If you do your own detailing and do not have a random orbital polisher, this is a good deal on a very good machine:


It shows as $109 but $20 will be deducted at checkout.

I have used one of these for several years and like it a lot. You cannot burn the paint with it but it still does an excellent job.

 

I've often wondered if this machine is what Griot's sells. Griot's machine (which I have) is excellent in every way and I think the only difference is the pad holder is their own design. I know Griot's is a Porter Cable, they'll tell you it is, and also say you can't buy their machine under any other label.

I have literally restored 40+ year old paint to near new with one of these polishers and Griot's 1-2-3-4 polishes.

 

The $20 doesn't come off for me.... what's the secret?

 

Is this the dual orbital? Or just the single orbital? Is there a difference. I've seen the dual orbital where it says that it won't burn through the paint, but I've heard regular orbitals doing so. Does that make any sense?

 

unless you are talking about the cyclone with the 2 heads, I think you are just a tad confused.

I bet you are talking about the difference between a Random Orbital ( like the Porter Cable) and a Rotary. Yes the Random Orbital will not burn through the paint, a Rotary will. Rotary is more effective and faster to detail the car, but yes there is more risk. I think that its over exaggerated the risk, but some people just feel safer by operating a random orbital.

The porter cable is a great basic tool, the Flex is much better, but at this price its a great value and certainly much better than trying to polish without it.

 

Looks like the 20 off is dead. Must be a corollary to Murphy's Law - a deal will evaporate 20 minutes after you post a link to it.

 

Phil from Detailers Domain stated that the Griots version is actually better than the XP, more powerful and better handle. I also have the latest Griots version and I agree that it is an excellent tool. I had the original Griots polisher which I purchased back in 2005 and I burned it out a couple of years ago. It wasn't nearly as powerful and I could easily bog it down.

This is a great price on the XP, even at $109

 

Thks for the tip...just bought one

 

Worked for me. When you hit the link above, it is $109 from a different vender, CPO Outlet. This will not give you the $20 off. You have to hit the "12 NEW" button and order the part from Amazon itself. It will not show up until you get to the page where you put your CC info and mailing address in.

 

Where can I get the pads for this thing? One of the reviewers says you need a hook and loop adapter in order the meguairs pads to work? Is this true? I'm such a newb at this...

 

You will need a velcro backing plate for majority of the pads available on the market. The Meguiars pads work well but I personally have had very poor luck with cleaning and reusing them. More than once I have cleaned them and they have literally blown apart when I started buffing. Griots and Detailers Domain both offer very good pads, I would look at them before buying the Meguiars pads.

 

Will do just ordered the buffer for 89 and free shipping. Thanks to the OP for posting this.

Marine Blue what pads do you recommend I start out with?

 

Thanks for the link. I have been putting off getting a Porter Cable Random Orbital due to the costs for a couple of years. I have just sucked it up and put in more elbow grease. Long story, short - ordered

 

Give Phil at Detailer Domain a call, he can recommend the right pads for your application. Note that you will need to tell him what you are trying to achieve so he can recommend the right pads and products.

For reference I have used the pads he offers and they work well and they last. Get the larger sizes to make sure the entire velcro area is covered and you have some pad hanging over the edge. The XP will have enough power that it won't bog down with the larger pads.

 

That depends on the state of your paint finish.

I use Lake Country CCS pads. What I liked about their company was the info they provided in their Pad Application Guide. The pads come in various sizes to fit your polisher.

My paint was near perfect so I used a Lake Country CCS blue foam - final finishing pad.

TIP: When I was done, I hand washed it in Zero by Woolite and the pad looks like new.