PWINoob
New member
Hey guys I had a chance to clean my first business last night and the results were not good. I couldn't get it clean at all!
I'm not sure whether I am looking at a lack of pressure on my machine, use of improper chemicals, rushed dwell times or all of the above.
The job was to PW the patio of a Mellow Mushroom Pizza place. The patio is about 30 feet long and tapers from 10 to 15 or so feet wide. It contains steel tables and chains that have left stains on the concrete surface. I do not have experience removing these type of stains and like the novice that I am was not expecting anything other than high traffic staining.
The machine I am using is a Cold Gas 4GPM 4000psi Pressure Pro Belt Drive. I also have a 20" Surface cleaner. I purchase a psi gauge to view my psi while I get used to the job and was surprised to find that I as maxing out pressure with the surface cleaner at in the 2000s. I had the adjustable knob on the unloader set at the highest pressure, the engine was at full operating RPM, and my ball valve was all the way open. My wand was topping out at around 3500 PSI as well. I figured that was max for the wand because when you release the handle the pressure spike puts the PSI over 4000 ever so slightly so my guess was it is a safety feature to protect the lines and gun.
The chemicals I was using were ones that I know were not optimum for the job but I figured they would get it done with some added elbow grease. I am using 12% SH and Powerhouse Wash. I mixed at a ratio of 2SH - 2PH - 2[H20] for a strong mix. I used my m-5 Xjet to apply chems and allowed to dwell for 10 mins.
After 10 mins dwell time I hit it with the surface cleaner.
As you can see from the video the surface cleaner has no effect on the staining.
Here is an image of the cause of the staining. Power washing with surface cleaner has no effect and wand has some effect at 3500 PSI but it only takes away the deepest darkest parts with the majority of the stain remaining.
I remember reading about a chemical on here that one of the members invented and promotes (F1 maybe?). Is that what I need to clean this? Any feedback would be great. I am looking forward to learning the hard way here and going back and doing a professional job.
Thanks!
I'm not sure whether I am looking at a lack of pressure on my machine, use of improper chemicals, rushed dwell times or all of the above.
The job was to PW the patio of a Mellow Mushroom Pizza place. The patio is about 30 feet long and tapers from 10 to 15 or so feet wide. It contains steel tables and chains that have left stains on the concrete surface. I do not have experience removing these type of stains and like the novice that I am was not expecting anything other than high traffic staining.
The machine I am using is a Cold Gas 4GPM 4000psi Pressure Pro Belt Drive. I also have a 20" Surface cleaner. I purchase a psi gauge to view my psi while I get used to the job and was surprised to find that I as maxing out pressure with the surface cleaner at in the 2000s. I had the adjustable knob on the unloader set at the highest pressure, the engine was at full operating RPM, and my ball valve was all the way open. My wand was topping out at around 3500 PSI as well. I figured that was max for the wand because when you release the handle the pressure spike puts the PSI over 4000 ever so slightly so my guess was it is a safety feature to protect the lines and gun.
The chemicals I was using were ones that I know were not optimum for the job but I figured they would get it done with some added elbow grease. I am using 12% SH and Powerhouse Wash. I mixed at a ratio of 2SH - 2PH - 2[H20] for a strong mix. I used my m-5 Xjet to apply chems and allowed to dwell for 10 mins.
After 10 mins dwell time I hit it with the surface cleaner.
Here is an image of the cause of the staining. Power washing with surface cleaner has no effect and wand has some effect at 3500 PSI but it only takes away the deepest darkest parts with the majority of the stain remaining.
I remember reading about a chemical on here that one of the members invented and promotes (F1 maybe?). Is that what I need to clean this? Any feedback would be great. I am looking forward to learning the hard way here and going back and doing a professional job.
Thanks!
