When I polished my 67 five years ago, I enjoyed the compounding (more or less), but I HATED using the Cyclo. Consequently, it's been sitting in the barn ever since.
I started polishing my new trailer (the 53) two months ago, and again tried using the Cyclo. I still hated it, and decided that I would put it on ebay!! After seeing Vic's polishing demo at the Vintage Trailer Jam this summer in Saratoga, I decided to try again.....still hated it!!!
Well, there must be other people out there with small hands and possibly not as much hand strength as others (I happen to have arthritis in my hands as well)........The problem for me had always been in using the 100% cotton sweatshirt fabric that many people recommend, it was just too much of a bundle to handle....if I made the pieces smaller, so the bundle was smaller, they would fall off..........and the vibration was just killing me!!!
Two days ago I bought ten yards of 100% cotton flannel. I tore it into 32x44" pieces, then washed and dryed them. I put the yellow foam caps on the cyclo, then tied my flannel on. It is much easier to tie than the heavier material, and you can go under the handle with it, which makes a huge difference for a small-handed grip.
I'm actually having fun!!! I've finished half of the top third of the trailer, just yesterday and today and I can finally look forward to finishing it during the next week.
When I polished my 67 five years ago, I enjoyed the compounding (more or less), but I HATED using the Cyclo. Consequently, it's been sitting in the barn ever since.
I started polishing my new trailer (the 53) two months ago, and again tried using the Cyclo. I still hated it, and decided that I would put it on ebay!! After seeing Vic's polishing demo at the Vintage Trailer Jam this summer in Saratoga, I decided to try again.....still hated it!!!
Well, there must be other people out there with small hands and possibly not as much hand strength as others (I happen to have arthritis in my hands as well)........The problem for me had always been in using the 100% cotton sweatshirt fabric that many people recommend, it was just too much of a bundle to handle....if I made the pieces smaller, so the bundle was smaller, they would fall off..........and the vibration was just killing me!!!
Two days ago I bought ten yards of 100% cotton flannel. I tore it into 32x44" pieces, then washed and dryed them. I put the yellow foam caps on the cyclo, then tied my flannel on. It is much easier to tie than the heavier material, and you can go under the handle with it, which makes a huge difference for a small-handed grip.
I'm actually having fun!!! I've finished half of the top third of the trailer, just yesterday and today and I can finally look forward to finishing it during the next week.
OH, THANK YOU. Another frustrated Cyclo owner like me. I thought it was just ME! I have endured the same physical obstacles as you. I have not given up. At least I got much of the swirls from compounding out but trying now to eliminate the 'tracks' the compounding left and get the ultimate mirror finish. "Why?" I keep asking myself! 'Cause it's there?
Neil
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Neil and Lynn Holman FreshAir #12407
OH, THANK YOU. Another frustrated Cyclo owner like me. I thought it was just ME! I have endured the same physical obstacles as you. I have not given up. At least I got much of the swirls from compounding out but trying now to eliminate the 'tracks' the compounding left and get the ultimate mirror finish. "Why?" I keep asking myself! 'Cause it's there?
Neil
Neil---I knew I couldn't be the only one!! The biggest help to me this time around has been cleaning with mineral spirits between each step with the compounder. It has cut down immensely on the black tracks, and made the next step much easier. Gail
I am getting ready for the cyclo step this week. If I just use the cotton bonnets does it still leave intense swirl marks?
I just tryed the Cyclo, the poly fiber fabric from Perfect Polish and A Grade Nuvite to remove water spots and drip lines from recently polished (S) but not waxed metal.
Talk about intense swirl....I though it would save time. (A) grade should work well to remove water spots with a compounder. Then I will go the normal route and use S and the Cyclo.
By the way, how hard would it be to design this tool with the cord leaving the machine out of the back so it could lay over the shoulder and not hitting to metal?
I doubt the people that make these have ever spent time on a ladder leaning over a project.
Last edited by safari62; 09-11-2009 at 02:21 PM.
Reason: spellin'
By the way, how hard would it be to design this tool with the cord leaving the machine out of the back so it could lay over the shoulder and not hitting to metal?
You could make a "monkey tail" for the cord. It a cover for the cord made out of fleece that protects the trailer. I got the idea from Shari (insideout).
By the way, how hard would it be to design this tool with the cord leaving the machine out of the back so it could lay over the shoulder and not hitting to metal?
I doubt the people that make these have ever spent time on a ladder leaning over a project.
It is out there. Cyclo makes a clip that attaches to your waist that you put the cord through. Although various clips will do the same thing the Cyclo clip has a logo.
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Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain- WoZ
Neil---I knew I couldn't be the only one!! The biggest help to me this time around has been cleaning with mineral spirits between each step with the compounder. It has cut down immensely on the black tracks, and made the next step much easier. Gail
Thanks, I suspected that not enough cleaning may be part of my problem. I do wipe down with mineral spirts but perhaps not enough. I have a new street side that I haven't touched yet. Perhaps since it is 'virgin' Alclad aluminum I can 'practice on it before going back to the remainder of the coach. Now what I need is cooler weather and a break between rallies!
Neil.
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Neil and Lynn Holman FreshAir #12407
Why not fly to Arizona this winter and have some fun with my cyclo and trailer!
Richard--Flying to Arizona in the winter sounds great to me!! I'm not sure, though, that it would be as much fun with someone else's trailer. What we should do, is visit others for "weekend polishing parties"!! If you had about 5 or 6 people going at it with their cyclos.....the beer flowing from a keg.....the sun shining.....maybe it could be fun. HaHa....you'd have to have lots of lava soap and water for clean-up, and we wouldn't be able to chat cuz we'd all have our ear muffs on and our cyclos would be so loud.....Arizona sounds great, though. Sometimes it's awfully unpleasant during the winter here in Vermont. Gail
Instead of buying those kits from cyclo...we found they have two hard rubber hook and loop caps that flip around each head and are slightly loose...then we purchase those white cotton polishing pads from any dollar store (dollar General) 1.00 for two pack...then to stick the pads to the rubber attachments and your good to go...cyclo polishing is never easy and we do sections at a time so we don't pass out. Those hard rubber adapter covers are 20.00 for the set, and cyclo sells em. Good luck! If you get these 'rubber heads' you must be made aware of how they are built. The hook and loop part is slightly separated in its design (you will see) and we super glued ours down. If you don't, the massive 'quaking and shaking' motion of the cyclo will tear them up! But other wise they are the economical way out.
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.....Is there another word for synonym? " Life is like a bicycle...to keep your balance you must keep moving." Einstien, 1930...and lastly,-"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, Live the life you,ve imagined"...Henry David Thoreau
Last edited by redhawkerII; 10-06-2009 at 09:56 AM.
Reason: Additional tip
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" Life is like a bicycle...to keep your balance you must keep moving." Einstien, 1930...and lastly,-"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, Live the life you,ve imagined"...Henry David Thoreau
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