Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: alan lewis on July 24, 2011, 01:42:19 pm

Title: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: alan lewis on July 24, 2011, 01:42:19 pm
To the guys that own either of these machines, if you bought new or used what influenced your choice, ie pro's and con's of both, do you use the vacuum capability of your machine and if so do have to change brushes between a dry set and a wet set for vacuuming and agitating pre-spray.

Also i cant find any specs for the flexi 5 ie weight, cleaning path etc. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Alan
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: Colin Day on July 24, 2011, 03:56:58 pm
I have had a demo with the T4.... Bloomin awesome :)
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: derek west on July 24, 2011, 04:24:43 pm
a couple of years ago i heard that prochem had a CRB with presprayer built in, what ever happened to that?

i'm getting a bit fed up with the envirodri, its not up to the job of prespray agitator, well it is, but the machine breaks to easy, need something a bit more robust, or made of metal instead of plastic. been looking at the flexi but don't need the vac pod on it,
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: james roffey on July 24, 2011, 04:57:24 pm
a couple of years ago i heard that prochem had a CRB with presprayer built in, what ever happened to that?

i'm getting a bit fed up with the envirodri, its not up to the job of prespray agitator, well it is, but the machine breaks to easy, need something a bit more robust, or made of metal instead of plastic. been looking at the flexi but don't need the vac pod on it,

Dont mention that statement to Envirodri Derek, they are completely unaware of any problem relating to the case on the Gen 4 the problem i had with my machine and the various repairs it had was an isolated incident. ::)
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: creighton foyle on July 24, 2011, 04:58:15 pm
what about the host ? they are selling one without the vac pod , if its the same spec as the one with the vac then its pretty robust.
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: james roffey on July 24, 2011, 04:59:49 pm
I replaced my Envirodri with the little Host reliant its a good machine expensive though but i got tired of my Gen 4 falling apart.
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: derek west on July 24, 2011, 05:07:45 pm
a couple of years ago i heard that prochem had a CRB with presprayer built in, what ever happened to that?

i'm getting a bit fed up with the envirodri, its not up to the job of prespray agitator, well it is, but the machine breaks to easy, need something a bit more robust, or made of metal instead of plastic. been looking at the flexi but don't need the vac pod on it,

Dont mention that statement to Envirodri Derek, they are completely unaware of any problem relating to the case on the Gen 4 the problem i had with my machine and the various repairs it had was an isolated incident. ::)
the thing is james its not a prespray agitator, especially powerburst at the amounts i need for end of tenancies, so i understand why there not lasting, because there not designed for my type of work. thats why i was asking if anyone remembers the prochem agitator for and with prsprayer attachment. i'm sure there was one or did i dream it up ::)

ps... if anyone wants to design and build one then i'll buy one as long as it stands the test of time. i'll be on my 3rd enviro in about 3 months the way this ones going. :o
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: james roffey on July 24, 2011, 05:16:18 pm
I dont see the connection Derek the case is plastic ! are you saying that the presprays are responsible for cracking the plastic casing even is this is the case Envirodri know that this machine is used by a lot of carpet cleaners who use it to agitate presprays, i even told them that was what i intended and did use it for they never once said "thats why" they just said "you are unique" they even sent me a replacement while my machine was being repaired and that one fell apart too  :o
.
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: derek west on July 24, 2011, 05:21:34 pm
right well in that case then, there beeeeepin rubbish on the build quality front, i thought it was the PH from the spray weakening the plastic or expanding it, one of the 2. either way i need something with a bit more oooooooosh.
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: Colin Day on July 24, 2011, 05:25:16 pm
I acquired an old host recently. I reinforced it with a fibre glass kit.... Works a treat..... :)
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: tomsy on July 24, 2011, 08:44:59 pm
Got a tm4 + all the brushes off fleabay and it's worth its weight in gold. Need to get the renovator pods next.  However, I have no experience with any other crb so can't compare.

trev
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: jim mca on July 24, 2011, 09:16:24 pm
The flexi 5 is heavy very robust and if you ever do granule cleaning the vac is
great and can be removed when not needed not used the tm4 so cant compare
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: Simon@arenaclean on July 25, 2011, 12:52:56 am
Quote Derek west "a couple of years ago i heard that prochem had a CRB with presprayer built in, what ever happened to that?"[/color]

Derek I think it was the procaps machine http://www.prochem.com/ViewCategories.aspx?Pid=769 (http://www.prochem.com/ViewCategories.aspx?Pid=769) but Prochem UK don't seem to still do it. Did find the same machine (I think) with a Karcher badge http://www.rgk.co.uk/acatalog/info_BRS43_500C.html (http://www.rgk.co.uk/acatalog/info_BRS43_500C.html) Prochem do the TM4 and the Pro35 http://www.prochem.co.uk/equipment.htm (http://www.prochem.co.uk/equipment.htm)

I have used an earlier version of the TM4 supplied by RGK years ago, it was a horrid orange colour but a very good machine, and judging by photos it has not changed outwardly at all. I think early envirodri machines were the same too but could not swear to it. My Gen 4 is a couple of years old now and even though I'm careful the side casings have crack on mine too but it still works fine.
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: Simon Gerrard on July 25, 2011, 09:29:21 am
Alan,
I have got a Flexi 5 and I think it is easy the best piece of kit I've bought for a long time.
No, you don't have to change the brush from dry to wet, you just dry vacuum and then turn off the vac and agitate away.
They are expensive but in my view worth every penny.

Simon
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: alan lewis on July 25, 2011, 08:39:21 pm
Simon

When you say"No, you don't have to change the brush from dry to wet, you just dry vacuum and then turn off the vac and agitate away" am i being daft here, is it ok to dry vac your next job......with wet brushes from the previous job? or isnt it a problem with the Flexi 5, also how wide is the cleaning path, i think the TM4 is 16inch.

Derek, when you say you dont need the vac pod, what do you use to vac? as from what you guys say about these CRB machines they should pull up more dry stuff out of the carpet (with the pod of course) than say a Sebo or similar.

Cheers

Alan
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: derek west on July 25, 2011, 10:27:16 pm
i vac the crud up on extraction with my truckmount. any big clumps i just pick up with my hand. then clean the filter out at the end of the day.

oh and cheers for that simon. much appreciated and i'm gonna  look into them.
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: Simon Gerrard on July 25, 2011, 10:32:46 pm
Alan,
Never had a problem with damp brushes, a quick wipe down usually does the trick. Not sure of the width but about 20 inches.

Simon
Title: Re: TM4 or Flexi 5
Post by: Jamie Pearson on July 25, 2011, 10:34:37 pm
I have both. The TM4 I have has the renovator trays fitted. In fact it was the original orange ones supplied by Prochem that was upgraded.

I have to say the flexible 5 is the preferred machine as the TM4 needs vacuuming after use for pile lifting.