[jlo]

Ok Guys,

Having done, the NCCA course in June, day out with a v.good cc'er (you know who you are!) and become an avid reader of this site, I am ready to make my purchase.
Or am I?

It's a toss up between 3 machines, here are my thoughts.......

Powr- Flite perfect heat (have read stories of chinese motors though!)

Steam pro powerplus 500 (not heard anyone mention this machine)

Airflex pro (600 psi version- sounds v.good)

Whilst I have read & heard of other machines I feel inclined not to list them as I don't want to give bad feedback based on other peoples finding & not my own, especially as I am a newbie. Though I wish to hear of your expert opinions.

I am Midlands based, so will be looking for local supplier with back up for spares etc for whichever machine I choose.
Due to my budget I will be looking to lease (but to own outright afterwards),but to spend initially on all the other equip & chemicals, sebo vac, duo, groomers etc etc etc..

Thanks in advance for your responses

[Darren O]

Ive got the Powerflight 1350 its a cracking machine if you like a lot of heat then you will love it also had to replace a vacuum motor after 3 months dont no why they started to fit cheap vacs in them even if i had to replace 1 vac a year i would still be happy as they are only £75+vat also Amtech sell a dearer vac that fits it to so thats another option.Ive also got the smaller version of the powerplus its a good machine to the only thing that lets it down is the inline heater that comes with it at extra cost it struggles to heat the water at 120psi so using anything above that i take it it would be worse maybe worth a punt looking at the Airflex.

[jlo]

Thanks Darren, I do like the look of the Airflex & it's special features. Will be nipping up to Cleansmart when the boss is back.

[richy27]

i also like darren have the powerflite as you know i really get on well with it. although i think the new airflex looks impressive and looks easy to maintain.

[Cathedral Floorcare]

I've had a demo of the Airflex Turbo, looks good, is easy to maintain, runs up to 600psi and the internal set up looks well designed. I like the fact that you can hook up 2" inch hose too. It's lacking the inline heater at the mo', but that looks like it might be on the way soon. If it had auto pump out I'd mount it in my van with a fresh water tank, that way I could be either porty or baby tm.

[John Kelly]

Please be aware that lease deals are hard to come by now unless you are established for more than 2 years. If a supplier offers his own lease deal then that may not be a problem but if through a finance company you may struggle.

[jlo]

Hi John,

Regarding leasing companies, on the NCCA course along with all the flyers etc there was a leaflet with some leasing company for new companies setting up in cc'ing. Will give them a call to see what they have to say.
Cannot wait for the main man at Cleansmart to return from his Hols, I am chomping at the bit now to get the equip & start honing my skills on vunerable friends & family.
Bought the van 2 wks ago & just sold the family car to hopefully help towards equipment to get me going.

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

Personally if I was a start-up and knowing what is available now I would go for the Alltec triple-vac 600 psi or the 1200psi, then I could do hard floors as well......... just my opinion


Steve

[daysdeepclean]

I am one lucky sod as I have the Alltec TV 600 psi and it's an impressive bit of kit.... I hope to get into hard floor cleaning in the near future....

[Simon Gerrard]

Ok, someone has to say it, so it might as well be me.
Why not go the whole hog and invest in a Truck Mount?

Here's why. (Hang on......................................................ok, flak jacket and bullet proof vest on now!

A Truck Mount is far more powerful than any portable.
A Truck Mount looks far more professional than a portable.
A Truck Mount is far faster than a portable and so can earn you more money per day / week/ year.
A Truck Mount you can do almost any kind of job, domestic, small commercial, large commercial and therefore you will have far more of the market to aim at, instead of the very limited market a portable will give you. This is a point lots of newbies miss when starting out and end up restricting themselves to the domestic market which in these recessionary times is not a good idea. ( I know portables can do commercial jobs  but often the time taken to complete the work is unacceptable to the customer and the performance of the machine severely limits the speed with which you can do big jobs)
A Truck produces a far better result and leaves the carpet a lot drier, even on the dirtiest of jobs.
A Truck Mount in the right hands can practically print money.

Right, I'm off to hide in a corner somewhere.... bye!

[Dave Preece]

do people still buy truck mounts?

[richy27]

I am one lucky sod as I have the Alltec TV 600 psi and it's an impressive bit of kit.... I hope to get into hard floor cleaning in the near future....

colin whats the heat like on the alltec heard it takes sometime to heat up. and whats it like at say 70 ft is it hot enough.

[clinton]

Might need a heat exchanger for v high heat

[daysdeepclean]

By the time I've set up, pre vac'd, pre spray'd with M/S, aggitated and left to dwell, the temp guage is showing 60-70 C.... Don't think the temp drops much but I'm only running 50 feet.... To be completely honest, I can't really see why that would really matter

Today, the solution hose on my hide a hose split with the heat and extra pressure (Outside the custy's house fortunately!)

[cleaningmaster]

do people still buy truck mounts?

Only the sensible ones

Regards

Daryl

[daysdeepclean]

Ok, someone has to say it, so it might as well be me.
Why not go the whole hog and invest in a Truck Mount?

Here's why. (Hang on......................................................ok, flak jacket and bullet proof vest on now!

A Truck Mount is far more powerful than any portable.
A Truck Mount looks far more professional than a portable.
A Truck Mount is far faster than a portable and so can earn you more money per day / week/ year.
A Truck Mount you can do almost any kind of job, domestic, small commercial, large commercial and therefore you will have far more of the market to aim at, instead of the very limited market a portable will give you. This is a point lots of newbies miss when starting out and end up restricting themselves to the domestic market which in these recessionary times is not a good idea. ( I know portables can do commercial jobs  but often the time taken to complete the work is unacceptable to the customer and the performance of the machine severely limits the speed with which you can do big jobs)
A Truck produces a far better result and leaves the carpet a lot drier, even on the dirtiest of jobs.
A Truck Mount in the right hands can practically print money.

Right, I'm off to hide in a corner somewhere.... bye!

You're right though..... I would say that if you have the money, go the whole hog!

[Joe H]

Today, the solution hose on my hide a hose split with the heat and extra pressure (Outside the custy's house fortunately!)

You do have to be careful when you are mixing equipment originally supplied with lower pressure machines, then use that same equipment at a higher pressure with your "new" machine.  As you found out.

[daysdeepclean]

I was lucky, I knew the risk and got away with it..... It could so easily have been a buggered leather sofa or freshly painted walls covered in solution.....

[derek west]

theres a lot of portable guys out there printing money,and  theres more than one way to skin a cat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC7LaYb31R8

enjoy

derek

[Simon Gerrard]

Yes, but bonnet cleaning systems are only any good on lightly soiled carpet and so if you opt for a system like that you severely limit your market which to me is just plain crazy.

Simon