05-15-2007, 08:55 AM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Posts: 3,308
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Update: Griot's Random Orbital
Hi,
Well, spent the weekend finishing up restoring the finish on my Guards Red '99 with my new (now not so new) Griot's Random Orbital.
Griot's sells a kit containing Clay, Speed Shine, Best of Show liquid Wax, Machine Polish #3 (1 of 4 grades), an Orange Polishing Pad and a Red Wax Pad.
I removed the Headlamps, Side Intakes, Side Markers, Tail Lamps, Badge and Trim and did the whole car with the #3 Machine Polish - no swirl marks, all scratches gone. I applied 1 coat of Zaino Z5 to the hood and didn't think the true shine was there.
So, I went to a local Co. called the Complete Garage - selling mostly Fru-Fru Garage Cabinetry and such, but also a local Griot's Dealer to buy another Orange Pad and some Machine Polish #4.
The Machine Polish #4 made all the difference, increased the refraction and reflectivity of the paint tremendously. Finished the whole car with the #4 then 2 coats of Zaino Z5 followed by 2 coats of Zaino Z2.
The finish looks better than new and the Griot's was easy to work with as were their Machine Polishes. I recommend the system, but be sure to include the #4 Polish as a finish coat.
Well, that's all the planned maintenance for the year - Painted Calipers Red, installed new Brake Pads (Pagid OEM), Flushed the Brake System (ATE Super Blue), Changed the leaky Gasket, Fluid and Filter on the Tiptronic S, cleaned and waxed the Turbo Twists w/ Wheel Wax, treated and cleaned the leather with Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil and Pristine Clean and polished and Zaino'd the exterior. I think the results speak for themselves.
Now all that's left for me is the Intermarque Spring Car Show next weekend and DRIVING!...
Happy Motoring!... Jim'99
Last edited by MNBoxster; 05-15-2007 at 09:01 AM.
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05-15-2007, 08:57 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Posts: 3,308
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Some more pics...
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05-15-2007, 09:14 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 7,243
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Man, that paint and the whole car does look brand spanking new! Great work. I do hope you grabbed a lawn chair and a beer and sat in front of the car when you were all done to admired it for a while. 
Your pix have once again made me want to buy a red Boxster when I upgrade to a newer 987S model one day.
You have also inspired me to schedule a detail day of my own... :dance:
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05-15-2007, 09:28 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Jose, CA.
Posts: 1,359
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Very good job, Jim! eventually, im still using manual polishing technique (my hand) but soon, i will get either PC or Griots 
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05-15-2007, 09:28 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 3,417
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Looks sweet Jim! The Gaurds Red on the roll bars and brake calipers looks awesome,it just runs with the rest of the car.
__________________
-99' Zenith Blue 5-spd...didn't agree with a center divider on the freeway
-01' S Orient Red Metallic 6-spd...money pit...sold to buy a house
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05-15-2007, 09:30 AM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New Paltz, NY 12561
Posts: 935
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Totally stunning!
Sacred Feces, bat person, that looks liquid for sure. One of the best polish jobs I have seen. Trouble is I now have a matt finish Arctic Silver Boxcar in my garage where before your pics I thought I had a shiny beauty. Sheesh!!! Now I have to spend more money on a Griot job. Hope I have enough money left for gasoline!!!!
AKL
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05-15-2007, 09:35 AM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 939
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VERY NICE!!
Like Randall, I'm gonna have to do a cleaning soon...
I've been waiting for nice weather on a day that I'm off, so that I can throw the Superclean (tm) on my car. It's due for a wash, clay bar, wash, polish and wax.
I'll also have to find a paint shop sometime this year. The car has about a dozen nicks and scratches... and a couple areas that a PO touched up that don't quite match... as well as a crappy respray of the front bumper... I'll have it all taken care of sometime. Although I may concentrate on the interior first. Probably going to have the center console and it's pieces, as well as the door pocket doors covered in black leather. Then I'll need a new shift boot, knob and e-brake handle. New floor mats, and then a good cleaning, and the interior will be nice and sorted.
Anyway, what does a good random orbital polisher cost? I have a buddy that is into nice cars (currently has an 04 Audi TT, and an 01 Saab 93 Cab) that might be interested in going half with me.
__________________
2001 Boxster - Grey on Grey
1969 911T Targa - 'Stinky'
http://www.zoto.com/frayadjacent/img...f27a-4a399.jpg <---- my car. ^ crap I post.
"The existence of the flamethrower is evidence that someone, somewhere once said 'I want to set those people over there on fire, but I don't want to have to walk over there to do it.'"
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05-15-2007, 10:01 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 8,083
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Great job. The red is the BOMB!
__________________
Rich Belloff
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05-15-2007, 11:29 AM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 8,709
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Great job!!!! But somehow I think your car probably looks like this year round.
I always wonder how many uninformed people go ahead and repaint theirs cars when all it needs is some torque via an orbital polisher.
I just spent 6 hours this weekend and I'm still sore. I need a creeper seat asap. 
The Griots polisher is very nice. Griots make very good 'old school' quality detailing tools. My PC was giving me hell this weekend I think it needs servicing. If its too expensive to repair I'm going to get the Griots or a Cyclo.
THe PC is often on sale, sometimes ridonkulus cheap. Lowe's and Coastal Tool often run sales on them. Detailcity.com have 10% coupon discount on their newsletter.
p.s.
During my 6 hour spring cleaning I washed the soft top with Raggtopp cleanser and got out the Craftsman wet dry vac and sucked out and dust, lint, etc. $60 well spent. Sprayed the top with the Raggtopp protectant and while each coat dryed I used the vac on the cloth headliner, matts and carpeting. If your soft top is looking faded a good wash and a few layers of RT will darken the top a few notches. It's good to do this first before washing/claying/polishing the rest of the car.
__________________
GT3 Recaro Seats - Boxster Red
GT3 Aero / Carrera 18" 5 spoke / Potenza RE-11
Fabspeed Headers & Noise Maker
BORN: March 2000 - FINLAND
IMS#1 REPLACED: April 2010 - NEW JERSEY -- LNE DUAL ROW
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05-15-2007, 11:22 AM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa
Posts: 670
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Looks stunning. I wonder how the Griots Orbital compares to the Porter Cable that I hear so many good things about.
__________________
http://www.thecarspace.com/photos/8/...1481113d25.jpg
When people risk their lives, shouldn't it be for something very important?
Well, it better be.
But what is so important about driving faster than anyone else?
Lots of people go through life doing things badly. Racing's important to men who do it well.
When you're racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting.
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