Expensive Surface Cleaners

[fire350]

The local hardware store sells all types of PW accessories including surface cleaners. Has any one of you used these. If they work as well as they were designed to, it would cut the PW time in Half.

The one I am interested in is $600.

I have no problem paying that if it works because after a few jobs, it would be paid for.

PROS OR CONS?

Please reply

 

[Aplus]

If you plan on doing a lot of concrete cleaning, a surface cleaner is a must have.

I've got a 30" Steel Eagle that is excellent. It has pneumatic tires in the rear and a caster in the front. I prefer this style over the floater style, or the caster style. I would suggest you look at the different styles and see which you like before you buy one.

Also make sure the swivel is replaceable. It is the main center bearing that connects the water source to the spinners. These do wear out, and need to be replaced after time.

Good luck, and post any more questions you have before you buy one.

 

[fire350]

Does a surface cleaner work as well as doing it with just a wand?

Also, any chemicals or soap I should use to help get oil and clay to come clean?

If so, How should I apply it? via the wand? or use a separate sprayer.

 

[Aplus]

In my opinion, a surface cleaner works better than using a wand, both faster, and more even. But in small areas, a wand may be the only thing that can fit. Also, a wand is still needed to edge out the area for a surface cleaner.

Chems definitely help, they are designed to break down and loosen grease/grime etc before you wash the concrete.

I usually apply chems with my xjet, except when I need to pre-spot stains, or in small areas, where I use a pump up sprayer.

Do a search on chems and I'm sure you can find all the answers you seek.

 

[the_GUNN_man]

I have the same surface cleaner Tony does. It works great. I also went with the 30" and it is quite big. I kinda wish I had a smaller one that could manuver a bit better and in tighter palces but when you get on the wide open areas you are sure glad you have the big one. Hey Tony how many bars are on your spinner and what GPM's are you using when you use your surface cleaner? I was wanting to tie my two 5+ gpm machines together and switch from a two bar to four bar spinner. I thought that would really fly. I am wondering if it would truly work twice as fast. Because if it didn't I would be sucking my tanks dry fast. With my 30" 2 bar cleaner I have now I use a 5.2 gpm. I still have to walk slow when using it. I was hoping to double my power and walk at a faster pace. Just thinking of new ideas for next year.

 

[oneness]

I would say that a surface cleaner is a necessity if you do any flatwork on a regular basis, even a little.

I agree with Tony, the surface cleaner does way better than wanding, both in the job quality and the effect on your back.

 

[Aplus]

Steve,
It's a 2 bar, and my machine is a 5gpm 3500psi. It works good, but I do have to walk a little slower than I'd like. However, if I was using a 24" and walking faster, it would probably cover the same amount in a given time as my 30" does.

At some point, I'm going to get a 18 or 20" for the smaller areas. But that will have to wait until I do more flatwork, which for right now I don't do a whole lot, at least not enough to warrant another 4-500 dollar investment.

 

[Greg/sd]

Gunn your not going to move twice as fast but you will get done quicker. you have to think about when your going to use your wand you have to unhook one of the machines. 10 gpm will wear you out quick I have found that if you have another machine let a employee use it to pop gum and rinse. You could probably over drive your pump alittle and get about 6 to 7 gpm.

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Greg,
Why would a machine have to be unhooked???

You would use a ball valve on the surface cleaner.

Close the valve and both machines go into bypass.

Plug in the wand and open the valve!

Of coarse make sure you have the correct size nozzle on the gun.

No time time loss just rinsing like you normaly do.

Do you have a 10 gpm machine?

Seems like having enough water supply would be the greatest problem.

 

[Greg/sd]

I guess you could put a ball valve on one machine never thought about that. Have you ever held on to 10 gpm wand, It will wear you out, thats why I would unhook one machine. No I dont have 10 gpm,I run one 6.5 gpm and one 5 gpm but I have hooked two machines together to get 10 gpm.

 

[Aplus]

You don't even need a ball valve. Just put quick a quick disconnect on the discharge side of the gun, and a plug on the surface cleaner connection. Then, install plugs on the lances you intend to use.

Never a need for a pain in the a-- ball valve.

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Quite true.

I hate the weight of a ball valve myself.

 

[Dan S]

I use a gun without the trigger .......... ( always on )

I turn on/off the h20 with the remote ........ YOu cant beat it

 

[oneness]

Tony:

I've found that the ball valve works best for me...I hook it to the surface cleaner and away we go, no trigger gun to hold, I just push the surfacer around...Ready to rince, close the valve, unhook it, hook it to the wand, turn it on, and away we go. I'd much rather do that than hold a trigger gun open all day while I'm running the surface cleaner. This way, I have one free hand to move hoses out of my way, etc.

 

[squirtgun]

pics please

oneness,
Can you post a pic of the ballvalve set up on your surface cleaner.I hate holding a trigger open,when we have rented surface cleaners you have no choice,it just sucks.

 

[Robert Willia]

This is how I have always set mine up. Hope this helps

Robert Williamson

 

[Robert Willia]

Surfacer

 

[Clean County]

Robert,
Where did you find that ball valve and how much does it cost??
I have a couple of Ball Valves from XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and they are a pain in the A** to turn on. I carry a small pipe to turn on these Ball Valves.

Is your Ball Valve easy to turn on/off when they are under pressure?? Lastly what psi are they rated up to?

Thanks

 

[Robert Willia]

John,

They turn great under pressure. They are rated for 3050 PSI but have ran 4000 PSI with no problem. I posted the pictures to help. Out of respect for the advertisers on the board I can say no more.

Robert Williamson

 

[oneness]

My setup is essentially the same as Bob's, though it is configured a bit differently. On the Steel Eagle, you have a HP hose coming from the swivel, and ending in a QC. I believe the intention is for a trigger gun to attach to the QC, and you run the surfacer with one hand while you hold the trigger gun open with the other hand. Instead, I simply put a QC ball valve similar to Bob's on the end of my pressure supply hose, and connect it to the QC on the surfacer. I have the QC on the surfacer clamped to the handle with a hose clamp so it doesn't need to be held with your other hand. I'll take a pic when I get a chance and post it.

The ball valve I have is the same as Mark carries, his stock number in his catalog for the same valve is 4065. It opens and closes fairly easily under pressure, due to the length of the handle. I've never hand a problem opening it by hand, and it has held up for almost a year with no problems.