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Wallydog

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Posts posted by Wallydog

  2. Posted · Report reply

    Hello all. I was considering trying my hand at gutter cleaning. Need some advice, first some thoughts if i may, Rates of pay here in Oz for power washing seem quite a bit less. We get $50 - 75 an hour max. Just reading some other posts its not seen as a profession but as a form of unskilled cleaning here. Probably seen as the same pay as a person who mows a lawn. Trouble is our equipment is worth far more and should be remunerated more i would think.

    That aside the point of the post is ask what is the prefered methods of gutter cleaning. Do I need to get a ext wand and a gutter elbow piece and use the washer or do i get up on a ladder and scoop it out the traditional time honoured way. If I use the washer wouln't it just splatter mud and debris on and off the roof edges? That would make for more cleanup time?

    Yours in pressure Wdog.

  4. Posted · Report reply

    Have a comet 3030 AXD? pump with a 8HP engine. Rated at 3200PSI more likely 3000psi at 3GPM.

    I don't understand the nozzle charts? I wanted to choose a couple of nozzles so that i may be able to retain the max GPM but have less pressure. im interested in a 15 and 25 degree nozzle. Can anyone help me with some numbers for sizing the nozzles. thanks Wallydog.

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Wally,

    I will give my guy a call on Monday and see what he can do for you.

    Thanks OTP. Its just a case which part of the US the unit is posted from depends on the expense of the freight. I don't know why but I got a couple of quotes from Florida based companies and its quite reasonable. $172.00 freight to Australia whereas occasionally i get quoted $300.00 as with the steele eagle company. i emailed LArrys suggested company and are waiting for them to get back to me. They do the whisper wash models which are no doubt a good choice but if i can i would like to get a steel eagle as they look more ergonomic and light to use. Will float nicely even at 3GPM which Im running at the moment. Its monday morning here as i type this but its Sunday in the US. 12 degrees and the wind is howling here in Canberra. Wallydog.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    These guys have surface cleaner although not the steel eagle. You might call though or see if they have one you like. They are the only Florida based dist I know of.

    http://www.1800333wash.com/surface_new.asp

    Thanks Larry I have emailed them. Ill let you know how it goes. Cause i live so far away freight can expensive. Over here the average price for a 16" surface cleaner is $1400.AUD. Theres 2 main players over here and they are roughly trhe same price. Thats why even with somewhat expensive freight it makes more sense for me to buy from the US. Wallydog.

  9. Posted · Report reply

    Hey Wallydog....have you got your surface cleaner yet. I'm in the market for one and eager to hear your input.

    My PW is 5 gpm and 3000 psi, so I'll probably take Jon's advice.

    Tony you have 5GPM to play with and that'll run just about anything quite well. Jons advice is good. 24" will be good for your setup. Pretty BIG. Should get jobs done quickly.

    Me, i have a 3GPM, 3200 psi setup and i have to be careful what im buying because theres a hell of a lot of conflicting advice on what will work well and what doesn't. It looks like I might get the whisper wash 16" at 15lbs in weight and quality build my 3GPM washer should match it nicely....i hope. The whirlaway is 18lbs in weight which would be more suited to a 4GPM to make the thing hover properly. For me its the above or sell the lot. I'll make my mind up in the next few days. I see the Steel Eagle make a fairly cheap 16" floater but im not sure whether they are durable , feel free to advise me anyone. Wallydog.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Didn't read too much of the other posts, but here in Australia, in my city its around the $1.40 a litre. Not sure what that equates to in Gallons but damn expensive/. i just got rid of my V6 car and bought a little Toyota Corolla . Its a bumpy ride compared to the old car but cheap to run. Still costs $70.00 to fill. Wallydog.

  14. Posted · Report reply

    As it was explained to me..do NOT use detergent oil in a pump because of the foaming action.

    I have easy access to 40w non detergent oil used for my air compressor. Can buy it anywhere. Lots of compressors here. Does anyone have great concerns about using the 40w non detergent for the pressure washer pump as opposd to the recommended 30w non detergent. ? If the lawn mower oil is going to foam its not going to bond and lubricate very well. Sorry to harp on this but its important. The supplier of the machine said to use lawn mower oil and i had a feeling that was not going to do the job properly. Wallydog

  15. Posted · Report reply

    1 qt should do it for most pumps. It's capacity should also be listed in the manual.

    Some people like synthetics over regular 30w.

    Regular changes is the main thing to me.

    Rod!~

    Rod, the 30 weight oil, is that the same as the oil you put in the sump of 4 stroke lawn mower engines? Or is it a more specialised oil. I emailed comet pumps and they said they now use tractor gear oil in all their pumps. that must be a generic oil you guys have but i don't know what weight that is? Over here in Oz a gear oil means 80w/90 or thereabouts and thats far to heavy for those pumps. Surely? Wallydog

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Ron and others thanks so much for sharing that. I did take the job and completed it. it took a lot longer than i anticipated but I got in there and just got it done. Im not completely tooled up, on this occasion I used a scraper and scraped as much of it off as possible on my hands and knees, and used alkaline degreaser on the concrete, and finished it off with the wand and hot water, 15 degree tip, cleaned the area methodically as you do with a wand. I am trying to close a deal on a flat surface cleaner which is going to speed things up for me as the wand is too slow period. Im waiting on whisper....something, i forgot their name already. Errr age is catching up. Wallydog

  17. Posted · Report reply

    I would recommend casters and a smaller diameter. Whisper Wash Ultra Clean has casters and a 19" diameter cover.

    Thanks Rob. I ve emailed the good people at whisper wash and asked for a quote on the 16" Ultra clean model with and without casters. I notice that the hover one is very light compared to the whirlaway so i think theres a good chance of it being easy to use and from what i gather its good quality. Your input is greatly appreciated. wallydog.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    I would recommend casters and a smaller diameter. Whisper Wash Ultra Clean has casters and a 19" diameter cover.

    Thanks Rob. I ve emailed the good people at whisper wash and asked for a quote on the 16" Ultra clean model with and without casters. I notice that the hover one is very light compared to the whirlaway so i think theres a good chance of it being easy to use and from what i gather its good quality. Your input is greatly appreciated. wallydog.

  19. Posted · Report reply

    All the above mentioned surfacer manufacturers state that their machines can handle up to 210 degrees to 212 degrees. I have found this to be true. I have not had any warranty claims do to heated water. A 4 GPM machine does not have enough lifting force to float most casterless surfacers. Which will lead to premature brush wear. And it does not have enough force to power a large diameter surfacer properly. With that said, I would say that you would need a smaller diameter ( 19" or 20" ) with casters or if you like the thought of a floater the Whisper Wash Classic is the lightest floater on the market ( 20 LBS ).

    Robert Williamson

    Rob, Ive been considering my options and want to buy a flat surface cleaner. My washer puts out 3GPM a little light on water. i notice you say that even at 4GPM that, that may not be enough to lift some of the hover type cleaners properly which leads to prem brush wear and i would say it would get hard push around.

    I was considering a 16" hover whirlaway. Do you think a 18" on castors would be a better option? or do you think the 16" will be suitable? Getting more confused than ever Thanks Wallydog

  20. Posted · Report reply

    It's not at all like you might speculate. i.e. walk half as fast, but cut twice the path. I undersized once (27"/4gpm) and I can tell you that properly sized and smaller will go faster than larger and oversized. IMHO, I would go for the 16"er.

    Phil what you say makes sense. One prob, I can't find a suitable 16" FSC with castors. I think casters is a better way to go. The 18" has much the same config ie, two water jets and the 2 bars. 1" extra on each side. Could this make a serious difference in perfomance? Is it likely the 16" would be way better for me considering the 3GPM and 3200PSI. Im pulling my hair out as the jury is 50/50 on what works best. Im worried that the 16" will be hard labour because its a hover type and casters will be easier going. But then Im thinking that the 18" might be snail pace work which is not the way to go either. Ideally a 16" with casters is the way to go. Wallydog.

  21. Posted · Report reply

    Gday Cleaners! My machine is a 3200psi, 3GPM , 8HP engine washer. Bit on the small side.

    Im just about to buy a flat surface cleaner too and am seeking advice from you pros on whether I should purchase either the 16" hover Whiraway or the 18"one with castors?

    Has my machine got enough GPM to drive the 18" well or would it be more appropriate to get the 16". I thought id chime in too as one of the members is having the same quandry although he obviously can drive a larger flat surface cleaner.

    It would be a crying shame if the one I bought didn't clean properly. I have had advice by one contractor who thought the 18" might be pushing it and the 16" inch more appropriate and on the other hand i have been told that the 18" will be a top choice, casters and all?

    I need the pros advice here and i would really appreciate your comments on which would be the most effective size cleaner. Cheers Wallydog

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Where would one find a 35° nozzle? The following are the most common.

    0° - Red

    10° - Orange

    15° - Yellow

    25° - Green

    40° - White

    I didn't realize that you have hot water. With that in mind, their is no reason to pass on the job, as I said earlier. With places that are "riddled" in gum, you will want to have a larger tip on hand to use on the most stubborn of the gum, so that you can soften the petrified stuff, without etching the concrete. Most will say to just use a dual lance, but that will allow the water to be wasted, as compared to getting a full hit with one nozzle. I also have a 5° tip that I use when needed, and it can really tear some gum apart, but extra care is in order as it is such a narrow pattern.

    OTP, I mean't 25 degrees. Sorry about that. Im not the sharpest knife in the drawer! Yet.

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Hello. What is the best method of removing gum from the concrete pavement. I imagine hot water will remove it but does it leave an indentation in the concrete or a stain? Do I have to be careful with pressure? Is there a special chem that helps with the removal of gum and does it take a long time to remove the gum? i have a shop owner interested in having his shopfront cleaned and is riddled with gum. Maybe i should avoid this job? What do you think? Cheers wallydog

  25. Posted · Report reply

    In order for a dual lance to draw soap, you do need the injector also. Without it, you will just be lowering pressure.

    The clips that you speak of, are called quick connect couplers. On a dual lance, it has two nozzles on the end of the lance. One is a screw in type, most commonly referred to as a soap nozzle, and the other one is a quick connect type, high pressure nozzle for the usual cleaning task.

    You can put in whatever nozzles suit you best. As far as Northern goes, they may have a few decent items, but I feel that you will be better off using a dedicated pressure wash supplier. My choice would be www.pressuretek.com Bob is a good guy, knows his stuff, and can assist you in getting the exact accessories that match your machine, the first time with no guessing.

    OTP your a gem. Thyanks so much for the information. I will check this out. Wallydog.

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