Griot's Garage Products.

[1988 GMC 355]

Well after much research, talking to many guys on here, and on the phone I decided to go with some products from the guys at Griot's.
I ordered their spray on wax, quick detailer, clay bar, microfiber detergent, and one towel that came as a free bee with the detailer and clay bar as a kit.

I waxed my truck about two months ago before school started and I have washed it everytime I come home but it just never looked that great, I wanted a spray on wax to help protect the paint and make it shine in between waxes since I am away at school.
the spray on wax is used while the truck is still mostly wet.

It made the truck shine like it had been waxed! so easy to use and looks great.

The spray detailer is leaps and bounds above any store bought stuff and their microfiber towels are so much better then from the autoparts store.

I am looking forward to getting their polish, glaze or sealant?, wax, and maybe a few other things from them for Christmas.

[Tweaks]

I knew those products would give you a glimpse of what pro-grade stuff can do versus the garden variety stuff at the auto stores. And yes, a nice quality microfiber towel in a beautiful thing. I'm going to start collecting more nice microfibers over the next year.

[1988 GMC 355]

I knew those products would give you a glimpse of what pro-grade stuff can do versus the garden variety stuff at the auto stores. And yes, a nice quality microfiber towel in a beautiful thing. I'm going to start collecting more nice microfibers over the next year.

You are very correct, I can not believe the difference, and in all reality it isn't more expensive then the stuff from autoparts stores. I spent $55 all together and won't have to buy more for years, I have spent twice that on the crap I have now. their towels and others are expensive, but wow the difference is so amazing and I guess if I care enough about a good product towels are just as important.

have you used and Griots stuff before?

And do you have and towel recomendations?

[Tweaks]

I haven't used Griot's stuff, but I do my research, as you know (lol), and it's a well recommended name in the classic show car community and I tend to trust those folks and their opinions on detailing products. It's amazing how expensive a can of cheap wax off the shelf of an autozone or those gimmick products that seem to get re-bottled every other month have become so I am not at all surprised that the cost difference wasn't an issue. Shoot, the Collinite fleetwax I like is only a few bucks more than buying a tin of Meguiars Gold Class wax off the shelf at autozone and the two waxes are no where near the same league as far as shine and durability. Investing in good products is definitely the way to go these days and with Griots, 3M, Menzerna, Chemical Guys, Adams Polishes, Poor Boys, Meguiars pro grade stuff, etc., there are so many ways to make a good choice.

The last time I bought microfiber towels was about 2 years ago and I got 4 blue colored "monster" microfiber towels in a sale pack from Chemical Guys. I like them because they are very thick on one side and a little finer on the other and they go a lot further as far as removing product versus the standard little microfiber towels. I can nearly remove all the wax on my truck with one towel. Since I bought those, there seems to have been a lot of improving the size and design of microfiber towels so that's why I wouldn't mind getting some more for next year. I will probably shop Chemical Guys, autogeek, or Detailed image when I need them. Maybe even amazon.com if they carry some higher end microfiber towels.

[1988 GMC 355]

I haven't used Griot's stuff, but I do my research, as you know (lol), and it's a well recommended name in the classic show car community and I tend to trust those folks and their opinions on detailing products. It's amazing how expensive a can of cheap wax off the shelf of an autozone or those gimmick products that seem to get re-bottled every other month have become so I am not at all surprised that the cost difference wasn't an issue. Shoot, the Collinite fleetwax I like is only a few bucks more than buying a tin of Meguiars Gold Class wax off the shelf at autozone and the two waxes are no where near the same league as far as shine and durability. Investing in good products is definitely the way to go these days and with Griots, 3M, Menzerna, Chemical Guys, Adams Polishes, Poor Boys, Meguiars pro grade stuff, etc., there are so many ways to make a good choice.

The last time I bought microfiber towels was about 2 years ago and I got 4 blue colored "monster" microfiber towels in a sale pack from Chemical Guys. I like them because they are very thick on one side and a little finer on the other and they go a lot further as far as removing product versus the standard little microfiber towels. I can nearly remove all the wax on my truck with one towel. Since I bought those, there seems to have been a lot of improving the size and design of microfiber towels so that's why I wouldn't mind getting some more for next year. I will probably shop Chemical Guys, autogeek, or Detailed image when I need them. Maybe even amazon.com if they carry some higher end microfiber towels.


Oh yes I know you do plenty of it and I do the same before I order something. It is quite sad how different the quality can be in a product for the same price.
I really want to keep adding to my collection of Griots stuff and can't wait to get more for Christmas.

I have been researching Chemical Guys microfibers and they seem to be great and have really good deals on them, I think my buddy and I are going to split a 12 pack of them whenever I find the best deal then maybe I will get a 3 pack of the Monster ones from them too, they seem great and if you have had them for that long and you like them then I see no reason not to get tehm, they are moderately priced and easy to find, the prices on amazon and really good, but also from their website I have found too.
I will check Autogeek and Detailed Image as well.

On a side note, I really want Collinite wax but the paste kind of turns me off because I have had bad luck in the past with paste, but with the Collinite you don't let it dry, correct?

[Tweaks]

.

On a side note, I really want Collinite wax but the paste kind of turns me off because I have had bad luck in the past with paste, but with the Collinite you don't let it dry, correct?

That is correct. Think "Karate Kid" when Mr. Miagi (sp?) teached Daniel-son all about the art of wax on/wax off. Pretty much how Collinite works. For example, quickly apply it to half of your front fender, stop, then quickly buff the wax off with a microfiber. That's the process. Never let it haze or it becomes the biggest PITA wax to remove. For 15 bucks or less, it's a top notch wax that in the harsh cape cod conditions, routinely gives me at least 4 months of awesome paint protection. The only products I know of that offer that long of a durable film of protection is a sealant. Sealants or more expensive and don't shine like a carnuba based wax. I just like the stuff because I know that if I apply it just before the first snow fall and keep up on washing through winter, that this wax is doing some sort of protection through the entire winter season.

I am currently trying out some stuff called Duragloss clear coat polish 111. It's not really a polish, but more of a Zaino type product that is polymer based and shines like crazy and appears to be durable. It's less than 10 bucks too and a little bot goes a long way. It was super easy to apply and buff off. It can also be topcoated with a wax like Collinite for even extra shine factor. I tried it out on a Jeep recently and I think I just might apply it and then a coat of Collinite just before the weather keeps me from being able to do anything. Maybe look into some Duragloss CCP 111 and see if it's something you might want in your cache of accumulating detailing supplies.

[1988 GMC 355]

That is correct. Think "Karate Kid" when Mr. Miagi (sp?) teached Daniel-son all about the art of wax on/wax off. Pretty much how Collinite works. For example, quickly apply it to half of your front fender, stop, then quickly buff the wax off with a microfiber. That's the process. Never let it haze or it becomes the biggest PITA wax to remove. For 15 bucks or less, it's a top notch wax that in the harsh cape cod conditions, routinely gives me at least 4 months of awesome paint protection. The only products I know of that offer that long of a durable film of protection is a sealant. Sealants or more expensive and don't shine like a carnuba based wax. I just like the stuff because I know that if I apply it just before the first snow fall and keep up on washing through winter, that this wax is doing some sort of protection through the entire winter season.

I am currently trying out some stuff called Duragloss clear coat polish 111. It's not really a polish, but more of a Zaino type product that is polymer based and shines like crazy and appears to be durable. It's less than 10 bucks too and a little bot goes a long way. It was super easy to apply and buff off. It can also be topcoated with a wax like Collinite for even extra shine factor. I tried it out on a Jeep recently and I think I just might apply it and then a coat of Collinite just before the weather keeps me from being able to do anything. Maybe look into some Duragloss CCP 111 and see if it's something you might want in your cache of accumulating detailing supplies.

Well in that case I deff will be trying it, with how humid it is where I live and wierd temps, letting stuff dry or haze can take forever or it gets left on to long. I will be getting some for christmas I hope along with other stuff I want.
So is the duragloss like a glaze or more of a protection/shine product?

I am really wanting to add Griots hand polish and glaze to my arsenal of stuff to use before I top coat with Collinite.
I will look into the Duragloss stuff though, I DD my truck so it sees rain,snow, salt, gravel, and road grime and any added protection I can add through winter time and inbetween waxing I would be interested in.

[1988 GMC 355]

So after reading on Detailed Image it sounds like spending time with a good polish and the right applicator is going to be best for me to get all the swirls and scratches out, after I clay bar, then a sealant to help protect like the duragloss 111 then wax.

I deff had it all wrong :lol:

[Tweaks]

So after reading on Detailed Image it sounds like spending time with a good polish and the right applicator is going to be best for me to get all the swirls and scratches out, after I clay bar, then a sealant to help protect like the duragloss 111 then wax.

I deff had it all wrong :lol:

Yep, polish will "correct" the paint and hide blemishes permanently and that's what you will want to do before coating all that hard work with a good glaze to maximize the depth and gloss, then follow that with any other gloss magnifier such as the Duragloss ccp 111. The final step is to protect all the hard work is to wax or seal the finish with either a wax or a sealant. So many ways to do this detailing stuff, but the process goes wash, clay, polish, glaze, wax. The glaze part can always be skipped and you can move straight to wax. There is a lot of discussions on the detailing boards and such that if the products applied under the wax aren't durable, that neither will the nice wax you put on. I ignore all that talk because I am regularly waxing my truck so I don't care if my Chemical Guys wet mirror glaze doesn't last as long as my Collinite wax, I still like to use on occasion to really make the trucks finish pop.

From what I can tell. That Duragloss ccp 111 is a product you can use instead of a wax, but it does the same thing... protects the paint and repels water very well. The nice thing is that carnuba based waxes can always be layered on over everything else so in theory, one can simply put their favorite wax right over this Zaino-like product and that's what I will be doing to my truck for its final wash/waxing of the Fall season. We shall see how that looks and holds up.

[1988 GMC 355]

Yep, polish will "correct" the paint and hide blemishes permanently and that's what you will want to do before coating all that hard work with a good glaze to maximize the depth and gloss, then follow that with any other gloss magnifier such as the Duragloss ccp 111. The final step is to protect all the hard work is to wax or seal the finish with either a wax or a sealant. So many ways to do this detailing stuff, but the process goes wash, clay, polish, glaze, wax. The glaze part can always be skipped and you can move straight to wax. There is a lot of discussions on the detailing boards and such that if the products applied under the wax aren't durable, that neither will the nice wax you put on. I ignore all that talk because I am regularly waxing my truck so I don't care if my Chemical Guys wet mirror glaze doesn't last as long as my Collinite wax, I still like to use on occasion to really make the trucks finish pop.

From what I can tell. That Duragloss ccp 111 is a product you can use instead of a wax, but it does the same thing... protects the paint and repels water very well. The nice thing is that carnuba based waxes can always be layered on over everything else so in theory, one can simply put their favorite wax right over this Zaino-like product and that's what I will be doing to my truck for its final wash/waxing of the Fall season. We shall see how that looks and holds up.

I see, much more clear now for sure. I don't know if I will be able to get a coat of wax on before winter hits, but I will deff be adding to my arsenal over winter.
I want to try that duragloss and collinite wax after a good clay bar and polish.
All this info is so very appreciated and I can't wait To get more stuff.

[Ghastlyone]

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[1988 GMC 355]

So I have heard and read. Any reccomendations on a good polish to use by hand? thinking outside of Adam's box too....

[b5visser]

Ill shoot another poitive review in on the collinite. I agree that the paste (476s) is tough to remove if you let it haze. Possibly another alternative would be the collinite 845 insulator wax. It goes on easily as its more of a liquid, and it goes super far. The last detailing job I worked this is what we used, and I waxed 12-15 cars with one bottle 16 oz and still had 1/3 of the bottle left! And as far as durability, its very durable. According to collinites website, the 476s wax gives up to a year of protection whereas the 845 gives 6 mos. I dare say that a couple coats of the 845 is all youll need for quite some time! It's won me over and is far superior to off the shelf stuff at autozone!

[Tweaks]

Ill shoot another poitive review in on the collinite. I agree that the paste (476s) is tough to remove if you let it haze. Possibly another alternative would be the collinite 845 insulator wax. It goes on easily as its more of a liquid, and it goes super far. The last detailing job I worked this is what we used, and I waxed 12-15 cars with one bottle 16 oz and still had 1/3 of the bottle left! And as far as durability, its very durable. According to collinites website, the 476s wax gives up to a year of protection whereas the 845 gives 6 mos. I dare say that a couple coats of the 845 is all youll need for quite some time! It's won me over and is far superior to off the shelf stuff at autozone!

Awesome feedback. I have the "fleetwax" version of Collinite but I have read in my research of the product that it is exactly the same as the 476 I would guess since both are a PITA to remove if allowed to dry or haze on the finish. I also agree, for the cheap cost of Collinite, there is nothing on the autozone shelves that can hold a candle to it and lately the autozone waxes have been getting very pricey.

[1988 GMC 355]

I am excited to try the Duragloss 111 you suggested and the FleetWax and a polish I decide on for Christmas

[Tweaks]

I am excited to try the Duragloss 111 you suggested and the FleetWax and a polish I decide on for Christmas

I am really itching to try the Duragloss 111 on my pewter but that will have to wait until the first detail I do on the truck post winter. I have way too many coats of good Collinite on there right now to want to go through the effort to strip it spend the time to start from square one again. But, I am on the mend from my last marathon so if the weather allows and I get bored this week, I just might go at it.

That recent storm that hit pretty much everyone on the east coast sprayed everything on the cape with more salty sea spray. My truck was filthy with salt spray and tree matter and I took an hour today to wash that stuff off. None of the water on the painted panels on the truck were beading water due to the film of salt on the truck, but once I washed that off with the soap and mitt and rinsed the truck, there was barely any water remaining on the painted surfaces. That Collinite wax kept all that salt spray from adhering to the paint and once it was washed, the finish on the truck behaved as if I just put down a fresh coat of wax. The durability and protection of Collinite is why it is my #1.

[1988 GMC 355]

That is so awesome and I am soo itchy to try that after winter, I wish I could do it now before hand but it just isn't going to happen.

[BigBlack03]

Really glad to hear the good reviews of the Griot's products. Just found a cyber Monday deal on the Griot's random orbital and complete polishing kit. $99 on Amazon. Got one for me, my dad and my uncle as Christmas presents.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003V3XBCM?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I believe the "Lightning Deal" that I got is over and the price has returned to $199 but give it a shot and see how it rings up in your cart.

[1988 GMC 355]

Very nice, I won't be investing in one of those anytime soon, doing it by hand will have to do for now, for Christmas my mom is buying me a few more things. I am going to try their soap and pre polish cleaner. along with Collinite wax and Duragloss 901

[BigBlack03]

I probably won't get around to doing my complete clay bar, polish, buff and wax plan until spring so I will have time to research techniques and products. Just couldn't pass up that deal.

[1988 GMC 355]

Same here, mine will have to wait until then, I have researched and found what I think will work great doing it by hand, it is pretty well protected now and want to wash it again and use the spray on wax I bought again for winter time, I get to use a heated washer and shop in winter to keep the salt off.

[Pre-StrokerC150]

I have lots of Griot's products and haven't found one that has disappointed me yet. Wax for the hot rod truck, paint sealer for the daily driver, paint polishes, glass polish, clay, microfiber towels, Speed Shine, Spray Wax, tire dressing, undercarriage spray, bumper reconditioner and both the 6" and 3" polishers.

The "Best of Show" wax shines like you wouldn't believe. It is a little tough to get off sometimes, but it is always due to over application on my part.

I use the paint sealer because I don't like waxing my daily driver much. The sealer lasts about 6 months or so depending on the weather, how often you wash, etc. It also shines great, but not quite as good as the wax.

The paint polishes are used with the orbitals. They work great as long as the surface isn't too damaged. If you have visible scratches, you will need an actual buffer that will mechanically take them out. Part of the orbital's claim to fame is that you cannot damage the paint, which means it doesn't do a whole lot for scratches. If you have the usual scratched from washing dirt off of your vehicle, the orbital works great. If you went wheelin' and tree branches scratched the side of your truck, this isn't going to remove them all.

You know those water spots you get on your windows that don't wash off? The fine glass polish and the 3" orbital will do a complete crew cab truck with the nastiest water spots you can find in about 45 minutes and the glass will look like new.

The paint clay is great and there is a lot of it. You can actually hold onto it unlike the "other" brands that you drop easily. It also works great.

The microfiber towels are unbelievably soft, including the tags on them. You couldn't scratch the paint if you tried and that also means that there are no toweling marks left behind after using them.

The Speed Shine is a touch up spray. I haven't washed my hot rod truck in two years because I just wipe it down with this stuff and a microfiber towel.

The Spray-on Wax works great and will make your wax or sealant last longer. It is very easy to use and doesn't build up.

The tire dressing works great and lasts a while, even when you get it wet.

The undercarriage spray is awesome, especially for lifted trucks. All of the parts that turn brown from years of dirt look black and shiny after using this stuff. I use it in the wheel wells, suspension and rear end.

And my final review is for the bumper and trim reconditioner. This stuff is a dye with a handy applicator that will make your faded black trim look like new. Since it is a dye, it lasts a really long time.

This stuff is a little pricey, but it's way better than any of the crap you get at the auto parts store.

I actually live 15 minutes away from their only retail store (in Tacoma, WA) and the guys that work there are top notch also. They don't just sell the product, they teach it too. I've been to two classes and you can stop in anytime and ask for help and they will teach you how to use any of their products. If you want to see how a product works before you buy it, no problem, they will show you. I think that says a lot about the company also.

Sorry for the long post, but I have spent hundreds of dollars on garbage found in autopart stores. Once I found this about three years ago I stopped wasting money. In my experience, you don't often find stuff that actually works like it should.

[1988 GMC 355]

This is an awesome post and really appreciate you taking the time to type it, very helpful to anyone on here and me especially, I agree that all I have bought so far is awesome and I will continue to buy more products, I have called and emailed questions and everyone was very helpful.
I will be getting more stuff for Christmas and will be buying more myself too over time.
I can not wait to keep adding to my arsenal.

[BigBlack03]

Sorry for the long post, but I have spent hundreds of dollars on garbage found in autopart stores. Once I found this about three years ago I stopped wasting money. In my experience, you don't often find stuff that actually works like it should.

No need to apologize. That was tons of great info. I will definitely be looking into their clay and paint sealer for my "bring the life back to my paint" project.

[Pre-StrokerC150]

Thanks.

It took me a while to bite the bullet on the orbitals, but they do work good. The 3" one makes quick work of heavier jobs like the windows, metal polishing (wheels, exhaust tips, etc) and headlight polishing.

The 6" one is only good for paint due to it's size. Porter Cable also makes a good 6" orbital.

I have a DeWalt rotary buffer that I used before these and always had trouble with swirl marks and you always had to be very careful not to burn the paint or catch an edge because it would take the paint right off. These will absolutely never damage the paint no matter what you do. The buffer still has it's place, but I haven't needed to use it since I bought the orbitals. If I has some scratches from trees or something, then I would need it.

The paint sealer goes on quick and wipes off even quicker. I have two young boys now, so my "play time" is limited. This gets the job done and I only have to spend a few hours every 6 months on my lifted crew cab truck to keep it looking like new.

[1988 GMC 355]

I will be using all their stuff by hand and I know it will be less effective, but I can only make it look so good and I think I can get it very nice by hand, I am happy to hear their undcarriage stuff is worth it as mine is ok but could use getting that grime and all off from all the old farm roads it was on for years and the rubber coating is good to, would be nice to use on the pads on the rear bumper and front valance.