5” backing plate- ideal pad size?

PD from Miracle Detail in the UK using the 3M 09952 backplate look at the space between the backplate and the pad. I think this is the ultimate video on rotary usage, look at his technique and the way he holds and guides the rotary.

 
EdLancer -
I remember that 3M Perfect-It Backing Plate from years ago..
Almost 10 years ago I believe..
Hottest thing, could not find it in the USA, finally bought one from the UK and it was lovely and all but out of round... Hated it.. No good on a Rotary... :)
See a couple for sale in the UK today for around $32.20 USD, don`t know if one has to pay the Tax there, and then there is shipping..

Didn`t really need it after all the hoopla.. It flexes, I don`t want the flex, just direct drive to the paint for the fastest correction...:) A small spacer on the Rotary gives me the distance I like and it`s good to go..

Loved that old, old, Paul Dalton video ! The comments on there are hilarious ! :) I still have that same Makita from longer ago, and it`s an awesome machine...
Dan F
 
Back then detailing gear was much more expensive and harder to come by then today. The only DA available in 2003 was the PC and the Flex was just coming in a few year later and the Makita 7227C and Dewalt DW849 was the only game in town for rotaries still great machines even by today`s standards. With the advent of made in China, detailing gear has become very inexpensive and selections is now huge !
 
Heh heh, the Cyclo Model 5 has been around since forever...it was an old thing back when I got mine in the early `80s.

I too use cotton towels for most of my foam pad cleaning, though I understand KB`s argument that MF is superior.

I clean my pads *all the time*, sometimes after every (section) pass, at least when doing aggressive work. I might do a whole panel when just Finishing, but even then I find that a clean pad simply does everything better. Erring on the side of caution perhaps, but it does seem to make a diff.
 
Accumulator said:
Heh heh, the Cyclo Model 5 has been around since forever...it was an old thing back when I got mine in the early `80s. I too use cotton towels for most of my foam pad cleaning, though I understand KB`s argument that MF is superior. I clean my pads *all the time*, sometimes after every (section) pass, at least when doing aggressive work. I might do a whole panel when just Finishing, but even then I find that a clean pad simply does everything better. Erring on the side of caution perhaps, but it does seem to make a diff.
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I forgot about the Cyclo, I think it recently got a face lift with a dash of color added ...LoL
 
EdLancer said:
I forgot about the Cyclo, I think it recently got a face lift with a dash of color added ...LoL
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Heh heh, most everybody forgets the Cyclo....until I go on about it again :D [darn] how I love those things (can`t have just one!).

Yeah, the newer models have all sorts of, uhm....features....that I never realized were needed ;) Now if that fancy adjustable speed option just went *faster* instead of slower....

Heh heh#2, I`m afraid to try retrofitting mine with the balancing stuff, don`t need to find out whether I appreciate such stuff.

Gee, I can`t quite remember when the Cyclos first came out..but yeah, some folks were RO/DA-polishing stuff before any Autopians were even born.
 
Accumulator said:
Heh heh, most everybody forgets the Cyclo....until I go on about it again :D [darn] how I love those things (can`t have just one!).

Yeah, the newer models have all sorts of, uhm....features....that I never realized were needed ;) Now if that fancy adjustable speed option just went *faster* instead of slower....

Heh heh#2, I`m afraid to try retrofitting mine with the balancing stuff, don`t need to find out whether I appreciate such stuff.

Gee, I can`t quite remember when the Cyclos first came out..but yeah, some folks were RO/DA-polishing stuff before any Autopians were even born.
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I think Scottwax was an avid Cyclo user, wonder if he still visits these forums ?
 
In Sweden many car dealerships still uses the cyclo. And it`s a tool used by the enthusiasts too. Their is some cheap copies of cyclo also that is the entry level polisher for many here.

Accumulator have you seen Flex Top Tool m2? It`s like a cyclo polisher with 2 backing plates 4" and you can use 2×6.5" pads on it. The throw is 16mm so you get a great cut and fast working polisher. It`s biggest benefit they say it has is the extreme smooth running polisher and quiet since it`s belt driven.

I don`t know if Flex has done this in an 110v version.
 
SWETM- Ah, OK...that explains why the Euro-model features so prominently in their lineup.

The Top Tool might be good for really large areas/vehicles, but I find that even the Cyclo just doesn`t accommodate certain panel contours, guess I`m a "smaller rather than larger" kind of guy when it comes to such polishers. That vertical setup would take some getting used to!

I trust you`ve seen the older 3-headed Cyclos, not too common these days nor are the pneumatic ones.

And yeah, the cheapie knock-offs...apparently some are OK, forget which one it was (yellow and red plastic) but TOL sold one that AFAIK was a viable alternative for the budget-conscious crowd.
 
Accumulator said:
SWETM- Ah, OK...that explains why the Euro-model features so prominently in their lineup.

The Top Tool might be good for really large areas/vehicles, but I find that even the Cyclo just doesn`t accommodate certain panel contours, guess I`m a "smaller rather than larger" kind of guy when it comes to such polishers. That vertical setup would take some getting used to!

I trust you`ve seen the older 3-headed Cyclos, not too common these days nor are the pneumatic ones.

And yeah, the cheapie knock-offs...apparently some are OK, forget which one it was (yellow and red plastic) but TOL sold one that AFAIK was a viable alternative for the budget-conscious crowd.
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Yeah that vertical holding is a little special. But think those electric wax applyiers lol. Seen some videos of just the Flex Top Tool and even if it`s so large they are quite verstile for it`s size. When doing the small places they tip it and uses one pad and smaller pads like 5" pads. But of coarse when doing the big panels with the double 6.5" pads it goes fast. And it`s almost impossible to get them to stall with the belt driven backing plates.

The 3 headed I have not seen. But the pneumatic I have. Those cyclo is work horses and would be nice to have one. It`s holds up it`s worth on the market even at used ones.

5-6 different brands of the cyclo copies is available easy here. Could compare them to the XP polisher as how common those are. Detailing products companys has ready to use kits without the pads but with different pads and polishes and mf towels and so on. Just a fun fact :)
 
SWETM- Yes indeed, the Cyclos *are* workhorses. After years of serious abuse, including being left outside during storms and otherwise mistreated by employees, I finally sent my oldest one back to Cyco Toolmakers for a rebuild. It had been used hard for over a decade without even a drop of lube. They called me up and said it didn`t need *anything* at all, but they lubed it and replaced the brushes anyhow (IIRC they only charged me shipping). It`s now over 30 years old and still works like new.

I dunno about tilting such machines...sling from other pad, uneven contact, I can see issues (and I don`t mind tilting other machines and doing lots of work with the edge of the pad).
 
Cool history about your cyclo! They don`t do that kind of tools anymore that holds on for that long. Wondering how the polishers that is offered now how they works and looks in 30 years of now :)
 
I`d bet that the current/latest Cyclo is at least as good/durable as mine. The fundamentals haven`t changed (hence the price I suppose). But I don`t like certain...uhm, features...on the newer ones so I personally would rather buy an old/used one. Kinda wish mine were older, but hey I have a history with mine, especially that older one.
 
I still use my cyclo. In fact it’s usually the polisher I reach for on my own cars. They are never in horrible shape I can just hit with some essence or something on a green pad. Well 2 green pads lol and jam it out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
MattPerson- Heh heh, looks like I`m not the only Cyclo lover here after all!

Yeah, those green pads are quite versatile, which is good since those were the only foam pads for that machine for a long, long time.

Heh heh, to really date myself, I remember struggling with the old "boot" style pads before they used velcro. Even used them for waxing on soft ss lacquer. Sorta got me into the "don`t need a zillion types of pads" mindset, which still applies.
 
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