detailbarn

Ok so I've been out of it for the last two years but I'm now up and running and getting inundated with deck request. I am truly at a loss for where pricing is these days. So where is everyone else at per square foot, call it a basic strip brighten and stain.

Ok I've decieded to switch to downstreaming over the x jet and have loved it on the 6 houses I've used it on. I have an envirospec super suds sucker and currently I just quick connect it when I set up but I'm moving my new vb-10 unloader to a mounting block this week and would like to see if I can also mount the injector more permanet and with a ball valve to shut it off. What I'm lost on is where to mount it and if it's ok to do this with the injector. Where does the shut off valve go before or after ect ect. Any help would be great and pictures would be the best. Thanks for the help.

the next soft touch unloader is $300 compared to the $90 I paid for the VB-10 I think the $200 saving is well worth loosing a few hundred psi that i never use anyway.

well there is my answer, I actually spoke to Paul from enviro spec today about this and I'm fine not doing any damage to anything I actually am making my pump work less. Enviro-Spec is where I bought the unloader from and I've got to say they are very helpful and great to do business with. The guys at enviro spec have went above an beyond to help me, that's great customer service which guarantees they'll receive my business.

Well I have to give some trust to my vendors they should know the product they are selling and if they sell me something that knowingly causes me problems they loose my business and possibly those who hear of my issue. That being said I know that my pump is rated to 5000psi with a 24hp engine but pressure pro puts a 20hp on it and it's rated to 4000psi. I then in turn change that psi by downsizing my tips, at that point the machine isn't still making 4000psi. So if I then put an unloader on that is set at 3000psi (which I've checked with a pressure gauge) the pump isn't still making 4000psi it's limited by the unloader thus actually making the pump not work as hard as it would be at 4000psi or even 5000psi which it's capable of. Where it would become an issue would be if I was trying to raise my pressure after the pump thus straining it and causeing failure. Please if this is improper understanding correct me but my understanding is lowering the pressure is not a bad thing.

Well I bought the unloader based on the recommendation of two different vendors and both assured me it would cause no problems. Honestly not sure how it could cause problems unless I cranked the unloader above what it's rated.

oh sorry forgot to mention the vb-10 is only rated to 3200psi , which is ok with me I rarely used anything over 3500psi. I guess my question is - now that my machine is essentially a 3000psi unit - should I buy nozzles as such. And what nozzle size would I use for 5.5gpm @3000psi thanks again

ken thanks I thought i may be over thinking the whole thing. I get excited with setting this stuff up so I tend to try overshoot it. So I'll just leave it as a quick connect. Thanks for the info. Another question you may be able to help with, I switched my unloader to a vb-10 which is great but it effectivly dropped my unit down to 3000psi from 4000psi. Now I'm not sure what size tips to use to get my full 5.5 gpm. I'd like a set of tips for 3000psi , 2500psi , 2000psi and 1500psi. What sizes do i need. thanks again.

Yeah I don't plan on rinsing with it too much, I am ordering one this week will post my findings after I test it.

I'm convinced that downstreaming is the better option even though I've yet to try it myself. I plan on switching over this year but have a few questions. What size chemical tank do you guys recommend? Any is the thing any good? laddersaver.com thanks for the help

i give my employee a 5-10% bonus on leads he gets that I close. If I did not have to close them I would be willing to pay 15% of the invoice , that is if the invoice is over a specified amount say $250. Also I would have to be able to up sell that customer for additional work , and have them be able to contact me directly for my services needed in the future. Not a bad idea something you're going to setup?

I agree with you 150% , the grime scene has been such as great resource to me. Honestly what I have learned here has helped me take my company to a whole new level of professionalism and quality. Here's a great big THANKS to Rod & Beth for providing such a great resource, and to all the great PW contractors who contribute to the site!

that is odd , I exclusively use the x jet for three story homes , ie walk out basements with no problem reaching all the way to the roof. You didn't mention what PSI or GPM your machine is that may have something to do with it.

Sometimes I have some left over , but most homes in my area are very moldy and I'm also not using any proportioners so I may be using abit more mixture then necessary.

I'm using one of these with my x-jet , it holds enough to do an entire 2 story house with out refilling and is easy to pull around most yards and lays flat when I'm spraying. To adapt it for x-jet use I drilled a hole in the top right in the middle and put a bulk head fitting with 1/4" barbs inside and out. The inside has a pickup hose with filter and the top goes out to 12' of hose to the x-jet on the end. RV Tote Tanks - Tote-A-Long Tote Tank, 22 Gallon

I'm the odd one out , I have a 4' x 10' enclosed with my machine , 90 gallon water tank , hose reels , surface cleaner , extend a wand and chemicals and I tow with a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. To me bigger was not better , compact and efficient was better. I get better mileage even compared to a diesel and it's much easier to get into tight job site's , very low impact on the neighborhood when I'm there.

I just had the local muffler shop put a new exhaust on my 20hp honda , i used a stock honda manifold pipe on the motor which they extended through the floor and into a car muffler from a 4cyl car then over to the side of the trailer. Problem is it now sounds likes a worked Harley coming down the road , I would say loud but that would be an understatement. It's going back to the shop on monday but I'm not sure what do have them do , should i change to bigger muffler? Should I put the stock muffler back on and run two mufflers? Any help is greatly appriciated.

so the muffler shop was able to fix the harley sound coming from the muffler , how? By putting two mufflers on a V8 unit and a 4cyl , sounds great now not silent but much quieter and outside of the trailer. I'll post some pictures of the setup later. Thanks all for your help.

well it goes back to the muffler shop tomorrow , hopefully they will be able to correct this in a timely fashion , I will post updates tomorrow. If anyone has suggestions feel free to continue with them because I don't have much to go on yet.

yeah I'm thinking the 4cyl muffler is the problem , the shop did increase the pipe size from 1.25 to 1.50 then into the muffler and out to 2.0 so it may be a combination of everything.

ok this is very helpful , i had originally though to put a motorcycle muffler on but wouldn't 250 be to small the honda 20 hp is a 750 v-twin? thanks for the help.

So i haven't been on the board in a few months been busy with the powerwasher business and starting another small business.Hope I haven't misses much. A few new things have happened with me. Got a new work truck and just ordered a new 4'x10' enclosed trailer for next season. I went to purchase a Dodge Ram standard cab diesel but ended up with a 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited instead , a bit of a change but it's working well. The dealers wanted way to much for the Dodge , $39,000 and that was for a left over striped model. So i got the Jeep for $20,000 after rebates and my trade. The Jeep tows my current 5'x10' enclosed well but I just don't need the height it provides, so that's why I'm getting the 4'x10' almost the same floor space without all the wasted height. So the 5'x10' Carmate is for sale if anyone in the Philly area is interested would like to get $2000 for it , it is a 2006 Model. The other big thing that has happened is powerwashing has caused me to need surgery. Apparently from being on my feet so much I ended up with tendonitus of the achilles tendon which ended up created a bone spur in turn creating a great deal of pain for me. So some time in spring I have to get it taken care of , traditional surgery was out of the question do to the down time of 12 weeks plus , but i found a doctor that does ultrasound shock therapy to get rid of the pain and it doesn't require any down time. Hopefully it all goes well and i can walk without again. So there's my updated story , oh and I'm still washing here in NJ even though it's almost December , gotta love this weather. Hope everyone is doing well, I can't wait to start reading all the interesting post I've missed.

Beth thanks for your support , I hear ya about the shoes . I can honestly say I never thought I'd be dropping $250 for shoes and inserts but the proper fit and support it certainly worth the added cost

I would be lost with out my ipod , currently I have an older mini with a pair of Bose Quiet Comfort head phones which work great but the cord can get in the way. So for 2007 I'm getting a 2nd gen nano with these head phones. http://www.macally.com/spec/ipod/mtune-n2.html Having music while working really makes the time fly and much more enjoyable then hearing the noise of the water or machine.

no problems guys Glad I could be of help , i know this site has helped me tremendoulsy.