Good thing here is that we are all smart people who can make up our own minds with a litle info. I "A/B" tested a PC against a Griot's Garage 6" buffer, and clearly preferred the G'sG. Not all will or do, but I did. I liked the ease of use and the extra 1000 orbits per minute the G's G provides. Also, with Lowes not carrying the PC anymore, the G'sG was cheaper, considering it came fully equipped an ready to go for 6" pads. I showed my buffer to some people who own/work at a SUPER PREMIUM body shop. They said no way was it of Chinese manufcture. for those who want to use a smaller pad G'sG sells a 3" ROB for $79.95 ready to "pad up and go". (I don't feel that I need it, but some do.) So for $210 G'sG will get you the 6" and the 3", with no "fiddling around" changing plates. Compared with the PC prices I was able to find, this is attractive to me. Also, G'sG buffers will use ANY hook and loop pads ofthe correct size -- not just those sold by G's G. Also, G'sG comes with a six month "no questions asked" return guarantee, and a lifetime guanantee of break-downs.

 

Well, I'm not going to start an argument over this because opinion based discussions like this rarely go anywhere productive. However, let me say . . .

I have to ask . . . what makes the owner of a body shop an expert on the manufacture origin of a power tool? I've heard countless stories of people who put their trust in a "super premium" body shop and were extremely disappointed in the end and that involved painting a car not the manufacture origins of a machine. Regardless of manufacturing origin it does have a good warranty from Griot's so where it's manufactured is really not important.

That price is no great deal. For $120 and often for less you can get a PC (I paid $90 for mine). For an extra $18 you can buy an Edge 2000 adapter. So, again no fiddling with backing plates and you can switch between 4" pads and 6" pads in a snap. However, I don't have to worry about storing two machines and I save $70 minimum. Plus, for a little extra money I can buy a scrub brush attachment and use the PC to scrub carpets.

Anyway, my main point is that they're both good machines. I find the PC more attractive because of it's greater versatility. Plus, I've never had a problem accomplishing my detailing goals with a PC. Granted, some extra power would be nice. So, maybe later on I may buy a rotary or the new Ultimate Detailing Machine. The UDM may be a good choice because it is more powerful, but uses the same threading as a PC. So whatever attaches to a PC can attach to a UDM.

 

Mickey:

You are right -- different folks, different opinions. But I do have a question. Where did you get your PC for $90 and your edge kit for $18? I looked, and couldn't find prices that good -- since Lowes stopped selling the PC.

Thanks,
Richard

 

I bought my PC from Lowe's, but you can get a PC at that price or even lower on e-bay to name one place. Also, just the adapter is $18. I didn't see pads included in the numbers you were quoting just buffers with backing plates. So, I didn't include pads either.

 

Well, that's good for all of us to consider. To me, the price of a good ROB isn't worth any dispute, so I may check out buying a PC too if I can get one for $90! A couple of things I'd like to point out, though. The Body shop folks who said the G'sG was a Matika were with a shop that is ceritfied by Mercedes, Jaguar, Volvo, and Audi to do major frame work on their aluminum frame cars.A guy there offered to do a bit of touch up work on my s2k FOR FREE and did it perfectly. I gave the tech a gift in return. A bunch of lawyers I know say that if a product is made in China, it must be so labeled. No such on the G's G. And I'm sure NONE of us s2k owners would EVER buy anything made in Asia!! Also, G'sG makes a claybar holder pad for their buffer that will work with a PC too. With it, you can claybar a medium sized car in 15 minutes. Also, the G'sG buffer makes more orbits per minute, but also smaller ones. As a result, it will never "throw a pad" Not even the heavy claybar holder pad.

All that being said, the PC is sort of the "world standard" in enthusiast ROBs. What really matters here is not whether the s2k owner has a PC or G'sG ROB -- but that he/she has a professional grade ROB -- period. I know what the original poster was talking about, as I have one of those 9" ROB's, except that mine is a Black and Decker. It has neither the power nor the speed to polish. It can only put on wax and buff it off. I call it the "wobble monster" as it lacks the counter balance weights necessary for a pro ROB. So, if you want to keep your s2k looking good (or your other cars for that matter) you need a real "pro" ROB -- be it a PC, G'sG, or something I don't know about. It is amazing how fast one can polish, glaze, and wax a small car like an s2k with such a pro unit. It almost becomes an addiction of how good I can make my car look. Well, there are worse addictions, arent there?

Thanks,
Richard

 

The S2k is made in Asia. hehe



Does anyone have any experience with buffers they sell in places like AutoZone,Kragen, etc for $40 or $50? they look pretty good. should i just save my money and get one of the aforementioned products?

 

I call these cheaper ROBs "wobble monsters" as they lack proper counter balancing. These are not compatible with polishing pads used to get out swirils and scratches, and don't have the speed or power to do so anyway. These are primarily limited to applying wax (foam bonnet) and polishing the wax (cotton or microfiber bonnet.) I have one of these too, and find it darn near worthless. Everybody agrees you won't go wrong with a PC, and I also say you won't go wrong with a Griot's Garage unit. Also, there is a European import sold under the brand name of Cylclo or something like that that has two 3" or so pad attachments, and some folks like those -- though they are a bit pricier. These are the three "pro" units I know of -- the ones capable of scratch and swiril removal.

Thanks,
Richard