[daysdeepclean]

I've looked through page after page to see if I can find opinions on the Extracta Exel. What are your thoughts and experiences with this machine? I have to say that armed with the Exel and the Scrubba Deluxe my customers are always delighted at the results, but am I missing something? Why is 300 psi better than 100psi? I always turn my pump down when doing sofas to avoid over wetting and I find that when on full power and doing carpets I don't find myself yearning for more water/solution to be delivered! Should I?

[pete sween]

Hi Colin

It's all relative.

There's no point have a pump running at 400 psi with 1 dual vac motor recovering as this will leave alot of the soil in the moisture thats left in the carpet. Nowt wrong with what your using but as you upgrade each machine's psi ability will (or should) be matched by its recovery power.

Don't fret too much mate, most of the work is done in the prep (pre-spray & Agitation). Get this right and you'll get decent results.

Pete

[daysdeepclean]

Cheers Pete,

The machine I have is a twin vac 3 stage ametek, it's a machine I used when I lived up in Cumbria when working briefly for a C/C . When I moved to Cornwall I was rather overwhelmed by the choice, so went back to what I was used to, I hasten to add, with no regrets. My next purchase will be a truck mount in the next couple of years or so. (Ever the optimist!)

I suppose I just wonder how/why the extra psi benefits the operator, the inquisitive nature of mine derives from being a former aircraft technician... Ins and outs of a fart and all that!!!

[pete sween]

Hi colin

If you think about a pressure washer and apply the same train of thought you will get it. The pressure (or momentum as I like to call it) is acting as an element of agitation. Think about putting a dirty dinner plate under a tap that is running slowly and then turn the tap on full. Whats going to do a more effective job of displacing muck?

Pete

[daysdeepclean]

That makes perfect sense.... Thanks Pete... If there's anything you ever need to know about helicopters......

Cheers Pete.

[gwrightson]

Yes Colin,

have you ever been in one and practised auto-rotation,

great fun

Geoff

[daysdeepclean]

I used to maintain them, so I only flew when ordered to! I think the pilot carried out that very manoeuvre when I went for a "Jolly" off the coast of Sierra Leone.... It was a Friday the 13th too, so I was glad when he finished showing off his pilotting skills and landed us safely back on board our ship!

No wonder I'm bald!

[jeff1966]

Colin, I used a Extracta excel and scrubber for years with excellent results.Year ago I got a powerflite perfect heat 500psi ,are the results any better , I wouldn't say so.Everyone as there own opinion don't believe everything you read on here.
                                   Jeff

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

you have the best carpet cleaner and the most ppowerfull on the market if you belive what extracta say ! trust me theres more to life then extracta and when you look outside your little extracta world you will see how wrong you have been

[Gary Webber]

Everyone seems to believe that its all down to the machine!

In reality it is the perfect blend of experience/training, chemicals used AND equipment that provides the best results. I have produced work far superior to high powered machines simply by using the best of the above to produce the right results.

Gary

[carlton care]

What Gary says is absolutely true and working along these lines will suit the majority of people entering carpet cleaning, but, if you have; -

The financial resources
Business sense
Drive
Ability to get a regular supply of work

You might be better off with a high powered, removable T/M or even a full T/M system

There is no definitive answer..................it depends on several factors.

[daysdeepclean]

you have the best carpet cleaner and the most ppowerfull on the market if you belive what extracta say ! trust me theres more to life then extracta and when you look outside your little extracta world you will see how wrong you have been

I didn't realise I was in a "Little Extracta World". It would be more socially acceptable if you could perhaps back up your quote with a few facts, and tell me what little world you're in! If you have a grudge to bare, give John or Brian a ring.

I've been in the C/C business for 5 months or so and I am actually looking out of my "Little Extracta World" and using forums such as Cleanitup to gain a wealth of knowledge from other C/Cs. I expect that if I rang round asking other companies about their products, I would soon have a long list of best carpet cleaners and the most powerful on the market.

[daysdeepclean]

What Gary says is absolutely true and working along these lines will suit the majority of people entering carpet cleaning, but, if you have; -

The financial resources
Business sense
Drive
Ability to get a regular supply of work

You might be better off with a high powered, removable T/M or even a full T/M system

There is no definitive answer..................it depends on several factors.

Thank you, I here what you're saying and that is exactly where I am aiming to be. I live/work 12 Miles from Hydramaster and they very kindly offered me a machine to try out which I will do once I feel that I can buy one.  The only bit of the above I really need is the "Ability to get a regular supply of work" But I'm sure that will be achievable as long as I am leaving my customers happy!

Thanks again... Colin...

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

Hi Colin

I use an Extracta Excel and scrubber. I dont pretend to have tried a lot of other machines or be anywhere near the most experienced on this forum.

What I can honestly say however is that if I was unhappy with the results in any way whatsoever I would be looking elsewhere for another machine. As it happens I have always been very happy with the results produced with Extracta's chemicals and equipment so why change? Maybe there is better equipment out there but the Excel is a workhorse and has given me few problems. I can only speak as I find after all.

I purchase some of my chemicals from Extracta and other bits and pieces  from John and Lynne Kelly at restormate which are 5 minutes walk from me!!!

The one thing I do not like about the Excel is it's weight because of the fibre glass carcas which weighs a tonne especially when I had to get it up 3 flights of stairs on Monday for a measly spotting job! Because of this I am going to purchase a spotting machine from Restormate for around about £230. This should save a lot of hassle in the future!

John.

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

you have the best carpet cleaner and the most ppowerfull on the market if you belive what extracta say ! trust me theres more to life then extracta and when you look outside your little extracta world you will see how wrong you have been

I didn't realise I was in a "Little Extracta World". It would be more socially acceptable if you could perhaps back up your quote with a few facts, and tell me what little world you're in! If you have a grudge to bare, give John or Brian a ring.

I've been in the C/C business for 5 months or so and I am actually looking out of my "Little Extracta World" and using forums such as Cleanitup to gain a wealth of knowledge from other C/Cs. I expect that if I rang round asking other companies about their products, I would soon have a long list of best carpet cleaners and the most powerful on the market.

ah five months eh !  ive only been dealing with them for over 20 years so im sorry you feel i dont know what im talking about , and at one point i was only running 6 exles so i guess i do have to right to kind of see things alittle diffent from yourself

i dont have any problem at all with john or brain as they are realy good guys however the only way to move forward is to move away from extracta as they have no new units out and are not realy interstead in makeing any , as most people on here will tell you like me they  have been waiting for the new exle for over 17 years !!!!  and were forced to move on after getting sick of waiting

they do tend to knock every other make of carpet cleaner on the market with saying things  like " you dont need 300 psi because ull rip the top off the carpet " well i clean at 400-600 psi and i have never pulled the top off any carpet !

as for the most powerful carpet cleaner on the market just look in your yellow pages and see how many donkeys are putting this in there ads saying the are useing " THE MOST POWERFUL CARPET CLEANER ON THE MARKET THE EXTRACTA EXEL"   where do they get this from lololololol

anyway young man if you need to see what other units do and other chems your more then wellcome to have a day out with one of my staff and see what the other sides like and see use ripping carpets up with boiling hot whats you cant touch and psi thats greater then a jet wash you clean your van with

p.s sorry ive just seen on your profile where your from so you wont see the same yellow pages as me because here in the north east this is what other companys put in there ads which makes me smile every time i see them come out

[Mr Dvae]

colin
i'm sure susan wasn't being personal or derogative towards you, but us oldies who've been in this business for many eons have been where you are a long time ago and sometimes we can come accross a little abrupt when we pass on our expensively aqquired experience.
we are happy to share our knowledge in the hope that it may be of help to you in the future. susan has had many years of experience in this business and has had her eyes opened many times as the rest of us have by new information.
the threads she posts are little strips of gold to the likes of you and me and we can only learn from them

Dave

[Mr Dvae]

Jeff 1966

is that really you in that picture?

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

I started Extracta DX and then went on to Excel.

Not a bad machine and produces good results if you know what to do.

Problem for me with pipe bursts , lots and John in particular's attitude that it was my fault because I was using Prochem chemicals.I also went through vacs at an alarming rate, even my accountant commented on it.

Then went Alltec, much better all round machine, tooling, pipes  etc, now have TM.

Agree with others that Extracta seemed to sack their technical dept in thew 80's and their machines fall further behind as the others advance.

Cheers

Doug

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

Yes I have had a few pipe bursts!! It even happened once when I was having an arguement with an Indian gentleman at his restaurant. He was a thoroughly dislikeable idiot (believe it or not his name was Wally)!! Half way through the arguement the pipe burst and drenched him in water!! Quite funny actually!

Happened again a month or two ago. Had the machine in the living room and was half way down doing the stairs when I lost pressure. Went in to the living room and the pipe had burst and was covering the wall in water!! Luckily it was a skimmed wall and dried easily and no harm was done!

By the way I know they have had no new units out for a very long time but of the units they have they have tweaked them quite a lot in 17 years! And why fix something that is not broke? I won't be changing my machine as they are almost on my doorstep and can usually fix the machine while I wait so I'll stick to what I know.

John

[daysdeepclean]

The only people that refer to me as "Young Man" are usually older women, but I take it as a compliment anyway, thank you!

What concerns me is the pipe bursting comments, what sort of a life will the delivery pipes achieve, am I better renewing them every 12/24 months... Obviously coming from an engineering background I can appreciate that nothing lasts forever, and regular servicing and proper care of equipment is paramount.

Oh and Susan, I would love to come and see how you do what you do with what you use and I know that I would learn a lot from you, thank you for the offer.... I do frequent my home land in Cumbria and I plan to take the machines up the N.E. in around May time... So we could perhaps arrange something! You wont hit me though... will you?