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JFife

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Posts posted by JFife

  3. Posted · Report reply

    Celeste

    Well, I cannot figure out how to just pull out specific quotes.....

    APPROPRIATELY EDUCATED, by whom?? And exactly which denominations do think are going to agree on this appropriate education??

    ELECTIVE, and your well-behaved kids and the other kids from Carolina Southern Baptist will be there, and not the ones you think need the thumpin'

    *** EDUCATION, necessary, parents either don't or do a horrible job on this one. Too embarrassing for the kids and parents, and what comes out is, "it is WRONG, don't do it or you'll be punished and won't ever get to go out again,"

    PRAYER, why do you need a special time?? Why should I as a taxpayer have to spend more to keep the lights on at the school an extra five minutes a day so the Muslim kid can face whichever direction it is and pray to Allah??

  4. Posted · Report reply

    Celeste,

    I am a Christian, actually a rather conservative one that still makes mistakes. I believe sin has a way of making you pay---whether it be the psychological effects of sexual immorality, the character effects of lying, or the effects any of these acts will have on your loved ones. You pay, no doubt. I still don't think others should financially gain from it though.

    ....this'll ruffle feathers, but I am TOTALLY for separation of church and state. If ethics are taught and discussed that is one thing, but I wouldn't want my kids (if i had any) learning Biblical lessons from their math teacher. And if you think this is an amp'd up topic right now, imagine what it would be like if kids got Bible lessons?? "and Jesus said,"......oops, here come the Jewish parents, "only the first five books of the OT!!" they scream. Christmas, Easter, you lose the conservative christians that point out there is not scriptural grounds for the "exact" dates, and you lose the Jehovah Witnesses. Then the Penecostal kid catches the Holy Spirit in the middle of class and is writhing on the floor....the Catholic kid tries to excise the Penecostal's demon because he's never seen anything like this......extreme, but this would be the slippery slope we'd go down. Let kids learn math and english in school, and save the Bible for home and church. Anyone agree?:)

  5. Posted · Report reply

    Doing something morally wrong doesn't equate to doing something criminally wrong.....a hundred mil. is one heck of a penalty for a lapse in judgement, and it being with a psycho broad that self-medicates her "rape" by sleeping with three other guys in the following days.....I'd hate for every moral indiscretion I have ever (or will ever) make to have that kind of a financial backlash for me......I don't think others should be able to financially gain from moral mistakes a rich guy makes........to think, this skank will never have to work again and will be extremely wealthy all because she has no consideration for others (taxpayers, Kobe, family, friends) and is basically scum, this is how the legal system works, makes me sick

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Regarding what Paul B. said of Billy Graham.....I know higher profile atheletes and other stars have girls sign waivers before they'll have ***---basically disclaiming that the girl has acknowledged what she is doing, and is a willing participant. What I've heard (during the Kobe) was that is goes so far as to sign off on what may or may not occur........it's always good to see these celebrities using their legal teams to their fullest potential:) This is what Kobe should have done, would have keep him out of a lot of trouble.....he is about the only celeb I thought actually got a raw deal, and it has probably cost him in the 100's of millions.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Tron,

    That will give others a better place to start with their help. It sounds like you obviously have the know-how and background to run a successful biz, and sounds like you are in a position to throw some money into your biz. That being the case, and since you'll be doing mainly cleaning work, I'll deferr my advice to someone more knowledgable to this arena--someone more involved with hot water work. My advice was more tailored to the typical, 25yr. old guy that was to be an owner-operator and doesn't have much depth to his pockets. Good luck,

  8. Posted · Report reply

    To save word getting too specific, I'll just say it is not a problem for me or anyone else. If you sit on a surface with the rotary brush at a high speed, yes, it will burn the wood. On a big smooth surface (say a 12" log) you can see some light swirls, depending on the finish used. But nobody, and I mean nobody, would ever notice much less complain, because they'll be drooling over the fact that all the felting is gone. Just try it; you'll be an expert within 5 minutes, and if you don't like it for some reason, I'll buy it back from you.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Tron,

    ....assuming you have transportation, i.e. truck, van, trailer. Since you posted this on the PW section, I'll also assume that is where you'll direct your biz.....housewash, driveways, gutters and decks. Fair enough?? I'd spend $1000 on a 3500psi, 4gpm machine at HD and get the four year extended warranty. I buy about four different wands, and some extra hose. Xjet. $100 in spare parts/tools. Spend $300 for a decent airless sprayer. Another $200 for a couple airless wands, tips, and some drops, etc.

    If you were doing a lot of concrete, you could drop another $800 on a surface machine, but I'd wait till you had the work lined up for sure, my opinion. And say you spend $500 for ladders of some fashion.

    So i've got you up to 2K, 3K max, and you have everything you'll need to do your work. Will a cold water wash concrete as good (and fast) as a hot water?? Nope. But the only difference one would notice is if you cleaned an area side-by-side to a hot water area, then you could tell a difference. Otherwise, nobody but a pro would notice a difference. That would be all of the necessary equipment to strip, brighten and stain a deck/fence, and everything you'd need to wash houses.

    Then, I'd spend the other 4K on an ad campaign (not all at once), get some work, see if you like the biz, see if your area will support the biz, and see if you can make money. Also, if you look back at what I bought you, it is all stuff you would be thrilled to keep around the house should your biz not turn out the way you want it to (gotta be a realist), and stuff that would sell easily (and locally) if you had to get rid of it (minus xjet, wands, surf. cleaner), so you've made failure far less costly and painful. You don't want to be a guy that spends his every penny (not implying you have no money, just an argument) on a cadillac setup, and is broke going into winter and has to sell out at a big loss.

    Don't worry, there'll be plenty who will advise you after this to dump in some big bucks.....I am just more cautious. Other factors will come into play: obviously your current financials, your current name in your community, biz experience, etc. I am assuming all of those are on the low end, you don't have a lot of $, don't have lots of experience, etc. The great thing about the internet is nobody knows you/about you, and you get unbiased responses.

    Good luck,

    Jon

  13. Posted · Report reply

    Beth,

    I know you guys did some homes w/ Menwood, has that been a problem for you?? I used it about three yrs. ago on a handful of decks, etc. (maybe 30-40) and a few homes. The decks were a disaster; within about three months the color had totally faded and the floors were getting black. However, I saw one of the homes about two-two and a half yrs. later, and it looked pretty good. The north side was just starting to darken, but the exposed sides were holding up well. Never understood that, but the decks were a nightmare. I called and talked to the owner (who is now dead) and told him the problems, and told him I truly didn't think it was in his companies best interest to sell their product in the SE, but he said most loved it and was very dismissive of my concerns. I wasn't asking for anything; I hadn't had complaints, but the people should have been complaining. Since, I've talked with people in GA that had the same results, and I bid on a local home where the house received Menwood after it was built, and I looked at it two yrs. later, and the house was TOTALLY black (couldn't even tell what the initial color was).

    So what has been your problems??

  14. Posted · Report reply

    True about the money. Since you brought up race---I'll propose a question: Why do you think blacks support MJ?? I mean, if a white guy trying changing himself into a black person, I'd be a little offended that he had a problem with going through his life looking like me. But Jesse Jackson and other black leaders STRONGLY support him as a black person, even though he has obviously tried to change that about himself. That has always baffled me. Reminds me of the Chappelle Show episode where they had the Race Draft, where all of the different races drafted people of ethnic ambiguity into their race, had to see it I guess:)

  15. Posted · Report reply

    From what i'd heard, I couldn't have convicted him either. Even the jurors admitted they didn't doubt he'd molested children, but they couldn't convict him of molesting THIS child under the case the prosecution put on. When the kid's mother has a history of being a con-artist and a total cheat/loser, she has no credibility with me, and why should she with a jury?? I hope she can sleep at night knowing her scumbag ways essentially allowed her childs abuser to be free.

    What is more disturbing to me, however, are the losers that are picked for these jurys. I've seen some interviews with a few of them, and they seriously have trouble putting sentences together. And "reasonable doubt" is getting more un-reasonable all the time. I think we should go to a system where the case is presented before a clear-thinking reasonable judge, and he makes the ruling. And that judge, in my opinion, should be me:)

  17. Posted · Report reply

    What Tony has would be fine---if you keep your eyes open, sometimes HD sells 5 or 10 that are refurbs, and it'll save you a Benjamin or so.

    Newlook,

    Very interesting what you guys have got going on. Do you guys have plans for future growth, or to just improve/grow on what you are doing now?? Is your biz model franchisable, or do you think the scope of the work you do is too difficult and requires too much talent/knowledge for a franchise concept?? I think what guys like you and Henry do is very interesting, with a broad spectrum of services you provide. I think customers would like the idea of a one-stop-shop for all of their home maintenance needs.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks Ryan,

    If one wanted to pursue this, would you have a starting point in mind?? Also, I wonder how big of a pain this would be......best i remember, I filled out a piece of paper and was approved in minutes....granted, they probably do that 30 times a day, as opposed to 30 times a year.

  24. Posted · Report reply

    How do you avoid over-application Beth?? That is my issue with the low pressure--too much product coming out. Regarding 2800psi.....personally, i'd do that as opposed to low pressure, just my preference. As you said, might have so issues with it drying too fast if hot and sunny....ever use much waterbase product?? Talk about drying fast when spraying!! High psi with that, and it'll be dry before it hits the wood. I spray SRD all the time with a 209 tip, pressure about half-way around (don't know how much that is), works fine for me. Problem I'd have w/ your protocol, is the stain getting on the floor when spraying the rails, and SRD dries beyond re-coatability within minutes, so I assume you guys cover up the floor when spraying rails??

    When you say HVLP, are you referring to a shurflo system, or a true HVLP power setup, like you'd use for automotive painting?? I can see how that would be superior to airless, but I'd think time consuming. What about it??

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Very cool Newlook, do you sub all of those trades, or are you a jack of all trades?? Is there money in the concrete stamping?? I've heard that is serious $.

    Regarding airless, don't let your desire to look cool and buy fun toys force you to spend 1,2 or 3K on an airless setup you don't need. Me?? I have $300 Wagner, 7/8hp, .6gpm machines, work fine, and you need nothing else. You'll probably only use it 10hrs a week throughout the year, so there is no need to buy a big hog. Keep them clean, and they'll last forever (almost). I NEVER use a shurflo to stain with, and I cannot see how you guys can either, but hey, whatever works. For me, they are a clean-up nightmare. I've used them for RS with success, but cannot imagine using one for a heavier stain, like SRD or something. I use an airless for everything, unless I am brushing. What Beth says regarding atomization, i've had no issues with. Use at a lower psi, and I've noticed no difference in durability of a brushed vs. sprayed deck. I've found that if staining with say, SRD, a wet-on-wet of doing 5 boards, back-brushing, and misting again keeps from the knot areas appearing lighter, and creates an even finish. SRD is still a pain in my opinion though. Think about this--I bought a used airless from Sunbrite once......Cambell Hausfeld, probably a $300 sprayer. Just don't think it pays to buy a Rolls Royce sprayer for as little as we use them, compared to a painter. Spend the extra money on tips (the right tip makes all the difference) and different extension poles (also a life-saver). Anyone has tip Q's let me know, the one thing I feel i've got down to a science.

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