Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: JandS on October 20, 2008, 04:29:42 pm
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Do you ever have problems with access with the old TM.
I've done the odd job or 2 where I've thought "thank God for portables"
Did an office 3 weeks ago at night and was musing over a coffee how I'd have got on with a TM.
The windows would not open wide enough and the door had to be kept locked for obvious reasons.
Or do you TM guys have a portable as well??
Thinking about investing in one 2nd hand to start with.
John
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John
For the type of work I do, I'm getting along fine with my van mounted portable along with remote tanks. If I need a porty, I just wheel it out. Wouldn't contemplate regular work in the hospitality sector though.
I would never use rinse/extract in a low profile office situation. The various LM and VLM systems I have at my disposal have never failed me yet.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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yeah ive had to turn down 2 so far in 5 months, i'm sure there'll be alot more in the future, block of flats with a car park 100 meters away and an old folks home where she was on the wrong side and 3 floors up.
pro's and cons really, still would't swap though, each to there own. may invest i a portable in the future, depends how many jobs i have to turn down each year through accessibility. if its cost effective then i might need some porty advice.
derek
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I pass on 5-6 jobs a year because I can't get get access for my T/M, in return the portable user passes on all the leather suites he gets..... a perfect arrangement
access just is'nt the problem often thought of by portable users, although we will get a portable user come onto this topic and say he does all his work in the city centre so could'nt possibly use a T/M ::) ::)
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Ken,
i have a recoil, and seeing a pic of your set up a while ago (sure it was yours)
just wondered how you get along with it,
do you use a hose real.
what sort of extension lengths do you run? etc
what capacity is the fresh water tank ?
i am using a 2 " hose at moment with better results,
Regards
Andrew
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John,
I work in the centre of London and use both a TM and portables about 50/50. I would like to use the TM all the time because it is easier but I make too much money from portable work to turn it away. I have a Scorpion and and a 3 vac Ninja with which I get great results. The Ninja is always on the van because I don't always know what the parking situation will be like at each job. The only portable jobs I turn away are the ones that involve humping machines up multiple flights of stairs. I think of you are outside of a city centre you will get less jobs that need a portable. If I had one a month I would probably turn it away as well. I suspect I use my portable more thany most other Truck Mount users.
I use ramps for running pipes across pavements and I take lots of gambles with single yellows and residents bays. Thankfully I do a fair few large houses with their own parking.
The other problem in city centres is noise. I just changed my TM and a big requirement for me was a quiet machine that isn't going to upset neighbouring properties.
Nigel
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if its that far away from the truck
then i dont want the job anyhow
just getting lazy i suppose
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Its simple if you have a TM have a portable as well for back up, my portable is in my house, I normally ask about access and take it if I think il need it, but it often stays at home for months, but somtimes il need it 3 times in a week. 8)
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Where theres a will, theres a way. Seldom have any problem regarding access with the TM. The only jobs I have turned down due to access problems, have been ones I didnt want anyway and the TM was a good excuse.
Dave.
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Only ones I can't do are the city living or homes in the city centre but they are usually customers I don't really want as they have cheap nylon carpets with make up and alco pop all over them and want the cheapest price and have those plastic price tags all over.
Shaun
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i'm the same as shaun, i've lost very few GOOD jobs because of the tm, when you are considering a tm access is one of the major draw backs you think of, the reality is that 99% of the time, it's not an issue, i do some work in a small olde worlde town with narrow streets and there is the occasional time when i have to go back when there is more room to park but that is very rare. don't forget that you would have tubing that goes say 200ft, you don't have to park right outside the property.
colin
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I have a pori but it only comes out if the job is well paid, IMO once you have gone TM'ed you don't like going back.
Shaun
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Been using a TM for 10 years and in that time have always carried a porty, that way have never lost a job. TM do a better, and quicker job but can not always be used, so then it back to basics and out come the porty.
I don't do the TM is better arguement, or start slagging TM's when I have never used one, both machine have they place i the cc market. I got both so I cover all sides, also use a host for LM work. sorted
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Karl don't forget the mop and bucket :D
Shaun
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To be honest, before my machine was van mounted ie when I was 100% porty, I would turn away most flats or other poor access sites anyway. The only exception was earlier this year for a whole unfurnished 3 bedroom flat when I did take machine in the lift to go up.
It amazes me how many of the new 3 story apartment buildings have no lift. I only do spotting in these unless it's suitable for LM.
Andrew
I only have a Citroen Dispatch, so space is at a premium. I now have a rack with a freshwater and recovery tank on top. 150 litres each.
I run all 2" hose and carry 150ft. No room for a reel. At 150ft, the vac, although diminished a little, is still superior to a conventional twin vac porty with 25 ft of 1.5" hose. I use HydraMaster high visibility orange vac hose but as it is relatively stiff, I always use the equally good but more flexible Solution blue hose to the wand.
There should be some pictures of my set up in next months Newslink.
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ken
i did a 3 storey flat 2 weeks ago, no lift, long piece of string dangled out the window, haul up the trucky pipes and away we go, easy apart from running up and down with the dryer, presparay, buckets, wand, sebo vac, sebo duo, i'm tired just thinking about it, charged accordingly, did a great job, everyones happy apart fro the misses as i asked for an extra long back massage, hey if she wants the shoes and hand bags she has to earn it.
and get your piccies on "nice ta see ya ta see ya nice" thread.
derek
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Derek
As you say, it's not just the hoses, it's everything else. The vac, hoses, tools, spotters etc. At the point that my business is at, I can be choosy or, If I am being honest, my face just does not look bothered 8)
As for the pictures, last time I posted a picture of myself wearing my marigolds, grown men were heard to be crying with envy ;)
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No not again, I put the picture on the mantel to keep the kids away from the fire!
Shaun
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Ken
Think you posted your set up a while ago on here ???
Derek how did you load up your picie on here as i have tryd in the past ???
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Ken ,
you use the scorpy 3 eh, do you really rate it against TMs then ?
Tom Carter mentioned you the other day sayin that you use M-power stuff etc,
was going to have Nick send me a sample b4 I place an order ......!?
so is it all as good as the sales bumff lets off ??
was toying with having a scorpy 3 for 2 years b4 TM and then use scorpy 4 a porty
Any feed back wud be helpfull
R.T
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clinton
place the photo you want to upload on your desktop, (its easier that way)
click on additional options
then click browse
window pops up
highlight your picture
click open
and the path should appear in the attach box, then post.
lemon squeezy
derek
ps.now theres no excuse to add to my nice ta see ya thread.
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Cheers derek going to get my girlfriend to try and load it up as am just no good with pc,s
Might do one after my workout in the gym ;)
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I've only had my rack and both tanks up and running for a few weeks, so the pictures haven't been posted anywhere. I don't post pics on this forum either as I can't be bothered to move pics elsewhere first.
I really rate the Scorp set up that I have. As good as a T/M? No way if you you clean really dirty carpets ie hospitality sector, but with knowledge, experience and application of a COMPLETE cleaning system, it produce the highest quality results quicker than a conventional porty. For my carpets and lengths of hose that I use, the dryness of the carpet is comparable with, for example, a Spitfire 3.2, but not as good as the new Boxxer 318, but it's not far out in experienced hands.
Because of the cables and connecting to water tanks, it takes a little bit longer to set up than a T/M, so is less productive than say a single small lounge when using it as a porty. But larger jobs do have a considerable time saving.
I don't use M Power as a frontline product, just as a problem solver. Had good results with it though on most fibres except bad polyprops, (one day I might persevere and make it work for me) I use a Green Woolsafe Approved non microsplitting detergent free product from a leading manufacturer. Woolsafe is important to me, especially as I do work for manufacturers and referals from upmarket retailers.
IMO, a Scorpion is the ideal tool as a T/M backup. You just use all the T/M hoses and tools, so that's less to buy and carry.
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They sound a really good portie ken i know as when i spoke to joe hatton he praises them.
Like the idea of a set up it gives you if you want to run it from a van set up. :)
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Ricky don't compare the performance of the Scorpion to truckmounts - it's an electric portable, not in the same league.
BUT
The way it's built, it has far more airflow than any other portable I've heard of, so it works differently. As Ken explains, having it van-mounted is more of a convenience thing from the operator's point of view.
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Cheers Jim & Ken all noted and taken on board ........so it looks like its TM after xmass then !!!
R.T
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Portables are fine, next one i get will have to be 200psi at least though. mines 135psi and it just is not enough!
If your are really busy cleaning carpets then i would say get a TM, and if you are really busy you should be able to afford one too.
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I'm experimenting with the picture facility. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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Another view
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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go for it you ll never look back ! i live near ish you spend aday here and see if its for you or not ! i may even have a good unit for sale soon cheap !
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ken, that Scorpion needs an auto pump-out and direct feed from an outside tap, that'll cut out them big clumsy tanks ;) ;)
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It'a always nice to see other people equipment :o somehow I think we've seen Ken's before!
Ken, what do you think to your Gloria sprayer? is that the plastic body one?
Shaun
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Shaun
The 5 litre Gloria sprayers (holds 6 litres btw) are light and easy to use and the components are just as durable as on my s/s versions. Had one recently develop a pin hole in the cylinder so that one was scrapped and replaced. It was about 5 years old. Dowding and Plummer had them for about £37.00 on their website but were £55ish in the shop. I don't know if they've adjusted the web price yet. I'm happy to stay with the Gloria.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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it amazes me how all of the pics on here of peoples vans and set ups look so neat and tidy, :o
No matter how How I try to have things organised, no matter how often I tidy up , No matter whaT I,m carrying in my van.
I can never seem to keep on top of things ::)
What do you guys do?
Spend an hour on an evening, or are you not doing the work during the day? ;)
Geoff
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Ken have you got their web address?
Shaun
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Ken nice setup where did you buy the hose ramp?
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geoff
the answer is simple.
when you first set up in the business you take lovely photos of everything before youve even got any work, hence nice and tidy, you never really take many more photos as you keep using the first one you did, anyway thats the only time you'll see tidy vans, oh and once a year in summer when its really hot and youve got nothing better to do. think i speak for most van owners who are self employed, cc or any other business.
derek
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geoff
the answer is simple.
when you first set up in the business you take lovely photos of everything before youve even got any work, hence nice and tidy, you never really take many more photos as you keep using the first one you did, anyway thats the only time you'll see tidy vans, oh and once a year in summer when its really hot and youve got nothing better to do. think i speak for most van owners who are self employed, cc or any other business.
derek
my vans are both flatout and there never anything out of place and is always neat and tidy want to know how to do it ????? its a simple women thing that most men cant do ! is put things back where they belong after you have used them ! its realy is that simple
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Susan your right on that :)
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Only thing is Susan woman put things back in a different place! If I'm looking for something our home I asked the Mrs. "where's it living today?" she laughs but she knows it's true.
Shaun
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Shaun
www victorcentral com
Mark
Hose ramps from Hydramaster last year when they had a special offer at their Dirty Weekend. Paid about £100.
For the record.
The van hasn't been washed for about 2 weeks, it's 5 years, 7 months, 2 weeks and 6 days old :P. The photos were taken 10 days ago. The free space at the back of the van is where I stack the 3 coils of vac hose and the Envirodri sits very nicely next to the tanks by the side door. Hoses and Envirodri were removed to show how the new tanks fit in the van. I only carry a rotary for when it's needed now, but it is VERY cramped.
Derek
If the van was loaded methodically and kept tidy, I wouldn't be able to get everything onboard!
Susan
Does my tidy van mean that my feminine side is shining through ;) On second thoughts, I don't think you should answer that ;)
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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ken
not sure why that answer was for me as i was just commenting on vans, (mine included) in general not yours which goes against the grain for us slobs.
why no sign writing ken?
derek
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Derek
2 reasons for the lack of signwritting. a) I don't need to promote my business too much and b) it doesn't stand out so much to become an eyesore for the neighbours and tealeaves (well so far anyway). However, if I felt the need to grow my business, I'd have no problems having signwritting again.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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ok you guys,
which of you consider your van to be tidy ? or otherwise.
ney , better still I will post a poll
Geoff
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Shaun
www victorcentral com
Mark
Hose ramps from Hydramaster last year when they had a special offer at their Dirty Weekend. Paid about £100.
For the record.
The van hasn't been washed for about 2 weeks, it's 5 years, 7 months, 2 weeks and 6 days old :P. The photos were taken 10 days ago. The free space at the back of the van is where I stack the 3 coils of vac hose and the Envirodri sits very nicely next to the tanks by the side door. Hoses and Envirodri were removed to show how the new tanks fit in the van. I only carry a rotary for when it's needed now, but it is VERY cramped.
Derek
If the van was loaded methodically and kept tidy, I wouldn't be able to get everything onboard!
Susan
Does my tidy van mean that my feminine side is shining through ;) On second thoughts, I don't think you should answer that ;)
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
lol ken i wont go the with the feminine thing ;D but i wont have any thing out of place and everything as a place or it doesnt go in the van , how ever ive spent a few quid on racking the vans out the way i want them and will carry on buying racking when needed (not thats theres much room lefted in the old l.d.v.
when the vans set out it stops like that makeing it easyer to find the right chems for the job
if you can get it quicky and use it quiclky without hunting round for it on each job then your working quiker which means your earning more