Cyclo Polisher

[raiderscott]

I have a Cyclo dual head polisher that I purchased years ago. How does this unit compare to the Meguiars buffer? Is the Meguiars buffer far superior? What are your thoughts regarding the Cyclo?

[STRIFE]

Re: Cyclo Polisher

I don't think you will get an unbiased opinion here, but my take on the cylo dual head would be that only an experienced user will benefit. It seems kinds cumbersome and require the users 100% attention.
I believe the megs or GG6 are far more easy to use for many of us who are new to DAs.
The GG6 & Megs DAs are both relatively cheap to buy at ADS or AG.
I would search out other forums to find out more about the cyclo since you already have the unit, good luck

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Cyclo Polisher

The Cyclo is an excellent tool, no doubt, and fans of the tool love it. It is very solidly made (we assume you've picked it up, right? ) which, in this case, translates into a fairly heavy tool that can become fatiguing when used for extended periods. It's counter rotating pads are a nice feature in that they provide a very smooth operation, the tool does not want to "wander" during use or try to pull you in one direction or another, and it can't create the type of buffer swirls that a rotary often will. Pad choices are a bit limited but let's face it, you don't really need 45 different pads to choose from (no, that is NOT a dig at Lake Country - I happen to be a fan of their pads, so please don't go there anyone!!!). The older tools are also single speed devices, so you can't alter speeds for more or less cut, to refine a surface (jeweling, if you will), etc.

Will it do things that a DA can't? Not really, no. Especially when you consider the technological advancements in both liquids and pad materials since the Cyclo was first released.

At the end of the day it all comes down to what you're comfortable using.

[Bjkearns]

Re: Cyclo Polisher

I have never used a cyclo but from what I have seen of them they seem large,cumbersome and really expensive

but if you achieve the desired results keep using it

[Shawn Devlin]

Re: Cyclo Polisher

Flex is often referred to as the Mercedes of polishers, if that is the case then I see the Cyclo the Cadillac of polishers, the classic Cadillac more precisely. They are heavier than a modern DA, but operation is silky smooth, meaning the polar opposite of the Porter Cable 7424XP which is a great machine in its own right, but a rattletrap. The heavier weight of a Cyclo can of course be fatiguing, but I argue that so can excessive vibration associated with conventional single head DA machines.

The Cyclo also took some flak for only having one speed on their Model 5, but addressed this with the introduction of the Model 5 Pro Series a few years ago. Durability? No shortage of stories on the web regarding people finding Cyclo machines decades old at a garage sale or cleaning out a basement and firing them up without issue. At the risk of sounding a bit dramatic, these machines have a reputation for outlasting their owners.

Is the Cyclo old tech? Absolutely, the machine sold today is relatively unchanged since it debuted in the early 50s, but is that necessarily a bad thing? The phrase 'they don't make them like they used to' isn't typically used in a complimentary fashion as it pertains to modern products, but in the unique case of the Cyclo: Yes, they do.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Cyclo Polisher

It would be my polisher of choice if I were buffing an AirStream trailer or a B-29 Super Fortress.

But that's exactly what the Cyclo was originally designed for - to polish large flat aluminum surfaces. But advances to the original design make it a perfectly acceptable paint polisher too. I understand that the vibration is considerably less than other D/A's.

The twin pads make it a little less maneuverable than a single head DA polisher and a bit more of a chore to polish out smaller panels like door pillars, mirror housings, bumper lips, etc.

[Superior Shine]

Re: Cyclo Polisher

I polished a B-29 and forgot to take my Cyclo -