UDM or Cyclo?

Z, too bad you ain't close by, you sound like a hoot and would be very welcomed at our next detailers get together. Same question to you - do you use the Edge pads on the Cyclo?
 
ZoranC- Huh, sounds like we *have* experienced different results...speciafically with the PC/4". I can't lean on mine hard enough to make it merely "jiggle" with 4" pads...or at least I chicken out first and I *really* lean on the Cyclo at times. These YMMV things are interesting, and people oughta keep them in mind so they don't get taken by surprise. I'll never forget my shock when I killed the clear on my MPV with the PC...my first thought was "never woulda done that with the Cyclo".





JuneBug said:
Hey Accc - what pad system do you like on your cyclos? I know you probably have 2 of each! Scott? do you use Edge?



Heh heh, I do have two Cyclo pad systems, but one is the old "integrated boot" system :eek: and what a PIA *that* is! I keep it around for laughs, not to really use.



If/when I finally use up my regular velcro-backed Cyclo pads, I'll switch both of them to the Edge, but that's probably gonna take many, many years. If I live long enough I'll convert the rotaries over to Edge too, but with one/two corrections a year max, it's sure not gonna happen soon ;)
 
JuneBug said:
Z, too bad you ain't close by, you sound like a hoot and would be very welcomed at our next detailers get together. Same question to you - do you use the Edge pads on the Cyclo?

Thank you! I don't. I know many people use and love Edge but using design like that one is against my nature.
 
Accumulator said:
ZoranC- Huh, sounds like we *have* experienced different results...speciafically with the PC/4". I can't lean on mine hard enough to make it merely "jiggle" with 4" pads...or at least I chicken out first and I *really* lean on the Cyclo at times. These YMMV things are interesting, and people oughta keep them in mind so they don't get taken by surprise. I'll never forget my shock when I killed the clear on my MPV with the PC...my first thought was "never woulda done that with the Cyclo".

Well, there are probably several factors at play at the same time. First, I am kinda heavy :chuckle:



Second, it takes twice the load to create same pressure per square inch with Cyclo as it does with PC. Or, in other words same load on PC results in double pressure per square inch than it does with Cyclo.



Next, I have a feeling Cyclo's pattern of head movements reduces heat much quicker / disperses it to wider area, while with PC it is much more focused, and it would be getting even more focused with machines with even shorter throw.



So, yes, I can imagine your shock because as someone that purchased Cyclo first and PC second I too would probably go with the flow subconciously feeling same pad size and same load would have been equally safe in not safer with PC. Until I remember, or something makes me remember, that their design is different enough that all bets are off.
 
JuneBug said:
I've seen wool pads for the Cyclo - are they worth getting?



I've only used them under bonnets (and I like using foam for this a lot better), but I don't think they'd work too well for polishing auto paint. I'd expect about the same results as with a PC- a lot more not-so-micro marring and a tiny bit more correction (as compared with foam). If more correction than cutting pads offer is called for, I'd much rather use a rotary and would recommend the same even if the user is utterly unfamiliar with rotaries.
 
That's what I thought. I used a wool pad on my PC with Megs #84 one time because that was the strongest combo I could come up with. I was working on a white 325i. I got the scratches out, but I'd NEVER go through that pain again!



I was all set to get the Cyclo and then I had to decide on pads. So far, 3 people have reccomended just getting the rubber boats and LC pads, one gent said Edge but added that the LC foam was better. I'm kinda leaning toward the rubber boots, I have LC and Edge foam pads for my makita, and I give LC the nod for foam, but I love that quick connect adapter from Edge.
 
JuneBug said:
I was all set to get the Cyclo and then I had to decide on pads..



Having used the rubber boots with velcro since they came out, I *STRONGLY* encourage you to just get the Edge system instead. Don't worry about the pads, AFAIK the Edge pads for the Cyclo use the same foam as the "regular" Cyclo pads (as per everyone I've queried).
 
I bought a Cyclo as my first Tool, ...

I FRIED my Cyclo by useing TOO much pressure!!

It stripped the gears. Cyclo re-pared it for free.

TOO much pressure from correction work.

While it was in the shop, I picked up a veriable speed rotery

@ Harbor freight for less than $50.00 I got some wool pads for

it and feel I am well covered for most everything.

The cheap rotery for correction, the Cyclo for everything else.

The Cyclo is VERY nice to work with.

Kevin
 
JuneBug said:
So far, 3 people have reccomended just getting the rubber boats and LC pads, one gent said Edge but added that the LC foam was better. I'm kinda leaning toward the rubber boots ...

Hold that trigger from making the order until I later today (I am home sick) take and post some pictures of what I did, you might decide to skip the boots.
 
OK, JuneBug, here is why I don't like boots and what I did about it. Take a look what boots do to pad (Velcro on boots is not glued all the way to the edge, last half an inch or so is "flapping", pad is kinda "rolling" as you polish) ...



DSCN1124.JPG
 
... plus I feel boots put me too far away from surface. So, I looked into replacing boots with regular 3.5" PC bp. After all, thread is same. This illustrates difference in height ...



DSCN1130.JPG
 
Problem is in too much overhang. Polishing area is focused on 3.5" only. BTW, this ended up vibrating more than boots. Later experiment with different bp indicates it is probably due to not being able to center 4" pads as precisely when you put them against 3.5" bp as you can when they are against 4" bp. So I changed approach, went for something that is glued all the way to the end, allows me to spread pressure across 4" and is 4" in size. 4" (or 3 and 7/8" to be precise) bp for rotary. Result is this ...



DSCN1334.JPG




DSCN1337.JPG




DSCN13401.JPG
 
DTailN said:
Great information/illustration. Is this approach because you prefer the LC over the Edge?

Thank you! This approach is because personally I don't like anything that has even the slightest (no matter how small it is, even if it is practically zero) possibility to become metal object pointed downward rotating at high speed as long as that possibility is not zero, period. Also, I never liked idea of being locked into one manufacturer. Going with Edge locks me in. Going with velcro leaves my doors wide open to choice.
 
Wow, thanks Z man, I kinda like the simplicity of the Edge and the double sided foam just adds another layer of protection between machine and paint. But, there have been several complaints about the Egde system on the PC. I always figured that was because you put far more pressure on the PC than you do a rotary. And, if it screws up on the PC, then wouldn't it fail on the Cyclo too? I'm not talking a high rate of failures but, I'm saying there would be a potentially greater risk than just going with a backing plate.
 
JuneBug said:
Wow, thanks Z man, I kinda like the simplicity of the Edge and the double sided foam just adds another layer of protection between machine and paint. But, there have been several complaints about the Egde system on the PC. I always figured that was because you put far more pressure on the PC than you do a rotary. And, if it screws up on the PC, then wouldn't it fail on the Cyclo too? I'm not talking a high rate of failures but, I'm saying there would be a potentially greater risk than just going with a backing plate.

You are welcome. We can not know whether there is a greater risk of failure or not without having data on all failures for both systems and then trying to do statistical analysis of both. Considering we do not have that data debate would not be based on facts and therefore would be based on feelings. Therefore I have to emphasize so anybody that might reads this might not misunderstand me, I am not implying any pros of bp system over Edge, nor any cons in Edge, all I am saying is that I have personal prefereneces based on gut feelings and I have learnt to listen to my gut (feelings). If somebody doesn't agree with my gut about it's feelings well they are free to talk to my gut about it. It is just how I do things. Just like I never take rides in entertainment parks because I have too much of an engineering training to take them, it is against who I am. Or like I never gamble because I have too much training in probability and statistics to gamble, it is against who I am.
 
You know, I went back and read this thread twice, I thought about the pads and the pro's & con's of each system. I took costs out of it, because at the end of the day, you'll be much more happier with the results than you will "getting a deal". That said, I've decided to just get the Edge system. The thing that kept coming back in my head was the quick, perfect centering each time you put a pad on - and we all know that affects vibration more than anything else. The clincher came from a post by Accumulator - Edge foam is the same as cyclo foam. OK, now it's just deciding on who gets my business.
 
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