Neil_Asheville

I currently use an 18' 3-section OptiLok pole by Unger for brushing gutters. I often need something longer instead of having to break out the ladder. Does anyone have a 30 footer by Unger and can you recommend it? Is it usable at 30'? I got the 18'er at HD. I haven't checked local paint stores. Unger's dealer locator doesn't seem to be working this morning. Thanks... /neil

a huge competitive advantage, Daryl, will be your willingness to use chems formulated specifically for the line of work you plan to do purchased through vendors that have supported and helped build the businesses of your peers here. When you use materials readily available to everyone you lose with it the ability to position your biz over the next one. Using specialty chems helps you sell on value. They're buying on your credibility and willingness to invest in your business. Vendors call them samples for a reason. You try, you like, you buy, you support their business. There are thousands of posts here about good chems with real folks getting real results. Unless you've given all chems a fair shot and truly aren't happy with results, save your money and tons of time and buy from a supplier. Good luck with that... /neil

Well, my wife didn’t get Tim’s autograph and I didn’t get any alone time with Faith, but we did get to do something pretty darn cool this past weekend in Nashville. A buddy of mine works for a song publishing company that represents two of the top song writers in Nashville. Neil Thrasher and Wendell Mobley. Saturday night we were invited to a small very intimate like maybe 60 people outdoor songwriters “In The Round” they call it. So cool. It was outside under the stars up on a mountain at Vanderbilt’s Dyer Observatory. Three guys with acoustic guitars up singing their favorite songs. This was a real treat, even in Nashville standards. Neil and Wendell write for Rascal Flatts, Chesney, Reba, Alabama, Diamond Rio. It was a cool thing to listen to them sing Fast Cars and Freedom, I Melt, How Forever Feels, There Goes My Life, No Shoes No Shirt, What Do You Say….it goes on. Cool to know we weren’t listening to guys cover these songs that we associate with the artists, but as the original writers wrote them. There are a handful of writers that write the bulk of the new songs on the country charts today. If a song gets picked up and ‘cut’ by an artist, like I Melt sung by Rascal Flatts, and it stays on the top of the charts or hits number one, these writer dudes get serious payday. Neil is this mid-30 singer, songwriter, big bowhunter, and outdoorsman. What a cool gig. Big money without the mess that comes with stardom and celebrity. Other than that, it was hot as hell and I wasn’t too impressed with the Wild Horse Saloon. We did have the best time dancing and drinking PBR’s at 10am Sat at Robert’s Honkytonk downtown. Busy this week getting my wife set up and writing country music songs! /neil

Hey Man. You know it was the CMA Festival this weekend, so we knew what we were getting into. For our first Nashville visit, wrong weekend to do it. We saw some good acts but the crowds downtown were thick and hotel rates were ridiculous. The observatory show was actually a Bluebird Cafe event. Next trip over we'll definately do a Sun/Mon writers night at the Cafe. The publishing company that I have contacts with 'found' Garth Brooks and has rights to all his songs. Garth has made this company founder quite wealthy. Reagan is an incredible singer and writer. It's time to take it from a hobby to a living. I want one day to be able to ask her if I can go out and buy a new truck! Sure, honey...but nothing under $45K, ok? later Jon. /neil

HuskerFan. I see you are being well taken care of here by the right folks. I'll add that I don't believe you're getting sufficient psi's to the wood with your garden hose. Agitation with a stiff deck brush during dwell time can substitute for a pressure washer. I don't see where you've agitated. With more psi's i feel you'd have satisfactory results with the consumer grade chems you used. Don't overlook LIttlefield's comment on referencing a nozzle chart when you do acquire a machine. You've obviously spent many hours learning from this board, so you've probably seen the posts on proper pressure when working with wood. A proper tip will get you in the 500psi to 800psi range. The tips that come with a bought or rented machine will not work for wood. The only nozzle chart I can recall at the moment is on Steve's site - http://www.rowlettpressure.com/ Let us know what machine you end up with and we'll point you to a vendor. Can't wait to see the finished pics! cheers, /neil

Hilarious article I found on Drudge... http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=143397 I could totally see an employee doing this. Especially the grabbing the crotch move. Nice one, jack*ss. Definately a CLM...Career Limiting Move!

Does not look like AF to me and I see it on nearly every vinyl house in my area. AF seems to be more uniform in size of the spore and dark brown with a raised texture (of the spore head). If your stuff comes off it ain't AF. /neil

You're absolutely right. That sounds like it's spoken from experience. Mike...your 8 will beat up my 4 anyday! <pump envy>

Buffer tank. Atleast a 55gal poly. 55gal is plenty to rinse what's up there or finish tail end of job should you have supply probs.

If you have another stain job within 3-5days, keep stain in hose by QC'ing ends together. Flush pump and filter as normally would after every use. I use Joy or weak butyl degreaser solution and cycle 2-3gals through pickup tube, pump, back into same bucket with bypass tube for about 5 minutes. Cleanup is a PITA.

cb. i could see this project easily getting into the 12-15hrs range. easily. that's not including dry / cure or travel time. this is an estimate for me, at least. i've done plenty furniture and antique stuff, no doors though. i do know someone here :lgwave: on TGS that recently did a front door resto. Bueller? what's 15hrs of your time worth? it's certainly not bad practice to discount your product to get more of their business. if your goal was to get a contract refinishing 100 of their exterior mahogany doors, then you do it for no charge. if you want their concrete cleaning or exterior wood work, find something else to interest them with that fits within your core service and pass on the doors. find your niche and own it. /neil

Hopefully this will go as one of the most unused tips of the year....but Xylene takes WoodTux overspray off a white Chrysler Pacifica like a champ! <lessonlearned> /neil

Thanks Rod. Recommended strength / dwell? She still hasn't noticed...

Probably stating the obvious, but maybe try a fingerless biking glove the kind with the gel pads. /neil

Ken. The clear coat seems intact in the small front 1/4 spot I tested. Feels smooth to the touch, like after a good waxing. What will a detailer do? Is it a special chem or compound used along with an electric buffer? /neil

Shane - Wazz happ'nin! Strippin' down in Tejas, huh? Easy on those gutters. Thanks Rambo. Good to know KK worked for you. I do have some that I'll try tonight. I tested a small spot with xylene last night and rinsed well. Doesn't seem to have hurt the enamel finish at all. It might look like bondo when i get home tonight. I'd rather use KK if it works. Might actually get to use the buffing pad that came with the Makita. Here's anotha little discovery....don't use the prepackaged red shop rags with spirits. They fade and you'll have pink on your white composite porch supports. Having fun yet! I don't know whether this is fortunate or not but the Pacifica is my WIFE'S car. Yup. Believe it or not I took the time this past weekend to clean and stain my front porch and back deck. Turned out real sharp. Pictures soon. I had never seen overspray travel 35 feet. Learning as we go....! cheers, /neil

Lowes used to carry the Duck brand mask Rod mentioned. Now they have an off brand or private label version. Looks like pre-taped SaranWrap with the roll and perforated edge. Works great, especially on vinyl siding. The static cling is nice. The store here has them on display at the paint counter, not on the aisle shelf. Support your local paint store first if you can. /neil

I came across this glossary of terms and thought I'd share it... http://www.howtocleananything.com/docs_articles/hca_glossay.htm The header is pretty gay, but the glossary lists quite a few of the terms commonly thrown around in here. A lil' help for the REAL NEW folks:) /neil

If I had a bias or motive I’d have put it in the Club House! It was used as a slang term...is this not obvious!?! My slang must be different that what’s accepted in CA? That’s why I don’t live in CA. Asheville has taken on the nickname “Sheville”, our official Chamber of Commerce 2006 tourism slogan is “Asheville – any way you like it”, and it’s my less-than-straight friends I have here that have not a single problem with who they are. The humor I find is it’s the heteros that are usually the PC ones. As for the direction of the thread…hopefully it ends with a pH of 7 with a high “solubility”. ;) /neil

sorry if someone's offended. i sure wasn't speaking about someone's sexual preference. it had a real feminine look for something that really should be more masculine. can something not be labeled 'gay' anymore without prejudice? perhaps Parisianly Peppy would have been better. LOL.

$325K to $500K, depending on how far out from downtown. Now, with a proper housewash prior to listing, $500K for sure;)

Dan - many of the heavyweights here that run 5.5gpm and up are pulling from a rig-mounted supply tank, not a municipal line or well. You'll hear them often referred to as buffer tanks, meaning the tank serves as the 'buffer' in difference from supply output to what the pump is pulling. /neil

Here are some close shots of a deck I need to quote this coming Thursday. Housewash also at $400. Homeowner couldn't meet tonight so I went by to have a look. I know nothing about the deck or what's on there now. Appears to be a semi trans oil. Will find out more Thurs. Second story 12x32 with 7 steps, 4x6 landing, and 7 steps. Flagstone patio underneath (yeah!) I could use some guidance on stripping and sealing considering we'll only be doing the floors and stair treads. Bandboard, balusters, rails and cap are all in solid and will stay that way. Although, I will present the option to replace the 2x6 cap with a stained 2x6 to match the floor. That would look sharp. Railing is 45lf, not to include the stairs. For stripping, should I be concerned with the solid balusters or bandboard coming off? I'm curious to find out how others would stain this one. I use WTW. The house side will be masked. For the spindles, would you hand brush the outside edge? Shield and spray? Mask? Then there's that flagstone below. For those who spray floors, I just don't see enough product being applied such that I'd have to worry about getting runs or drips through boards below. Padding or rolling yes, but spraying (decker)? It will get wetted and tarped regardless, I'm just curious. Look forward to comments on this one. /neil

Oh We Three Kings....thanks a bunch! You always take a few minutes to lend a hand. I'll find out more and get back. Have a super day today. /neil

I always prefer to stay local if possible. I didn't contact Walters. I am with Auto-Owners Insurance Company. I knew they had written for another pw'er here in town and he referred me to the local agency. $151 for $15K equipment coverage plus $535 for $1M/$2M aggregate CGL. /neil