Making the x-jet easier to use

[Freshlook 14]

I do hear of all these complaints of people hating lugging their container of chems around when using an x-jet.. so I improvised..

I took a 3 gallon backpack sprayer I had gotten from TSC and cut the hose from the bottom feed and clamped the opening off. Then at the top there was a rubber vent insert which I removed and using a 1/2 inch drillbit opened up to fit the existing hose that came with the backpack sprayer, fed it thru the hole I had created to sit inside the container. ""NOTE" do not make the hole too big or you will have chemicals spilling/seeping thru the hole opening during sloshing, I even applied an epoxy around the opening to seal any small holes that may have been there." I then took a barrel filter that came with a downstream injector that I had and clamped it to the end of the hose which sits inside the continer,as the strainer that comes with the x-jet is AWFULLY BIG and undesirable as it didn't fit inside anything besides a 5 gallon bucket. I then shortened the hose running from the on/off valve to the container leaving it nearly at wasteline for instant/easy access, and kept the hose from the opposite outlet side of the on/off valve the same length to the x-jet chemical inlet.

Downsides--

1.) If you don't have a good back it's not doing you much justice/ I'm 26 and still have a few good vertebre left back there! =)

2.) Running with no proportioner you will siphon 3 gallons fairly quickly but I've been able to manage running a stronger solution with a proportioner and great results. A (+) is while using the backpack you are able to with a quick shimmy tell how much solution is left in your container, leaving you able to judge how much time is left before refill.

3.) After running out of solution in the backpack you still have to refill but I have found this not unreasonable as I have complete mobility requiring only using the quick connect to disengage the x-jet from my wand and I'm free from all other equipment.

4.) Lack of ability to carry more than 3 gallons of chemicals, but due to the fact that I notice some lugging around 5 gallon buckets it's not nearly a bad trade off. "no hoses deciding to jump out of the bucket when your in the middle of a job.

I don't believe in taking shortcuts when doing jobs, however I do believe that making my equipment work easier for me will essentially make my job at hand less of a challenge. If anyone decides to try the same setup, or has the same setup let me know how it's worked out for you.

Here's a few pics of what I did

[CLASSICPW 14]

Jarrod, I use a helper for a house wash because we will do 1 deck/1 housewash or 2 housewashes or 3 housewashes in one day. I like having someone do the setup/cleaup so I can get on the phone with customers or write up the bill etc...

another 5 gal bucket tip... I drilled a hole 2in from the top of the bucket a little smaller than the tube so you have to force it through, it stays put and is watertight, then snap on a lid.

I used the 15gal setup a few days ago and loved it. The only thing I have to do is get straps, bungees didn't work, and make the tube entrance watertight.

[CCPC 26]

I find the X-Jet to be a waste of time when you are properly equiped for downstreaming. I've used my M-5 maybe twice in over a year.

[PLD 14]

I find the X-Jet to be a waste of time when you are properly equiped for downstreaming. I've used my M-5 maybe twice in over a year.

Lance,

I think you mis-posted. This is the "Making the x-jet easier to use" thread. The x-jet vs. downstreamer thread is in a different forum.

[CCPC 26]

Lance,

I think you mis-posted. This is the "Making the x-jet easier to use" thread. The x-jet vs. downstreamer thread is in a different forum.

Au contraire monfrair, no mis post here. The key to my post is that the original question is a trick question, because everyone knows that there is no "easier way to use the X-jet". ;)

[PLD 14]

everyone knows that there is no "easier way to use the X-jet"

Hmmm.... Perhaps if you had used the x-jet more than twice in the last year you might find a little easier to think of clever techniques that help make the x-jet easier to use. Not that I'm recommending that you use an x-jet over downstreaming. If I were doing that, I would probably do it in another thread since it would be completely off topic in this one.

[Keth 15]

The X-jet site has had a picture of a guy with a backpack tank for quite some time.

Xterior - X-Jet

Its the small pic where he is shooting the chimmney.

[AlanandLiz 14]

I keep reading a lot about this X-Jet - for us dumb kiwi's could someone please explain or better still, show us what an X-Jet is?

many thanks.

[Deck Guy 14]

Click on the link in the post above yours!

[douseahouse 21]

has anyone ever cleaned a chimney that far out using an x-jet or is that guy just showing off?

rando

[PLD 14]

has anyone ever cleaned a chimney that far out

Yes, often. And I've cleaned a 50+ft oxy tank using an xjet and an 8ft lance. I wouldn't try it on a windy day...

[hoosierwindowtek 14]

I like the backpack idea, I'll work with something like that Thanks!

[Coastal Painter 14]

The X-jet site has had a picture of a guy with a backpack tank for quite some time.

Xterior - X-Jet

Its the small pic where he is shooting the chimmney.

In the x jet package it says."do not hook x jet to trigger but only to the lance"?? In the picture on above site. It shows the dude on the right using trigger gun only no lance?? Does anyone else use this method?

[Adrian 155]

I get 30 ft or better with just a trigger. I rarely use ladders for anything other than hard angles. With an extension you can reach even higher.

My ladder gets very lonely.

[Adrian 155]

...... staying with the backpack application though, spillage and exposure

are the biggest concern. I just don't think it is that safe to carry chems on your back.

[Adrian 155]

has anyone ever cleaned a chimney that far out using an x-jet or is that guy just showing off?

rando

With that type of setup you WILL be showing off and not even be trying, while cleaning chimney gunk and collecting faster!!!!

[Coastal Painter 14]

Hmm I may try that idea.. The 3 foot wand seems to get tangled in that $%#*&$$&* suction hose... Yesterday was my REAL first customer house wash job with x jet.. Man it worked wonders I just need to do a little tweaking on set up i.e. longer hose bigger bucket dolly etc..

[detailbarn 14]

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

[PLD 14]

In the x jet package it says."do not hook x jet to trigger but only to the lance"?? In the picture on above site. It shows the dude on the right using trigger gun only no lance?? Does anyone else use this method?

Yes, on every gun I have. Every gun is QC'd directly on both ends. 3/8 on the feed side, and 1/4 on the business end. I use an xjet w/o a lance much more often than with one.

[PLD 14]

Hmm I may try that idea.. The 3 foot wand seems to get tangled in that $%#*&$$&* suction hose... Yesterday was my REAL first customer house wash job with x jet.. Man it worked wonders I just need to do a little tweaking on set up i.e. longer hose bigger bucket dolly etc..

Put QC's on everything. Keep a 3' and 6' (QC'd also) handy. For the price of a half dozen QC's, you have a 0', 3', 6', 9' gun that will do most any job w/o a ladder.

As for the bigger bucket: 10lb of bleach weighs 80-90lb. Add 10# for a hand truck. A bag full of black proportioners weighs maybe 1oz. Use a proportioner, mix stronger, carry less. Thats the best tip for making an x-jet easier to use.

As for the backback: I do not believe that this concept is a safe one to implement. Dripping or leaking bleach could cause burns the solid waste control sphincter muscle and create an appreciable pain in the fundament...

[dsp powerwash 14]

i have a quick disconnect between the hose and xjet. This way you arent dragging the hose around when rinsing. the bucket from sunbrite works well too. frank

[PLD 14]

I would think that 22 gallons would be sufficient to do 4-5 average sized houses with the proper mixture.

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

[detailbarn 14]

I would think that 22 gallons would be sufficient to do 4-5 average sized houses with the proper mixture.

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.

[rj242 16]

I use a blue 7gal camper water jug ($9.00 at Walmart, in camping section.). The cap has a plastic valve on the end, which I cut off. I then put my xjet hose thru the hole and but zip ties on each end so that the siphon can't be pulled out. If the bucket turns over, you don't loose your chemicals immediately. I can't take credit for this idea, because I saw it on a different site.

[HotShot 34]

Actually Alan Preferred Pressure had this idea first as far as I know...I use it too..those little jugs are really nice.

[WashRite 14]

I typically do not post but thought I would post a few pictures of my set-up which is very similar to Freshlook’s gear. I have been in the power wash business over two years and have downstreamed since that time. I still downstream in most cases but definitely like the x-jet (m-5) in certain applications. I have only x-jetted for a few months but when I started I realized there was probably a better way than using a 5 gallon bucket. First, I determined what applications my x-jet would be useful in. Once that was determined, I figured how much solution I would typically need for those applications. I came up with approximately 4 gallons. I searched for possible containers and came across the SOLO Sprayer (pictured below). This sprayer has worked very well for me. I mix a fairly strong house wash mix and can easily complete an average size house without refilling. Obviously each job is different but I was looking for something that works in most cases without having to stop. I also use it for high areas where I mainly used extensions or telescoping wands. It worked wonderfully this past weekend on a two-story home. I did have to refill it (3300 sq ft) but I was able to use the x-jet exclusively to clean the house.

The pictures below show the SOLO Sprayer adapted to my x-jet. The first thing you will notice is there is no need to drill a hole in the top. This sprayer works from the bottom. Chemicals are filled from the top and the red cap has a seal inside preventing any spillage from the top. Next, I took my x-jet hose and cut it to enough length so I could reach the flow valve and stretch arms length. I removed the hose from the sprayer and put the x-jet hose on. This was easy because the hoses are the same size. I did put a QC socket on the end of the hose and replaced the barb from the x-jet with a QC plug. I plan to adapt the extra x-jet hose for use with extensions or telescoping wands if needed. I plan to put QC’s on each end of the hose. I proportion with the flow valve rather than the supplied proportioners. However, I may try the black proportioner to see how it works. I believe it may give me more consistancy. The SOLO Sprayer costs around $100.00.

I've used it approximately 35 hours with no problems or leaks. My solution is basically chlorine (10.5), degreaser, and dawn. Their is very little chemical spillage risk but I suggest you have a fairly strong back. Once you get to two gallons its a breeze.