Just got it and used it a few times, this unit is great.

www.cyclotoolmakers.com



Thanks

Brad Lewis
Surface Solutions Inc

I have used a demo from a dealer here in Ontario. I liked it but not the price. The one that I had, only had the carpet brushes on it. I was impressed at how effective it was for the limited time that I had it. Stairs and some chairs easily cleaned. A gread tool for Cimex guys with stairs and corners.

I used it with Releasit and a bio= spot & stain, loved the results.

It would also be great for cars and trucks.
Ed

I also have looked at the cyclo down under.

The price down under is the killer


AU$880.00 plus freight

I think I will wait until I next travel 1,800 miles south to Sydney and 'have a go' with it before committing.

Down under, it only comes with the pads for car burnishing.

Anything else, I have to source myself.

Cheers,

Shorty.



PS ::: Brad, you have edumacated me today. Brad Lewis is also the name of the head honcho at Queensland Education that I deal with for remote region schools

I've seen the light, and changed my wicked ways.
www.get.shorty.com.au

Brad, over the years i have had several of them. They cannot be compared to a Makita which we have been running for over 5 yrs. A few years back, I took one to the VLM Fest in Macon, Ga. and offered to sell it to anyone there for #39.00. I had to bring it back home.
, there was no interest in it even after the demo.

The Makita looks like an great tool. The only thing I can't figure out is can you attach brushes to it? The ones that Rick sells are for drills.

Do you makita owners only use bonnets and pads? Brushes aren't necessary?

Thanks.

Thanks for that mate, you've made up my mind.

I was actually considering using it on leather.



Thomas, I use bonnets under my Little Mak;

I started out using pads, but soon discovered bonnets were much better.

Depending on soiling and fabric, I use cotton or synthetic with aggressive stripe in them.

Fabric is always towelled after cleaning.

Cheers,

Shorty.

I've seen the light, and changed my wicked ways.
www.get.shorty.com.au

Just purchased mine a few weeks back and I love it. Got the aqua and the soft brushes with it.

You can't tell me that a makita something that is so bulky is a better choice then my cyclo.

And Ray if you couldn't sell it for 39.00 at the feast then everyone there must have been drunk or you didnt plug it in when you tried to demo it.

Joe, Rick Gelanis was there and I can assure you he wasn't drunk, but he did buy my Whittaker spotting tool for $20.

Rambo, I'll give you $39.00 for your cyclo.

Thanks

Brad Lewis
Surface Solutions Inc

Brad, I gave it to a church to clean their pews with.

Would the cyclo be safer for beginners since it is moves in a oscillating pattern, instead of a purely circular spinning like the Makita? I'm just afraid to burn something.

In car polishing, from what I understand, the Makita is something for the pros, which takes skill not to make swirls, whereas the cyclo and similar oscillating units are less aggressive, and would take longer, and not be able to achieve certain results of the rotary.

Is that what would be true for using these tools for upholstery, or stairs?

Thomas,
no need to be afraid of Lil; Mak;

She is as gentle as can be.

At times, people give me that strange look when I take her out of the case.

To set their minds at ease, I lubricate the pad with some Releasit DS, start Lil; Mak; running, bear in mind, I am only running her at the slowest speed.

Holding Mak; in my right hand, I tell them that their will be no damage to their fine fabric, as I put the pad over my open left palm.

Lil; Mak; is so well balanced that it can be used with one hand very easy.

The customer see's that there is no pain, redness or anything else wrong with my hand, and their mind is put at rest.

My wife Delia, uses Lil; Mak; all the time.

She will clean the upholstery as I Cimex the carpets, or vice versa.

Hope this helps,

Cheers,

Shorty.

I've seen the light, and changed my wicked ways.
www.get.shorty.com.au

Thanks,

I don't think I've ever heard anyone speak so affectionately of a piece of equipment before. You must really enjoy using lil mak!

What you said about customers being worried is what I was thinking would happen as well, if they knew anything about power tools. How you show them that they have nothing to worry about is a great idea.

Did you ever think of trying to hide the "Makita" on the tool?

I would really like to get a lil Mak as well, but please put this one question I have to rest: Do you never, ever need brushes for upholstery or stairs? That seems to be the only thing you can't attach to the Makita.

Thank you.

Flamin' good question mate.

Also one that I have been toying with for some time myself.

The Makita Polisher is not meant to be used with a brush as such, to my knowledge.

I did speak to a tool guy yesterday, explained what I was thinking, about a chuck to go on the Makita so I could use the brush.

We came to an agreement that the time taken to remove the velcro board and fit a chuck would be a negative.

Then you have to go through it all again to replace the pad holder (velcro board).

Which brings me back to another point raised earlier, that being the Cyclo tool.

I liked the idea of the Cyclo tool for upholstery, and figured it would be twofold, using it for stairs also.

But, my mentor Rambo, has put the kobosh on that idea.

I take note of this young fella, he knows what he's about.

I could also take out my battery or electric Makita drill, and use that with the brush as Gary H Heacock does all the time.

Matter of fact, I've never even used the drill on stairs. ;-(

Normally, on stairs, I crank up the truck mount and use my long handled (about 46"), stair tool.

I did this today, and then because I was not happy with the bullnose, went over it with Lil; Mak;

Made a remarkable difference on the bullnose.

We can all make a difference if we don't just wait for someone else to think of an idea and then copy it, but sit our butts down, grab pencil and paper and write down different ideas about things.

Then go over them looking for flaws and good bits.

Be different to the others and look at a problem from a different perspective.

A problem is just another challenge waiting to be solved.

Cheers,

Shorty.



PS ::: You must really enjoy using lil mak!

This tool is a pleasure to use. After a very short while, it just seems to be an extension of your arm.

How others can say it is bulky, etc; is beyond me.

Did you ever think of trying to hide the "Makita" on the tool?

No, but if I did, I would put ( Get Shorty ) my business name on there in vinyl.


Hope this is of some help to a lot of you Encappers out there.





I've seen the light, and changed my wicked ways.
www.get.shorty.com.au

It sounds to me that both are very fine tools. The Makita is a bit cheaper.

Hey Rambo,

You've never found a need for brushes on the Makita?