[Cathedral Floorcare]

Hello folks. I'm a hard floor guy, I restore Victorian tiled floors and do work on stone. I've bought a second hand t/m (a Spitfire 4.0 previously owned by Mick Gayton) so I can clean tile and grout at high pressure, but obviously with that kit I can clean carpets too. So, I've been on the Prochem 2-day course and will go to the NCCA course too, before I touch a carpet in earnest. I plan on spending a few months doing friends' and families carpets alongside my usual hard floor stuff, so I can get a good feel for it.

Anyway, I'm waffling.  : My question is - I don't have any wands or hand tools yet, so what does everyone like to use? Are some makes better than others? Do you need specific kit for a t/m? I've spent a bit of time on tiling forums over the years, and on there everyone bangs on about their favourite kit, so I guess I'm trying to start a similar debate so I can pick up all the info I need. 

Ta!

Chris

[Ken Wainwright]

Hi Chris

Tools are a very personal thing, so you'll get different opinions on what's best. Make sure that ALL tools are capable of taking the pressure generated by a T/M pump. Some are only suitable for use with a lower powered portable. Go for a 2" tubed wand (1.75" would be OK) but 1.5" is a "toy" for porty use If your marketplace is primarily commercial, you may wish to consider a 14" wand, otherwise 12" should be fine.  I was suitably impressed by the Greenhorn wands down at HydraMaster, but as I say, it's a personal thing.

I'd have thought 200ft would be the minimum length of hose required for a T/M, but stand to be corrected. Obviously 2" vac hose, but make sure you use the 3000psi rated solution hose.

2" vac hose tends to be quite stiff and cumbersome. I would recommend at least one length of 50' from a certain Bodmin, Cornwall company as it's much more pliable than most, then the rest you can buy regular stuff from whoever you choose.  I like orange colour hose to run across the path as it's more visible to the visually negligent pedestrians.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

PS  I'm glad to see that Michael finally got rid of that pile of krap

PPS Only joking

[colin thomas]

chris, i don't know if this is allowed but as well as being a member of this venerable site, join the truck-mounters site as well, loads of info that you would want,

colin

[Joe H]

Did you get 2" suction hose with your Spitfire?
The Spitfire will run 2" hose and will be beneficial to you and the clean you do.
Most portables use 1.5" wands because they use 1.5" suction hose (tho the Scorpion comes with 2" hose as standard).
Some TM's use 1.5" wands maybe because they are a bit lighter, or its what they have from when they used portables regularly, or because they use 1.5" hose for the last 10ft or so because its easier to use say in bedrooms.
but 2" all the way ie hose and wand has to be better as the machine willbe removing waste from the carpet more efficiently.
Width of head - standard width is 12" but you can get 14" or even 16" (certainly 16" may be a hinderance to use in domestic situations)
No of jets - 2 or 4 for 12". 4 with 14" and even 6 with the 16" head.
Usig a TM you may want to consider buying a Teflon glide - so much suction it can be difficult to move the wand without one but so easy with one - £110 or thereabouts.
Cost of a wand - approx £250 to £600 depending on size and make.
May pick up 2nd hand.
Or go on Ebay and you will see some new ones at very good prices in the USA but factor in shipping and taxes.
Hand tools are usually 1.5"

[CARPET KNIGHTS]

What pressure exactly do you need to clean these hard floors with as the spitfire 4.0 is hardly a high pressure machine!

Cheers Goron

[Cathedral Floorcare]

Ken - your 'pile of krap' comment made me snort red wine down my nose. Thanks.   I'm off down to Hydramaster next week to get it mounted, but it looks like Mick has done a good job stripping it down and rebuilding it. As I'm in Cornwall anyway I may pop along to Bodmin.

Colin - I'll look into that, but I quite like it here, everyone seems friendly (well, most).

Joe - Yep, got some 2" hose, but need a load more. I was amazed at how heavy it was! And a bit shocked at the price of additional lengths too. I was interested that you point out the use of 1.5" hose at the end to minimise weight in bedrooms etc. When doing upholstery are the hand tools available 1.5" and 2" as well? Is using 2" hose on a hand tool difficult or is it just down to practice?

Goron - I will be as low as 300psi on old floors, max 800-900 psi on ceramics and stone. PSI is only part of the equation, get your chemistry right and most of the work is already done for you. 

[gwrightson]

I would have thought alot mor than 300 psi would be needed ,

I do know the spinners  need a fair rate of psi to have effect   ,

some thing Im looking into.
geoff

[Cathedral Floorcare]

If you go too high on an old floor you just blow the grout out, and quite often the grout lines are just full of crud anyway. Some of the spinners and hand tools will operate quite low, and at that point all you are really doing is using them for a very good rinse of hot water. 800-900 is fine for good sound floors. (This is a bit off topic I think.  )

[CARPET KNIGHTS]

I think the 4.0 only goes up to 500 psi unless you rig the relief valve with a couple of 5 pence coins!

[Cathedral Floorcare]

Really? I was lead to believe it went up to 1000psi? I may have to take myself outside and have myslef shot if that's right. 

[CARPET KNIGHTS]

I have a 4.0 and mine will only hit 700psi and that is because of my two shiny 5 pences that i have put into the relief valve!

[Cathedral Floorcare]

LOL, can you send me a picture? 700psi is manageable for what I want to do, but that's still lower than I was expecting. Looks like I might have to focus on carpets then!!! 

[CARPET KNIGHTS]

It is an easy job to do!

On the front of the machine, undo the presure control numpty thingy until it falls off in your hand (you cant break anything it is alright) pull out the spring and pop a 5p into the numpty put the spring back and screw the numpty back on.

Try it with just the one 5p to start with to see what it will get (don't want to start blowing things up)

The more 5p's you put in the higher your top pressure will be but also the higher your lower pressure will be before the numpty falls off in your hand again.

Cheers Goron

[Cathedral Floorcare]

Nice one, I'll give that a go. 

[Jim_77]

Thanks for the info about your numpty Goron

[Cathedral Floorcare]

I actually asked him for a picture of it! 

[Jim_77]

hahahaha

[mark shannon]

Ken - your 'pile of krap' comment made me snort red wine down my nose. Thanks.   I'm off down to Hydramaster next week to get it mounted, but it looks like Mick has done a good job stripping it down and rebuilding it. As I'm in Cornwall anyway I may pop along to Bodmin.

Maybe you could take a look at Gorons numpty when your down at Hydramaster next week getting mounted Cathedral   

[Cathedral Floorcare]

 

At least this is taking my mind off the fact that I've bought an underpowered second hand t/m. 

[nevil]

I have a 4.0 also, it will only reach 500psi.

HM told me that there are two models. One gets to 1000 ther other only 600. I must have a go at the 5p thing.

Hi Goron how are things down your end.