Ramblings of a "Scorpy/Recoiler"
Posted by Ken Wainwright on 7/11/2011, 2:20 pm (UK/England)
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During my career in carpet cleaning, I’ve had my fare share of machines. I think it’s fair to say that at the time, I thought every one of them was great. Only with time did they become outdated and under performers compared with the new boys on the block.
We always crave more power. On one of my earlier machines, I remember upgrading the vac from a 1hp motor to 1.5hp. Wow! But after only a few days use, the vac tank collapsed! Some GRP and a home made tank brace and I was back in action.
Over the years, I’ve heard many a manufacturer say that their new, improved super suds machine proved so powerful that they had to reinforce the tank, or manufacture using extra heavy duty casings. It always adds weight to the machine and seems to me more like putting a plaster on a problem rather than curing the ailment. I have recently spoken to two colleagues who both reported tank splits on two different twin-vac machines. If the design was right from the start, first aid treatment wouldn't be necessary.
Up until a few weeks ago, the top of the tree portables were triple vac. In reality, despite what manufacturers may claim, their performance at the wand were all pretty damn close. So close in fact that from performance alone, a technician would not know which was the better. Some people, therefore, would make their machine purchase based more on price or aesthetics rather than engineering.
Those of us who run Scorpions/Recoils can at times be a bit smug. We are using industrial machines that perform well day after day after day……. We can also be a bit anal when it comes to some of the engineering and design “lesser” features which help to make the package more complete. Things such as the dump valve being placed a little higher so that grit doesn’t rip the seals. Holes to reduce in tank turbulence.No need for complications such as forced air cooling fans. Switches located in a position that is perhaps a little inconvenient when used as a porty but great when used van-mounted. Some machines with high positioned switches can be almost unusable when van-mounted!
We now have a new generation of extractor, and Cross American, ably supported in the UK by Nick and his team at Solutions, UK have lead the way yet again. The Jaguar performs to a level unimaginable just a few short weeks ago. There is no comparable machine. The “ugly” casing from the Recoil/Scorpion family is laughing out loud. Supporters, like myself, can smile with pride when this machine, built by engineers, not designers, out performs all the other portables in the world. And the recovery tank didn’t collapse The weight isn’t back breaking, so the machine can still easily be loaded/unloaded by one person. Reports are coming through from users about using even higher psi and still getting the carpets acceptably dry or even reducing psi and getting higher quality cleans than before and drying performance previously only dreamed of.
It seems inevitable that other manufacturers will soon use the same components to try to emulate the performance of the Jaguar. I wonder if the tanks of their “pretty” machines will collapse Will the casing get heavier Will little details such as the way the tank is sealed to the vac manifold cause the seals to be broken and drawn in by the new, high performance vac motors
Many of us converts have always appreciated the Scorpion/Recoil in a way that owners of other machines find difficult to comprehend. Perhaps we will be laughing not just last, but longer and louder too.
Safe and happy cleaning
The Ken Wainwright
