Is the 240V UDM available yet?

Is the 240V UDM available yet?

Author
Discussion

m33ufo

Original Poster:

4,959 posts

232 months

Sunday 14th October 2007
quotequote all
If so, where can I buy one?

I want to buy a UDM (ultimate detailing machine!) but would prefer to wait for the 240v version....anyone have any news?


Magic919

14,126 posts

202 months

Sunday 14th October 2007
quotequote all
Still delayed. They were talking about new counter weights. Don't hold your breath.

m33ufo

Original Poster:

4,959 posts

232 months

Sunday 14th October 2007
quotequote all
Any suggestions on a viable alternative?

I'm not in a huge rush having just had my car detailed. But having it done has revitalised my interest in having a go myself.

PJ S

10,842 posts

228 months

Sunday 14th October 2007
quotequote all
On hold 'til January at earliest, with something about a revision 2 version.
If you want something right now, then Makita seems to be the one for single heads, but I've just received my dual head Cyclo from thepolishingcompany.com
Hope to be able to test it out in anger once I've stopped touring the country!!

email said:
I have just had a chance to wsh off the 120d and try out the polisher... Awesome!
I thought the speed of the heads was going to be a problem but it just glides over the paint work
I only needed to apply some paint cleanser so used some of the new Dodo Juice Lime prime with the yellow pads.

Worked a treat and very fast. Did the bonnet in no time flat and got a great shine. Plus the Cyclo is a joy to use once you get the feel for it. Keep it flat as possible and just glide it over the paint letting the pads do the work.
Best final shine I have got even with my makita!!

I then popped some banana Armour wax on and , although I usually remove this by hand, I teried buffing it off with the white side of the combo pads. It worked a dream and the resulting shine was great plus the beading was better than I’ve seen.

This piece of kit is miles better than a PC and it is really easy to use.
I haven’t used it in anger on a badly swirled car yet but have a car to do next week so will really test it out

I’m also going to try it on my Avus Blue M5 which is a real nightmare to get the buffing marks clear on. If it passes this test it will get my vote.
email2 said:
I wonder if the shine would've been enhanced further had you used the microfibre pads for the buff instead of the white pads.

I doubt if you’d need to use the bonnets and anyway these will fit over the pads I have a set of them to try so will report.
The answer is yes! I was surprised at the performance and ease of use.
So, bit of food for thought, eh?

belleair302

6,847 posts

208 months

Sunday 14th October 2007
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I bought one in the US during August, changed the plug, alredy have a transformer....good bit of kit and it takes all of the PC heads etc!!!
Changing the plug takes two minutes even for non DIY types!!

m33ufo

Original Poster:

4,959 posts

232 months

Monday 15th October 2007
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Cyclo sounds interesting. I'm a bit unsure about getting something as potentially destructive as a Makita type unit as I'm a total novice.


Magic919

14,126 posts

202 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
I'd recommend the Porter Cable for the kind of use you mention.

m33ufo

Original Poster:

4,959 posts

232 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
I was considering the Porter Cable prior to the UDM coming onto the market, doesn't really seem a logical choice now that there is a 110V UDM which is generally regarded as an improvement over the PC.

I'll probably hold on for the 240V UDM or if I really cant wait then perhaps have a look at the Cyclo or 110V UDM.

m33ufo

Original Poster:

4,959 posts

232 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
For around and about the same money, what's the best, the 110V UDM with transformer OR the Cyclo??

PJ S

10,842 posts

228 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
Hard to say, never having used either previously.
But, as I've nailed my colours to the Cyclo mast, and more so due to their new Dual Precision™ quick change pads, then obviously I have to suggest that one.
Twin heads with high orbital rotations means more work done in the same amount of time.
Speak to Mike at TPC and have him tell you what's what.
He's a Makita user (or was!), been waiting on the UDM 240v to be released - got fed up, so decided to take a punt with the Cyclo.
So, as he details cars/boats/etc as well as distributes various products - he's in a prime position to explain his opinion on the Cyclo verses the UDM, which he's ordered and kiting out with Tx, etc.
The Cyclo 6CE is 240v, CE approved, and probably the most overlooked and underrated polisher on the market. Only thing needing to do is Schuko-UK mains adapter, or as I'll be doing, Maplin 5m IEC cable or 10m 13A 3-core and 10A M&F adapters.
Should save having to cart an extension cable.

AndyMI16

139 posts

210 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
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Just a view from a Makita user.

I bought a Smartool which I understood to be essentially the same as the Cyclo. Apart from it dying after a few hours' use, it was noisy, a PITA to work with and generally one of my less well advised purchases.

The Makita on t'other hand is a beautiful piece of kit and having been one of the original PC importers about 5 years ago, I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that the Makita (or Metabo for that matter) rotary buffers knock it into a cocked hat. Yes they need careful handling but I spent Sunday morning with a chap who'd never lifted a buffer in his life and in about 3-4 hours he was able to remove swirls and use a finishing polish on a Makita "copy" without danger to his paintwork.

Saturday was spent doing much the same with both PC and Makita and the guy commented that he felt more comfortable with the Makita than PC.

Horses for courses really and TBH I don't see the point in buying several different buffers unless you are using them in a professional (as in paid full time) sense. Find the tool you like and use it - works for me.

m33ufo

Original Poster:

4,959 posts

232 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
quotequote all
What Makita model should I be considering? I guess I could take it nice and slow and practice on my Focus before letting it near the CSL.

AndyMI16

139 posts

210 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
quotequote all
9227CB

As with most things in life, practice is an absolute must but it's not a hard machine to get the hang of and as I've said to a number of students recently (as in people I'm helping to master machine polishing for themselves) you can always simply lift the buffer away from the paint if in any doubt!

I'm planning to hold a machine polishing class/tutorial for a group at some stage over the winter at premises near to J12 of the M4 - watch this space.

m33ufo

Original Poster:

4,959 posts

232 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
quotequote all
AndyMI16 said:
9227CB

As with most things in life, practice is an absolute must but it's not a hard machine to get the hang of and as I've said to a number of students recently (as in people I'm helping to master machine polishing for themselves) you can always simply lift the buffer away from the paint if in any doubt!

I'm planning to hold a machine polishing class/tutorial for a group at some stage over the winter at premises near to J12 of the M4 - watch this space.
Great..I'll have a look around for prices. I'm starting from scratch so shall need all the kit, have any particular recommendations? It'll mostly be used on a sapphire black M3 CSL.

I'm near to Cardiff so I may be interested in your tutorial.

Cheers

Edited by m33ufo on Tuesday 16th October 19:32

Rich H

170 posts

209 months

Wednesday 17th October 2007
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I used a PC to get achieve the results below. Very easy to use, but time consuming. Was really pleased, until it got dirty again!

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=37374 

m33ufo

Original Poster:

4,959 posts

232 months

Wednesday 17th October 2007
quotequote all
She's a beauty! Very similar to my own.

Very keen to get cracking myself now.

Edited by m33ufo on Thursday 18th October 19:22

AndyMI16

139 posts

210 months

Thursday 18th October 2007
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Here's an example of what a novice can achieve with the right guidance. Barry had never picked up a buffer before last weekend and TBH I have to give him credit for the results as by the end of the session my input was minimal.

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

Perhaps a bit close to spam so mods feel free to edit if necessary!!

m33ufo

Original Poster:

4,959 posts

232 months

Thursday 18th October 2007
quotequote all
Fantastic.

I have a thread on DW hoping to get some advice on what pads and polishes etc I should be buying together with a competitive place to buy them. Probably going to go with a Metabo so looking for the cheapest outlet for one of those to.

Edited by m33ufo on Friday 19th October 11:32

cuneus

5,963 posts

243 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
A great product for novices is the 3M waffle pad. These produce a lot less heat (esp. if used with water) than a normal flat pad

m33ufo

Original Poster:

4,959 posts

232 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
I have been considering the 3m backing plate and pads. Guess I should just take the plunge and place an order!!