Larry B

I think everybody agrees that some form of licensing is good, but who is to say these fly-bys are going to get. Even with a $5,000 potential fine they still don't even get their CCB# and insurance....well that isn't going to happen either. These guys have PW in the bed of a truck with no name on the side and most likely haven't even registered a business name to work under. Good luck turning them in, if somebody does ask where their # is, they always say they are doing the work for a "cousin" or "friend".

It is the same in Oregon. It is basically required because of the lien laws. the law allows you to put a lien on a homeowner's house, that does not pay a bill for the improvement of property. This can be money owed a contractor or supplier. We have a CCB state licensing agency that you must have a bond and insurance in order to get your CCB # (license). We have to undergo at least 16 hours of training to be able to even set an appointment to take the CCB test. This training can only be taken through State approved courses( that we pay for, $150-$300), then we get to take the test at a testing facility($106) and finally we provide proof to the CCB that we have everything in line and get our CCB#($250). Get caught operatin without a valid CCB# in Oregon and it is a $5,000 fine. The good side. I am not only allowed to wash houses, I am licensed to build them as well. I don't even have to prove that I know how to build, just that I am capable of passing a test.

One thing everybody forgets in all their Wal-Mart bashing is just how it started. I would hope that all of us small business owners have the desire and determination, coupled with the business knowledge and plan, too succeed the way Wal-Mart has. They supply what the mass market demands. If people want a premium product and service they shop elswhere. If they can afford it they by a Mercedes instead of a Kia. How many of you have gone out and purchased the top of the line equipment, use the best chems and professional grade products out there to your advantage. Do you feel sorry for the guy who is as good a business person as you but maybe through no fault of his own, cannot afford a $25,000 rig and works harder than you to make half as much? Maybe he has been in business longer than you, and then you move to his town and take his customers. To those people you are the Wal-Mart of pressure washing, deck restoration etc. How can they compete, they only have cold water, they don't get the volume discounts you do on chems and supplies? As for Wal-Mart dictating the price of goods that they will purchase. Have none of you gone from one store/manufacturer and compared prices? I take these prices and let each one know what it will take to get my business. Match or beat the other guy or I am gone. They have the choice, give me the price/discount I want or I will buy from the other guy. If none of you are doing this, you are paying way too much for goods and supplies. It is smart business and I am looking out for myself and my profits, your suppliers aren't going to automatically give you their best price, they are looking our for themselves and trying to make as much profit as possible. This is OUR Government taking property and reselling it to corporations and developers. This practice is fueled by government greed or it would never happen.

You might try Harbor Freight Tools at harborfreight.com. They have a variety fo wheels in their store and are running a sale of $4.99 for a 10" pneumatic.

I have 2 direct drives on my trailer pulling form a 535 gal. tank. I understand the idea that belt drives suck better but I have had no trouble with my setup.

One thing to consider is purchasing a back up cold water unit. I bought 2 machines when I started out and have never regretted it. It would only cost approximately $1000 to get a good back up unit but when the main one quits and you can't get parts or get it fixed because it's late afternoon on Friday, it will be money well spent. You could even buy a good used one if you shop around.

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Sorry I do the same thing all the time. Have you tried taking it apart again? I have found that sometimes the valves get misaligned or bound up and I get very little pressure when that happens. I broke one before on the reassembly as well. Hope you get it fixed though.

This is my first fence I stripped using my own mix. After pics are pre stain. I used the scratch test to determine when I had reached the proper dwell for the graffiti. I was curious if there is a way to avoid fuzzing the rest of the boards where there were no graffiti marks, outside of applying the stipper with a paintbrush on the graffiti. The fuzzing was not too bad it was just more than on any other part of the fence. I also noticed that in cracks and crevases of the knotholes, the failed Thompson's turned white and would not rinse out. Is the proper method to reapply stripper to the knots individually? I cut the mix in half for the rest of the fence and had no problems P.S. The homeowner was thrilled to be rid of the eyesore artwork.

I like the burlap suggestion, cheap and disposable when bad. The brown on the grass is mud it, has been raining for nearly threee weeks straight and the ground is supersaturated, just walking on it squishes the water out.. This was a good one too see the plant life reactions to any overspray (bad, lots of burn marks), as it borders a drainage ditch near the street and is mostly weeds with a little grass in it. I use caustic soda for my mix instead of the powdered NaOH. I find I have less trouble and spend less time mixing when I do large quantities of 300 gallons or more. I do hate the fact that it freezes at around 60 degrees though.

I don't use hose reels and attach my chem lines to hp hose. I use a 2 way ball valve and switch chems on the fly and get immediate change instead of waiting for the hose to clear when you use a solenoid. I agree with dowstreaming and not having chem lines to trip over. I am looking at different injectors to try out. So far only one I have used will draw after the gun and under higher pressure. Thanks for the info, Larry

Mike, what injector are you using and where is it placed? I use one after the gun but have to drop the psi a little to get it to work but it does throw pretty strong chems.

Thank you all. I was concerned about the stain left in the knots but it sounds like it is no problem. I don't think the homeowner would even notice but I know I would. I will be staining today. Thanks again Larry

Sorry, it was a typo NaOH. I have noah not to be very effective.

Thanks for the compliment. I used noah to strip, I changed up my truck washing soap to make a stripper. I did this after several practice runs at home first so as not to use customers as test subjects. Looked good after brightening and drying. I was concerned about the white stuff but sounds like it will look good. I am going to stain it using Cabot's. Shipping to the West Coast is a little pricey to use RS or Wood Tux, so have to go with what I can get locally. Thanks, Larry

Having worked in the corporate world previously, I can tell you that just because you bought it from somebody else, it does not end your liability to your employees or customers. The only way to protect yourself from a liability lawsuit is through training and documentation. It is true that if you mix chems yourself, the prosecution will try to prove you made a mistake and are basically an idiot. You have to prove them wrong. If you purchase products or mix your own you need a comprehensive safety program. This includes a safety manual, PPE's, training and most importantly, documentation. Most employers tell the new guy how to use something and never mention it again. When he hurts himself 6mos down the road, you are liable. A safety program must be complete and covered in meetings continuously and it must be documented with the signatures of all attendees and the trainer. You must also be willing to enforce the safety rules, it does not matter if he is your best or most reliable worker, if he disobeys the safety rules he must go. This is only a few things that will help you should an accident arrise and you have the need to defend yourself, your company and your livelihood.

I wouldn't attempt it with that little time. Things can go wrong at anytime and are you willing to be late for your main job or not show up at all? The people that hire you to do the cleaning will suffer through your need to hurry up and get the job done. When your work quality suffers so will your reputation. If you want to change careers something has to be given up to make time for the new one to succeed.

Get one with the demand switch. Just like the RV style but with the better seals. You may even be able to buy the demand head for an existing pump you may already have. The one pictured is that type (see red wire on head). It has a pressure switch in the head that shuts off the electricity when the pump reaches the peak psi.

Newlook has the right idea. I use this same type of business names as well. Mid Valley Mobile******* and Mid Valley Mobile*******. Most of my customers make the checks out to mid valley mobile anyway. Very easy book keeping and only had to register another business name with the State and makes identification with truck and cards very simple. It cost very little to get forms and business cards printed with the minor changes. I use this to reach different customer for each company name.