Griots Garage 6" Random Orbital User manual

1
Owners Manual
6" rAndom orbiTAl
Spectacular Results That Are Quick & Safe
SPECIFICATIONS
Motor: 7 Amps, 850 Watts
Power Supply 120 Volts, 60 Hz
Orbits/Minute: 2,500 - 6,800
Pad Size: 6"
Orbit Diameter:
5
⁄
16
"
ThAnk You For Choosing This QuAliTY
grioT's gArAge ProduCT.
Your 6" Random Orbital has been engineered and manu-
factured to meet Griot's GaraGe's high standards for depend-
ability, ease of operation and operator safety. When properly
cared for, it will give you years of trouble-free performance.
CAUTION: CAREFULLY READ THROUGH THIS
ENTIRE OWNER'S MANUAL BEFORE USING
YOUR RANDOM ORBITAL.
Pay close attention to the Useful Information for Safe
Operation, Warnings, and Cautions.
If you use your Random
Orbital properly and only for what it is intended, you will
enjoy years of safe, reliable service.
Have fun in your garage!®

useFul inFormATion For sAFe oPerATion
Please follow the safety instructions below to avoid possible
dangers. The safety symbols and the explanations with them
require your careful attention and understanding. The safety
warnings do not by themselves eliminate any danger. The
instruction or warnings they give are not substitutes for prop-
er accident prevention measures.
SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL: Indicates caution or warn-
ing. May be used in conjunction with other symbols
or pictures.
WARNING: Failure to obey the safety warnings can
result in serious injury to yourself or to others. Always
follow the safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire,
electric shock and personal injury.
WARNING: Do not attempt to operate this unit until
you have read and understood safety rules. Failure to
comply can result in accidents involving fire, electric
shock or serious personal injury. Save the owner's
manual and review frequently to continue safe
machine operation.
CAuTion: AlwAYs weAr eYe
& eAr ProTeCTion wiTh AnY
Power Tool.
The operation of any tool can result in
foreign objects being thrown into your
eyes, which can result in severe eye
damage. Before beginning power tool
operation, always wear safety goggles or
safety glasses with side shields and a full
face shield when needed.
1. know Your Power Tool. Read this owner's manu-
al carefully. Learn the applications and limitations as well
as the specific potential hazards related to this tool.
2. Avoid dAngerous environmenTs. Don't use
power tools in damp/wet locations or expose to rain.
Keep work area well lit.
3. sTore idle Tools. When not in use, tools should be
stored in a cool, dry place.
4. dress ProPerlY. Do not wear loose clothing or
jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts. Rubber
gloves and non-skid footwear are recommended when
working outdoors. Also wear protective hair covering to
contain long hair.
5. AlwAYs weAr sAFeTY glAsses. Everyday eyeglass-
es have only impact resistant lenses, they are not safety
glasses.
6. ProTeCT Your lungs. Wear a dust mask if opera-
tion is dusty.
7. ProTeCT Your heAring. Wear hearing protection
during extended periods of operation.
8. don'T overreACh. Keep proper footing and balance
at all times. Do not use tool on a ladder or unstable sup-
port. Secure tools when working at elevated levels.
9. remove AdjusTing keYs And wrenChes. Make
a habit of checking to see that keys and adjusting
wrenches are removed from tool before turning it on.
10. keeP hAndles drY, CleAn And Free From oil
And greAse. Always use a clean cloth when cleaning.
Never use brake fluids, gasoline, petroleum based prod-
ucts or any strong solvents to clean your tool.
11. CheCk dAmAged PArTs. Before further use of the
tool, a guard or any other part that is damaged should
be carefully checked to determine that it will operate
properly and perform its intended function. Check for
alignment of moving parts, binding of moving parts,
breakage of parts, mounting and any other conditions
that may affect its operation. Any part that is damaged
should be properly repaired or replaced.
12. do noT use Tool iF swiTCh does noT Turn
iT on And oFF.
13. do noT oPerATe This (or AnY) Tool while
under The inFluenCe oF drugs, AlCohol or
AnY mediCATion.
14. grioT's gArAge is noT resPonsible For AnY
misuse oF The rAndom orbiTAl For AnY
injurY or dAmAge inCurred To AnY Person
or objeCT relATed To The rAndom orbiTAl.
15. Your orbiTAl should never be ConneCTed
To Power suPPlY when You Are Assembling
PArTs, mAking AdjusTmenTs, or rePlACing
PAds, CleAning or when noT in use.
16. be CAreFul noT To leT Your hAnd
ComPleTelY Cover Air venTs.
2

3
Owners Manual
FeATures And CAuTions
Your Random Orbital is suitable for use with G riot's GaraGe
car care products. It will produce a swirl-free finish. Use it
with any of our Machine Polishes, Waxes, Sealants, Glaze and
many other products as indicated on each product's label.
Before attempting to use your orbital, familiarize yourself
with all operating features and safety requirements.
Power swiTCh
The power switch is located on the top of the orbital. Slide the
switch forward to turn it on. Press down on the back of the
switch to turn it off.
sPeed ConTrol diAl
The variable speed control dial is located at the back of the
unit just above the power cord. To adjust the speed simply
rotate the dial to the desired setting. For polishing and paint
sealant application speed setting 4 to 5 is recommended. For
waxing speed setting 2 to 3 is recommended.
AdjusTAble looP hAndle
The loop handle is adjustable to help you find the optimum
hand position. To adjust the handle simply loosen the Allen
bolts located at the base of the handle with the supplied Allen
wrench. Once you set the position of the handle, tighten
the Allen bolts until snug being careful not to over tighten
the bolts. CAuTion: Never adjust the loop handle while the
machine is running. Damage or injury may occur.
insTAlling 6" FoAm PAds
• Inspect polish and/or wax pad before installing.
DO NOT use torn or worn out pads.
• Unplug your orbital.
• Center pad on backing plate and press firmly around pad.
For ease of operation, your orbital has a loop handle for two-
handed operation, which helps to maintain proper control.
During operation, always use both hands.
Hold your orbital in front and away from you, keeping it
clear of the vehicle. Start your orbital by holding the pad
against the surface to be polished or waxed and sliding the
switch forward.
P owerFul , 850w m oTor
v AriAble s Peed C onTrol
d uAl -A CTion 2,500 - 6,800 o rbiTs /m inuTe
s oFT , r ubberized
g
riP o n T he
A djusTAble h Andle
e AsY A CCess , s oFT -s TArT ,
C
onsTAnT s Peed s wiTCh
m olded h And g riPs F or b eTTer C onTrol
F inger g riP n oTCh F or b eTTer C onTrol
d omed , r ubberized P Alm g riP

usinG Your random orbital
Your Random Orbital is perfect for the weekend user or the
professional detailer. It was designed with enough torque so
it won't bog down and stall like other random orbitals. The
ergonomic design allows for greater comfort and control.
Enjoy the best!
beFore You mAChine Polish
Always start off by using Griot's GaraGe Paint Cleaning Clay
before using machine polishes, sealants, waxes or glaze.
Paint Cleaning Clay will remove contaminants embedded in
the paint that normal washing won't remove. This way you
won't create more scratches in the paint surface. Polishes are
designed to reduce and remove swirl marks, light scratches
and paint blemishes.
AnAlYze Your PAinT beFore sTArTing
Before polishing, start by analyzing your paint. Look at the
swirl marks and scratches in the paint. How deep are they?
Do they go into the primer, do they go half way down into
the paint, or are they just light surface swirls caused by nor-
mal wear and tear? Keep in mind, to remove a swirl mark you
must polish the paint in the surrounding area down to the
base of the scratch. In many cases, if not all, it is much better
to polish out the minor scratches while reducing the visibil-
ity of the deep ones. We have certain products that contain
special fillers and waxes that do their best to fill in deeper
scratches.
Polish, wAx And seAlAnT APPliCATion
Our specially developed foam pads, combined with our
machine polishes, waxes and sealants, provide an ideal appli-
cation. It is important to use separate pads for each machine
polish, wax or sealant. This way, no contamination occurs
between the pads. (You wouldn't want to use a polish pad to
apply a final coat of wax!) The pads can be marked on the
side with a permanent felt pen to keep them separated. For
diaGram a
extended polishing and wax sessions it is necessary to use
more then one pad. For an average size vehicle two or three
pads may be necessary when polishing. This will help pre-
vent premature pad wear. Always inspect your pads before
and during use to determine if you need a fresh pad. If your
pad is torn or showing wear it's time to replace the pad. If the
backing material is separating from the foam, this indicates it
is time to replace the pad.
oPerATion
Our Random Orbital operates in
an orbiting motion while spinning
around. (see diagram A) Start by cen-
tering the pad on the orbital's hook
and loop backing plate. Apply your
polish, glaze, wax or sealant to the
pad as recommended by the product
instructions.
To get comfortable using the Griot's GaraGe Random Orbital,
set the speed to 3, put the pad on the paint surface and then
turn the orbital on. Increase the speed gradually to 4 or 5 so
that the backing plate is rotating at approximately one revo-
lution per one or two seconds. The more you lean into the
machine, the slower the rotation will be. Try not to lean into
the machine until you feel comfortable with this system.
Polishes and waxes require different speeds. Polishes work
best at speeds 4 and 5, whereas final waxes and sealants only
need speeds 2 or 3.
Make an imaginary square on the panel (normally I start with
a 2' x 2' section of a hood) and start in the upper left hand
corner. Go across to the right (see diagram B) then drop
down and go to the left. When you reach the left side, drop
down and go to the right. When you can't go across the area
you're working on anymore, start going up and down in the
same fashion.
What you are trying to do is distrib-
ute the polish, wax or sealant evenly
and cover every part of the area
you're working on. Keep going in this
motion until all of the liquid is evenly
distributed and has just about disap-
peared. I like to pass over an area six
to eight times. (Complete the imagi-
nary square three or four times.) Wipe
off any excess with our Micro Fiber Cloths and then examine
your paint.
diaGram b
Start
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5
Owners Manual
whiCh Polish should You sTArT wiTh?
Always use our Orange Foam Polish Pads for polishing. Use
ultra-fine Machine Polish 4 if you have nearly flawless paint
with only light swirls and toweling marks. (Typical of new
cars when delivered from the dealership.) It will eliminate
those micro-fine toweling marks and swirls, especially in
dark paints.
For most surface conditions use Griot's GaraGe Machine
Polish 3. It is a polish that will remove many imperfections on
the first pass. If you would like to remove even more imper-
fections, use Machine Polish 3 one more time. You may use
Machine Polish 3 as often as you want
Use Machine Polish 2 or Machine Polish 1 to remove deeper
scratches and swirl marks. After using Machine Polishes 1 and
2, you may see minute scratches. This is normal. Remember,
to remove a scratch, you have to get down to the bottom of
the scratch, and that means removing paint (microns at a
time) in the surrounding area. Your subsequent steps (Polish
1 to 2, then 2 to 3) will remove the minute scratches.
Griot's GaraGe Machine Polishes are designed to work in
steps. If you start out with Machine Polish 1, you must follow
up with Machine Polish 2 to remove the minute scratches left
behind by Machine Polish 1. After using Machine Polish 2, use
Machine Polish 3 to remove the minute scratches left behind
by Machine Polish 2. At this point you may want to use
Machine Polish 3 again to further enhance the paint.
ProTeCTing Your PAinT
After completing these steps, you have fully polished your
paint and it is ready for protection. Now is the time to apply
wax, sealant or glaze in the same manner as the polishes. Not
much product is needed on the pad, and it is important to
work it in evenly, using the same imaginary square technique
(see diagram B). You will notice even more swirl marks dis-
appear, the paint work will be deeper in color and the gloss
will be enhanced. Work the wax or sealant in until you can
hardly see any haze. Now buff it out by hand with one of our
Micro Fiber Cloths for a haze-free finish.
If using Best of Show Wax
®
apply a second coat in the same
manner for improved depth, color and gloss. Best of Show
Wax
®
will take your paint to the next level of perfection. This
is the wax concours participants use to obtain unmatched
results. When you are done, you will have a flawless finish
that lasts longer and looks better than any other machine
applied product on the market.
Follow uP CAre/mAinTenAnCe
Once you've fully polished your paint, to maintain its impec-
cable finish, protect your paint by applying wax or sealant
2 - 4 times a year. To do this, use the Paint Cleaning Clay first,
follow up with the one of our waxes or sealants, and you're
done! For fast clean-ups between waxes, try Speed Shine
®
.
CleAning Your FoAm PAds
Cleaning your foam pads is simple! First wet your pads with
lukewarm water. Take some Griot's GaraGe Micro Fiber &
Foam Pad Cleaner and put a small amount on the pad. Use
your fingers to lather up the pad, then squeeze the pad
together, freeing the pad of the compounds and waxes. Rinse
thoroughly and wring out. Allow pads to dry completely
before re-using them by standing them up on their side.
oTher TiPs To helP You
• Always start with the least abrasive polish and work down.
If your paint is in excellent shape, you may only need to
use Machine Polish 3. For paint that has been left to the
elements for over a year or has mild oxidation, you may
want to start off with Machine Polish 2 and then follow up
with Machine Polish 3. Only use Machine Polish 1 when
you are dissatisfied with the results of 2 and 3 and are try-
ing to remove deep scratches.
• Try not to bear down on the orbital; let the machine and
the polishes do the work. Start with a tablespoon of prod-
uct to moisten the pad initially and then add a teaspoon to
keep the pad moist for subsequent panels. Make sure you
fully work the polish in so it's easier to buff off. A dime-
sized drop of Best of Show Wax
®
will cover a 2' x 2' section;
a little goes a long way.
• Do not use wool pads with this machine. Wool pads (and
synthetic wool) should only be used to "knock down" paint
after it has been freshly painted. Using a wool pad with the
wrong compound can seriously damage otherwise good
paint. Also, steer away from cotton pads. Polishing com-
pounds can load up on a cotton pad, causing it, in some
cases, to introduce new swirl marks!
• Regardless of what type of paint you have (from ultra-
hard urethanes and newer clear coats to softer enamels
and other single stage paints), you will be able to remove
most any paint imperfection you desire. Our process may
take you longer than other machine applied systems, but
it is totally safe and produces a finish free of burn marks
and other swirls typically associated with other machine
applied polishing systems.

• If any hazing has occurred, mist the surface with Speed
Shine
®
and buff out with our 100% Micro Fiber Cloths.
• To keep your paint looking sharp between washes, use
Griot's GaraGe Speed Shine
®
or our Spray-On Car Wash.
It's important to remove tree sap, bird droppings, acid rain
and other contaminants as soon as possible.
• After your first experience you will see how easy it is to
maintain your paint with the Random Orbital and you will
become an expert for your car's particular paint condition.
grioT's gArAge orbiTAl ProduCTs
grioT's gArAge mAChine Polish 1
Our most aggressive polish that is still safe for any paint sur-
face. I would not recommend going to a stronger compound
than this. Removes moderate oxidation, water spots, deep
swirl marks, stains and other paint defects. Use this product
only after Machine Polish 2 has been tried. Follow up with
Machine Polish 2 and 3 for a show finish.
11161 Machine Polish 1, 16 Oz.
grioT's gArAge mAChine Polish 2
A mild polish. Use Machine Polish 2 when Machine Polish 3
can't remove the deeper swirl marks. If you still can't take out
heavy swirl marks and other paint imperfections, go on to
Machine Polish 1. Removes light oxidation, mild water spots,
swirls, stains and other minor paint defects.
11162 Machine Polish 2, 16 Oz.
grioT's gArAge mAChine Polish 3
To be used as a final polish after your paint has been cleaned
with Paint Cleaning Clay or as a follow up after Machine
Polish 2. May be used two, three or four times in a row
for ultra-safe swirl removal. Each time you use it, you will
see more paint imperfections disappear. Always start with
Machine Polish 3. If you can't remove the swirls and other
contaminants, go on to Machine Polish 2. Follow up with Best
of Show Wax
®
, Premium Carnauba Paste Wax, Carnauba Wax
Stick, Paint Sealant, One-Step Sealant or Paint Glaze.
11163 Machine Polish 3, 16 Oz.
grioT's gArAge mAChine Polish 4
Use ultra-fine Machine Polish 4 when you have nearly flaw-
less paint and only have light swirls and toweling marks. (Like
new cars that are delivered from the dealership.) It will elimi-
nate those micro-fine toweling marks and swirls. Follow up
with wax or sealant.
11091 Machine Polish 4 (Finest Polish), 16 Oz.
grioT's gArAge PAinT glAze
Made with premium oils and fillers to hide light swirl marks,
use Paint Glaze when you do not want to polish to remove
the fine scratches from your paint. Apply it sparingly using
our Orange Foam Polish Pads. A little goes a long, long way.
There is no need to let the glaze dry, so wipe the excess off
after application with a yellow Micro Fiber Polish Removal
Cloth. Glaze can be applied in layers so the more coats you
apply, the more you hide. Use it as a final coat or seal it in
with Best of Show Wax
®
, Carnauba Wax or Paint Sealant.
11041 Paint Glaze, 16 Oz.
grioT's gArAge besT oF show wAx
®
A natural, carnauba based liquid wax that offers unmatched
depth, color enhancement, ease of use and the ability to layer
up to five coats at a time! May be applied by machine or hand.
Lasts up to three to four months. For the finest possible finish,
this is the wax to use.
11171 Best of Show Wax,
®
16 Oz.
Premium CArnAubA PAsTe wAx
Our Premium Carnauba Paste Wax uses the highest grade
carnauba blended with the finest ingredients to create a
wax that is easy-to-apply and produces incredible shine and
protection for your paint. Hydrophobic technology forms a
"non-wettable" surface so the water beads actually curve into
themselves for less surface contact. The surface is so smooth
the water just glides right off.
11029 Premium Carnauba Paste Wax, 14 Oz.
grioT's gArAge CArnAubA wAx sTiCk
As soon you use our awesome Carnauba Wax Stick, you'll
wonder why no one thought of this idea before! The unique
stick design allows you to easily spread our Carnauba paste
on our Red Foam Wax Pads and use with our Random
Orbitals! Simply turn the knob at the bottom to expose the
amount of wax you'll need, rub it across your wax pad and
start enjoying the benefits of our paste wax without the hassle
of digging it out of a container! An innovative way to use the
very finest natural carnauba wax in the world. Works best
when applied by machine or by hand with our Red Foam
Wax Pads.
11085 Carnauba Wax Stick, 3.5 Oz.
grioT's gArAge PAinT seAlAnT
Paint Sealant provides a synthetic layer of protection, yet still
gives a high gloss finish that you only have to apply once a
year. It's easy to use by hand or Random Orbital, and even
easier to take off with hardly any residue! If you don't have the
time to wax your car 3 to 4 times a year, park outside without
a cover, drive your car through car washes occasionally, and
want maximum protection from acid rain, fallout and bird
6

7
Owners Manual
droppings, then Paint Sealant is the product to use.
11075 Paint Sealant, 16 Oz.
grioT's gArAge one-sTeP seAlAnT
All the benefits of our ultra-durable Paint Sealant with gentle
polishes added to remove scratches, oxidation and swirl
marks while leaving behind protection for your paint for up
to one year. Think of it as Paint Sealant with Machine Polish
3 added for a true One-Step Sealant! The best way to apply
it is with our Random Orbital and Orange Foam Polish Pads.
Even when you use it by hand, the results are amazing. Color,
depth and clarity plus long term protection in one easy step.
11075 One-Step Sealant, 16 Oz.
grioT's gArAge glAss Polish & Fine glAss Polish
Fine Glass Polish is for mild spots that you normally see on
your windshield, sunroof and side glass. Spots that are vis-
ible but hard to feel with your fingernails. For water spots
that normally occur on shower doors and that you can feel
with your fingernails, we've introduced Glass Polish. It has
more polishing compounds for heavily calcified deposits. Use
either one periodically and your wipers will last longer! With
our Random Orbital you'll be amazed how fast your glass gets
clean. Enjoy crystal clear perfection.
11017 Fine Glass Polish, 16 Oz.
grioT's gArAge meTAl Polish
This ultra fine polish produces a mirror finish. Special polish-
ing agents restore the original brightness without scratching.
Anti-oxidizing ingredients provide a barrier that assures last-
ing protection. Perfect for use on all polished metals including
stainless steel, aluminum, copper and brass. Also excellent for
cleaning and polishing chrome, gold, platinum, fiberglass and
Plexiglas
®
. For best results, use with our Metal Polishing Pads.
Great for hand or Random Orbital polishing applications.
11238 Metal Polish, 2.5 Oz.
heAvY-duTY meTAl Polish
Use on non-clear coated aluminum, steel, magnesium, stain-
less steel, Plexiglas
®
, plastic, and acrylic. Silicone free and
water soluble making it easy to rinse off after use.
11155 Heavy-Duty Metal Polish, 6 Oz.
grioT's gArAge PlAsTiC Polish
To remove mild scratches and restore clarity to plastic win-
dows, use Plastic Polish. I've restored plastic windows in
convertible tops that, at first glance, I thought I might have to
replace. Plastic Polish will remove minor scratches. Perfect to
clean and bring damaged CDs and DVDs back to life.
11186 Plastic Polish, 8 Oz.
orAnge FoAm Polish PAd
A 6" diameter pad perfect for use with your Random Orbital.
Allows you to lean into the machine more to remove deep
scratches. Safe for clear coats and all other types of paint. For
use with our polishes, One-Step Sealant, Paint Sealant and
Paint Glaze.
10626 Orange Foam Polish Pad
red FoAm wAx PAd
A 6" diameter pad that is softer and gentler for applying our
Best of Show Wax
®
, Premium Carnauba Paste Wax, Carnauba
Wax Stick and Paint Sealant.
10628 Red Foam Wax Pad
blACk FoAm Finish PAd
This is a perfect pad for use with our fine polishes like
Machine Polish 4, Paint Glaze, One-Step Sealant, Metal Polish,
Plastic Polish and can also be used to apply waxes and seal-
ant. Some paints are so soft that even Machine Polish 4 with
an Orange Polish Pad can leave a slight haze. This pad fills
that need as it is soft like our Red Wax Pad, yet is more firm,
allowing you to do very fine polishing. Perfect for paint
finishes that need an extra step between polishing and
waxing to achieve paint perfection!
10623 Black Foam Finish Pad
wAx removAl bonneT
A safe, micro fiber bonnet specifically designed for use with
our Random Orbital. Fits over one of our Blue Support Pads,
eliminating the need to remove wax by hand.
11536 Wax Removal Bonnet
11256 Wax Removal Bonnets, Set of 3
Polish removAl bonneT
A safe, thin micro fiber bonnet specifically designed for use
with our Random Orbital. Fits over one of our Blue Support
Pads and eliminates the need to remove polish residue by
hand.
11518 Polish Removal Bonnets, Set of 3

Answers To Your QuesTions
To order another Griot's GaraGe Random Orbital,
or for a complete selection of quality
Griot's GaraGe products, please write or call us toll-free at
800-345-5789. You may order on our website at
www.griotsgarage.com. Reorder item number:
10813 6" Random Orbital
Specify 10 Foot Power Cord or 25 Foot Power Cord
Have fun in your garage!
®
Griot's GaraGe, inc.
3333 south 38
th
street
tacoma, Wa 98409
800-345-5789
www.griotsgarage.com
© Griot's GaraGe, inc.
8