Very light lines with surface cleaner...

MHasterok

MHasterok

New member
As I stated before, I am new to the commercial side of the business. I picked up a used Steel Eagle 24" surface cleaner for $400. It works great. One issue I have (sometimes) is the visible lines after the sidewalks dry. I usually run the cleaner, then go over the area with the wand to remove all the loose debri. Today I used the wand first to get all the debri off the sidewalks, then ran the cleaner, then used the wand again. It seemed to work better, but is too time consuming. I usually do about 50ft at a time, and then wash it off with the wand.

Is this the normal way all you guys do it with a surface cleaner?

Is there a splitter attachment available so I can have my wand attached at the end of the line with the surface cleaner so I don't have to keep changing them?:confused:
 
MHasterok said:
As I stated before, I am new to the commercial side of the business. I picked up a used Steel Eagle 24" surface cleaner for $400. It works great. One issue I have (sometimes) is the visible lines after the sidewalks dry. I usually run the cleaner, then go over the area with the wand to remove all the loose debri. Today I used the wand first to get all the debri off the sidewalks, then ran the cleaner, then used the wand again. It seemed to work better, but is too time consuming. I usually do about 50ft at a time, and then wash it off with the wand.

Is this the normal way all you guys do it with a surface cleaner?

Is there a splitter attachment available so I can have my wand attached at the end of the line with the surface cleaner so I don't have to keep changing them?:confused:
Click to expand...

Instead of using my wand at full pressure, I prefer to use a low pressure water broom to to rinse with. This way I don't get my high pressure wand too close to the surface & 'create' new marks on the concrete.
 
Terry Mullins said:
Instead of using my wand at full pressure, I prefer to use a low pressure water broom to to rinse with. This way I don't get my high pressure wand too close to the surface & 'create' new marks on the concrete.
Click to expand...
I do use my wand with a 25 degree tip to rinse, but I keep it a couple feet away from the surface. The lines I am talking about are from the surface cleaner pushing the dirty water to the side, and I think it is drying too much before I rinse it.
 
I usually do a lot more than 50 ft before I rinse. It depends on how quickly it is drying. As far as the lines, that can be caused by many things, tips, chemicals, length of time since it has been cleaned. If you give it a coating of 12% when your done it may help.
 
Mark 8262 said:
I usually do a lot more than 50 ft before I rinse. It depends on how quickly it is drying. As far as the lines, that can be caused by many things, tips, chemicals, length of time since it has been cleaned. If you give it a coating of 12% when your done it may help.
Click to expand...
12% of what??? They were pretty dirty. Haven't been done in a while.
 
You don't need a "T" at the surface cleaner.

Get a High Pressure Ball Valve and put that on the end of the hose so you can block it and disconnect it from the surface cleaner and then connect it to the wand, you can even rinse with the ball valve by cracking it open enough to rinse with some pressure.

What I did is on the end of the hose I put a plug and on the inlet of the surface cleaners and guns there is a coupler so you can connect/disconnect easily and quickly.

50' of sidewalk is not too much. What I would do is rinse off the debris quick with the gun or ball valve then wash with the surface cleaner then leave the surface cleaner there and go back and rinse toward the surface cleaner to preven the dirt from drying then rinse more concrete and then reconnect to the surface cleaner again and repeat.






_________________
Superior Power Washing
Chris Chappell
361-853-2513
prostaff@superiorpowerwashing.com
House Cleaning
Driveway and Sidewalk Cleaning
 
if you give it a light coating of chlorine when you are done it may help with the lines.
 
Christopher said:
You don't need a "T" at the surface cleaner.

Get a High Pressure Ball Valve and put that on the end of the hose so you can block it and disconnect it from the surface cleaner and then connect it to the wand, you can even rinse with the ball valve by cracking it open enough to rinse with some pressure.

What I did is on the end of the hose I put a plug and on the inlet of the surface cleaners and guns there is a coupler so you can connect/disconnect easily and quickly.

50' of sidewalk is not too much. What I would do is rinse off the debris quick with the gun or ball valve then wash with the surface cleaner then leave the surface cleaner there and go back and rinse toward the surface cleaner to preven the dirt from drying then rinse more concrete and then reconnect to the surface cleaner again and repeat.






_________________
Superior Power Washing
Chris Chappell
361-853-2513
prostaff@superiorpowerwashing.com
House Cleaning
Driveway and Sidewalk Cleaning
Click to expand...
I'll try the ball valve. I do have the quick connects on the hose, guns, and surface cleaner.
 
Mark 8262 said:
if you give it a light coating of chlorine when you are done it may help with the lines.
Click to expand...
I've never tried that. Do you mean 12% chlorine to water?

Two more questions...

What can I use in my water tank to prevent algea that is safe to go through the pump?

I did a restaurant today that had alot of grease tracked out the back door. I got it all really clean, but the aggregate concrete is stained almost black in some areas. Any suggestions to get it closer to the gray it should be?
 
I use the one that is rated for about 3000psi or 3050psi that is silver with a black plastic handle, not the one with the long metal handle, that one is awkward to use and harder to open and close, it will last longer than the one with the black plastic handle but I prefer the other because it is easier to use.

They sell them all over the place, just don't buy local as they will be way more expensive than online. I believe that most of the vendors here sell them.






_________________
Superior Power Washing
Chris Chappell
361-853-2513
prostaff@superiorpowerwashing.com
House Cleaning
Driveway and Sidewalk Cleaning
 
Christopher said:
I use the one that is rated for about 3000psi or 3050psi that is silver with a black plastic handle, not the one with the long metal handle, that one is awkward to use and harder to open and close, it will last longer than the one with the black plastic handle but I prefer the other because it is easier to use.

They sell them all over the place, just don't buy local as they will be way more expensive than online. I believe that most of the vendors here sell them.






_________________
Superior Power Washing
Chris Chappell
361-853-2513
prostaff@superiorpowerwashing.com
House Cleaning
Driveway and Sidewalk Cleaning
Click to expand...
I'll check it out, thanks!
 
12% or regular pool chlorine is sodium hypochlorite. You can downstream it when you are done and spray the concrete this might help with our lines. It basically helps bleach them away. If the lines are bad and the area is not too big you can even use 12% straight in a pump up sprayer.

good luck
 
Mark 8262 said:
12% or regular pool chlorine is sodium hypochlorite. You can downstream it when you are done and spray the concrete this might help with our lines. It basically helps bleach them away. If the lines are bad and the area is not too big you can even use 12% straight in a pump up sprayer.

good luck
Click to expand...
I'll give it a try. Thanks Mark.
 
Me likes me ball valve. Get it from Bob.
 
When I am cleaning any concrete I first blow the debris off with a blower and then spray it with my chlorine/water/soap mixture then I surface clean it. When through I spray it again with my chlorine/water/soap mixture and let it dry after I have rinsed it off with water. I have very little problems with lines left behind. Hugh
 
Are u talking about the lines that are left when overlapping? if so I have tried to get rid ofem by changing the tips out they may be worn. You could blend the lines out with a wand. or let dry and get more chems on there n work it in with a brush,then redo with the SC. it all depends on how well u want it to look but in some cases i just had to leave them because i had worked the area 3 times and still could see the lines a lil bit. good luck
 
Christopher said:
What I did is on the end of the hose I put a plug and on the inlet of the surface cleaners and guns there is a coupler so you can connect/disconnect easily and quickly.
Click to expand...

Chris, I have seen a lot of cleaners but I got confused reading this....Picture?

Or maybe I'm not awake yet
 
copgib said:
When I am cleaning any concrete I first blow the debris off with a blower and then spray it with my chlorine/water/soap mixture then I surface clean it. When through I spray it again with my chlorine/water/soap mixture and let it dry after I have rinsed it off with water. I have very little problems with lines left behind. Hugh
Click to expand...
I do have a blower. Why didn't I think of that??? I'll try the chlorine mixture. Thanks.
 
El Flojo said:
Are u talking about the lines that are left when overlapping? if so I have tried to get rid ofem by changing the tips out they may be worn. You could blend the lines out with a wand. or let dry and get more chems on there n work it in with a brush,then redo with the SC. it all depends on how well u want it to look but in some cases i just had to leave them because i had worked the area 3 times and still could see the lines a lil bit. good luck
Click to expand...
Yep, the overlapping lines is what I am talking about.
 
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