Cyclo Guide/Usage FAQ?

jdthompson

New member
I've just got a Cyclo (actually a European polisher that appears to be a Cyclo just in an ABS case).



I've never used this sort of machine before and frankly I'm a little worried about doing damage, in spite of everything I read about it being impossible to damage paint with an orbital etc.



Does anyone have any links or tips that relate specifically to the Cyclo?



I can see plenty of guide for the porter-cable but obviously that has a single pad surface.



Right now all I have is the pair of crummy white pads that come with it, I intend getting some Cyclo or Lake Country pads but again I'm a little unclear what would be the best grades to get - when they arrive I'll be using this on a new Mazda MX-5 (Miata?) and a new Boxster - assuming the paint is pristine as it should be, would I be better off working by hand, would a polisher be a bad idea?



Paul
 
The Cyclo is certainly a different type of tool, but rest assured, once you've tried it you'll realize that it is "gentle", yet provides far better performance than a dual-action machine. If you're worried that it might cause some "issues" like a rotary could in untrained hands, you needn't.



I prefer the Cylco brand pads because they're rugged; I've also tried the LC ones on it, but see no difference in performance. If you're worried about the aggressiveness of the pads, you could step back one "grade" from what you would have done with a dual action.

You can use the white pad for final polish, the green for minor scratch/ swirl removal and the orange for compound. I do that depending on the relative aggressiveness of the product I'm using them with.



Todd
 
Thanks Todd. I've emailed and had a reply from Winners Circle as I want some prices on getting pads and some microfibers shipped over.



I believe I want white and green pads as I don't see me needing anything stronger for new paint.
 
What percynjpn said :xyxthumbs Don't worry, you'll be absolutely fine as long as you use a little (and I mean *very* little ;) ) common sense.



I'd get some of the orange pads while you're into it for shipping charges anyhow. I use the green pads the most though.



Just watch that the product doesn't dry/cake on the pads. People seem to use a lot more polish than is needed and/or not clean the pads as often as they should (caking) or try to work too large an area at a time (drying on the pads).
 
Thanks Accumulator.



I also figure stock up on the pads for the small cost of shipping, the only question is which pads to use on new paint etc.



How long do pads typically last? I'm only doing my own vehicles and it won't be every week of course as a new car shouldn't need it so should I expect to be throwing pads away each time I use the thing or what?



Indeed, with it being a new vehicle is using any sort of machine polisher total overkill and should I stick to polishing/waxing by hand?!
 
hutchingsp said:
How long do pads typically last? I'm only doing my own vehicles and it won't be every week of course as a new car shouldn't need it so should I expect to be throwing pads away each time I use the thing or what?



I haven't tried the orange pads. The yellow ones lose a bit of cut after a few uses but still work. The green ones last a long, long time. If used for only very light polishing the white ones last a long time too. If use for LSPing the white ones last forever- not kidding as I'm still using ones for #16 that must be a dozen years old.



It's handy to have plenty of pads (especially if they get loaded up, easier than cleaning them all the time), but you don't need to worry about them wearing out in a hurry, that's for certain.



Oh, BTW, spin-drying wet pads works great with the Cyclo, but do it in a tub or something to catch the splatter 'cause it goes everywhere!



Indeed, with it being a new vehicle is using any sort of machine polisher total overkill and should I stick to polishing/waxing by hand?!



Like the PC, the Cyclo is, IMO really just a "fast hand that doesn't get tired". Noting that detailing is more of a chore for me than a pleasure (I know :o more of my Autopian Heresy, huh?), I do almost *everything* by machine. It's easier for me and I believe it gives me better results. Even on a brand new paintjob, I reach for a machine every time. I just don't see a downside. Wait until you have to do some small, inaccessible area by hand after doing the rest of the job by machine- you'll really appreciate how nice the Cyclo is ;)
 
I've ended up going for three pairs of whites, two pairs of greens and a pair of orange pads plus a bunch of microfibers and a pair of drying towels - should see me good for a while!
 
Heh.. I'm already looking at what I might want to get next. I figure so long as the cars stay hand washed there should (famous last words!) be minimal swirling so I'd hope the Autoglym SRP or Carlack I have already should do the trick.



I'm finding out as much as I can on what pads/products to use and when - like I said it's a little awkward because most info seems to relate to the porter cable.



One interesting thing about the polisher I have is that it's variable speed - there seem to be several polishers based around the same motor/chassis as the Cyclo but with different housings and some fixed speed some variable etc.



http://www.biltema.no/products/product.asp?iItemId=98894
 
Interesting about the variable speed, that might come in handy with some products.



Oh, BTW I really like Autoglym SRP via Cyclo, but it never got rid of any marring for me, just too gentle. See how it works for you.
 
Hi All,



I just purchased a Cyclo and pad kit from Autogeek. Here is what I have:



2 green Cyclo pads

4 white unmarked pads - I assume it is a Lake Country pad

2 white Cyclo pads

4 orange unmarked pads - I assume it is a Lake Country pad

2 yellow Cyclo pads



http://www.pinnaclewax.com/cyclomegakit.html



What is the order of aggressiveness between the white, green, and orange?



Thanks

Rich
 
Most aggressive to least aggressive:



Cyclo yellow

LC(?) orange

Cyclo green

LC(?) white

Cyclo white





Note that the Cyclo yellows wear pretty fast, so I dunno how much more aggressive they'll be than the orange ones over time.
 
Thank you Accumulator.



Assuming that I use the same pad, lets say the Cyclo green, would the pad/polish combination become more aggressive as I move from a light polish to a medium polish to a compound?



Rich
 
Not quite sure how to answer, but *I* use the Cyclo green about 90% of the time I'm polishing. They work well with a wide range of polishes from mild to aggressive. They can be a bit too aggressive for final-finish polishing on some very soft paints, but I haven't run into that very many times (and I've used the Cyclo for ~20 years).



Products that've worked well with the green Cyclo pads run from Hi-Temp Light Cut Leveler and 3M PI-III RC 05933 to mild stuff like 3M PI-III MG and even 1Z MP. I've found these to be *very* versatile pads.
 
Thanks Accumulator.



Great answer and what I was looking for. The green pad seems like the one to use.



I have the Top Of the Line Light, Medium, and Heavy cut polishes. Also the 1Z Red, Green, and Gold consumer cans. Menzerna FPII, Intensive, and PO85RD. I like the 1Z Green but it seems that it covers more than removes.



I will go with the green cyclo pad starting with the TOL Light and move to Medium if needed. Maybe with some 1Z Green can polish also.



Rich
 
Accumulator,



Could you expand please on what 1Z MP is like? I don't hear that polish mentioned very much. Are there fillers? What degree of abrasiveness is it? Is it comparable to any of the SSR's, Menzerna, Optimum polishes (these are the only ones I've tried)? Do you think it would work well on a hard clearcoat, like VW?



I'm considering buying a cyclo, so it's nice to know what products work well with it, especially for new users.



Thanks!
 
rmaurin- When it comes to heavy correction, the sort of stuff you're gonna use harsh products (e.g. the medium cut) on, I'd use the yellow or orange cutting pads. Accept a bit of micromarring and get the paint leveled quicker. The 1Z Ultra/Extra (gold can) is as aggressive as I'd use with the Cyclo green pads and that's a bit of a lopsided combo (but it's not all that bad). Heh heh, it tends to load up the pads something awful too but I still kinda like it.



Yeah, the 1Z stuff does a bit of hiding, but that's not always a bad thing and their PP works well with the Cyclo green pad. The 1Z MP and give a nice final polish with the Cyclo finishing pads and you can use it with the green pad on hard paint.



Pennypacker- The MP is sorta a high-grade, mildly abrasive cleaner-wax. Sorry, I can't really compare it to the products you mentioned as I haven't tried most of them. The closest I *can* compare it to is Menzerna FPI. About the same level of cut but *I* liked the results from the MP better (side-by-side comparison on a silver Audi).



You do have to watch for hiding/filling/concealing if you don't want that. The wax that MP leaves behind, a natural/synthetic blend, looks nice but doesn't last long.



I use it on surfaces that are already basically perfect marring-wise. Great for a final buff. Don't expect any correction on hard paints.



I like the Pro version of the Metallic (it comes in a round, 1-liter can), but I hear it's out of production, or at least not being imported to the US, and is getting hard to find. It has slightly more aggressive abrasives and less wax (only synthetic as opposed the blend in the consumer version IIRC). This is the last thing I use on the S8; I use it repeatedly for a final light "burnishing" before applying the LSP. The waxes it left behind didn't interfere with the bonding of my UPP, while the waxes in the consumer stuff did to some extent (manageable but irritating, had to let the UPP set up for a long, long time).
 
Accumulator,



I used HiTemp Heavy Cut with a yellow hand wax application sponge and was able to significantly reduce swirls on the rear door jamb. Left a beautiful wet finish. No need to go back with a lighter polish.



Cant wait to see what the Cyclo will do with Heavy Cut and the Green pad :)



Rich
 
rmaurin said:
Accumulator,



I used HiTemp Heavy Cut with a yellow hand wax application sponge and was able to significantly reduce swirls on the rear door jamb. Left a beautiful wet finish. No need to go back with a lighter polish...



Interesting, I wouldn't have expected it to finish out that nicely. I'm gonna have to try that stuff some time. Sounds like it oughta work great with the green pads.
 
Accumulator said:
Interesting, I wouldn't have expected it to finish out that nicely. I'm gonna have to try that stuff some time. Sounds like it oughta work great with the green pads.
HT Heavy Cut finishes out pretty well even using the yellow pads. It's become my "go-to" lately for other people's (neglected) cars . . . between the performance, price, and availability (Hi-Temp is only ten minutes from me here in Omaha), I haven't found much better.



Tort
 
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