bforbis

At age 35 I went back to school to get a degree in engineering and about 5 years later came out with a Chemical Engineering and Chemistry degree. Went to work for a large corporation for about 5 years and lost my job and about everything else, I mean everything ...but what I could carry or pack into a car. I floundered for about a year trying to get back into the job market, but totally devastaded after putting so much into my work and education. I can't sit around and wait and looking for work, interveiwing trying to explain what happended just made me more frustrated and angry. Corporate BS just is not the way I want to live, nor did I (which is one reason I did not fit) I friend had some equipment and I expressed some interest, he loaned it to me for about 9 months and one regular account turned into several and newer equipment soon was a must. My first real PW job was an apartment complex. It took me about 2 months to complete. I did one, maybe two buildings a day. That gave me the $$ for new equipment a truck and confidence to look for more work, practice my delivery for sales and close a job (this still needs work).

Celeste, you have a very good point IMO, especially if you target contractors vs homeonwers. Thanks for the reminder of the NAHB, as i went there to check on membership etc. The local county chapter is now asking $470 to join, but that is a different county than you, but neighbors! The $$ for BBB is not significant, but if you are being selective about where to place advertising $$, I could see how the NAHB might carry a little more weight than the other. In the end, it depends on the name you build into the business no matter what sign/certification you hang on the wall.

Currently SOle P, have accountant working on changing that very soon. Not sure where it will fall, but need to be sure to protect myself and assets, as well as tax purposes.

I am glad to see this discussion, as BBB has contacted me severl times over the past few months. My wife has said pretty much the same, that ii is not really worth the $$. I am sure it may have its benefits, but not sure how to measure how much return yuo'd get for the $$. I guess if you look at it as $515/12months = $43/month for the previledge of having BBB logo and support

Thank you Rod, I currently don't have to worry about the salt yet, hope to get back there soon though. I'll give the Wood tux a try on the teak outdoor furnture and see what happens!

Beth and Rod (or others), When I completed my deck I cleaned up our teak table and chairs, but have not sealed or stained with anything. Any recommendations for exterior teak? Tung oil? Teak oils? Wood Tux? Most teak I saw was at the coast, and it was mostly on boats which was stained and had some clear coat (marine grade urethane???), but that was before I started PW and not sure what was used. Thanks

Does anyone have experience with National Grange Ins ? I have had my insurance with them to include (1)vehicle and GL ran about 2K last year. I have gotten quotes for worker's comp that run about 11% of payroll. Does that seem about norm...???

Caroline and Cayden sit'n in a tree, K_ I_ S_ S_ I_ N_ G.........

Jim, How old is the unloader? I am not sure if I completely understand your problem, although it sounds you have tried to work through it several times. I had to replace mine after about 400 hours. If that holds true, I am about due for another change??? It has been acting up a little, but can not nail down exactly why. I have a couple of suspesions(sp?). I took it apart initially to troubleshoot the internals and found some corrosion/oxidization that could have cuased sticking and cycling. After I replaced it, no issues (except with the rotating nozzles). I know what you mean about the jumping and when you get the wand out over 20 to 30 ft, you really don't want a lot of unexpected stops and starts. That makes for a really bad day. I'll have to trouble shoot and take apart the rotator see what falls out. Thanks for the suggestion. Wish you the best on the K7

Hey guys...Would you mind expanding on that for me. I use a K7 on my set up, it bypasses back to my tank, but rarely use a rotary ripper turbo type nozzle, but every time I have tried to use it on selected occations the unloader cycles as if the tip is clogged. This is really useless. I am pretty sure it is sized correctly and even bought a new one thinking I might have damaged the ceramic head on the old one... same deal. Is this an issue with the K7

I prefer to use powder when possible. I like being able to mix what I need when I need it without having to tranfer the weight and bulk of liquid. Shipping and storage area is reduced, and as Celeste points out, reduced potential for Haz-Mat disposal. There are some things that are only available as liquids, just deal with those.

I am so amazed at myself sometimes, as I think I know or have some idea what I "THINK" I know and in reality.......... I should have sat in the corner with mouth closed and just listened politely!!! Those damn shoes are getting way toooo big and don't taste good

I should of kept my mouth shut!! I"OPEN MOUTH...INSERT FOOT" was thinking 1000 square feet and not 1000 bricks

Squirtgun: That' only 0.03/sf....Your kidding RIGHT?

Hey John....Look on the bright side. After initial installation and they have been there a couple of years they will be full of organic material. You could resale them at HD or local plant shop/florist for planters $$$. OK OK Well, not really that funny. but hate you go stung. Sometimes we don't know until we try. If we never venture to try, we would still be in the dark

John, Just a thought, but may not be worth the hassel! If the conscept is good then it's a possiblity.... Have you researched getting open cell foam from the manufacturer? there are literally hundreds of mom & pop extrusion companies all over. I saw your website and I did some work with a company a few years ago testing and manufacturing open cell foam. It should be a lot less expensive, even McMaster Carr has it in bulk. A hot knife and a jig for production cutting and your good to go

That was one of the reasons I did not go with the SM. I see several of you do use this for leads and I wondered how much it is really helpful or just someone checking prices etc. That could get expensive.

Ken, That was a great post. I have learned a lot from TGS and try everyday to put something new into action and improve on what I have. For example; Several months ago I think Jeff and a few others posted examples of "detailed" estimates and additional discussions on how to sell and delivery. I reworked a flyer, my estimates/proposals and went to work selling to some businesses I wanted to target. I came home today with two new accounts for monthly service at almost double the price I expected and scheduled meetings with district managers for a chain of restaurants. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR SHARING YOUR IDEAS AND PROVEN METHODS!

Hey I am 100% with Pressure Pro on this one. There are too many too good to be true offers out there. No contact info probably means you will never see that $$ again. BIG RED FLAG I'd move on and forget it

Richard, Iron mineral are dissolved in the water and in the water table where the well pump draws from. Concentrations vary on region, and depend on rock formations where the water table is. The oxialic acid reacts with the metal deposits and breaks the bond so it can be rinsed away.

I have the same issue with my valves. They get so you can't use them or as above the screw would fall out. I used some thread glue to hold the screw in, no problems now, except for tough to turn. Where did you get the lube?

Hey Jon.... I really took (take) for granite about vision sometimes. I have just started with the bi-focals (only slight adjustment) wheeewhooooo!!! I certainly understand better about trying to see through a tiny little spot, late at night while moving the object back and forth to get in focus is sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh at myself in frustration!!!!!! I keep a small tool handy that will allow me to poke through the hole without damage (if careful). Most of the time I don't need it though.

Hey John, Thanks for spelling it out for me. I'm headed for the referenced web site for more info!!! Sincerely Appreciate it (Jon and John)

Mine are not getting clogged as much as they used to. I had accumilated sand in my tank that worked through the filter. After i flushed that out not as much problems. When I change orings, ( I know this may be common sense, but little details seem to get you) I flush the line of the pieces of old oring. That was killing me until I figured out where it was coming from. I can remove, clean and replace a tip faster than replacing with a new one....Of course if it is worn and not working as I think it should be, it's replaced. (I have to dig a little deeper in the goodie bag to replace one vs clean it). Jon or others, when buying tips for the surface cleaner (1/4 meg) do you see a difference in the length of the threads to the shoulder? I have some that are a little longer than others (I think, but not much) and sometimes think I get them too deep and interfers with flow through to nozzels/tips.

There is a significant value in retaining a trained person and avoiding having to retrain someone. LABOR or managing labor is a big variable that has to be watched. I understand that if it takes longer to drop someone back at the job vs. taking them with you on an errand. Someone that knows what has to be done next or will take the iniative to realize and act on what needs to be done can really make a difference. Jeff, that is a good watch out for biz lunches, did not realize that, assumed deductable either way...Thanks for pointing that out! I spend a lot of time traveling form one to the next, so I really try to plan and group jobs in locations. I may wait a day or two to get three together and spend all day and half the night working in one location vs. several trips. (depending on what needs dictate)