Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Griffus on April 13, 2009, 11:51:51 am
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As yet I have yet to clean any upholstery.
I have three customers that have asked me to clean theirs suites. They know that I am new to this and so are waiting for an answer one way or another (they are all known to me personally so no worries about losing faith).
Following a little research I have been looking to purchase a Drimaster upholstery tool. Ideally I was looking for a used one but they are like gold dust and are sold as soon as they are advertised for sale.
I am now thinking of buying new but before I take the plunge thought I'd check with everyone if the Drimaster is the best option. The 'CFR Quick Dry Upholstery Tool with Conversion Hose' also looks like a good bit of kit.
In summary, I am looking for the best upholstery tool that will help a novice to achieve good safe results with the majority of fabrics.
All opinions and experiences please.
Thanks in advance
Ian
p.s. One of the customer's does want their suite doing ASAP. This is a synthetic cover but I would still prefer not to attempt without either the Drimaster or CFR.
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only my opinion but the cfr does everything that the drimaster does but uses less water, also the cfr has a suction relief valve so that if you are cleaning say curtains or material that looks a bit 'thin' you can reduce the suck so you don't tear it,
colin
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although i have not tried the drimaster i use the the cfr hand tool and get on great with it
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I've had a second hand Drimaster tool for about a month now - I used to hate cleaning upholstery, but I can honestly say that this is the best bit of kit I have bought so far.
Steve
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As yet I have yet to clean any upholstery.
I have three customers that have asked me to clean theirs suites. They know that I am new to this and so are waiting for an answer one way or another (they are all known to me personally so no worries about losing faith).
Following a little research I have been looking to purchase a Drimaster upholstery tool. Ideally I was looking for a used one but they are like gold dust and are sold as soon as they are advertised for sale.
I am now thinking of buying new but before I take the plunge thought I'd check with everyone if the Drimaster is the best option. The 'CFR Quick Dry Upholstery Tool with Conversion Hose' also looks like a good bit of kit.
Have you done any training yet on upholstery?
Mark
In summary, I am looking for the best upholstery tool that will help a novice to achieve good safe results with the majority of fabrics.
All opinions and experiences please.
Thanks in advance
Ian
p.s. One of the customer's does want their suite doing ASAP. This is a synthetic cover but I would still prefer not to attempt without either the Drimaster or CFR.
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Hi Ian,
I own both the CFR handtool and the new Drimaster. In my opinion the new Drimaster wins every time, although be prepared to use a lot of solution (say 50-60 litres for a 3 piece), I run it from my portable with the pressure turned down to around 100 psi, and with the flow control on the handtool set to about halfway.
Having said that the CFR is a good bit of kit also, and is much cheaper. The Drimaster leaves the upholstery much drier though, and there is no need for a second pass (except on edges), so it enables you to work faster and smarter.
Pete
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only my opinion but the cfr does everything that the drimaster does but uses less water, also the cfr has a suction relief valve so that if you are cleaning say curtains or material that looks a bit 'thin' you can reduce the suck so you don't tear it,
colin
colin you are missing some important points regarding cfr and drimaster,
the dri-master enables faster cleaning time, and the weight and design give far less stress to the wrists, i agree more water is required but if you have your wits about you and remember to turn of the valve the water consumption can be reduced dramaticly.
geoff
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Hi
Where would I purchase either a Dri-master or cfr as the main reason I hate doing upholstery is not being able to control flow well.
For upholstery I am using my baby machine which is a Sabrina Maxi, better hand tool would help greatly.
Cheers Jamie
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geoff, i have the older version of the drimaster and hated it, i used it for months before i bit the bullet and got the cfr, i found with the dm the water flow had to be just right and the aluminium plate in the mouth of the tool had to be just so, mine got a few little nicks in it and i found that i couldn't 'scrub' the material for fear of ripping it and also when it comes to wetting hard to get at places with the cfr you just spray it from a few inches away, cover some of the vac area with your fingers and suck, with the dm i beleive that you have to have a spray bottle at hand to do the same thing. but all this is just my opinion, i know plenty of others like you who swear by the dm, just not me, but hey, if you ever buy a new dm and want to sell yours to me cheap, i'm willing to try the new style dm again!!!!!
colin ;)
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drimaster for me, old one, and yes it uses a lot of water but with a trucky it don't matter.
derek
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of course the main thing is as someone else pointed out somewhere else, if you spend £250 - £350 on a tool then as far as you are concerned it is the best you can get, who spends that sort of money and then will admit it's rubbish!!!
;D
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Have to agree with Colin. I have both and the drimaster never sees the light of day now.
Nigel
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Where would I bye a CFR from please guys??????
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Mat at Cleansmart in Nottingham will sell you a CFR tool.
I have used both and have to say I think the CFR is much better, if you have been using a cheap upholstery tool ( like I did at the start) the difference is amazing. The non branded tool I used to use, had a mist like a watering can !! The CFR has a very controled fine mist, good recovery and air flow control, different league.
Paul - Kinder Clean
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Well there you have it. Champions for both pieces of kit so at the end of the day it will come down to your own personal preference and whatever factors you choose to include in your decision making process. At least you know that whichever you go for it won't be a "bum steer".
I've never used the dm but have got the CFR. You'll find a thread I started about it approximately 12 months ago, but that was after I'd decided I was going for a cfr or nothing as I'd always been pleased with my Ashby's tool before.
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Matt at Cleansmart lent me a CFR for a week.
They do this because the thing sells itself. I'm sure the DM better but all things are relative.
Try before you will buy. ;)
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I have the CFR and the drimaster I would get the CFR because you can use it to do more things stairs and edges, mine is 7 years old and is very well built I don't think my drimaster will last that long as it's plastic but it dries fabrics faster.
Shaun
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Thank you all very much for your opinions and advice.
All very interesting and as I thought both seem to be excellent tools.
On the balance of things I think I'll trial the CFR for a week (if possible). Unless of course there's one on here for sale at the right price? :)
Mark: I have attended a few training courses, including the NCCA Carpet and Upholstery but theory is one thing. The thought of cleaning Upholstery is definitely daunting but I feel confident that with the right hand-tool the job will be made much easier.
Thanks again to you all for your help.
Regards
Ian
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Ian
Best thing to do is have a go on your own just to get the feel of it or otherwise go and buy an old chair and have a go on that and see how it cleans and drys just as an example :)
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Ian
I have not used a drimaster so cannot comment about that.
However I do have the CFR unit and it does a really good job.
Initially I bought it with the 5" head, and put my finger across the slot if I needed a smaller width (I understand that is common practice).
Late last year I bought the 3" wide head and it has made a massive difference, all the suction going thro a small head. And its so easy to change the heads - so 5" for the main seats and backs etc, and 3" for arms and tighter areas - like the round fronts on arms.
There is a 7" head in the range too - good for longer seated areas like pub wall seats.
Dry pretty quick too.
I dont think the Drimaster has changeable heads.
ps. Mike H - I didnt say I was going (too many have done that already) but said I was changing the fact I spent most of my forum time on here. However I am reducing my forum time. This will mean that fewer posts, and therefore if I mention a certain product it will stand out more - perhaps meaning I am in "their pocket". Means the post I just done I must be in either either Amtech or Cleansmart pocket - I wonder which one!
Im ringing J Kelly later so I must be in his as well. Get a life!
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Joe
Do you use a small wip hose then and reduce it down to a 1 n half inch hose then ???
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Joe
Also forgot to ask you thought the prowler came with its own hand/stair tool with a bypass ???
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Clinton, the standard CFR hide a hose is 1.5" anyway.
Didnt get a hand tool with the Prowler but am buying a 6" stair tool off JK. I have had it on trial and am keeping it. Its 1.5". I find it difficult using 2" on stairs - not flexible enough - not even with Solutions UK hose which is flexible.
I generally use a 1.5" whip hose on domestic. If I get a large open area I stick to 2" then reduce at the wand.
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Cheers joe.
Thought you did with your set up and reduce to 1half inch at the end as opposed to a 2"wand and tool.
Sounds like you got on with this stair tool you had a trial with from j kelly ???
Sounds huge lol
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CFR is the daddy and cheaper if your a newie like me then go with this 1st !
the other option is to slide a dead cat backwards forwards over the suite you are cleaning , it WONT clean the suite but the client will never forget the name of your company ;)
clever marketing ploy or what :D :D
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i use dri master for all my upholstery and LOVEIT
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will/should dri-master work with 100 psi ?
Pete (JS2)
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You are seriously losing air flow when you go down to a 1,5" whip hose, keep with the 2" as far as you can, I have 2.5" to the wand and the difference in drying is like night and day, customers love it when you get their carpets dry.
Shaun
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Pete
I've got a 400psi Ninja, I only clean at between 200 - 250 but for upholstery I turn it down to about 120 so you should be ok.
I find on upholstery that less is more.
Steve
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I agree Steve the most important thing with upholstery cleaning is the preparation, alot of the work should have been done before you start to rinse, you do have to have more psi with a TM as the airflow will suck alot of water back so you need to up the psi to increase the flow to the fabric.
Shaun
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Some of the hose I got of Joe with his old TM is very flexible 2" hose from Solutions witha 1.5 reducer at one end. I have been using it straight to the wand and with my CFR for upholstery and it's suprisingly useable. I will get a short whip but that shouldn't make too much loss of vac.
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Thanks Steve
The only other consideration I have is the consumption issue, since this tool (DM) is a non-triggered steady flow type. I'd better do some maths ! Nevertheless, I feel the general opinion of both the DM and CFR tools is very favourable.
Pete (JS2)
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Joe, thanks for you reply; very useful to know.
Incidentally my machine is the 600psi twin vac Advance. It has two inch hose throughout apart from the last three metres or so where it reduces to 1.5". My experience is very limited but I am very impressed with the package as a whole. Certainly a good machine for a newbie to CC like me.
Ability; I already use rolled up hedgehogs for agitation but I think a dead cat might be a step too far ;D
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Ian nice to see you have a sense of ; most dont ;) ;D ;D
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Ian
You wont loose much suction using the 1n half inch wip hose at the end and its more flexable in tight spaces :)
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Cheers Clinton.
Ability, it sure does help!
Incidentally we have met; we were on the NCCA course with a good few others back in February (I think) with Paul and Pawlo.
Have you joined the NCCA yet?
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Rubbish
When I first got a 2" wand I couldn't move the thing, this is where Derek has gone wrong, he says he doesn't need a glide well if he got a 2" wand he would get so much lock down that he'd get a glide for it. Same for portis you could take nearly 50% off the drying times, the more air that you get travelling through the pipes the better, air makes the water on the carpet move up the pipe faster.
Shaun
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erm wish I could say O wow yes I rem but sorry no I can only rem the 2 who copied off me in the test at the end .
keep meaning to join but the older CCs keep giving GOOD reasons not to !!????
any how it nice to meet again pal have you looked at the other forums
i.e CCDO etc yet
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Shaun, I have been thinking of getting a glide following on from previous posts (a Greenglide). Definitely on my shopping list (along with a good few other items).
No worries Ability, loads there. Yep, I occasionally check in at the other forums; CCDO, Cleantalk, SCSF, ACS amongst others.
If I'm still in the game next year I'll keep a day aside for the CCDO. It seems like a top event.
Best wishes
Ian
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So ian what hand tool you going for then ???
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;D
It's been that long since I asked I can't remember my question!
Only kidding.
The CFR is the one I think I'll be buying, or at least trialing.
I have cushions only of a friends three piece to do so will sort something in time for this. I have the fabric down as chenille so I think a good first job (especially with a proper hand-tool).
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Try and get yourself a turbo dryer or two and you should be getting the fabric dry before or on its way to drying before you leave..
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CFR is the daddy and cheaper if your a newie like me then go with this 1st !
the other option is to slide a dead cat backwards forwards over the suite you are cleaning , it WONT clean the suite but the client will never forget the name of your company ;)
clever marketing ploy or what :D :D
Ricky
Is that similar to the "dead cat bounce" effect! ;D
No I guess it isn't. But it sounds as if it should ;D
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I have a couple of turbo driers already.
Got a good deal on them; £220 for the two, brand new.
Company on ebay selling them. I think they still sell on there.
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Not a bad deal by the sounds of it :)
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i got 1 off ebay, £120
3 months later, not such a bargain. good job i was there when it sparked up a bensons. ;D
never again.
got a whole room dryer now, £300, proper bargain.
derek
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Ah derek your on the bensons now ;D
A quality cig ;)
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i roll my own clinton,
£6 a pack, 2 packs a week. bargain. ;D
derek
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Derek ;D
My mate does that and constantly rolling them up and can do it with one hand ::)
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i put bacca in one ear and a paper in the other and a fAg comes out I disagree :o ;D, ahem, i'll rephrase that last bit, i mean a cigarette.
derek
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;D
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can't believe that was censored.
ruined my joke.
oh well.
back to the clean joke drawing board
derek
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::)
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Smoking is bad for you but its ok when your leathered
but by ek ya feel right poopy the next day
cough cough splutter