Author Topic: Steam cleaner in action (Read 1013 times)

CACBServices · « **on:** April 23, 2008, 09:06:52 PM »

Can I post a video? Let's see? Steam cleaner during recent tile job. Tedious, but thorough. Spent the whole time thinking about spinners.

Eric

Mike M · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2008, 09:13:28 PM »

It works fine!

Thanks for posting that Eric.

ChemBright · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2008, 09:29:25 PM »

Man! That steam shoots out much faster than my home steamer. Nice!

Mo · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2008, 01:31:54 AM »

That was cleaning up nice. It beats scrubbing with a pole and grout brush

micky navarro · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2008, 08:21:35 AM »

nice work eric! gotta love them vapor machines

Grant D. · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2008, 02:25:03 PM »

Pretty nice. Is taping off the edge of the room the norm for tile and grout cleaning? That adds quite a bit of work to the job, but of course the right price makes it worth while.

Mike M · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2008, 04:20:58 PM »

I don't normally tape anything off.

CACBServices · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2008, 07:29:51 PM »

Grant, I used a 24" drop cloth with pre-applied adhesive. Took less than 5 minutes to tape the bondary between tile and carpet. Might be that it's not necessary to protect the carpet, but it did come in handy to set wet and dirty stuff on while cleaning. We also used it for walking on when needed. I think it also impresses the customer.

Eric

Mike Charles · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2008, 11:09:03 PM »

Very professional results.

And should be good advertising for your services.

Mike M · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2008, 05:32:08 AM »

Eric - I always bring a blue tarp to set my stuff on in case something leaks, etc. Gives you a safe place to stand while waiting for things to dry too.

ChemBright · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2008, 11:29:34 AM »

Eric- It looks like the vapor steamer did a great job on the grout. Since I am getting ready to purchase equipment for T&G cleaning you have me questioning whether or not I should still buy a porty with a spinner or get the steamer and use my OP machine. I feel by getting the steamer I would save myself $1500 over getting the porty w/tools. Whats everyones thoughts?

micky navarro · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2008, 12:01:30 PM »

jon,

you should know my thoughts by now.

i've posted aa few times the success i have just using the lil challenger to do T&G.
now you seen with yer own 2 eyes, how a steamer can clean. i dont mean to take anything away from eric cause he appeared to do a fine job using the small vapor machine he has.

somewhere else on the boards here, i made mention of using the larger steamers for this work, and how incredibly fast they are. i also mentioned the drawback of the biggest ones which is the cost and power for the unit.
a smaller propane fired steamer can be had for around 4k if ya shop around. if yer looking into a porty, along with a spinner, and possibly a gekko wand and counter top wand, right there its at least 4k, yes? then ya gots to lug all that crap everywhere ya go.

before i moved back to jersey, i sold the 750psi, propane fired machine i had. i can say, the weight of the machine can be an issue, but the use of a ramp quickly solved that problem.
i did a few T&G jobs with it in florida, but mostly used the lil challenger.
i used the big steamer in tandem with the big 4000psi pressure washer i have. the steamer at 750psi flew thru removing vehicle stains from driveways, thanks to the incredible constant heat. i'd then use the cold water washer to wash down the home.

take a look over at daimer.com and justrenewit.com and check out the huge line of equipment. google search steam vapor, vapor steam cleaning, steam vapor machines, etc..............
some very nice electric ones out there also

ChemBright · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2008, 12:55:13 PM »

Thanks Micky, I value your input (for being the old kronkite here...

)
I'll check those sites out.

CACBServices · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2008, 04:37:14 PM »

Hey Chem,

I have no basis for comparison, cause the steamer is what I got, so it's what I use. No complaints though, I think it worked well. I'm guessing production would go way up with a spinner, but as Micky says, then you get to haul it. Every day I find myself changing my mind about what my next purchase is. With the exception of a water fed pole system, I'm hoping not to have to buy any equipment for a while. Got to make some money with what I have for the time being.

Eric

Mike M · « **Reply #14 on:** April 25, 2008, 05:02:15 PM »

Eric - That's a wise choice.

That's the problem with this business. You COULD buy so much equipment. That's why I have always said to pick a few things to be good at then add services as you go. Otherwise you spend all your profit on new equipment. Picking and choosing what to buy when is the hard part for any of us.

clearlypro · « **Reply #15 on:** April 25, 2008, 05:05:10 PM »

Yeah. I am looking at an airplane right now.

ChemBright · « **Reply #16 on:** April 25, 2008, 05:40:25 PM »

Quote from: Phil R on April 25, 2008, 05:05:10 PM

Yeah. I am looking at an airplane right now.

And I am looking at a 375 acre island just south of cuba. Just don't know if I like the logistics of it all. Will have to sleep on this purchase.

micky navarro · « **Reply #17 on:** April 26, 2008, 07:56:20 AM »

yeah, i'll buy that plane as long as i can bomb that 375 acre island. after that i wanna retire to my beachfront property in arkansas

CACBServices · « **Reply #18 on:** April 26, 2008, 10:39:44 AM »

Phil R make it helicopter. You could use it for doing windows on really tall buildings.

Chem, if you bought the island, you could sleep on it.

Eric

ChemBright · « **Reply #19 on:** April 26, 2008, 10:58:45 AM »

So much love in this room....I can feel it!

noweare · « **Reply #20 on:** April 26, 2008, 10:11:06 PM »

I have a vapor steamer and although I think its awesome, I dont find myself using it on jobs. I use it around my house a lot. I may try it on small residential t&g cleaning and cleaning before color sealing on small jobs.
I think a chem is needed when using those also. The heat helps but I think chemical and dwell would really help on most jobs.

I dont see using a steamer on the larger commericail jobs.

Joe

PS Phil, go for the jumbo jet that way you wont have to upgrade in the future

azsteamer · « **Reply #21 on:** April 30, 2008, 01:00:38 AM »

Jon are you serious? A vapor steamer for tile?

Oh my ever lovin' Lord, are you ever going to listen?

I give up.

You guys just keep on truckin' with your cheap systems while I clean twice as much, twice as fast twice as good.

Stir, Stir, Stir, goes the pot.....

ChemBright · « **Reply #22 on:** April 30, 2008, 01:40:14 AM »

Quote from: azsteamer on April 30, 2008, 01:00:38 AM

Jon are you serious? A vapor steamer for tile?

Oh my ever lovin' Lord, are you ever going to listen?

I give up.

You guys just keep on truckin' with your cheap systems while I clean twice as much, twice as fast twice as good.

Stir, Stir, Stir, goes the pot.....

Yeah us "cheap" guys who use those "cheap" OP machines and our "cheap" chems don't know much about nuttin. If you don't have at least 50k wrapped up in equipment you are not a superior carpet cleaner right? I laugh my way to the bank every week AZ. I have enough equipment to run two vans and still have invested less than 10k. But, all my happy custys must be brain washed or dumb? Wish I knew why I was up 53% from last year?

I'z just gonna keep on spittin and wipin my way into retirement.

PS.
Cmon now! There's more than one way to get things done. OP cleaning has proven that!

Mike M · « **Reply #23 on:** April 30, 2008, 05:58:52 AM »

AZ - Thanks for coming by to stir the pot!

Things have been slow for the last few days.

micky navarro · « **Reply #24 on:** April 30, 2008, 06:47:32 AM »

apparently az never seen a propane fired steamer in action. they eat any, and i repeat, ANY, truckmount and spinner for breakfast when it comes to cleaning tile and grout. and they only cost between 3k and 7k!!

oh well, some folk are just narrow minded

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Author Topic: Steam cleaner in action (Read 1013 times)

clearlypro