Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on April 08, 2008, 08:36:39 am

Title: Using a knee kicker
Post by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on April 08, 2008, 08:36:39 am

Hi all

I have never used one before but purchased one from Restormate yesterday for a job where her carpet has come away very slightly in one section of the room.

I doubt it is rocket science but are there any pitfalls to using one? Do you have to be really carefull for instance?

John

Title: Re: Using a knee kicker
Post by: Karl Wildey on April 08, 2008, 11:15:43 am

The retractable spikes should hold the carpet and not punch through the backing of the carpet. when you see a carpet with 3/4 rolls of blcak lines around the sides of the carpet, this is due to the fitter having the spikes down to far. the daught then blows through the holes. Have the spikes to short and you will skid across the top ofthe carpet and distort the pile.

Practice on you own carpet first. Pull a corner up and re-fit it.

Title: Re: Using a knee kicker
Post by: Doctor Carpet (Ret'd) on April 08, 2008, 11:49:51 am

Firstly make sure you have it the correct length. The cushioned part is telescopic. Adjust the length so that when you are on your knees your thigh and forearm are parallel to each other. Otherwise when kicking you may miss the pad with the bit of leg immediately above the knee and potentially you could take your kneecap off (Ouch) :o :o

Make sure the short "spikes" are free of carpet bits.

To adjust the long spikes, hold the kicker down on the carpet and then turn the dial lowering the spikes until you  feel resistance, then give it 2 or 3 more clicks and then the kicker will be correctly adjusted to the depth of pile without puncturing the backing.

Title: Re: Using a knee kicker
Post by: mark shannon on April 08, 2008, 01:35:28 pm

Make sure you hold the stetcher firmly on the carpet when kicking as you could tear the pile.

Title: Re: Using a knee kicker
Post by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on April 08, 2008, 03:02:53 pm

Cheers lads, nice friendly helpful replies there. I appreciate all your help

Many thanks

John

Title: Re: Using a knee kicker
Post by: M.Acorn on April 08, 2008, 03:31:45 pm

Seen quite a few carpets with those little black marks on ! always thoughtit was from a dirty kicker but now i know it`s from having spikes down too far  ,cheers for clearing that up.

Title: Re: Using a knee kicker
Post by: diamond on April 08, 2008, 03:39:06 pm

I also have seen those black marks and even though I knew they were draught marks I had no idea how they got there. They looked like grill marks under the carpet.
Thanks
Alastair

Title: Re: Using a knee kicker
Post by: Karl Wildey on April 08, 2008, 07:51:08 pm

if you turn the carpet upsiade down you will see the puncture holes in lines

Title: Re: Using a knee kicker
Post by: robert stubbs on April 08, 2008, 10:45:23 pm

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zCoYOZ7nT_U&feature=related

Title: Re: Using a knee kicker
Post by: Mark Lane-Matthews on April 08, 2008, 11:30:20 pm

Most carpet fitters do not realise that they can cause these marks

Title: Re: Using a knee kicker
Post by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on April 09, 2008, 08:40:11 am

Great youtube clip Robert many thanks for that!

Title: Re: Using a knee kicker
Post by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on April 10, 2008, 05:12:49 pm

Thanks to all who helped! The job went great - took 10 mins and I was outta there!

This is a great forum with some very helpful people on it!