Cyclo, what have I done?

C

Changeling

New member
Well after reading all posts including my own where I said I was going to get the Metabo rotary because of it's versatility and extended capabilities, I changed my mind!! I'll still probably get it!!

Everyone had excellent arguments on the tools and due to circumstances I had to pick a direction. Accumulator and others seemed to be very enthusiastic about the capabilities and easy use of the Cyclo! Easy use is my number 1 priority so I went in that direction and purchased one this afternoon from Pinnacle since they had a free shipping deal going that came out OK.



Since I am not familiar with the pads/amount of the Cyclo I would really appreciate input.

I got the green, yellow, orange, white, and the pad holders of course (2 each) from Pinnacle.



1. What pads do you use and not use?

2. How many of each is necessary for a vehicle detail?



Expound to your hearts content on anything that is associated or not!



Changeling
 
Just out of curiosity, shouldn't Pinnacle be able to answer any question that you have about a purchase of something they sell? I would contact them direcly and ask them what and how and so on.

Chemical dealers and retailers are going to have to improve on their customer service if there are customers that buy something, but have no idea on the what's and how's. There are a few that are really doing good things for their customers- a few chemical companies I know, where they will go far beyond a chemical sale, but also assist in business.

I'm sure many Cyclo users can answer your questions, which is fine, but I would ask Pinnacle to maybe update their site so that there are explanations on the stuff they are selling- maybe there are as I have not visited their site, but it seems that you purchased products without knowing how to use them.

Free shipping seems to get some good sales- about $12 to ship a Cyclo. However, there are online retailers that sell them with manuals that will teach and help you become better with using one. That said, you have one coming and that is exciting, I'm sure. Good luck with the Cyclo as I have always enjoyed using mine- you might want to check out the new Edge pad system for Cyclo- no vibration whatsoever.



Rob Regan
 
WCD said:
Just out of curiosity, shouldn't Pinnacle be able to answer any question that you have about a purchase of something they sell? I would contact them direcly and ask them what and how and so on.

Chemical dealers and retailers are going to have to improve on their customer service if there are customers that buy something, but have no idea on the what's and how's. There are a few that are really doing good things for their customers- a few chemical companies I know, where they will go far beyond a chemical sale, but also assist in business.

I'm sure many Cyclo users can answer your questions, which is fine, but I would ask Pinnacle to maybe update their site so that there are explanations on the stuff they are selling- maybe there are as I have not visited their site, but it seems that you purchased products without knowing how to use them.

Free shipping seems to get some good sales- about $12 to ship a Cyclo. However, there are online retailers that sell them with manuals that will teach and help you become better with using one. That said, you have one coming and that is exciting, I'm sure. Good luck with the Cyclo as I have always enjoyed using mine- you might want to check out the new Edge pad system for Cyclo- no vibration whatsoever.



Rob Regan
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Rob, The thing that is great about this forum is the ability to discuss your questions /purchases/ideas/hopes with some of the most experienced personnel in the business of detailing. I don't regret a second of this experience! I believe I have gained knowledge that would equate to many $ not spent on a frivolous direction that would have ended up in disaster without guidance!

And then along comes "WCD", the know all, Guru to all, to everyone that has a direction they wish to follow, WCD has a better way!

We should all just plain bow down to you dude, because how in the world could it be possible for anyone else to know anything?

Turtle wax to you :wavey



Changeling
 
Rob has a good point, I'm not sure why you seem upset about it. Isn't there a basic pad guide on their site? If there isn't, there should be. I also agree that you should have asked this question before you bought anything if there isn't enough information on the site to guide you.



To answer your question, and since I don't know how the pad colors correspond with their aggressiveness, cutting pads for heavy defect removal, polishing pads for light defect removal or to remove compounding haze and finishing pads for finishing. Same basic guidelines as the PC...and like with the PC, it all depends on the vehicle you are working on, the condition of the paint and the polishing products you are using.
 
And then along comes "WCD", the know all, Guru to all, to everyone that has a direction they wish to follow, WCD has a better way!

We should all just plain bow down to you dude, because how in the world could it be possible for anyone else to know anything?



I appreciate good sarcasm, but you left the objective and got subjective with what I was attempting- sorry that I was not clear. I was simply stating that any online retailer should address items in a way that helps sell and educate the consumer. This is a great forum for many to learn new things and find good deals. I believe you requested to have us expound our hearts with content and state something associated or not with your request. I am sorry if mine did not match what maybe you wanted someone to say. However, in my 13 yrs. or so of being on this forum, I have never had anyone say that I'm a "know-it-all". Rather, it is my perception that I am seen as helpful and somewhat knowledgable about business and detailing.

Unfortunately, you have taken my suggestions and comments far too personally and reacted in a manner that is unprofessional. That's ok if that is your style, as it does not affect my day or my life. However, I will say as a successful business person and educator, that that attitude is not productive and rarely gets you where you want to be.

I wish you the best because why would I want anything else for anyone??? It doesn't make sense that I would have an attitude that was contrary to anything else but positive and hopeful.

All the best with decent wax,

Rob Regan
 
If they're Cyclo pads, the yelow are for med-heavy compunds, the orange for light compounds and med swirl removal, the green for milder swirl removal, and the white for the finest polishes - and for glaze/sealant/wax application.



Outside of heavy scratches, I find the orange pads the best all-around ones for correction. The other ones I use a lot are the white pads. The green pads are a bit too soft, so you can't put much pressure on them - I also find that the orange pads usually finish out better than the green ones, even though they have more bite.



Todd
 
I agree with the idea to check with Pinnacle to see what *they* recommend, or at least decide which products you're gonna use.



The general rules apply, as percynjpn posted: yellow for major correction using aggressive products; orange for a slightly milder version of the same thing, green for general polishing (or at least that's what I've always used), white for final polishing and glaze/LSP application.



I haven't used the orange pads all that much so I can't say if they finish out better than the green ones or not :nixweiss With the hard clears that I usually work, the green ones finish out pretty well for me but yeah, they are a bit thin and easily compressed. Having used the green pads since forever, I'm sure familiarity factors into my liking them, perhaps more than it should, but they are what I use most.



The white pads are very nice for final polishing as well as for LSP application.



The yellow cutting pads seem to wear/loose cut after a little while, sometimes I'll notice it before I finish the first vehicle. They're great for use under MF bonnets for LSP buffing.



IIRC, there have been some recent changes in the pads' foam, at least with regard to the double-thick ones used with the E2K mounting system. I'd look up Anthony O.'s thread about them for more info.



The SFX polishing and finishing pads seem to work fine.



More pads beats fewer pads. Assume they're gonna get saturated with product. Yeah, you can stop and clean them, and spin them sorta-dry, but I always have at least one extra set more than I think I'll need.



Oh, and FWIW, IIRC WCD was/is a vendor for pads used with the Cyclo ;)
 
I like Lake Country's new Cyclo pads - after a few bad pad failures, I never went back to Cyclo brand. I do hear that they've improved their backings though.



I liked yellow/HTEC on scratches

Orange/medium polish on whole car for swirl removal

Green/FPII if necessary

and white to apply sealants and (espicially) paste waxes. They fit right inside most paste tins.
 
Well first off I need to apologize to WCD, not an excuse but after I had sent the original post the sink started backing up, I went down to the basement where I had been washing cloths and the dam laundry tub that collects the washing machine water had overflowed and left about 50 gallons of water all over the floor (no carpet), basement floor drain is also stopped up. Nothing I could do!! This just plain snapped my twig and I went off on you for really nothing other than frustration.

I apologize and am sorry that it happened.

Plumber cleared drain this morning.



Pinnacle has the descriptions of each pad color and there usage, however I like to verify everything I do with the experts on this web site. I wasn't sure if the Cyclo pads were a lot more durable than the PC pads or less durable therefore the number needed question.

I just purchased 2 of the green, yellow, orange, and white so I guess I'll wait for a sale and get 2 more of each. These are Cyclo brand pads, at least that is implied. There are 2 different "yellow", one is for cutting and the other yellow is for heavy stuff (I got cutting). I guess they couldn't come up with another color!



ZoranC, I haven't given up on the Metabo yet either. I just have to start recovering from a very bad financial February.



Changeling
 
Changeling said:
.. I wasn't sure if the Cyclo pads were a lot more durable than the PC pads or less durable..
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Other than the yellow ones losing some cut, they're durable. The green ones last a *long* time and the white ones last even longer. I have a set of white ones I use with #16 that are at least 7 years old, though admitedly LSP-application isn't too demanding.
 
Before Cyclo made improvements to the backing of the pads, my brother used to go through about 2-3 sets of green per plane. He now says that he can get 2 planes with one set, sometimes more. I mainly use the green and white as anything needing the yellow, I use a rotary.



Thanks, Rob
 
Changeling said:
I haven't given up on the Metabo yet either. I just have to start recovering from a very bad financial February.
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Then if I was you I wouldn't be spending resources on tool that has partial redundancy with what you might already have (PC), I would be going for one that covers area I don't have covered at all yet (rotary).
 
ZoranC, I am going to sell the PC and purchase the Metabo, this will give me two of the finest detailing machines made (Metabo and Cyclo). February has been the proverbial ***** to me, read below.



WCD thanks very much for the information, since you are the pad guru on this website and your brother also uses the Cyclo pads, I think I can easily assume they (Brand) are the way to go. I'll concentrate my buying in your suggested areas (Green&yellow). Accumulator has been hot on these two on basically everything I've read on the Cyclo today. However he admits to using them the most.

Themightytimmah, I am not taking your experience lightly, I'm covering bases as you suggest.



Now the sad story, and see, I haven't even blown up, yet!



February, 2007, ***** month!!!

During the terrible freeze (Maryland) 3 weeks ago, my heat pump went out. I got my neighbors brother (heating man) to take a look. Outside and inside unit had to be replaced, this guy spent 3 days putting it in because of defective parts from factory, really an awesome person$$$!! Outside temperature in the 10 to 20degree range for him!!

I spent two days in a motel at $100.00 per day, $$.

First day back, the refrigerator went out, Maytag man fixed.

This week, sewer pipe from laundry tub to sewer blocked, backed up all over the floor before I caught, Sunday, can't get plumber.

Monday, Plumber fixed $$$!!



This is Monday afternoon as I write this, I hope it's all over.



If this wouldn't snap your twig, you're a stronger person than I am!!



Changeling
 
If I typed green and yellow..ooops. I mostly use green and white- white for applying sealants and green for polishes. I have never liked the firmness of the yellow and if needed, I go to the rotary. I will also use mf bonnets for removing waxes and polishes are larger sized items.

My ears ring after each use, so ear plugs might be a good idea. I do have sensitive ears from years of drums and music so it may not bother you as much.

Lake Country makes a nice 4" pad as well, but the newer Cyclo ones have always worked well. I simply put them in my washing bucket after use and then when ALL done, I rinse with water and they clean up very well.



That is one TESTY month! I'm sure I would be a bit irritated, but at the end of the day if you are not eating off a hospital tray, it could be worse! :)



Rob
 
Changeling said:
ZoranC, I am going to sell the PC and purchase the Metabo
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If I knew then what I know now my path would have been PC first, rotary second, Cyclo much later, and once I would get Cyclo I would not sell PC in order to keep manuverability in complex contours (unless I can find better DA than the PC). But that's me.



Changeling said:
If this wouldn't snap your twig, you're a stronger person than I am!!
Click to expand...

If that was me I would have been snapping much earlier and much stronger than you. We are all humans afterall. What matters is that you care.
 
WCD said:
... but at the end of the day if you are not eating off a hospital tray, it could be worse!
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Tell me about it. Friday night I was heading home, one moment everything is OK, next moment without any warning sign I am shutting down, 15 minutes later I am in ER.
 
If you bought your pads from AG, I am sure you got LC pads not Cyclo. They may have started selling Cyclo brand but normally they sell LC.
 
I think Feb has kinda sucked for everybody, one of my best friends found out he has an inoperable brain tumor, my cousin had a heart attack and I re-injured my back - ruptured a disc a few years ago. That and I haven't had a paying detail job in weeks left me pretty low. OK - it's going to get better guys, it will, I can feel it!
 
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