One Tough Pressure

Power went out for most of the day, but the city is doing very well despite all the chaos. They shutdown the freeway in both directions, as they prepared to use it for a fire break. If the fire were to jump the freeway, then I would be very concerned, as it would be to close for comfort. As it stands the fire is less than 4 miles away, but there is a lot of stuff in between. The school districts in neighboring towns as well as my own, will be closed on Monday, due to air quality concerns. Here is a Hero of the sky coming in to pickup water at the golf course. Was so close we got a car wash out of the deal.

I have used a sodium metasilicate with light brushing and it worked out great.

Firefighters battle flames on the perimeter of the California State University at San Bernardino during a wildfire that threatened the campus on October 25, 2003. The 2,500 acre fire prompted a hurried evacuation of the university and area homes. Photo by Fred Greaves/Reuters

Firefighters keep a close eye on a wildfire that rages out of Lytle Creek, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003. Over 14,000 acres have been charred. Numerous homes and structures have been lost. (AP Photo/Steven K. Doi)

Figure on a new blower costing in the area of $2000.00. You will need a frame to mount it on, misc pulley's, belts ,silencer(muffler) and of course an engine which will cost another $1000.00 plus. This is only for the vacuum and does not include a waste tank system. As far as used ones, I have no idea. Check with the local carpet cleaning dealers and see if they have any reconditioned blowers. I warn you now though as they may try to convince you to buy a carpet machine and they will say that it will do everything you want it to. You do not want a carpet machine, no matter what they tell you. They are not rated for this type of work. As far as cost goes, it may end up costing less for an all in one as opposed to buying seperate, but when going all in one you need to pay for one big unit, as with seperates you can add on and take away as needed. This dream machine can be done, but will cost over $20,000. even getting the parts for a good deal. Alot of engineering will be needed and that will not come cheap, so this may be closer to $30,000.00. Don't forget the vehicle to go with it.

Gav, Your web links are not working, you need to throw in the www.

Robert, I have a hotwater skid with a 2000 watt generator. It is 5@3500 and uses a Honda 20 HP. I also run a rotary blower and that uses a 12 Hp, and my 6000 watt generator runs a 14 hp. So based on this, I would say that Rick would need at least 50 horsepower if he wanted the unit to last a while.

Robert, Rick is wanting to use a rotary lobe blower like that on carpet cleaning units. This is also a belt drive item. There will be many times that the pressure pump, burner and vacuum will need to be going at the same time, or the chemical pump and the vacuum to catch chem run off. This system will require a very good size engine and a water cooled one would be best. The nissan A15 is a popular choice among carpet machine builders. It is the same one that comes or came in the Sentra. If a system like this were to be built, you would want a bigger generator than the standard 2000 watt found on most skid units. This will also be calling for a larger engine.

Since you are being hired by the bank, is there any chance that they can get some info from the manufactuor on what will clean this up. It may save quite a bit of time in testing. They designed that ink not to come out, so I would be willing to say that the average chemicals are not going to remove this. Have a friend in the printing business and he says that they use alot of Xylene, Acetone, and Alcohol when cleaning the presses, however I have no idea how comparable these inks are.

Mike, Rick is a member of the reclaim family.

Rick, With the use of a clutch system you can do some of those things. However, there will be times when you need that vacuum blower running during the whole wash process. One hotwater skid, one hvlp chemical pump and a vacuum source would be the better way in my opinion. If something were to break, you could work around it, rather than having everything relying on that one engine. Carpet cleaning machines have an engine, pressure pump, and a vacuum blower. Most run off a clutch type system. For a machine with a 20 HP air cooled engine, they run about $15,000. and that is just the machine and no vehicle to carry it in. So unless you are real handy in the shop and can get parts cheap and assemble yourself, this dream machine will cost some major bucks.

Beth, What about the V-Scrub, you never talk about it.

Here is Justin's reply on *** on 9-11-03 Hey all. Sorry about the site. It's still there but the programmer closed it down because I cannot put anymore money into it right now. I refuse to. If anyone would be interested in the site, it's still in tact. Please email me. The internet and these boards are great but at this time I've lost interest in giving to this anymore. I've quickly learned that spending all the time on the internet and answering emails and phone calls has taken away from the very reason I'm in this business... the same reason most of you are in this busines... to make a living. I've not given up, I just have to prioritize and my family comes first. Right now I'm no longer going to work on the online store or the internet stuff. I'm focusing on making money. I won't be on here much at all if any. I will change my email so you can get ahold of me if needed. I'm still building trailers and will continue to build trailers and other set-ups. Should anyone want one they will still be available. I will have some set prices on set-ups in the future and maybe someday get the website back up and running. All my rigs will first be paid for and then built though. No more building on speculation. I'm off now to actually make money. Good luck to all of you and I may stop in from time to time. I welcome any emails from friends and newbies. Take care and I've got to go. __________________ Justin Kulhawick Hannah Solutions LLC 1070 A Jacoby Road Copley, OH 44321 hannahsolutions@yahoo.com 330-670-8316 - office 330-352-8421 - cell

Karl There was a server switch and some of the pictures got mixed up, Beth will fix it.

GREETINGS TO MY FELLOW PRESSURE CLEANERS. I AM ALAN THE PRESSURE CLEANER OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAQ AND ONE OF THE PALACE ACCOUNTANTS OF PRESIDENT SADDAM THE MADMAN HUSSEIN IN BAGHDAD, WHEN I'M NOT WORKING MY SECOND JOB CLEANING CONCRETE. SINCE THE WAR I'VE HAD TO WORK TWO JOBS, SUCH IS LIFE. IT'S GOTTEN SO TIGHT MY WIFE HAS DOWN GRADED FROM A 30 FT MERCEDES BENZ LIMO TO A 20 FT U.S. IMPORT HUMMER. BOY THE GAS MILAGE IS KILLING ME! AND MY KIDS! FORGET ABOUT IT! I'VE HAD TO LAY OFF 4 OUT OF MY 20 HOUSE KEEPERS, CLEANERS, AND CHILD CARE PERSONAL, IN ONE OF MY 20 MANSIONS. YES TIMES ARE TOUGH BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO WORRY ABOUT ME. BUT I DIGRESS..... I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION THE SUM OF US $94,185,000.00 AND 2 CENTS IN CASH ACCOUNT THAT I MADE CLEANING CONCRETE FOR ALL THE RICH PEOPLE OF MY COUNTRY, ACTUALLY CLOSER TO TWO CENTS. JUST KIDDING! IT WAS ALL STORED IN WELL GUARDED BATH ROOM IN THE PALACE WHEN THE AMERICAN MARINES TOOK OVER BAGHDAD. I AND MY BROTHER ZIPZAPZAFAR IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE FUNDS OUT OF IRAQ, SMUGGLED IN A LUNCH BAG FOR SAFE KEEPING IN A TRUST BANK IN EUROPE, WITH THE HELP OF MY BROTHER ZIPZAP, THE FUNDS WERE DULY DEPOSITED WITH THE BANK IN EUROPE SUCESSFULLY. I AM NOW ON A SELF EXILE WITH MY FAMILY IN IRELAND, WHERE I HOPE TO START ANOTHER CONCRETE CLEANING BUSINESS THERE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAN AFFORD ME. DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WILL KNOW I'M NOT FROM IRELAND? THANKS TO A CONTACT IN EUROPE I LOVE DRIVING UP TO THE JOBS IN MY NEW 50 FT CLEANING VAN, LOADED WITH THE LATEST PRESSURE CLEANING EQUIPMENT CONSISTING OF TO NAME A FEW A FURY SYSTEM, ALL AMERICAN, OTP MACHINE, RECOIL 10 ( NEWEST MODEL WITH 100GPM 100K PSI), AND MY FIRST CLEANING MACHINE MY THUMBJET 3001. I HOPE I DIDN'T LEAVE ANYTHING OUT! BUT I DIGRESS..... MY PRIMARY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS TO SEEK FOR YOUR URGENT HELP TO ASSIST ME CLAIM THE FUNDS FROM THE BANK FOR INVESTMENT IN A VERY GOOD RELIABLE PROJECT IN YOUR COUNTRY. A LOT OF IRAQIS HAD LOOTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND RAN OUT OF IRAQ INCLUDING TOP OFFICIALS OF EMBATTLED PRESIDENT SADDAM THE MADMAN, MANY OF US SUCCEDED WHILE MANY DIED IN THE PROCESS BY A STRANGE DISEASE CALLED KAWASAKI, I THANK ALLAH BABBAH AND THE FORTY THIEVES THAT I AM ALIVE AND I WANT TO HAVE AN INVESTMENT BASE IN YOUR COUNTRY, WHEREBY AS SOON AS YOU TAKE CUSTODY OF THE FUNDS AND LODGE IT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT, I HAVE ARRANGED TO GIVE YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND 80% FOR ME, AND A FREE BOTTLE OF MIRACLE CLEANER, WITH YOUR BUSINESS NAME ON IT! I WILL LIKE YOU TO COMMUNICATE TO ME THROUGH MY EMAIL OR THIS FORUM UPON YOUR RESPONSE I WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH MY PHONE NUMBER WERE YOU SHALL REACH ME WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE DAY. PLEASE YOU ARE TO KEEP THIS WITHIN YOU, AS THIS IS A CONFIDENTIAL RISK FREE DEAL THAT WILL BENEFIT BOTH PARTIES DEPENDING ON YOUR SMOOTH CO-OPERATION. DON'T TELL THE OTHER PRESSURE CLEANERS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT OFFER YOU LESS OF A PERCENTAGE OF THE MONEY. IF I DON'T ANSWER RIGHT AWAY I MIGHT BE OUT CLEANING SOME CONCRETE, YOU KNOW HOW IT IS. I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE AND PLEASE NOTE THAT I DID NOT EVER SUPPORT SADDAM'S GOVERNMENT BUT I HAD NO CHOICE SO I HAVE TO WORK WITH HIM AND NOW THAT I AM OUT BY THE GRACE OF ALLAH BABBAH WE SHALL BE SUCCESSFUL. MAY ALLAH BABBAH AND HIS FORTY THIEVES BE PRAISED. BEST REGARDS ALAN THE PRESSURE CLEANER.

Dale, If you plan to share with all, I would be interested in your form as well. Thank you www.info@preferredpressure.com

It must be the Dodge. Just kidding, everyone needs to make their own price, as their is no set standard. Prices for insurance, marketing, fuel etc vary place by place, so it makes perfect sense that you can make $50. per hour while someone eklse needs to make more or less. LIFESTYLE has a big play in it also.

Welcome to The Grime Scene!

What have you been using and what was the ratio before the X-Jet?

Mike, No problem. Glad I made it more clear this time around.

Mike, I used those numbers for an example, but look at it this way. I have an 800 sq ft driveway. If I were to charge $.05 a sq ft, then it would cost $40.00 to wash. When I say driveway, I mean on an average house. I can not make any money off of that and I doubt very many can. And I repeat what I said earlier. As with all pricing, there is no set standard. Only you know what the job will take to complete and your involved expenses.

Mike, I had the same problems with my flow unloader and the cause was a slightly leaking gun. There may be other causes, but I say that you need to check everything for a leak, as even a very little one will do this.

Mike, It has been my experience that the manufactors base their specs on theory, rather than actual field use. They rate the gpm and pressure at the pump, without hoses, wands, nozzles, swivels on the reel and so on. You can check engine rpm with a tachometer. You can get them for around $35.00 and they are very simple to hook up. As far as checking pump rpm, I do not know that one.

Rob, As with all pricing, there is no set standard. Only you know what the job will take to complete and your involved expenses. Commercial work is discounted often, since there is so much area. If you were to charge .05 a sq ft for a driveway, you would go broke, but if you were to charge .25 for commercial concrete on a large scale such as this job, then you most likely will not get the job. Figure this job at your regular rate and then give a discount to allow for the volume of this job. What type of discount is what you feel is right, as you are the one that needs to get paid and live. Or you can just charge your normal rates and no discount, but be prepared that they may look you over for it.

This is an older thread that I missed somehow. Although it is probably too late, I do offer the following in case someone else has this idea.If it were to take the lower of the two and be 3 hours at $60.00 an hour, that would be $180.00 to get there lot cleaned up. I seriously doubt that any company will pay this. A sweeping company can do the entire lot in a fraction of the time for a fraction of the cost. Figure the dimensions of the lot and call a sweeping company or two. Tell them that you need this done to satisfy a job request and would like them to handle it for you. If they do not offer pressure cleaning, then they would be a good company to team up with and combine services. It should not be the goal to make big money off this in a one time deal, but to satisfy your client. If this turns into a regular deal then more profit is in order. I have many thousand sq ft that I sweep with a push sweeper daily and it will woop you for awhile at the beginning. May not be possible to get it done in 3 or 4 hours on the first go around, while working by yourself.