I just completed my first encap cleaning job. About 6k of 15 year old wool/nylon blend loop pile in the local MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS. Its never been cleaned. They just finished a four month show of glass by someone named CHIHULY with an attendance of over 160,000. Jim McDannel was kind enough to provide the CIMEX and RELEASIT and the on the job training. Due to the very heavy soil level, all dry soil no oily materials, we had to double pass everything. First 4000 sq. ft took 3.5 hours, second 2000 sq.ft. took 2 hours. My "helper" the second day was a 37 year old competitor that had been HWE cleaning since he was 12. His dad was good friends with Jim's dad. Now I gotta have a CIMEX to go with my STEAMIN DEMON! I am also extremely pumped about the CIMEX and ceramic tile/grout cleaning. PS: If the CHIHULY exhibit comes to your town SEE IT!!! Just my 3 cents. I was first introduced to the CIMEX and LST by Ed York about 30 years ago.I guess I'm just a slow learner eh? Bob Wittkamp

Well done! I'm getting hooked on encap work and T&G too.

I agree if you get a chance to see the blown glass artwork of Chihuly, see it. You'll be blown away - he's world renowned for his creations and even has blown glass sculpture in Venice, the birthplace of Murano stained glass. No that's selling ice to the Eskimos!

Chihuly has one eye I think, but what an eye!

Good going Bob! I'm amazed every day what you can accomplish with this system.

I recently sold a Cimex/Releasit system to a fellow in Calgary Alberta and he called me last night. I guess he was cleaning a 5000 sq. ft. building and he got $0.23/sq. ft. for. The neet thing is that this place doesn't clean very often (4 years ago was the last time) and the last time he cleaned it he had to return a couple time to re-do the traffic areas because they kept on wicking back. He did it this time with the Releasit and it turned out fantastic. With his truck, it took him almost 7 hours, and with his Cimex/Releasit, it only took him 3 hrs. Finally a way to make decent money at commercial with amazing results.

Rick Thode
The Canadian Cimex/Releasit Connection

Haven't forgotten you Rick, I'm meeting my partners next week to try (again) to convince them to invest in a CIMEX for Montreal. This type of post helps. Rick, do you know of anyone else here who has one or has bought one?

Better late than never!!

If I wasn't so close to retirement- I am planning on retiring in July- I would have a Cimex too.

Meanwhile, using my Chemstractor has worked out pretty good.

Doing a side by side job with a friend who has a Cimex, he did about 2/3 of it while I did about 1/3 of it. So, the Cimex is about twice as fast on the same job as the Chemstractor and that suggests most any other roto would compare about the same. So, if you are not yet ready to retire, go for the Cimex.

Gary

Two of the greatest veterans of our industry in the same thread.

Bob was my IICRC instructor for a few classes. He’s one of the sharpest guys I've had the pleasure of knowing. I own three of the manuals that he has written – great stuff. His carpet manual is available here… Bob's Carpet Cleaning Tech's Book

Interesting thing about Bob – he LOVES hot water extraction. One gets the definite view that he is, shall we say, biased to the method. So my hat is off to a man who is keeping his eyes open to changes in the industry. Bob is a forward thinker. You can read the article that he wrote for ICS magazine on Encapsulation here… Bob's ICS article on Encapsulation

Gary is also an extraordinarily intuitive guy. Gary thinks way outside the box and continues to push the cleaning envelope. If you ever have the chance to meet Gary or talk to him on the phone you will quickly see that you’re dealing with a man who imparts knowledge. Here’s a link to manuals that Gary has written… Heacock's manuals

These industry veterans are nearing retirement in their businesses. Learn from them while you can. These are a couple of the finest that our industry has to gain knowledge from. Thanks to both of you for your contributions. I have benefited from each of you.




Rick Gelinas

You are so right Rick........whenever I see Gary or Bob
on a thread,I know it will be a learning experience for me. Having a couple of long time RESPECTED PROS tout
e-cap should say it all for the naysayers who can't
hold a candle to either of them........Open minded
folk,using a variety of methods,are the success of
this industry.
Just got through responding to someone
on another board on what kind of tm to buy if $ was no
object.......amazing to still see guys pushing
50k machines,68 hp, and they will STILL GET WICKBACKS
on gluedown comm'l. An open mind,coupled with
education and a good MARKETING PLAN,will get you a
lot farther than a firebreathing tm........

And here I thought you were just taking me forgranted Charles. LOL.

Anyways, I haven't sold any in the Montreal area yet. We've been making our way marketing from the West coast and moving East. My partner and I have just bought a 5th wheel trailer and we are making a cross country tour right from Victoria to the Maritimes.

The reception for the Cimex/Releasit and the Challenger OP has been incredible. We've been bringing the machines in 12 - 15 at a time and they are only last about a little over a week. It's simply amazing how guys that had given up on commercial due to pricing and mixed results are now just diving into it and having fantastic result.

I can safely say that out of all the machines we have sold so far, there has not been one regret and a lot happier and wealthier carpet cleaners.

Rick Thode
Clean Effects Ltd.
The Canadian Releasit/Cimex Connection