Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Smudger on December 13, 2014, 10:53:20 pm

Title: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Smudger on December 13, 2014, 10:53:20 pm
Couple of people asked about fan jets, here are some piccys to show how I set them up

Brush head
(http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b458/huxleyhobbs/543e2081f952c7e3776ad968f90675a4_zps580e557a.jpg)

How the jet sits in the brush

(http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b458/huxleyhobbs/0eeced2459326fe48950eacdb00c3398_zpsd6cbc901.jpg)

Components
(http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b458/huxleyhobbs/b1435bc9a7aa1ad14b59c5252d6fbed7_zpsa316b19f.jpg)

In the last pic, is the elbow connector, the blue jet is a used lumark fan, these are very good but not as good as the black jet on the right

Darran
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: PoleKing on December 13, 2014, 10:58:30 pm
Interesting. Ive only ever used fan jets on commercial Ionic brushes and they sit above the brush.
I know you've posted a few times about fans but can you, briefly, post why you find fans more beneficial than pencils please Darran?
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Smudger on December 13, 2014, 11:13:00 pm
No worries,

i was first interested in fan jets after watching Peter fogwill using the auto brush, he was the only other guy who seemed to have my phyosophy of using a higher flow, and by using a higher flow actually saving water, at the time I could see pencils and high flow didn't work, the pencil jet hits the glass too hard creating a mushroom effect.

The fan jet produces a flat horizontal stream that forms across the width of the brush head, it's also contained inside the head so no overspay etc.. You can increase flow without spraying everywhere like a pencil, the fans create a curtain of water virtually instantly so rinsing is extremely quick, and with the coverage you can move faster, and move less. You can rinse across the top edge without having to zig zag down the window, so more flow less time on glass water usage is either equal to, or better than slower flow with pencil jets

Darran
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: PoleKing on December 13, 2014, 11:18:57 pm
Ta. I hear your reasoning but i can't say i agree. It just doesn't sit right.
But you've done it, and i haven't.
Im gonna gov it a go in the new year on a shorter day (so i don't run out of water)
Thanks for the heads up.

Im using Gardiners DTMM brushes, can you post a link for a suitable pair of fan jets please?
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: david mark on December 13, 2014, 11:39:28 pm
Do the jets you use create o lot of noise like Gardiners jets?
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Total shine cleaning services on December 14, 2014, 01:17:54 am
I've just switched to fans after 4 years on pencil jets, I have to agree hi flow and fans jets is the way forward, wish I'd done it years ago

Graham
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: WCS Limited on December 14, 2014, 09:10:01 am
Darran I have to agree I have been using fans for donkeys years and they work much better than pencils far superior rinse without the use of ten tons of water...

I've been using the gardiner newer wide fans and they are just not as good as they used to be more like pencils (used to use the old porcelain style ones that were prone to crack) can I ask where you got yours from and the JG fitting??

Scott
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Spruce on December 14, 2014, 09:23:28 am
Darran I have to agree I have been using fans for donkeys years and they work much better than pencils far superior rinse without the use of ten tons of water...

I've been using the gardiner newer wide fans and they are just not as good as they used to be more like pencils (used to use the old porcelain style ones that were prone to crack) can I ask where you got yours from and the JG fitting??

Scott

Ditto ^^. And also why the black ones are better that the blue ones. I have a brush with the blue ones fitted and I dislike using that brush as I don't like the fan jets. Thanks
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: tlwcs on December 14, 2014, 09:25:08 am
Darran I have to agree I have been using fans for donkeys years and they work much better than pencils far superior rinse without the use of ten tons of water...

I've been using the gardiner newer wide fans and they are just not as good as they used to be more like pencils (used to use the old porcelain style ones that were prone to crack) can I ask where you got yours from and the JG fitting??

Scott

Ditto ^^. And also why the black ones are better that the blue ones. I have a brush with the blue ones fitted and I dislike using that brush as I don't like the fan jets. Thanks

Plus 1
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: duncan h on December 14, 2014, 11:20:45 am
Darran I have to agree I have been using fans for donkeys years and they work much better than pencils far superior rinse without the use of ten tons of water...

I've been using the gardiner newer wide fans and they are just not as good as they used to be more like pencils (used to use the old porcelain style ones that were prone to crack) can I ask where you got yours from and the JG fitting??

Scott

Ditto ^^. And also why the black ones are better that the blue ones. I have a brush with the blue ones fitted and I dislike using that brush as I don't like the fan jets. Thanks

Plus 1
+2 but I do use Gardiner fan jets. I had 2 sets sent in the post as most were spraying like pencil jets. I assumed it was a bad batch. On low flow they are like pencils though. I got a set of brass ones off flea bay but the spay pattern was odd.
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: duncan h on December 14, 2014, 11:30:33 am
Where do you get your fan jets from Darren? Cant find any for a wfp. Where do you get the adaptor from also
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Perfect Windows on December 14, 2014, 11:31:02 am
Don't forget that fanjets wear out.  The hole erodes, enlarges and the spray pattern changes.  If you're finding yourself unhappy with your jets, try replacing them.  You may be surprised.

Vin
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: WCS Limited on December 14, 2014, 02:13:05 pm
Don't forget that fanjets wear out.  The hole erodes, enlarges and the spray pattern changes.  If you're finding yourself unhappy with your jets, try replacing them.  You may be surprised.

Vin

Both of my sets (clear wides and red standard fans) were like this from new, told gardiners but didn't get much feedback from them. It's a shame they don't produce there older ones as the holes were well placed and worked very well. They just wore out very quickly with hot water...
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Smudger on December 14, 2014, 02:49:40 pm
Pole king - it's worth a try mate, I'm not saying it's for everyone, but you do need to give it a fair go to get used to the changes in technique etc...

Yes they make a reassuring "jet engine" sound when cleaning  ;D ;D

Over the years there have been many styles of fan jet, most of them rubbish like the brass ones you see on eBay - alex has made some fans, but it's a bit half hearted as he's tried to produce a pencil come fan type jet.  The lumarks are very good, but I could only source them from wcw or ebay at £11.00 a pair  :( - when you have 12 brushes to jet that's expensive! The black ones have a slightly different flow rate and arc and I get them for £2 each.

Jets from here
http://www.spraytips.co.uk/index.php?url=//product/search.htm
You want the ones ending in 12

The other bits from eBay ( just an example )
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Pcs-6mm-x-1-8-PT-Female-Threaded-Quick-Joint-Pneumatic-Elbow-Fitting-/190837590905?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c6ece8b79

I think the ultimate setup would be if alex did a dual trim brush with the centre line bristles removed this I think would give really great water flow inside the brush head

Darran
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Alex Gardiner on December 14, 2014, 04:52:29 pm
Darran I have to agree I have been using fans for donkeys years and they work much better than pencils far superior rinse without the use of ten tons of water...

I've been using the gardiner newer wide fans and they are just not as good as they used to be more like pencils (used to use the old porcelain style ones that were prone to crack) can I ask where you got yours from and the JG fitting??

Scott

The current wide fanjets should be just the same as they always have been. Any chance of a photo being emailed to me ( alex@agardiner.co.uk) of the fan spray pattern you are getting - could be a faulty set?
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: duncan h on December 14, 2014, 05:23:52 pm
Darran I have to agree I have been using fans for donkeys years and they work much better than pencils far superior rinse without the use of ten tons of water...

I've been using the gardiner newer wide fans and they are just not as good as they used to be more like pencils (used to use the old porcelain style ones that were prone to crack) can I ask where you got yours from and the JG fitting??

Scott

The current wide fanjets should be just the same as they always have been. Any chance of a photo being emailed to me ( alex@agardiner.co.uk) of the fan spray pattern you are getting - could be a faulty set?
I had 3 sets from you Alex. They were fine in the end. every one had a different pattern.
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Spruce on December 14, 2014, 08:16:08 pm
Pole king - it's worth a try mate, I'm not saying it's for everyone, but you do need to give it a fair go to get used to the changes in technique etc...

Yes they make a reassuring "jet engine" sound when cleaning  ;D ;D

Over the years there have been many styles of fan jet, most of them rubbish like the brass ones you see on eBay - alex has made some fans, but it's a bit half hearted as he's tried to produce a pencil come fan type jet.  The lumarks are very good, but I could only source them from wcw or ebay at £11.00 a pair  :( - when you have 12 brushes to jet that's expensive! The black ones have a slightly different flow rate and arc and I get them for £2 each.

Jets from here
http://www.spraytips.co.uk/index.php?url=//product/search.htm
You want the ones ending in 12

The other bits from eBay ( just an example )
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Pcs-6mm-x-1-8-PT-Female-Threaded-Quick-Joint-Pneumatic-Elbow-Fitting-/190837590905?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c6ece8b79

I think the ultimate setup would be if alex did a dual trim brush with the centre line bristles removed this I think would give really great water flow inside the brush head

Darran

looks like these are them on the spraytips website

FFT10012
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Spruce on December 14, 2014, 08:17:39 pm
Pole king - it's worth a try mate, I'm not saying it's for everyone, but you do need to give it a fair go to get used to the changes in technique etc...

Yes they make a reassuring "jet engine" sound when cleaning  ;D ;D

Over the years there have been many styles of fan jet, most of them rubbish like the brass ones you see on eBay - alex has made some fans, but it's a bit half hearted as he's tried to produce a pencil come fan type jet.  The lumarks are very good, but I could only source them from wcw or ebay at £11.00 a pair  :( - when you have 12 brushes to jet that's expensive! The black ones have a slightly different flow rate and arc and I get them for £2 each.

Jets from here
http://www.spraytips.co.uk/index.php?url=//product/search.htm
You want the ones ending in 12

The other bits from eBay ( just an example )
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Pcs-6mm-x-1-8-PT-Female-Threaded-Quick-Joint-Pneumatic-Elbow-Fitting-/190837590905?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c6ece8b79

I think the ultimate setup would be if alex did a dual trim brush with the centre line bristles removed this I think would give really great water flow inside the brush head

Darran

Peter Fogwill did this with his early Salmon brushes. There wasn't many bristles left to clean with.
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: tlwcs on December 14, 2014, 08:22:25 pm
Pole king - it's worth a try mate, I'm not saying it's for everyone, but you do need to give it a fair go to get used to the changes in technique etc...

Yes they make a reassuring "jet engine" sound when cleaning  ;D ;D

Over the years there have been many styles of fan jet, most of them rubbish like the brass ones you see on eBay - alex has made some fans, but it's a bit half hearted as he's tried to produce a pencil come fan type jet.  The lumarks are very good, but I could only source them from wcw or ebay at £11.00 a pair  :( - when you have 12 brushes to jet that's expensive! The black ones have a slightly different flow rate and arc and I get them for £2 each.

Jets from here
http://www.spraytips.co.uk/index.php?url=//product/search.htm
You want the ones ending in 12

The other bits from eBay ( just an example )
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Pcs-6mm-x-1-8-PT-Female-Threaded-Quick-Joint-Pneumatic-Elbow-Fitting-/190837590905?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c6ece8b79

I think the ultimate setup would be if alex did a dual trim brush with the centre line bristles removed this I think would give really great water flow inside the brush head

Darran

looks like these are them on the spraytips website

FFT10012

Thanks Spruce, I had given up!
Tony
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Smudger on December 14, 2014, 08:36:25 pm
Yes, but those salmon brushes were no where near as well made as Alex's brushes
😍😍😍😍😍😍

Oh yes, you will need an 11.8 diameter drill

Darran
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Avo on December 15, 2014, 08:24:23 am
I like the look of them fans darran they look mint..

I've got a set of blue lurmark mark ones in the van will the blue part unscrew from the metal body there in??? Like the look of those elbows you attached.
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Smudger on December 15, 2014, 08:30:07 am
Cheers Avo,

The blue ones will screw into the elbows.  I find this setup snags less it tight places as well looking neat and tidy

Darran
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Spruce on December 15, 2014, 08:33:16 am
Yes, but those salmon brushes were no where near as well made as Alex's brushes
😍😍😍😍😍😍

Oh yes, you will need an 11.8 diameter drill

Darran

 :) Early days when he was 'just a window cleaner' and the Gardiner empire was but a twinkle in his eye.
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: WCS Limited on December 15, 2014, 11:49:13 am
Darran I have to agree I have been using fans for donkeys years and they work much better than pencils far superior rinse without the use of ten tons of water...

I've been using the gardiner newer wide fans and they are just not as good as they used to be more like pencils (used to use the old porcelain style ones that were prone to crack) can I ask where you got yours from and the JG fitting??

Scott

The current wide fanjets should be just the same as they always have been. Any chance of a photo being emailed to me ( alex@agardiner.co.uk) of the fan spray pattern you are getting - could be a faulty set?

Alex I'll get it over to you this week but they are more pencil than fans as the hole is very wide...
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: mufcglen on December 15, 2014, 03:08:51 pm
i have the red fans and i love them, i only started reusing them a few days ago as theres something nice about the hissing and steam from the hot water ::)roll
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: CleanClear on December 15, 2014, 11:15:40 pm
Looking at the pictures and describing drilling etc may put some people off trying fans. I got a brush fitted with fans about 6 months ago, i loved them. (yeah, Gardiners) so on my next order i got two types of fans, clear ones and wide red ones ? To change my brushes with pencils jets in over to fans all i did was knock the brass pencil jets out with a pointy screw driver and push the fans in with my thumbs and they're fine. Unless i'm missing something there's no need for allsorts of drilling and JG fittings?
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Smudger on December 16, 2014, 08:57:35 am
Yes if you use the gardiner " fan jets " they are a straight swap over from the brass pencil jets however these fans are rather poor in getting a decent arc of spray so you won't achieve consistant results of using the blue or black fans

as said, alex has done these jets but they are fan, come pencil hybrid that doesn't really do either that well

Darran
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: DeLuce on December 16, 2014, 10:29:50 pm
 I like to hear how other fellow window cleaners tinker and innovate and feel they've come up with a decent set-up. Thanks for sharing!! ;D I've messed around with fans myself in the past, but didn't find the ideal partnership. Might give it another go.
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Spursboy1972 on December 30, 2014, 01:27:16 pm
Darran

sorry to raise this agin. I have ordered all the bits you suggested and the last parts arrived today. I am going to use an old brush head as a trial. Just curious as to how the jet sits still in the head.. Do you glue it in place or leave it to sit naturally?

Thanks

Tony
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Smudger on December 30, 2014, 02:32:51 pm
I drill the brush head with an 11.8mm drill, this usually gives a good tight fit where the jet can be pushed in, I do usually glue them as well just to avoid it turning

Darran
Title: Re: Brush head with fan jets
Post by: Spursboy1972 on December 30, 2014, 02:53:10 pm
yep got one of them on order.. No one seems to stock an 11.8mm drill bit so waiting for it to come.. I am drilling into a Gardiners sill brush at moment as thats really all we use so see how it goes. Will glue as well.

Thanks for the reply..