The Mercury 17" Lo-Boy is a super heavy-duty, low-speed rotary floor machine built for janitorial crews and facility maintenance teams that need one machine to strip, scrub, spray buff, and bonnet-clean. Turning a 17" pad or brush at 175 RPM, it delivers the torque and surface contact needed to lift old finish, cut through scuff and grime, and bring tile back to a bright shine -- while running quietly enough for hospitals, schools, and occupied office space.
The 17" pad path makes it well matched to mid-size areas such as classroom and corridor floors, retail aisles, restrooms, break rooms, and entryways, where a larger machine is awkward to maneuver but a small consumer buffer lacks the muscle for serious work.
Built for
- Stripping old finish: pair with a black or stripping pad to remove built-up wax and floor finish ahead of a recoat.
- Daily and restorative scrubbing: deep-clean VCT, terrazzo, concrete, and grouted tile to remove embedded soil.
- Spray buffing and polishing: restore gloss to maintained floors between strip-and-wax cycles.
- Carpet bonnet cleaning and shampooing: swap to a bonnet or shampoo brush for interim carpet care in lobbies and offices.
Why crews choose the Lo-Boy
The all-metal, precision-balanced chassis adds weight directly over the pad, so the machine does the work instead of the operator -- a key reason crews report faster results and less fatigue on long stripping jobs. A triple-planetary, high-torque transmission keeps the pad turning under heavy load without bogging down, and the gearbox sits low under the apron for the brand's signature hospital-quiet operation. Polished, reinforced all-metal aprons protect the housing and stay looking newer longer, while a non-marking bumper guards baseboards and walls.
Operator safety and control
A safety interlock switch and non-conductive dual triggers on the handle keep both hands in control and help prevent accidental starts. The handle adjusts to a comfortable working height, and the power cord plugs in at the handle base for quick service.
Specifications
- Pad / brush path: 17 inches
- Speed: 175 RPM
- Motor: 1.5 HP, 66-frame A/C
- Transmission: triple-planetary, high-torque
- Chassis / aprons: all-metal, polished and reinforced
- Controls: safety interlock switch, non-conductive dual triggers
- Typical applications: stripping, scrubbing, spray buffing, bonnet cleaning, shampooing
A pad driver or brush is selected separately to match the pad type and task.
Frequently asked questions
What can a 175 RPM floor machine do?
A low-speed 175 RPM machine like the Lo-Boy is the versatile workhorse of floor care. The slower speed and high torque make it ideal for stripping old finish, deep scrubbing, spray buffing, and bonnet cleaning carpet -- jobs that need surface contact and pad pressure rather than the high speed of a burnisher.
What size floor is the 17" Lo-Boy best for?
The 17" path is a popular all-around size for mid-size commercial spaces -- corridors, classrooms, restrooms, retail aisles, and break rooms. It is maneuverable around fixtures yet covers ground far faster than a small consumer-grade buffer.
Can it clean carpet as well as hard floors?
Yes. With a bonnet or shampoo brush in place of a floor pad, the Lo-Boy handles interim carpet bonnet cleaning and shampooing, making it a true dual-purpose machine for facilities with both hard floors and carpet.
Which pads should I use?
Match the pad to the job: aggressive black or brown pads for stripping finish, red pads for routine spray buffing and light scrubbing, and a bonnet for carpet. Always confirm the floor finish manufacturer's pad recommendation.
Is it quiet enough for occupied buildings?
The Lo-Boy is engineered for hospital-quiet operation with the gearbox mounted low under the apron, so it can be run in hospitals, schools, and occupied offices with minimal disruption.
Discount Cleaning Products is an authorized Mercury dealer with US-based customer service to help you match the right machine, pad driver, and pads to your floor care program.
