Beth n Rod

Actually, They are in the same family, just different spectrum of caustic. like bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is still a caustic, it will do a certain job but its main job is to be a strong oxidizer. Sodium and potassium hydroxide are both pH 14 and come from caustic soda ash with variants on the sodium or potassium determining the difference. Either will work well, but experienced hood cleaners prefer SH to PH for cutting grease. Rod~

jnoden, W/o trying to detract from any product mentioned, I would have to say that we moved away from them and now use cabot. The reason is that our reputation is out there and costs are a factor as well. The look we acheive with cabot is quite nice. Rod~

Yes, there is a difference...And while John, you may know much of this, I am posting in more detail here for the sake of the archives and anyone else who may have the same question. Flow actuated unloaders allow the hose pressure to drop to near zero when the thrigger is released. This gives you that limp hose that is so easy to work with. It functions by sensing the flow of water through the line. Pressure actuated unloaders keep the hose pressure around max of the pumps current calibration. This is observed by the stiffness of the hose and high pressure discharge spike upon pulling the trigger. Pressure actuated unloaders are the industry standard on most units. Professionals who work in precarious places like upon ladders...etc. prefer the Flow Actuated unloaders because the pressure will gradually build up over a few seconds to full psi which gives the operator time to compensate for the force being imposed upon them. At first, I used to love the pressure actuated unloaders because it gave you that instant gratification like shooting a rifle with a kick. (that was the adolescent in me) But now I (the mature and more experienced me) prefer the Flow Actuated unloaders because of the lower operator fatigue in using one. They dont jerk you around so much. (sheesh...I'm getting to old for this............body aint what it used to be) In answer to your question John, I think the above should sum it up in terms of compatibility for connecting two machines together. My thoughts are, use the pressure actuated unloaders because they are actually the most durable. Flow actuated unloaders would create more down time due to the need for more frequent replacement. 2-high flow unloaders with the big green spring should do just right. Call if you need a price. my .02......................................................Next! Rod~

An interesting thought...

A good thought for us all.

Point well made. Beth

Very true....

Think about this one...

Here's another good one...

This is good too.... Beth

John, One thing, our convo was concerning a single unit with 2 guns. He said they tried many combinations and could not get the balance necessary to avoid damaging the pump or stressing the engine. The unloader took the brunt of the spikes and could not handle the back and forth pressure changes. In a 2 machine scenario, this must have an advantage because of the pressure equalization at a single point (namely the union). Matching the unloaders could be all you need, but I would go ahead and ask your questions just for peace of mind. Rod~

We are in the midst of snow here too John. And I am soooooooo ready for spring. I find myself reading gardening catalogs and thinking of what I want to plant in the yard when it is time. Beth

Let the commiserating begin! No more snow...no more snow...no more snow... We have several jobs lined up and the phones are starting to get more steady with inquiries from last fall and we havent even put out the post card mailer yet. Rod~

According to Larry H @ delco, we had a conversation regarding this in dallas last year and he said it was not possible to use 2 unloaders in a configuration. I dont know what has changed since then, but if I had a choice out of the 2, I would much prefer a flow actuated unloader to avoid the sharp pressure spikes...this is one of the two contributing factors to operator fatigue, the other being a hose that doesnt swivel properly under pressure that supports resistance to the gun angle the operator may be using. .02 Rod~

Well, they have locked out more than just non-members... they locked out members too... Beth

It's not done, but we hope you are getting the feel for the new look at TGS. If you have not been to the new home page click www.thegrimescene.com to see it. We want to know what you think so far. Bear in mind it's not finished, nor are all the features set up yet. Please vote and let us know.... Beth & Rod Administrators:cool: :cool:

TGS Sand is the default.

There is excellent info in the thread. Step by step how to restore a home is alot to cover. If you have some specific questions, I'm sure someone will answer them. There are also some excellent wood care sources out there you might want to read. Have you been to: http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/ Beth :groovy:

bfenne, The airflow generated by the spray is what causes the problem. The lower psi you mentioned should be relatively safer for avoiding this situation. Although, you may come accross siding panels that have popped thier lock and are ready to fly away anyway. I tend to use binoculars to check any questionable looking areas before proceeding and informing the customer before hand. You can use brad nails (aesthetically unobtrusive) to secure the siding once you have popped it back into place. Using a weep hole, nail it in at an upward angle. This will help to keep it from popping out during the wash process. btw, you can charge extra for this service too. Rod~

Particles in the system such as a piece of calcium or scale for example that gets stuck in the unloader and causes a change in its flow parameter. This will cause it to cycle until either the peice dissolves enough to flow through the system or when you physically remove it. Rod~

Love this one! :groovy: :groovy2: :groovy3: :dancing: Beth

Yeah, check here http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2810 We had a little discussion about this back then. Diy'er stuff the pro's have to fix is my opinion. They dont look like they actually washed it first. Did you notice the application method and the nice clean line between the two property fences? Dont get me wrong, it may be a good product, but the photos look kinda fake. Rod~

I thnk it is another marketing tool designed to get homeowners to do it themselves under the premis of this is easy, not real work.... No fence is a five minute fence. Beth

There are articles on chems in the library. Hope that helps some. :) http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/faq.php?faq=new_faq_item400 Beth

Celeste, You should call Jon. He's a very knowledgeable guy with alot of field time under his belt, and he's right, all chems have their place and so do various methods. We prefer percarbs to bleach for wood. But, we do use bleach for other things. It has a place. Jon, thank you for sharing your insight, hope to see more of you here. Beth :groovy2: