Anyone use a driMaster by Hydromater UFC tool???

[TimO]

I have several conventional UFC, steel hand tools. I'm looking to go in a different direction with the driMaster, but I was curious if anyone has used it or is using it. Think I've seen it as low as $436.00, but that is still about 3x more expensive than a regular steel tool.

Basic question is....Is it worth the investment (I may need 2, so w/ tax about $900)

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[c spot stop]

I may not be speaking of the exact tool but it was Hydr... low moisture UPH tool and it rocked.

[TimO]

This isn't where I was going to buy it.....but here's the one I was looking at....Yes, it is a high flow unit
http://prolinesupply.com/cart/drimaster-upholstery-tool-p-72.html?currency=USD

[luvsnow]

This isn't where I was going to buy it.....but here's the one I was looking at....Yes, it is a high flow unit
http://prolinesupply.com/cart/drimaster-upholstery-tool-p-72.html?currency=USD

Your link doesn't work for me because it wants a username and password to view the page. I've been looking into getting a drimaster upholstery tool but thought they were only for truckmounts. Someone at Jon Don and another place told me you can use them for portables, but since it continuously flows water I'd imagine you would have to keep refilling the tank with water.

Anyone have experience with a drimaster used in conjunction with a portable? I'm curious to know if you burn through all your water or not. I'd really like to get one because my stainless steel upholstery tool is heavy and puts out too much water for more delicate fabrics.

[TimO]

Good question....cause I don't have a truck mount & would need it for a portable. I have a 300psi & a 1200 psi unit..... right now, with a steel tool, I use about 1 gal per 2-piece set/ sectional (my best guess on  water usage)

[Mike M]

I bought one for use with a truckmount when they first came out.

Sent it back the next day.

Would not want to use that with a portable.

Internal jet PMF is the way to go. Not that expensive now either. http://www.pmftools.com/prodUpolstery20.html

[c spot stop]

yeah dude. I used mine with a TM. Never get away with that on a porty unless you had AF

[TimO]

I have AF on one ....not the other...but sometimes accessibility is a problem..I saw the new internal jet models....may look at that also

[c spot stop]

I see.

OK, well if you can figure out how to mame any of them work, go for it.

Mine was a tad cumbersome but it did a stellar job at cleaning and did so without having to soak the fabric. I truly loved mine.

It broke one day and I cried, got a little drunk and shot it.

Did you guys know it is not legal to discharge a weapon inside city limits?

Who knew?

[Mike M]

Note to self............Do NOT move to the city.

[TimO]

Bad Boys, Bad Boys, What ya gonna do.....what ya gonna do when they come for you.......

[Infamousdave]

Did you guys know it is not legal to discharge a weapon inside city limits?

Who knew?

Appearantly it's not legal to drive a 4-wheeler in town either

[azsteamer]

Did you guys know it is not legal to discharge a weapon inside city limits?

Who knew?
[/quote]
I do
Appearantly it's not legal to drive a 4-wheeler in town either
[/quote]
Actually yes you can, provided it is licensed and has lights, and street tires.  My dad's friend got so pissed off when he got a ticket on his four wheeler on a dirt road that he registered it, put lights on it and rode it down the freeway at 70 miles an hour.  No lie. 

[azsteamer]

As for the upholstery tool, I have one.  I bought it exclusively for microfiber, and the occasional delicate.  It works very well in that respect, but my old style Prochem will kick it's azz on anything else.  I wouldn't be caught without either one. 

[Infamousdave]

Actually yes you can, provided it is licensed and has lights, and street tires.  My dad's friend got so pissed off when he got a ticket on his four wheeler on a dirt road that he registered it, put lights on it and rode it down the freeway at 70 miles an hour.  No lie.

Can't do that in my area, they can't be licensed as street legal.  :banghead:I wish we could, I would definately do what your dad's friend did?

[luvsnow]

So I picked up a used DriMaster for $280 on ebay last week to give it a try with my portable. It got here today and I tried it on my basement microfiber couch and office chair. It definitely uses a lot more water than a regular upholstery tool. I probably used a good 9 or 10 gallons of water between the sofa and office chair. Although it used more water, it definitely left the furniture drier in my opinion compared to my other upholstery tool.

It's a lot more ergonomic, but to me it still is kind of heavy. This is the old DriMaster I got though, not the latest so maybe that has improved especially with the optional handle you can now get. I feel more confident doing upholstery now with the DriMaster compared to my old tool. I would not hesitate to clean cotton with the DriMaster but I sure would with my other tool. The guy I bought it from told me I would toss away my other upholstery tool once I tried the DriMaster and he was right.

Bottom line is it will work with a portable, but expect it to use plenty of water. Even with the metering valve not cracked a lot. Having it leave the fabric drier and be more ergonomic in my hand, I don't mind filling up extra buckets at all.

[Bud B]

   I tried a drimaster on some office furniture.  I didn't care for it , I did not like doing radius's with it.  I'll have to side with Mike M. on the uphoulstery tool...   (I'm old school, just as soon have the  hand tool I used back in 1980)   

[azsteamer]

That's funny Bud, I use my old Prochem for the same reason.  It's very difficult to do edges and corners with the drimaster tool.  Also the prochem will go deeper, more water when needed. 

You should have a flow valve on the connection and on the tool itself.  This allows you to control the "maximum" flow with the valve at the connect, and as such use the valve on the tool to shut off flow completely when you are not actually cleaning.  I always calibrate my max flow with the valve at the connect, for the above reason and so that if I hit the handle valve I don't max out the flow by accident.