mikew

Hi Everyone, Pictures are here: www.mrpressure.com/fence.html I have started my first wood project. It is my own pressure treated fence. Fence was stained about 5 years ago using a Behr Acrylic Stain (before I knew better). I have only done about a 30 foot section. Used HD80 at 6oz. per gallon. I let the stripper dwell 20-25 minutes. Rinsed and then followed that up with ESI Citralic Neutralizer mixed at 1/2 cup per gallon with 10 minute dwell. Rinsed the wood again. Used a 40080 tip on my 3.6 GPM machine which gives me about 700 PSI. I used pump up sprayers for applying the chems. Observations: 1. Using Pump up sprayers sure seems slow. I believe that a shurflo setup would be quite a bit faster. Is this true? Do you use a lot more product due to faster application? 2. Rinse, Rinse, Rinse - I found that each time that I went back to rinse some more I would keep getting the chems, etc... out of the knots in the wood. 3. When the stripper was dwelling the wood pores look really "open" so to speak. I assume this is part of what the stripper does. What would be the technical description of this process? Are those dead fibers which are then removed during the low pressure rinse? Now that the fence section has dried I do have some fuzzies but not much ( I think). Feel free to let me know what you think. I'm looking for input and feedback from the pros. I think I will try a section using HD80 at 4oz. and see what results I get. Thanks, Mike

Thanks Dave O & wesley! Mike

Thanks Shane. Fuzzies are not bad but I am going to try brushing some off. Thanks Michael. Using pump ups really does bite. Pumping, filling, & mixing takes alot of time. Thanks Ken. I want to experiment on my own wood before I take any paying jobs. I'll check the grass again tomorrow...so far so good. I think I will try the HD80 at 4oz. per gallon and see how it does. Thanks Beth. The Behr is about 5 years old. There really isn't much left in places. Came of pretty easy. This was my first time washing wood and I loved every minute of it! I enjoy doing this work and seeing the results! I'll probably seal it with Ready Seal Natural Cedar or Medium Red. I'm trying to decide if I want to start out using Ready Seal or Wood Tux. I'm leaning toward Ready Seal because it appears to be easier to work with for a newbie. Thanks, Mike

I have killed 4 of those darn spiders on my house in the last week alone! I can't stand spiders. I emptied a whole can of Raid to kill them. They looked just like the picture that Ryan posted. Mike

AC, Looks great! Great before and after pictures. Mike

Beth, Hope your dad is ok. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this. The impact of Katrina will be felt for a long time to come. Mike

Hey Russell, I had major virus/spyware problems earlier this year on my PC. I found this site and followed their recommendations and my PC is now clean and locked down from future attacks. Here is the site: www.help2go.com Before posting questions they want you to read this: http://www.help2go.com/postt9709.html&sid=b2f331af133a619dd5d1c9185824e386 The link above refers you to do these steps. I followed the steps here and it cleaned my PC: http://www.help2go.com/article217.html I'm not an expert on this by any means. Use this suggestion at your own risk! Hope this helps. Mike

Yes, those biscuits are good. Schwans also has good frozen biscuits although a little pricey. Mike

Hi Beth, Thanks for the explanation of the process. I'll defenitely call if I need help. Thanks! Mike

Thanks Beth. Novice question here... do you apply HD-80 to entire floor at once or do you work in sections? Thanks, Mike

Hi Beth, Looks nice. Do you take any precautions to prevent getting HD-80 on the house? Or is it ok? Thanks, Mike

Hi Lance, Do you do this for 2 story gutters as well? Thanks! Mike

My HVAC guys used a garden hose to clean my outside A/C units. The cooling fins were clogged with dirt, pine bark, etc... He recommend rinsing the unit once per year. That must have been some serious buildup.... Mike

Hi Everyone, I cleaned my patio today. I wanted to share my results to get your advice and opinions. I am attaching pictures of the concrete dirty, half cleaned, and cleaned. Observations: 1. Now that the concrete has dried... it really is not completely clean. It is in places but not in others. It might be hard to tell in the pictures. (Ignore the mud prints from my dog!!). I used the xjet to apply concrete cleaner and allowed to dwell for 5 - 10 minutes and then started cleaning. Wondering if I should have brushed the surface?? Does anyone else brush the surface?? 2. Why does the concrete have the grey areas? This is the first time it has been cleaned in 8 years (since new). I see other concrete like this as well. For example the concrete around our neighborhood pool looks this way as well. Did I damage the concrete? I don't think I did. Washwater remained clear (no grey color). I also varied the distance of my wand to the concrete to learn the best technique. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks! Mike

Hi Crownroyal, The concrete has never been sealed. Thanks, Mike

Hey Jeff, Thanks for letting me tag along yesterday. It was really helpful to see the cleaning being done by someone allready in the business. Thanks again, Mike

Hi CCPC, Thanks for the info. I'll give it a try. Thanks! Mike

What is the proper way to apply the bleach? Do I let the concrete dry first? Do I need to dilute my 12% before application or can I apply straight with a pump up sprayer? Is a light misting of the concrete all that is required? Do I need to rinse? Thanks! Mike

Tronman, It really looks to me to be part of the "cure" as Alan called it. When you say oil are you thinking of motor oil? This concrete is my patio that has only seen foot traffic from my family and pets. Thanks! Mike

CCPC, I used Qwic Clean Concrete Cleaner from Sub Brite Supply. Craig, Thanks a lot for the advice. Last thing that I want to do is destroy someone's concrete. Alan, The grey spots look to be part of the concrete "cure" to me as well. I like the idea of warning customers that color variations may exist under all of that grime. I'll give the bleach a try to see if it is tannin stains. Thanks! Mike

HI Everyone, I am cleaning my sidewalk and patio around my house for practice. I don't have a surface cleaner yet so I am using the wand. My machine is rated for 2500 PSI / 3.6 GPM. What distance would you hold the wand from the surface to obtain 2500 PSI? I'm looking for a range here.... like less than 6 inches or so. At what distance does the pressure begin to drop?? If I hold the wand 12 inches from the surface do I still obtain 2500 PSI at the surface? Thanks! Mike

Thanks CCPC. Here are 2 more pictures. 1 that is a closeup of the grey places and the other a closeup that shows it didn't come completely clean. Should I have scrubbed lightly with a hard brush? Does anyone else do this? Do you ever have to go over concrete a second time to get it completely clean? Thanks, Mike

Hi Cujo, Thanks for the reply. Makes sense what you are saying. In my testing I can tell a noticable difference once I am maybe 8+ inches off the surface. I was really just wondering if there was a way to know that at 6 inches off the surface my machine is putting out "x" amount of pressure and at 12 inches the pressure drops to "x" .... You would need some pretty nifty equipment to accomplish this. I've been over to Sunbrite several times. They are really nice and helpful. I purchased several spares nozzles and nozzles to drop pressure for wood cleaning as well. Thanks! Mike

Hi Everyone, I found the following machine that I am considering purchasing for my first machine. I intend to do residential cleaning to start while I learn the business. Here are the specs: Simpson 2500PSI / 3.5 GPM 9HP Honda Belt Drive General Pump 50' Hose, Gun, Wand, Tips. 1 year warranty. This is brand new for $950. Here are my questions: 1. Is the machine a good machine for someone starting parttime to do residential work? 2. Will this work with a small surface cleaner... such as a 20" whirlaway? 3. Is 2500 PSI enough pressure for concrete cleaning? 4. Will an xjet still work properly with this machine (shoot 30+ feet)?? 5. Should I skip this machine and just get a used older hot water machine? I guess my thinking is to start with something like this to learn and make enough to step up to a larger hot water machine. This would then become my backup cold water machine. Machine will be used for house washes, driveways, sidewalks, wood cleaning, etc... I would appreciate anyone's thoughts or suggestions. Thanks! Mike

Hi Russ, Thanks for the replies. I bought the machine and love it! My pump is a General EZ2555s. According to the specs i found online it can produce up to 5.5 GPM. My machine is rated for 3.6 GPM. Just curious how they use the same pump for different configurations. Do they use different gearing to turn the pump faster or slower? I'm sure more horsepower is needed as well. Thanks! Mike