and get a few more panels done. I spent 2 hours on one door last night, but I’m anal, had road paint specs, and taped off a lot so as to not throw specs of polish.

[workmeistr]

I have completed the doors, fender and hood. 'Tough to tell the difference in a photo, but the smoothness-by-hand test says alot. This polish system will also remove the de-badged shadows, as evidenced by my removed rear "4wd" badge.

I just got back from the tinters where I had 50% tint installed all around. Plenty to take the edge off of a sunny day but not too dark to emphasize the VX "tunnel" feeling or further impeding reversing operations.

I'm not a paid spokesperson for Griot's Garage products, 'just trying to offer a proven tip given my amatuer VX prowess to-date.

[rowhard]

Yes, and what I have found, is you can end up with the same results using any name brand products, whether it's Mothers, Meguiars, what have you and still have enough money left over for dinner.

[workmeistr]

Hiding scratches with a filler product like wax isn't the same as removing scratches (either clear coat or paint) through a polishing system, but to each their own.

[johnnyapollo]

I use Zaino Bros products:

Z-18 Clay Bar $16.95
Z-PC Fusion Dual Action Paint Cleaner Swirl Remover $12.95
Z-5 PRO Show Car Polish for Swirl Marks and Fine Scratches $16.95

For leather I use:
Z-10 Leather in a Bottle $10.95

I usually just buy it as I need it (combine a few items to make up on shipping costs) or if you're just getting started you can buy a kit. Web site is here:
http://www.zainostore.com/

I've been using this stuff since about 2002 - it was recommended by a friend of mine who show's his Z06 vette in shows. It goes on effortlessly and is actually a 100% synthetic wax so there is no yellowing (like you get from carnauba) - every coat you put on puts an additional layer of protection and it builds up so it looks better every time. I wax 2x a year and started using the anti-swirl and scratch stuff when the watering ban started here (I used to NEVER go to automatic car washes but the ban got so bad it was the only way to get the truck clean - it's required that the car was use a recycling system and most of the self-washes don't and were closed down).

Another advantage of Zaino is that it doesn't marr the cladding if you get it on there - no white streaks on the edges. The claybar removes the impurities from the paint (dust and road crap that get's embedded) by rolling across the surface. I don't believe in using powered buffers - too easy to burn through the clearcoat. With this product even the buffing is effortless, and with the minimal amount of painted surfaces on the VX it's not time consuming at all.

-- John

[VX KAT]

OMG!
I finally got around to using the Griot's Garage products that Bart and Workmeistr used.
Oh dear Gawd this stuff is simply fantastic!

After the 3 step process, my paint actually looks different than I've EVER seen any paint before. Interestingly, Griot's booklet specifically points out that black and dark red /burgundy are the hardest colors to deal with scratches......great....

The Griot's kit was $110 with free shipping on Amazon which was an absolute screamin' deal! (6" orbital buffer, 2 foam bonnets, Clay Bar, Speed Shine, Machine Polish #3, and Best of Show Wax). It's now $199.
You could also just get thes kit with the Clay, Speed Shine and microfiber rags, then use your own polishing and wax.http://www.amazon.com/Griots-Garage-...157112&sr=8-41

Here's the process:

1) Clay Bar entire paint surface - This is so ridiculously easy, there's no excuse not to do it. The paint surface is smooth as glass, just as they claim. It's done by spraying "Speed Shine" lightly on the paint, then taking a blob of clay and wiping it back and forth over the paint. The clay is like Silly Putty and the Speed Shine is like a slightly soapy, slippery dish soap, that allows the clay to just skid/slip right over it. It was actually very weird as I can't really figure out how the clay works to remove imbedded particles from the paint, when all you're doing is rubbing it quickly over the slippery wet paint. Whatever!....it works and works exceptionally well.


2) Machine Polish #3 - Machine polish #3 is a light/mild abrasive and removes light scratches and swirls. It's the least abrasive in their line up. I need to get the slightly more abrasive polish (#2) to remove some deeper scratches I can still see (but only slightly).
It is extremely hard to buff off once dry, you really want to either buff it before it's dry, OR, the instructions suggest you spritz it with Speed Shine to make it easier to remove once it's wet again.


3) Best of Show liquid wax - super easy to apply. A little harder to buff off than I expected, but then I never let any wax "cure" for 3 hrs (as directed)...actually I left it overnight. It went down to probably 45 degrees in my garage and it was pretty hard, so I pulled it out in the sun for a while, than buffed it off....er, well Dave surprised me and buffed it all off.

I'm blown away by the difference this process made. I can see the mica chips sparkle much more prominently than ever before. It truly can be described as "having depth of color". And top all that with the absolutely "glass smooth" paint, and the result is just spectacular!!!

I just couldn't capture it very well in the pics. I'll try some different lighting, like an overcast day and see if the pics are closer to what my eyes see.






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This is the "Best of Show" wax applied with the orbital. It's a very slippery type liquid wax that goes on very easy with the buffer. A small amount goes very far and ends up a very thin layer as you can see here.



THEN YOU LET IT CURE FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS...then buff off with a microfiber cloth.
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The Griot's 6" random orbital buffer has a great ergonomic design, and is balanced and VERY easy to handle, even though it is a bit heavy....the angle of the handle is perfect. Only thing I didn't like was the speed selector wheel is on the very end....can't get to it when the unit is on, and even if you were super strong to hold it up with one arm, the numbering on the dial is pretty small, can't read it when the unit is buzzing and vibrating.


If you do NOTHING ELSE TO YOUR TRUCK.....DO A CLAY BAR PRODUCT ON IT....IT'S AMAZING!

[blacksambo]

Best of show! Wow!!!!!

[Nigel Caffiene]

Another Griot's users here. Love his products, will not use anything else.

[circmand]

to fit on the screen without having to scroll over every line to read?

[atilla_the_fun]

I think that Kat's pictures, though awesome, are forcing the thread to expand!! =)

Where does one by Griot's products? Any brick and mortar store, or is this strictly interweb based?

[samneil2000]

I got a similar kit to Kat's for Christmas, but I got the number 2 and number 3 polishes. I had some seriously heavy pin-stripes from treelimbs and brush dragging down the paint. A quick pass with the clay bar to remove grit and then a couple passes with the number 2 polish and buffer and they're almost completely gone. Once the weather clears and warms and I have some time I plan to do the entire VX again. It is easy to use and works great. They're pricey compared to products you get at Auto Zone etc, but that's because they're worth it...
As far as I know the products are only available online.

[VX KAT]

to fit on the screen without having to scroll over every line to read?

oops.......all feex-ed!

[VX KAT]

I
Where does one by Griot's products? Any brick and mortar store, or is this strictly interweb based?

As far as I know the products are only available online.

They do sell in some stores, according to their location finder. Looks like "Advance Auto Parts" is the main seller.
http://www.griotsgarage.com/category...here+to+buy.do

[Riff Raff]

Where does one by Griot's products? Any brick and mortar store, or is this strictly interweb based?

As KAT said, they do sell in some select outlet retail stores. Griot's Garage has only one(1) brick-n-mortar store (its combination of on-site manufacturing plant; CEO/Owner's pesonal auto collection showroom; and in-house retail store lobby) located just up the street from my house here in Tacoma, WA. Their building is a huge converted Coca-Cola bottling plant and takes up one entire square city block. They have ongoing weekend morning car shows called "Car's-n-Caffiene" which attract many show cars from around the area, and have classes on proper detailing and the use of their products.

On-line internet is most likely your best source to purchase. Their entire line of products are world renowned and worth every penny. Request their hard paper catalog and get put both on their U.S. Mail and E-Mail list(s). They often send out special sale price deal's to their E-Mail subscribers. I always keep their latest hard paper catalog edition on top of my home toilet water reservoir lid for reading material when it's time for a #2 (I know; T.M.I.). LOL.

www.GriotsGarage.com