Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: bad trippy on August 01, 2009, 12:04:46 am

Title: pencil jets or
Post by: bad trippy on August 01, 2009, 12:04:46 am
The fan thingys, what do you lot suggest is the best?
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: tomy jackson on August 01, 2009, 06:56:07 am
pencel
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: elite mike on August 01, 2009, 07:09:41 am
 pencil  for me
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: Mike #1 on August 01, 2009, 08:23:40 am
pencil jets everytime to much overspray with fan
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: concept on August 01, 2009, 09:26:02 am
i use pencils, as it's what i learnt with. never tried a fan, but would be interested to try them.
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 01, 2009, 09:56:39 am
i use both but mainly pencil jets , theres to much spray with fans but i find these perfect for doing gutter and fascia cleans .
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: matt on August 01, 2009, 10:24:52 am
i have allways used fans

i have often thought i would try pencil jets, but never get around to ordering them  ::)
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: Mike 108 on August 01, 2009, 10:47:20 am
I have used both but prefer 'fans'

I just think that they 'wet' the glass more thoroughly and 'infiltrate' the dirt better. Also, as Daveshaw says, they really shift the dirt on gutters, fascias and soffits.

Although a lot of cleaners will talk about 'overspray', this is only a problem if you rinse with the brush 'off' the glass. If you leave the brush 'on' the glass it is only a fine 'mist' that escapes through the bristles.

Mike
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: bad trippy on August 01, 2009, 12:15:42 pm
what im finding is i do a few on the same council estate (all exact windows) and they all bead, was wondering if fans were better for these type of glass?
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: Mike 108 on August 01, 2009, 01:39:54 pm
I 'feel' that the power and 'spread' of the fan spray 'splatters' the beads into minute particles and disperses the suspended dirt before the bead has a chance to reform!

But it's just a 'feeling'

Someone on here posted a link to two videos taken from inside a house showing how the two different types of jet acted on the glass during 'scrubbing' and 'rinsing'.

Unfortunately I didn't save the post or the link.  Perhaps someone else can help.

Mike
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: stephen s on August 01, 2009, 06:21:49 pm
I prefer pencil as I find that fan jets tend to get blocked quite easy
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: L.J.Thorpe on August 01, 2009, 06:48:50 pm
i think its just a matter of preference and/ or technique rather than one being "best" if you are doing regular cleans i find it makes very little difference
that said i prefer pencils
oi bodgit you do talk some old tripe ;D
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: AuRavelling79 on August 01, 2009, 07:50:05 pm
Fan.
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: Clive McDonald on August 01, 2009, 07:54:22 pm
Fan- and the gardiner ones are even more special.
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: s.w.c on August 01, 2009, 10:44:54 pm
pencils all the way.
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: bad trippy on August 01, 2009, 11:21:15 pm
Think im gonna order some fan jets from wcw, ive got a gardeners light brush with pencil jets, do i just screw them into the brush?
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: Mike 108 on August 02, 2009, 12:04:40 am
Ask before you buy. Some fan jets require a larger diameter hole. When you have removed the pencil jets, you may have to enlarge the diameter of the hole to fit the fan jets (and be careful not to make it too big - or the jets won't stay in place).
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 02, 2009, 08:14:42 am
Fan- and the gardiner ones are even more special.
in what way are the gardiner ones more special  compared to others ?
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: dai on August 02, 2009, 10:48:55 am
I have been experimenting with jets, my jets are now on stalks, right on the glass, no bristles to get in the way and so simple.
I use Algarde 6mm silicon tubing.
1] drill two 5.5mm holes through the brush where you want the jets to go
2] thread the tubing through the holes
3] insert the jets into the end of the tubing
3] pull back the tubing until the jets are level with the top of the bristles.

£2 buys you a packet of micro watering system T pieces from B&Q, these have a 2mm bore.
Just cut them off where they join the body of the T, so you get three jets from each one, insert the piece you have cut off into the end of the Algarde tube, job done.
The bristles keep the stalks in place.
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: Mike 108 on August 02, 2009, 11:03:39 am
Dai

I'm not sure what the advantage is in what you have done - please explain.

Also - do the jets/stalks not get displaced when the bristles bend - and what about scratching the glass?

Mike
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: bad trippy on August 02, 2009, 02:41:07 pm
ive looked online at the fan jet conversation and one thing bothers me, they seem to be bulky. Qustion i would like to pose is because of the size of the fan it looks like they want go flush to your brush stock, would this be a problem for scratching the glass? Cheers in advance
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: ccmids on August 02, 2009, 08:19:25 pm
fan jets are the best
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: dai on August 02, 2009, 09:31:53 pm
Dai

I'm not sure what the advantage is is what you have done - please explain.

Also - do the jets/stalks not get displaced when the bristles bend - and what about scratching the glass?

Mike
When the bristles bend on a normal brush the water hits those bent bristles first, the silicon stalks do bend with the bristles, but they are right on the glass so nothing impedes the flow.
They can't scratch the glass as they are made from plastic, and I insert them into the stalks so that they are not proud. The silicon stalk is what touches the glass not the jet. I rinse on the glass and like the idea that the water is not going through dirty bristles before hitting the glass.
I can't say that they do a better job or not, but they certainly work just as well, and are a hell of a lot easier to fit.
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: Mike 108 on August 03, 2009, 12:09:37 pm
ive looked online at the fan jet conversation and one thing bothers me, they seem to be bulky. Qustion i would like to pose is because of the size of the fan it looks like they want go flush to your brush stock, would this be a problem for scratching the glass? Cheers in advance

If you are using Vikan/Unger brushes, they do fit in flush with the brush stock.

If you are using Gardiner Super-light brushes, they protrude through the stock into the bristles (see photo). However, the amount of protrusion is not enough that they will touch the glass (even when forcing the brush hard against the glass).

Mike
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: michael papworth on August 03, 2009, 09:53:28 pm
I 'feel' that the power and 'spread' of the fan spray 'splatters' the beads into minute particles and disperses the suspended dirt before the bead has a chance to reform!

But it's just a 'feeling'

Someone on here posted a link to two videos taken from inside a house showing how the two different types of jet acted on the glass during 'scrubbing' and 'rinsing'.

Unfortunately I didn't save the post or the link.  Perhaps someone else can help.

Mike

That would be this video:

http://www.wally-the-window-washer.co.uk/glasses.wmv


Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: Mike 108 on August 03, 2009, 10:52:16 pm
Hi Wally.

An excellent video.  I'm not sure if it's the same one I'm thinking off (or maybe the format has been altered/updated), but it's excellent just the same and shows the same results.

I'll be saving it this time.

Mike
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: bad trippy on August 04, 2009, 02:43:24 pm
ive looked online at the fan jet conversation and one thing bothers me, they seem to be bulky. Qustion i would like to pose is because of the size of the fan it looks like they want go flush to your brush stock, would this be a problem for scratching the glass? Cheers in advance

If you are using Vikan/Unger brushes, they do fit in flush with the brush stock.

If you are using Gardiner Super-light brushes, they protrude through the stock into the bristles (see photo). However, the amount of protrusion is not enough that they will touch the glass (even when forcing the brush hard against the glass).

Mike
Thanks Mike i apprciate that
Title: Re: pencil jets or
Post by: Mike 108 on August 04, 2009, 07:32:29 pm
Trippy

I should mention that the jets (which are put in from the back of the brush)  have a flange/shoulder that prevents them going through the stock. If you make them a 'tight' fit, you can choose how far to insert them. On my own brushes, the flange is about 5mm short of touching the stock.

Mike