Thinking of buying a cyclo
- Thread starter FROG
- Start date
JohnKleven
New member
The Cyclo is probably the best built machine on the market. It's very very well balanced, no vibrations, and a workhorse. It doesn't have forced rotation like a Flex, but still corrects very well, much better than a PC.
AeroCleanse
New member
I used one for a few days and it didn't do a very good job.
JaredPointer
COME AT ME BRO
I sold my Cyclo to get a Flex, and I've got to say that it was a good move. If I was gonna drop that much coin on a RO machine, it would be the Flex.
Junebug
JAFO
I traded my Flex for a Cyclo and couldn't be happier -so you see it's all about opinions. The 3.5" BP that fit your PC will fit the Cyclo to. Also, Edge makes some great pads and there is zero vibration with them. The Cyclo take a little getting use to, and the best advice is to take it easy, let the machine do the work. BTW - M105 on an orange pad will work wonders. Also, they have been around since 1953, and still going strong.
Accumulator
Well-known member
FROG- This gets to be a personal preference situation.
I've used Cyclos since the mid-'80s and I find them more pleasant to use than any other polisher, hands-down. Yeah, they're very durable; my older one suffered horrible abuse in a commercial environment and still didn't really need rebuilt when I sent it in for a look-see after about 20 years (that's with *zero* maintenance, didn't even do the regular lubing).
The newer Cyclo set up, with additional counterweighting, should diminish the already minimal vibration even more. The Edge adaptors make changing/aligning pads a breeze and I would *STRONGLY* encourage Cyclo users to employ that pad mounting system.
I have never damaged paint with a Cyclo, other than cutting through old/weak/thin single stage on some edges, and any polisher would've done the same in that case. I *have* damaged clearcoat with a PC/4" pad, and the damage wasn't minor. The Cyclo is one *VERY* safe machine and anybody oughta get the hang of it in a few minutes (my octagenarian father sure did).
So the Cyclo is great.
BUT...
I find that the PC, even the older/weaker model, will do much more aggressive correction *IF* fitted with 4" pads (direct comparison that left no doubts). (Thought: fitting the Cyclo with SurBuf pads and using M105 might more than even the score, but I haven't tried that.) If the PC has larger pads the Cyclo will beat it.
The design of the Cyclo makes it unsuitable for certain vehicles (including, unfortunately, my Jag XJS, that's why I got my first PC). That's not an issue very often, but it can come up.
As you can see from the previous posts, opinions differ when it comes to Flex vs. Cyclo. I'd hate to be without either unit, but since I work primarily on hard clear, when it comes to correction I'd get by better with only the Flex than I would with only a Cyclo. But I still *like* using the Cyclo a lot more.
I've used Cyclos since the mid-'80s and I find them more pleasant to use than any other polisher, hands-down. Yeah, they're very durable; my older one suffered horrible abuse in a commercial environment and still didn't really need rebuilt when I sent it in for a look-see after about 20 years (that's with *zero* maintenance, didn't even do the regular lubing).
The newer Cyclo set up, with additional counterweighting, should diminish the already minimal vibration even more. The Edge adaptors make changing/aligning pads a breeze and I would *STRONGLY* encourage Cyclo users to employ that pad mounting system.
I have never damaged paint with a Cyclo, other than cutting through old/weak/thin single stage on some edges, and any polisher would've done the same in that case. I *have* damaged clearcoat with a PC/4" pad, and the damage wasn't minor. The Cyclo is one *VERY* safe machine and anybody oughta get the hang of it in a few minutes (my octagenarian father sure did).
So the Cyclo is great.
BUT...
I find that the PC, even the older/weaker model, will do much more aggressive correction *IF* fitted with 4" pads (direct comparison that left no doubts). (Thought: fitting the Cyclo with SurBuf pads and using M105 might more than even the score, but I haven't tried that.) If the PC has larger pads the Cyclo will beat it.
The design of the Cyclo makes it unsuitable for certain vehicles (including, unfortunately, my Jag XJS, that's why I got my first PC). That's not an issue very often, but it can come up.
As you can see from the previous posts, opinions differ when it comes to Flex vs. Cyclo. I'd hate to be without either unit, but since I work primarily on hard clear, when it comes to correction I'd get by better with only the Flex than I would with only a Cyclo. But I still *like* using the Cyclo a lot more.
I have used a Cyclo for going on 5 years now and I absolutely love it. I started using it for just LSP application and it covers a large area very quickly. After I started using it for correction it soon became my go-to tool (following up after rotary correction). I highly recommend the low-profile backing plates over the muffin-pads that come with the Cyclo. Yes, the threading is the same size as the PC.
Now I mostly use the PC for minor correction and LSP application because I use my Cyclo for interiors using the brush attachments. It's just faster switching between two machines than switching out backing plates, but I'm 100% confident that if my PC fails during a detail I can easily switch back over to the Cyclo to finish up.
Like someone said, it's all about preference. If you do pick one up and you don't like it you can always find someone to buy it off you.
Now I mostly use the PC for minor correction and LSP application because I use my Cyclo for interiors using the brush attachments. It's just faster switching between two machines than switching out backing plates, but I'm 100% confident that if my PC fails during a detail I can easily switch back over to the Cyclo to finish up.
Like someone said, it's all about preference. If you do pick one up and you don't like it you can always find someone to buy it off you.
Accumulator
Well-known member
todd@bsaw said:
Yeah, I usually keep one Cyclo set up with the brushes, but now and then I, heh heh
sometimes wish I had a third one so I could always have one ready to go with brushes, one for LSP application, and one for LSP removal.Heh heh...we make a big deal out of changing the backing plates, but back before Cyclo switched to Velcro the original "rubber booted" pads were such a PIA to wrestle on/off that, well...people can't imagine.
Accumulator
Well-known member
FROG said:
Heh heh...mine are just sitting around waiting for me to try them
I do think that you'll appreciate the E2K-style adaptors after you've, uhm....experienced
the regular velcro ones (remember that you need to really *CENTER* the pads so they don't rub together excessively).Hope you like your Cyclo as well as the rest of us Cyclo fans do!
Accumulator said:Heh heh...mine are just sitting around waiting for me to try them
I do think that you'll appreciate the E2K-style adaptors after you've, uhm....experienced
Hope you like your Cyclo as well as the rest of us Cyclo fans do!
Do you use these backing plates ? Cyclo backing plates, Cyclo orbital polisher, car polisher, cyclo buffer, cyclo polishing pads, cyclo model 5, car buffer or have you used the backing plates for the p/c that fits the four inch pads ?....I have lots of 4 inch LC pads in different flavors
sum are flat,sum are ccs......I would prefer not to have to buy Cyclo pads too....unless you guys say I need them.....it seems like most pads are not created equal....:buffing:todd@bsaw said:
Thanks Todd, I sure will , I have been researching as much as possible, in application concerning polishes,its quite different than the PC .....the M105...205......106a.....85rd......are not getting the nod. I guess it all makes sense though , its much slower in rpm so it will not brake down polish quite the same.....so it would seem.
sparklescarwash
New member
I have 2 cyclos a flex 3401 and had a pc. One cyclo is at least 7 years old I just bought a brand new one it has weights in it super smooth by far my go to machine. My flex is 2 years old and starting to act up. The cyclo has never failed.Built like a tank run for ever. The cyclo is in a leage of its own.
The thing I have noticed about the Cyclo (which may be contradicting what others have said) is it doesn't bog down when you apply more pressure to it compared to the PC. For the older polishes I used, it seemed to get more correction when applying pressure, but the new polishes that are out may work differently. The backing plates you linked are the ones I like (and recommend). I'm not sure exactly what Accumulator is talking about, but I hate the old "muffin" looking pads that came with my Cyclo.
todd@bsaw said:
As the Cyclo pad configuration has changed....er, let me rephrase that ,another pad option is these guys.....Cyclo Double Precision pads are double-sided foam buffing pads for the Cyclo polisher. .....and there is an adapter that goes along with the double sided pad. I hope I am not being too backward with this post, these have been around for awhile, but I am not finding to much info about them.....I am digging here for info ,whether it be good ,bad or ugly... :laugh:.....it looks as though these pads could be a good idea....especially for cleaning and being able to flip them over when working.