For nearly two decades, I’ve honed my skills in car painting, buffing, and polishing, working on almost 5000 vehicles. This experience has exposed me to a wide array of polishing systems. While I still utilize a 200mm rotary polisher (Hitachi or Makita) with a twisted wool pad for heavy-duty tasks, there’s one tool that stands out for everything else: the Cyclo twin head polisher.
My trusty Cyclo, a 110V model powered by a stepdown transformer (due to 240V mains here), has been my workhorse for over 15 years without a single issue. Its secret weapon? An 8mm orbital motion. This specific orbit size provides the perfect balance between aggressive cutting power and the finesse required for a swirl-free finish. This makes it exceptional for paint correction – almost as fast as a rotary, yet far more controlled and gradual. In fact, I’ve only buffed through the paint twice using this machine, a testament to its precision, especially considering the challenging condition of some vehicles we encounter.
Forget clay bars unless your car is constantly exposed to harsh environmental fallout. Modern polishing pads have effectively rendered them obsolete. My Cyclo setup involves three sets of foam pads: hard for cutting, medium for polishing, and soft for the final finish. Although I use locally made pads, genuine Cyclo pads are also excellent (albeit more expensive in my region). Other reputable brands offer quality alternatives as well.
Pair these pads with a high-quality cutting compound. My personal choice is 3D Extra Cut, but Meguiar’s products are also highly regarded. For the subsequent polishing stages, I rely on Gelson T47 for lighter car colors and T57 for darker shades. These polymer polishes effortlessly remove even the most microscopic scratches and offer significantly longer protection than traditional car waxes, rivaling the performance of ceramic coatings without their drawbacks. In my experience, wax simply lacks the durability, gloss, and protection offered by a top-tier polymer.
Ultimately, achieving a flawless car finish hinges on using the right waxing tools. The Cyclo twin head polisher, coupled with a graded foam pad system and high-quality polymer polishes, represents the pinnacle of car waxing technology, providing both exceptional results and long-lasting protection. This combination allows for precise paint correction and a brilliant shine that surpasses traditional waxing methods.
