Griot's Garage boars hair brush for washing.

[dolebludger]

In my thread below on use of power washers to wash a car to solve the problem of having a dirty car in cold seasons, advice was received pro and con. As I had "blown off" paint on another car using one, I decided to err on the side of caution. I bought a boars hair brush, model # 10220 from Griot's Garage (GG). The brush is 12" wide and 2 1/2" thick, with bristles 5" long. It has a 40" "handle" which is really a plastic covered steel pipe that connects to a hose. It has an on/off valve on the user end. Unlike many similar devices, this water brush distributes the flow evenly all along the width of the brush. The hard plastic part of the head is covered in a softer plastic for protection.

When I hooked it up, I immediately saw the need to use a "quick disconnect" type hose connector, as use without it tended to loosen fittings. With the connector, all was well. I followed instructions and made a first pass over the car with the water on. Then I sprayed on the wash solution using a 1 gallon pump-up garden sprayer. Then I brushed the car down with the water to the brush off. Finally I rinsed with the brush with the water on.

Here's the verdict. The long bristles made it very easy to get into nooks and crannies, such as the recesses behind door handles and the grill. It seemed to use less water than other car washing devices, and left the car with less water on it. A leaf blower took off so much of the water that only one microfibre cloth was needed for total drying. The brush even did a pretty good job on the front brake dust collectors (er, I mean wheels!). I could easily finish up their dirty spots with a GG wheel cleaning tool, which is like a softer plastic kitchen scouring pad on a stick. And, I was left with no "hazy, dirty areas" that I've previously always found at the end of a wash. The car seemed cleaner than with other car washing methods I've used, and didn't require any detailing spray or tire dressing. I got no wetter than when using a power washer, and it took no more time. For wamer times, the brush head unscrews for hand brush washing, if you like.

Like all GG products, this brush was pricey, at $93 delivered to my door. Almost the price of a cheap power washer. But the brush sure did its job well! That's all I can ask.

Hope this helps
Richard :) :) :)

[Ferdman]

Richard, glad to hear that you are satisfied with the Griot's Garage washing brush. As I mentioned before I've always been pleased with their products, and I'm very particular about what I use to maintain our cars.

[D.L. SWINFORD]

I'm sure Groit's products are premium, but the best the jury is still out.
So many of you use them and swear buy them.
I've never used nor will ever use them.
I'm an old stick in the mud too expensive and for what.
My '85 300DT looks as new.
A carwash mit, cheap carwash soap, hand-me-down bath towels and Meguires #26 have worked 20 years for me and the appearance is as new.
Until Then JOY
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman on the Gulf Coast, Your Moderator, Chairman of The Board, Don:p :p :p

'85 300DT 284K miles Donka II

[dolebludger]

Don:

A mit does just fine for the car finish, I agree. But today it is cold here in Central Oklahoma. Yet it is the warmest day on our seven-day forecast. So it is car wash day, even though it is still rather cold --- to cold for me to want to use a mit. The boars hair brush is something I use to solve a problem you fortunately don't have in your location --- cold weather! When spring returns here in fly-over country, I'll probably break out the mit. For now, too darn cold.

Thanks,
Richard:) :) :)

[D.L. SWINFORD]

dolebludger, Richard;
I jumped the gun; made my remarks too Soon.
I gave you the answer before I heard the question.
Here in the Houston area we don't experience the cold weather as other area do and don't suffer the pain of cold washing.
I'll bet if I did I'd have a wash brush too.
Until then JOY
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman on the Gulf Coast, Your Moderator, Chairman of The Board, Don :p :p :p

'85 300DT 284Kmiles Donka II

[dolebludger]

Don:

Thanks. Another thing I've found the brush good for is rinsing. Always when I've just rinsed with hose and nozzle, I've found more soap bubbles washing off when I wet the car down in a month or so for the next wash. Meaning, of course, that I didn't get all the soap off the time before. Not so when the car has been previously rinsed with the brush with water flowing to the bristles. This is why I feel this brush gets the car a little cleaner.

BTW, I gave ole # 26 another try on Benzi, and got much better results this time. Great at getting rid of microscopic scratches. Great depth and reflectivity. Maybe I didn't shake it up enough last time?

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

[D.L. SWINFORD]

dolebludger;
Ole #26 has never failed me, oh I know by the tests there are better but I'm pleased.
You may consider the paste form instead of liquid, no need for shaking the can just your boody.
Did I mention that my method was to wax/polishe the top, hood, deck lid and the crowns of the doors and fenders 2-3 times that of the doors and fender vertical sections?
The sun doesn't strike these side members as it does the horizontal flat sections.
Water beading tells you when.
Until Then JOY
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman on the Gulf Coast, You Co-moderator, Chairman of The Board, Don :p :p :p

'85 300DT 284.1Kmiles Donka II

[vince]

I have used the Griot's Boar Bristle brush for years and am very pleased. I did notice that California Car Cover Company sells a Boar Bristle brush for much less. It looks very similar to the first Griots brush I owned, with a hardwood handle. My current Griots brush has a plastic handle. When I order another I'll try the Cal Car Cover one.

For cold weather washing I use a pair of cotton gloves inside a pair of waterproof chemical gloves. Along with a pair of waterproof boots I stay reasonably comfortable. It's been just plain ugly here since Christmas. It was 22 this morning and won't make it to 40 today. Hey, I know that isn't as bad as further north, but I am a California native after all.

[ALUEB]

its first catalog. I'm on my second boars hair brush. The first one I had for 10 years and it had a wood top and as the years rolled on the wood dried and cracked the brush in half. I sent it back to Griot's and got a new one free., the new "model" has a plastic (thick) top and in the long haul is probably more durable then wood. Ditto with their wash bucket. The first one I had and the shelf inside fell out, there are two nibs that hold it. I called Griot's and they sent me a new bucket and told me to keep the other.

Back to the brush, this is the only tool I use to was my cars. Here is a tip, wash with straight strokes, no circles, do a section at a time and rinse the second. I has have their boars hair wheel brush, and dozen of other products. The only one I don't like is their Best In Show Wax. It leaves a great shine, but is too hard to work with. So I use Mcguires wax

[dolebludger]

Al:

My brush is the GG's model that is mounted on a pipe that connects to a hose and sends water to the bristles. You'll like the plastic covering, as it is too soft to scratch in the event of accidential bumping. Of course, mine unscrews from the pipe if you want to use it by hand. But I don't want to as the flow of water to the bristles allows me to use very little soap, and hence very little wax and polish removal.

Like you, I NEVER apply anything to my cars with a circular motion. That brings on the "swirl monsters!"

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)