Griot's Garage New & Improved BOSS Polisher Review

Griot's Garage New & Improved BOSS Polisher Review

New Tools from Griot's Garage!

I was recently given 3 brand new tools from Griot's Garage to test out and write a review for including the new GR3 Mini Rotary and the new BOSS 15 and 21 long-stroke random orbital polishers.

Griot's Garage BOSS Polishers, Chemicals, and Pads.

No mock-up

I don't do mock-up very well. This means I need a real car with real defects to give these new tools a real test.

Something happened to the car?

When I say something happened? I mean something bad happened. Because SEMA show in Las Vegas was cancelled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, we held a LIVE virtual SEMA here at Autogeek. For eye-candy in the background and for some product demonstrations, I asked the owner if we could borrow the car for about a week. The owner was kind and said no problem and dropped his incredibly cool Z28 off at Autogeek for Yancy, our SEMA guests and myself to use.

Car in Garage with group of people.

The car left with a show car finish

While the car left with a show car finish, upon inspecting the car after it arrived, and this would be approximately one month later after the 3-day detailing class, a walk-around the car using the Griot's Garage Swirl Finder Light revealed most of the car now had light swirls and scratches. There was also a bumpy feel to the paint, as though it had overspray? I know my class washed, clayed, did paint correction and then sealed the paint so I was surprised to see and feel how the paint had gone down hill in such a short span of time. I checked with the owner and asked him if anything had happened to the car and that's when he said besides driving it, (which I would do to), he took it in for some bodywork and paint at a collision shop. Now everything makes sense.

Before Pictures

So here's the condition of the paint before I tested out and used the new BOSS 15mm and 21mm long-stroke orbital polishers.

Before shot of car.

Before shot of car.

Before shot of car.

Before shot of car.

Before shot of car.

Before shot of car.

Before shot of car.

Using the new Griot's tools

After photo-documenting the current condition of the paint on the Camaro it was time to get busy. I always like to get a few pictures of myself doing the work otherwise me telling you I used the tools is just words.

The NEW Griot's Garage BOSS 21 in action on the major body panels.

Mike Phillips polishing car with Griot's Garage Polisher.

This is the Griot's BOSS Yellow Foam Perfecting Pad and I'm using the Griot's BOSS Finishing Sealant.

Mike Phillips polishing car with Griot's Garage Polisher

Griot's BOSS Finishing Sealant = Unique AIO

The BOSS Finishing Sealant as the 2 words in the name imply, has a blend of both Griot's proprietary abrasive technology and sealant technology making it an AIO or All-in-One.

In other words, it has the ability to remove swirls and scratches while at the same time leaving the paint sealed with synthetic protection.

Mike Phillips polishing car with Griot's Garage Polisher

The new BOSS 21 has a TON of power.

Mike Phillips polishing car with Griot's Garage Polisher

The new BOSS 21 had no problems tackling the rounded body panels.

Mike Phillips polishing car with Griot's Garage Polisher

Here's the NEW Griot's Garage BOSS 15 i action tackling the insets on the top of the hood.

Mike Phillips polishing car with Griot's Garage Polisher

Mike Phillips polishing car with Griot's Garage Polisher

For the BOSS 15 I'm using the same pad and product as I used with the BOSS 21 only I'm using the smaller 5.5" yellow foam perfecting pad as it's the correct size for the 5" backing plate on the BOSS 15.

Mike Phillips polishing car with Griot's Garage Polisher

The smaller diameter pad was a perfect match for getting down into this inset area...

Mike Phillips polishing car with Griot's Garage Polisher

Mike Phillips polishing car with Griot's Garage Polisher

Mike Phillips polishing car with Griot's Garage Polisher

I preach and teach and practice myself to always machine polish the glass and britework when detailing a car.

Mike Phillips polishing glass on car with Griot's Garage Polisher

Mike Phillips polishing glass on car with Griot's Garage Polisher

Here's the entire car machine corrected and sealed using the Griot's BOSS Finishing Sealant.

Griot's Garage Finishing Sealant drying on surface.

Griot's Garage Finishing Sealant drying on surface.

Griot's Garage Finishing Sealant drying on surface.

Griot's Garage Finishing Sealant drying on surface.

Griot's Garage Finishing Sealant drying on surface.

Griot's Garage Finishing Sealant drying on surface.

Griot's Garage Finishing Sealant drying on surface.

Wipe off

This product when allowed to dry wipes off super easy. Products like this enable you to buff out the entire car before wiping the product off.

Mike Phillips wiping wax away from surface.

This helps because the residue acts as a visual indicator showing you areas you have already buffed and areas that still need attention.

Mike Phillips wiping wax away from surface.

Besides easy wipe-off, the BOSS Finishing Sealant leaves the paint looking super glossy as well as slick and slippery.

Here's the after shots...

Mike Phillips wiping wax away from surface.

Mike Phillips wiping wax away from surface.

Car after being detailed by Griot's Garage products.

Car after being detailed by Griot's Garage products.

Car after being detailed by Griot's Garage products.

Car after being detailed by Griot's Garage products.

Car after being detailed by Griot's Garage products.

Car after being detailed by Griot's Garage products.

Car after being detailed by Griot's Garage products.

Here's everything I used:

Shot of all products used to detail car.

Shot of all products used to detail car.

Review & Comments:

Powerful - Smooth - Easy-to-use

The above 5 words pretty much describe the new long-stroke polishers from Griot's. Heck, I tough the last versions of these two tool were great but these latest version move the bar for performance, power and quality to a higher level. The build-quality of these newest versions of the BOSS 15 and 21 long-stroke polishers is top notch.

These tools are as solid as sledge hammers and the style and performance of a modern sports car. Everything about these tools is well though out and this sinks in as you work around the car. The rubber grips at the front and rear and around the tool body make gripping easy for securely holding the tools without excess muscle or effort on your part. The speed trigger is like the throttle on a Ninja Motorcycle, pull on the trigger just a little and hear the motor come to life, squeeze it hard all the way and be ready for some power!

Both tools are lightweight compared to their sizes and low vibration, I think they are even a tick quieter than their predecessors. The previous versions were so well-built I was surprised to find out Griot's has introduced new and improved versions because it's pretty hard to improve on perfection but that said - they did it. The new BOSS 15mm and BOSS 21mm long-stroke orbital polishers are solid tool investments for anyone looking to add a long-stroke, free spinning random orbital polisher to their tool collection.

PLUS - with the wide-spectrum of BOSS buffing pads available and the versatility and efficiency of the Griot's BOSS Creams, with the Griot's BOSS SYSTEM there's nothing you can't tackle from Motorcycles to RVs and everything in-between.