Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Mark Sadler on October 22, 2008, 02:37:44 pm
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Hi All,
Im a newbie to this forum, can anybody recommend a good entry level carpet cleaning machine and where to buy.
Regards
Mark
Well guys ive listened to all your comments and debates and we seem to be getting off topic.
I have setup a poll with the makes of machine mentioned on this thread obviously i cant list all the models and I know there are more machines out there but the ones in the poll seem to be favoured more by you guys.
So i would appreciate your vote because im getting confused with the argument about what is the best machine.
Thanks
Mark
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Hi Mark and welcome
Tip - if you fill in your personal details i.e where your from you will get more replies. ;)
Paul
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Ok Will do
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Hi Mark
It depends on your budget really, some will advise you go for a truck mount if you can afford it, but there are plenty of good portable machines capable of doing an excellent job. Both have pro's and cons - truck mounts may have some access problems while portables generally take longer per job because of your setting up / down time. I'm choosing my words carefully as I don't want to start another Porty vs T/M war!! ;D. Best advise is to look up a local dealer (not sure who's up your neck of the woods) I got great advice / service and did my training with Cleansmart at Nottingham but perhaps there is a specialist closer to you. As a general rule, the cleaner on the end of the wand is the one that's the difference between a good job or a lousy job, take your time, think it through and then you'll not make any rash decisions. Another thing to bear in mind is the CC trade is more about your marketing skills than what equipment you choose to buy, you will need a good sum of money to market your company, then you need to take the current credit crunch into account.
All food for thought.
I myself use a Powrflite PFX1350 Portable machine, with a wonder wand, but there are many others with similar specs, the scorpion is one that gets a lot of praise on this forum too. both will give you 500PSI and twin 3 stage vacs, buy a decent wand to go with it and you'll not go far wrong.
Paul
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The Scorpion has three 3-stage vacuums, mounted in parallel rather than the usual series configuration. This (on paper at least) gives roughly three times the airflow and half the vacuum lift of most twin-vac portables, so it uses the available power in a different way. You'll get more info on cleantalk about it, as the suppliers sponsor the forum. It's at the opposite end of the scale from entry-level though!
BUT.... Why would you want to immediately give yourself a disadvantage with a crap "entry level" machine?
Buy a good 2nd hand one rather than a crap new one.
You can't go wrong with a ninja and there are plenty of them knocking around, should be able to pick up a 135psi model for between 500 and 1000 depending on age and condition.
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Ninja 130 psi comes up here and ebay
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I agree with Jim, have had many machines, then went for the Recoil
which is the earlier version of the Scorpion. It has been modified and am running it on 2" hose
and it is awesome(not comparing it to a truckmount)
Simple design, looks ugly according to some, but does it suck ::)
Only a few pounds more than a twin vac too, and designed and built by carpet cleaners.
Regards,
Andrew
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Thanks Guys,
Ive got some thinking to do and some good advice to take in.
Regards
Mark
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The scorpion is a top portie mate not sure how often the come up for resale :)
Some decent set ups on ebay......
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Just had a look ay one sounds pretty good can have it mounted and you can still use it as a portable halfway between TM and Porty £2400 brand new or £20 a week on lease.
John
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Remember though Jim is a salesman for a dealer!
I'd see what money you can scrape together before making your mind up.
Shaun
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If he has enough money for a scorpian might as well go the whole hog and get a Prowler. But when someone says 'entry level machine' I assumes someone spending between 1-2k, especially in this climate.
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Shaun I'm not a salesman for Solutions!
I felt my post was making more of a hint towards buying a respectable 2nd hand machine, rather than a sales pitch for a scorpion.
I don't think a guy posting he wants an "entry level" machine, i.e. a "cheap" one, would fork out for a scorpion anyway!
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Shaun I'm not a salesman for Solutions!
I felt my post was making more of a hint towards buying a respectable 2nd hand machine, rather than a sales pitch for a scorpion.
I don't think a guy posting he wants an "entry level" machine, i.e. a "cheap" one, would fork out for a scorpion anyway!
Well thanks for all your advice and debate, but my budget is £3000 and my van cant take a van mounted system, so i have a lot of homework to do.
I have looked at the Scorpion 3 Super-Charged "XPS" @ www.worldofclean.co.uk/index.php?productID=449
and its looks and sounds pretty impressive.
All your advice is invaluable as far as im concerned after all im here to learn from the pros and listen to your wisdom.
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Just to throw a spanner into the works - i see Prochem have a new machine out based on the Steampro model with 500 psi. It's got a larger capacity and can be picked up with an inline heater for about £2000. It also comes with a wand and hose set.
Looks like good value.
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i've got a ninja, good machines, had it 3 years and its never let me down, even when i treat it like the proverbial
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Guys,
Is this setup any good:
htt p://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Carpet-Cleaning-Machine-Steempro2000-Powermax-equpiment_W0QQitemZ200266425739QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item200266425739&_trkparms=72%3A1298%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
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John Kelly`s got the new Chemspec machine, looks the biz.
Think its 400 psi maybe 500?
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;Dwe just got a Rhino 500 psi in line heater which is very hot like steam! we had a ninja 135 psi there is no comparison,and all for £1200 new :o its a daedly machine well impressed
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Shaun I'm not a salesman for Solutions!
I felt my post was making more of a hint towards buying a respectable 2nd hand machine, rather than a sales pitch for a scorpion.
I don't think a guy posting he wants an "entry level" machine, i.e. a "cheap" one, would fork out for a scorpion anyway!
So why mention the Scorpion then?
Keep your brainwashing to CT.
Marks original post was asking recommendations for an entry level machine.
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Hi lads, I have been running 2 years and started with a Ninja 400psi with vac booster and built in temperture booster. I thought it worth starting with a good spec machine. Results have been very good. Being relativelly new I tend to get a lot of work at the budget end of the market although this is improving, consequently some of the carpets are pretty dirty, the spec of the machine eats the dirtiest of carpets especially with the in line heat booster.
I am looking to buy another machine so that I have a quality back up unit and would buy another Ninja, but the Scopion seems to be getting some good press in the forums, the web spec of the Scorpion does not mention any heating, what do you users of the Scorpion do for heat.
Peter
Beta Clean
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They are so streets ahead of other Portys you can use cold water. ::)
So you got 400psi 3 vacs available already. I'd save my money.
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Cold water and MPower and a scorpion, now theres a set up fwar. Im nursing a semi just thinking about it ;D ;D
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Porty Porn ;D
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Mark, you try so hard but... you just can't cut the mustard with the abuse side of things, you're not mean enough, or original enough :-* :-*
Peter if you're interested in the machine, have a word with the suppliers and people who use it rather than listening to knee-jerk reactions from folks who don't really have much better to say :)
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Well it's certainly got Jim excited. ;D
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Peter
You have probably sussed out by now their is a battle going on, between those who like Scorpion and those that dont. But their appears to be a deeper underlying reason with some as to why they are negative.
Some have never used a Scorpion yet comment very negatively, and in a childish way too.
Would be better if people only commented from their own experiance, in my opinion.
Jims advice is stable - talk to the suppiers AND the people who use the products - and thats good advice no matter what you are reviewing.
I am not going to fuel this debate on here at this point in time - its been done many times before that it is a bore now
but I am a Scorpion owner and if you would like more info from a user email me using the button on the left.