Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Paul Davidson on May 09, 2008, 12:45:55 am
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Hello again chaps,
As i have mentioned in a couple of earlier posts, i am in the process of taking over my fathers CC business (first days cleaning on monday, (the local chinese restaurant and a couple of residential jobs).
After much debate with my father i have decided to listen to his advice (havn't told him yet) and start off with the purchase of a Portable rather than a second hand van and TM. ::) until i make things a little busier. (which does actually make sense)
I should be going on a buying trip the week after next. So, as the machine i buy will hopefully will be a relativley short term solution, and it will at some point fairly soon will become a back up machine.....
what do you guys recomend?....... i thought perhaps a powerfull light weight machine, nothing too bulky.. any ideas?
Most of the machines i have considered look pretty big and bulky eg, Power flight Perfect heat, Prochem Steempro Powermax, or.....? ? ? ?
Once again, well done guys you have a great informative forum here and thanks in advance for you input!
Cheers
Paul
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Just a quick thought, i would most likely be happy to buy a quality second hand machine if anybody has anything they think might be a good option, then please let me know!!
cheers
Paul
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Hi Paul,
You've mentioned you're taking over your dads existing business. If so you must have an existing client base to work with as well as expanding.
What equipment are or were you using? Handy to know regarding recommending an upgrade.
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At the minute he is using an Extracta Excell, he also has a fairly small karcher which sould only be used as a back up machine or for spotting (in my opinion), so new machinery is pretty important i reckon.
cheers
Paul
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Extracta make good machines, very reliable from what i understand.
If you're looking for more power from an electric machine try top end ninjas, the scorpion, raptor from hydramaster, cfr's, mytee speedster.
I've tried to post links but keep getting error messages.
If you're looking at commercial and domestic (commercial including resteraunts) go for something with heat. The scorpion is probably the most powerfull but lacks heat unless you go for an inline heater which to be honest even the best arent upto much.
Theres too many variables depending on your requirements. If you want to give me a bell on 07721 827163 and I'll give you any advice I can. Normal working hours or early evenings are good.
All the best,
Jason.
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Alltec, do a range of machines in smaller sizes, but you only get a small pump.
Why do you want a light machine
Personally I would consider The new Alltec advance together with a Rotovac
Some may say if you are spending that amount of money you may aswell get prowler the push on push off truckmount
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You mentioned the Powerflite Perect Heatas being bulky ...... thats true
BUT
they just brought out some new models which keep the mechanics but with lower profile bodies hence more compact. Worth a look at.
Generally speaking powerful machines are bulky because they are powerful
You either find 2 vac motors, 1 pump and 1 heater
or 3 vac motors and 1 pump (then a external heater).
Cant get away from the fact this hardware has to have something round it.
Speaking from expeiance... the Powerflite is bulky and heavy but has six wheels on it. 2 are at the top on the back so it can be laid down on the bed of a van and pushed it - very little weight.
The Scorpion is a lot lighter and can be lifted into a van with the help of a knee.
No experiance of others so cannot comment.
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If you are using an Excel and it is in good condition then I would save your money and stick with it. Although not the most powerful of porties it is a good machine and spending extra money is not going to enhance your performance a massive amount.
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i think cfr have a deal on for the 400 with heater and wonder wand
looks good price
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Just a practical bit of advice.
Firstly, I am slightly biased because I have a Scorpion.
The Scorpion is amongst, if not the, lightest high performance rinse/extract machine available.
Presuming you do go down the route of a T/M, there may be the occasions when, for whatever reason, you need a porty.
With a Scorpion, you will be able to use the same hoses and tools as your T/M, so you will not be duplicating these. Savings can then be made on both cost and storage space on the van.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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Just a practical bit of advice.
Firstly, I am slightly biased because I have a Scorpion.
The Scorpion is amongst, if not the, lightest high performance rinse/extract machine available.
Presuming you do go down the route of a T/M, there may be the occasions when, for whatever reason, you need a porty.
With a Scorpion, you will be able to use the same hoses and tools as your T/M, so you will not be duplicating these. Savings can then be made on both cost and storage space on the van.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
good point never thought of that
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Just a practical bit of advice.
Firstly, I am slightly biased because I have a Scorpion.
The Scorpion is amongst, if not the, lightest high performance rinse/extract machine available.
Presuming you do go down the route of a T/M, there may be the occasions when, for whatever reason, you need a porty.
With a Scorpion, you will be able to use the same hoses and tools as your T/M, so you will not be duplicating these. Savings can then be made on both cost and storage space on the van.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
ken ive never seen one of these have you got a pic for me please
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Here you go Sue:
www.worldofclean.co.uk//index.php?productID=449
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The only thing with the scorpion is once you have bought a heater,vac hose,solution hose,wand,your better putting another couple of grand to it and buying a prowler.
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For the scorpion guys (The Scorpion-3 incorporates our innovative “Intelligent Airflow Management System” that automatically helps regulate and increase air-flow within system on operator demand!)
Is it a computer type system?
Len
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No Len
It's a mechanical one way butterfly valve, operated by airflow, that opens automatically if the 3rd vac is used, but remains closed otherwise.
Previously a manual gate/dump valve was used.
Kev
Thanks for the link.
Sue
You can now see what is possibly the ugliest/least attractive machine on the market. The sort of looks only a mother could love ::)
My Mom gave me away at birth :'(
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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Hi Ken just read your ncca carpet maintenance which chem are you using is it encapsulate or micro! you gave me the name in tamworth but forgot
mick
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Hi Michael
In the article, I refrained from using brand names and kept it generic.
For years I used One Step for maintenance bonnet cleaning offices with outstanding results and no resoiling issues.
I have recently been trialing Chemspec's DFC and obtaining similar results for both rinse/extract and bonnet maintenance (only done one bonnet job as most of my pad work is Dry Fusion).
DFC 210 is a powdered pre-spray and DFC 105 is a liquid pre-spray and rinse agent and Woolsafe. Plus both products have excellent "Green" credentials and indepenant certification.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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Ken i did a office unit the other day,but this time did not use my bonnet or one step.i used a encapsulat carpet(carpetgard) cleaner brushed in with a host,the carpet looked great.same yanks use a white scot pad with the bonnet have you tryed it that way!!
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I've encap cleaned with rotary brushes, white pad and an Envirodri machine. All were good to excellent.
The best for me on an extreme soiling problem of 12 years old, never been cleaned, cut pile polyprop was a 300rpm rotary with white Scotch pad. This seemed to create more foam and brightness than the other machines. The best for pile recovery/lifting was obviously the Envirodri. To get the bost of both worlds, we merged the two together.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
PS Sorry for taking this thread off topic.
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Ken can you explain the method of cleaning with white scotch pad ie hoover -prespray ect and where do you get them from des ???
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Ken
So what you are saying the machine is mechanical and is intelligent and it knows? must have a lot of sensors? read what is quoted. ;)
It wasn’t you but do like smoke screens. ;D
Len
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Des you can buy white scotch pads form most Janitorial supplies, the method is litterally spray down chosen solution and buff, simple as that.
Shaun
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Des
Thanks Shaun
Len
The butterfly valve is similar to that found in some carbs and fuel injection systems. When it's closed it's closed (the default position)
Turn on the 3rd vac and the airflow will naturally pull it open.
As stated, previously there was a dump valve which you physically had to open to allow the air from the 3rd vac to be sucked from the tank. Hence it is now automatic. No sensors. No relays. No motors.
Must admit that as with most things in life, manufacturers can come up with some fancy names for something that is quite simple :-X
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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For the scorpion guys (The Scorpion-3 incorporates our innovative “Intelligent Airflow Management System” that automatically helps regulate and increase air-flow within system on operator demand!)
Brilliant piece of wording. As Ken explained, it is a simple proceedure but the wording "sells" it well.
And it happens to work as well.
Wish I was as half as good at putting words together.
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Ken
Now I get ;D it the intelligent bit 8) is the cc turning on the switch, ;) which puts into automatic mode. ???
Joe
You’ve now got it on demand no fluffing about or mind/word games, ;) but keep it as a back up job that are hard to reach.
Des
Think about warranty of customer’s carpets/tiles :-X
Len
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Thanks again for the input. It would appear that you dont get lots of power with little weight!
In the meantime, i think i have narrowed things down to a few machines including the following which i would appreciate your opinion on!
The Prochem powermax steanpro 2000- - - - 120psi pump with 2 x 3stage by pass vacuums
The Rhino twin vac 135 pump
The Clean pro (from cleansmart)
Or if i was to push the boat out a little further..... The powerflight Perfect Heat, it looks like a very efficient powerfull machine especially with the cfr wonderwand.
Any opinions on the above would be appreciated
cheers
Paul
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Your quote - Any opinions on the above would be appreciated
They will all clean carpets, no problem.
Your quote - It would appear that you dont get lots of power with little weight!
Dont understand how you get to that.
The Scorpion, and I have one so can speak freely, has 3-3 stage vacuum motors and a 500psi pump, and uses 2" hoses. Thats as much power you going to get from 2 mains cables. Add a external heater (3rd main cable)and you have a brilliant machine.
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the new 500cfr out next month is small and light.no stopping to refill
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Your quote - Any opinions on the above would be appreciated
They will all clean carpets, no problem.
Your quote - It would appear that you dont get lots of power with little weight!
Dont understand how you get to that.
The Scorpion, and I have one so can speak freely, has 3-3 stage vacuum motors and a 500psi pump, and uses 2" hoses. Thats as much power you going to get from 2 mains cables. Add a external heater (3rd main cable)and you have a brilliant machine.
Joe, i agree the Scorpion would fit into the lightweight but very powerfull catagory. The reason i have most likely discounted this machine is its cost, at about £2500 plus hoses, wand and vat. Although itcertainly looks a fantastic machine.
I have seriously considered a second hand Van and TM, but will build the business up over the next 6 to 12 months or so, and if there is anywhere approaching enough business i will make that investment. So in the meantime i am looking for an efficient cost effective machine to get me to that point.
Cheers
paul
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i still think the best deal is the cfr400 with heater/ wonderwand i have the 400 and 500 ,but like the 400 more