[Griffus]

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.


 

[colin thomas]

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

[richy27]

although i have not tried the drimaster i use the the cfr hand tool and get on great with it

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

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

[markpowell]

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.


 

[CarPete Cleaning]

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

[gwrightson]

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

[Jamie James]

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

[colin thomas]

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  

[derek west]

drimaster for me, old one, and yes it uses a lot of water but with a trucky it don't matter.
derek

[colin thomas]

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!!!

 

[Nigel_W]

Have to agree with Colin. I have both and the drimaster never sees the light of day now.

Nigel

[Jamie James]

Where would I bye a CFR from please guys???

[kinder clean]

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

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

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.

[Mike Osbourne]

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.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

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

[Griffus]

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

[clinton]

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

[Joe H]

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!