John Orr

When my wife and married (20 years ago) we bought a house that came with a dog - the neighbors yellow lab Bridget. The neighbor still owned and took care of her, but she loved to sit in the shade right in front of our front door. When we came home, she was always there to greet us. The best pet we never had! We have always said that if we ever did have a dog, we would name her Bridget.

I have a 13/4 direct drive that I've had forever. The pump died a few months ago and I found a new 3000/5.5 gear drive on eBay. (I bought it thinking that if it didn't work on the 13/4, I could add it to my 16/4 trailer.) Using a shoehorn, I mounted it to the 13 and now get about 2400/5.5. It drives a 20" surface cleaner very well and, in fact, will drive a 30" - just have to walk a little slower.

I wash a LOT of houses with spiders (especially those near any water) and I have a background in pest control (Terminix for 6 years). In order to kill spiders, you almost have to either use a size 10, or apply the pesticide directly to the arachnid. Since pesticides can stain siding, you really don't want to apply it directly to the siding. Here is a possible solution: schedule a perimeter pesticide application for immediately after the housewash. Here's why...when washing the house, all the spiders are flushed off of the siding and wind-up on the ground around the foundation. Rather than trying to stomp them all, the pesticide will be more effective while they are "groggy" from the house wash chems. This isn't perfect, and you can't apply the pesticide yourself (unless you are licensed) but the homeowner can buy and apply a good Ortho mix as soon as you are done. I hope this helps.

I too would like to know what lube you are talking about. By the way, I added a small vise (from Wal-Mart - $20) onto the fender on my trailer. It comes in handy from time-to-time.

Has anyone ever used one? General makes a "sixplex" plunger pump - 8 gpm/3000psi. I may consider installing one on my 2-man rig (8gpm-3000psi) allowing me to run each gun independently. or by installing a valve, having all gpms through one gun. Any thoughts?

John, Welcome to TGS! I used to live in Milwaukee and visit family/friends there every summer. I personally have always had an aversion to living in Waupun. lol (for those not familiar, there is a rather large prison in Waupun.) Rather than recommending a specific hot machine, I would suggest you check for a local distributor, as hot machines like to visit them more often than cold machines. Most hot water "skids" will have the same basic parts, from the same basic manufacturers - Honda, Vanguard, Kohler engines, Cat, General, AR pumps and Beckett or Wayne burners. Your key will be in how they are set-up - frame, fittings. (In the back of a pick-up, think about a cover to keep the elements out of the burner.) If there are no local distributors, there is a Northern Tool in Menomonee Falls. Speaking from personal experience, I can recommend there small trailer. 16hp Vanguard, Cat pump and I believe a Wayne burner and about a 200 gal tank. It is 12 volt, which I have found to be very reliable. (I have had one of these trailer - built by Hydro-Tek - for 3 1/2 years with over 3000 hours on it. One pump rebuild and I had to brace the burner as rain had gone in through the top and collected inside and rusted the floor under the burner. I change the oil in the engine and pump about every 100 hours with Mobile 1. There are those that would argue against buying from Northern, but I can only speak from experience. (They also offer 0 percent financing on their credit card.) A few months ago, I expanded my "fleet" with another trailer from Northern - a 2 man machine 8 gpm/3000 psi - also made by Hydro-Tek. I hope some of this helps, John Orr

Ditto on the bleach, I do it all the time and it works great. Oxalic may work too, but it will lighten all concrete to which it is applied - so you'd need to apply to the whole area.

Jim, Looks great. I was wondering if you took precautions to keep the "slurry" of chem/old stain out of the creek?

I have accepted PayPal since I started (6 yrs) and added "regular" credit cards a few years ago. I never had too many ask if I accept cc's, but enough that didn't have - or want - PayPal accounts to justify a merchant account. After looking around, I had decided I couldn't afford to offer cc processing...until my bank offered it. I pay about $28/month, which allows about $500 of charges before the fees start to kick in. There is no monthly limit, no equipment and no software rental. I call an 800# from my cell (or any) phone and get authorization on the spot. Money is in my account within a day or 2. The name of the company is Heartland Payment Systems. If anyone would like a name/number, let me know.

Try using a brush to blend the cleaned area.

I use one of those jump-starting things. Lasts and lasts, no bigger than a battery and it plugs into the cig lighter to recharge. Mine also has an air pump. As for the lance, I use the 6' extension from Northern for applying chlorine to a roof.

I pull (or will pull again once I've recovered from my second shoulder surgery since September!) a 13' trailer from Hydro-Tek. The skid is mounted in front, with a 300 gal tank over the axles. For $150, I had a cover fabricated by an upholstery shop to cover the front and top of the skid. Eyelets on the cover fit over pins that are turned to secure the cover. Very neat and - at least in my opinion - professional-looking. I plan to have my logo applied to the cover as well.

I would guess about 18 months since "treated" with CWF.

NYPD Blue. I remember when Sipowicz was Buntz on Hill Street Blues. Don't Get Eliminated! lol

I recently installed a 5.5 gpm gear drive on a 13 hp Honda. (old pump died - got a deal on the gear drive) GPM is right about 5.5 and the psi is about 2500 psi. Very nice! It does not seem to effect the downstreamer - it still sucks!

I bought one from Northern a few months ago and have had no problems with almost daily use. (Driveways and walks)

I am now using Simple Green. I brush on at (usually) full strength and have excellent results. It leaves them shining.

We too have a 13 year old daughter. I can't begin to imagine what you and you family are going through. My wife is an ICU nurse, so I know there are limits as to what doctors can do, buy I also know that there is no limit as to what God can do. Shelby is in our prayers.

Northern Tool. I have had mine for several seasons, though I usually only wear them in colder temps.

I get great results on fences/decks in this condition by downstreaming RPC Roof Magic, low-pressure wash, then downstreaming oxalic. By mixing the oxalic a little stronger, it will do the job.

I would recommend that the customer have you clean the deck and not seal it - due to the time of year and because it will still look great for the buyer. You might suggest that they pay you to stain it, but give the new owners a gift certificate for the staining in the spring.

Just make sure it is not a Titan machine. Major POS!

Joel, My Water Jet died a few weeks ago. My employee swears he always blows the debris from the drives before using the surface cleaner, but I doubt it. The estimate for repair is about $800. I bought the Hammerhead and have been pleased with its performance, but due to my shoulder (torn rotator cuff, repaired once and now re-torn. Surgery on Nov. 30) I needed something with wheels. I found that Steel Eagle is selling "scratch & dent" 24" and 30" models on eBay, so I bought a "reconditioned" 24" for $480. There were a few scratches on the top, but everything else was new, in fact, it had never been assembled. Very nice. By the way, as far as I can tell, the Hammerhead is a carbon copy of the Whisper Wash Classic. The two differences that I see are: powder coated handles instead of chrome and the Classic has a quick-connect, in addition to being able to separate the handle. I like the poder coat look, and for just a few dollars, I added the quick connect.

I agree with Scott on the Oly Max. I've been using it almost exclusively for 3 years and my customers love it. Honey Gold is my favorite.

I have a new 8gpm/3000psi 2-man rig that would like to: a) have an unloader that relieves the "kick". On my 4gpm/3500 rig, I am using a K5 and love it. As I understand it, a flow unloader won't work on a 2-man rig, but there is another (not pressure) type? b) limit the volume to 4 gpm from either gun. We usually downstream from one gun and run a surface cleaner on the other and run into flow issues as the chem tip is allowing more flow from the one gun. Any suggestions? Thanks, John Orr