I'm a one man show and service primarily residential customers. I'm sold on encap and my mex but just can't handle two or three flights of stairs. So I'm considering Challenger OP for encaping when I can't get the cimex on the job.
From posts, I'm trying to decide between 2-speed rotary for bonneting or going with the more expensive Challenger for OP. I'm not a youngster and have always gone for quality work vs speed.

I see from previous posts the Challenger is respected by many on this forum. Question: for encaping, how effective? What pads are best?

thanks guys,

Dennis

Dennis: Like you I am also an old one man show. When I was first introduced to VLM cleaning it was through the CCS board. After researching the Challenger vs. CCS Op debate I sold my truckmount and bought a used blue CCS OP. Since then I've moved up to a CCS Conqueror. I do primarily residential with a little commercial and most of the time use the padding method. From time to time I do encap using the Conqueror with its encap brush. My reason for going with the Conqueror is the service from CCS. I never did see a Challenger in person. If I had more commercial I would definitely go with a Cimex.

Dave Bigler
When It Comes to Cleaning - the BIGLER the BETTER!!!

hiyas Dennis

i am in the same boat as you, looking to purchase an OP machine in the coming months. i've narrowed it down to either Challenger or Orbitec. in the meantime i am using the larger wheels to pull the Cimex up stairs...works great (directions on this are in some threads way down below...or use the Search feature).

i would use a FiberPlus pad on the Challenger. i would also consider not only Encap (or OP-Cap), but i'd also look at normal OP cleaning with Cotton Bonnets.

great thread.

thanx --- Derek.

I encap with the Challenger using either FibrePlus pads, or the white
bonnets with the green stripes. This is for encapping when you just want
to scrub the product into the carpet. This is where I normally use Releasit
Encap-Clean DS (the red label). But I can also encap using the cotton pads
that come with the Challenger, or the 2-ply ones from Argo & Co. Here I
use Encap Punch (green label) If you try to use cotton pads with the red
label (more foam) you won't see a lot of soil darkening the pads. With the
green label Punch, the pads can become totally blackened, depending upon
the degree of soiling.

I bought a ccs conqueror about a month ago. It is not a fast as a cimex but it is a different system. Have used fiber plus pads and cotton bonnets and all encap products with it. Releasit DS works fine with with a cotton bonnet or fiber plus pads. I have some pictures on the ics board that I took using encap products and a cotton bonnet. If you are trying to remove dirt with a bonnet, use only cotton bonnets. The conqueror is about 65 pounds. The only thing I don't like about it is the need for a canister spray system. I like the shower feed method. I purchased the conqueror over the orbitic due to negative comments about the machine and service from owners I talked to. If you want quality, you know how the cimex will out perform a rotary. The orbital machines will also out perform a rotary.

Steve Frasier
Drew and Steve's Floor Care
www.drewandsteve.net

Dennis

This might be a little premature I think, but you might want to keep a keen eye out around here.

Tonight I stopped by Rick’s office and he should me his new machine. When I first saw it I was little concerned. Keep in mind I’m use to using a Cimex that is way heavier than what most of the guys here are use to using. This new machine, Sprint, is not as heavy as even what you’re use to using, but that seems to be what you’re asking for. Rick had already tested it on the carpets in the office by the time I had gotten there and he said that it had worked very well. His conference room has ceramic tile with a small kitchen in it. He took and poured some tap water on the floor and said “Dave, check this out”. I was blown away. Not only did it scrub the tile but with just tap water it actually made some improvement in the grout. But that’s not what was the most amazing thing – it left the floor nearly dry. Yes with no squeegee type apparatus on it, it left a ceramic tile floor nearly dry. It all happened pretty fast and I was truly in amazement, so I told him to do it again. This time I watched closer and paid especially close attention to the grout. He poured another coffee cup of water on the floor in a different area and sure enough he got the exact same results. See, you guys here all do a lot of carpet, I only do about 10 – 12 K sq ft a week, but I do a lot of hard surface flooring like tile & grout and stone. So when I look at a machine I’m looking at how many different applications I can get out of it. My $9,000 HydroTechnologies is basically a high pressure (0-1,800 PSI) porty. And yes it will clean a floor, even grout, like nobody’s business, and it darn well better for that price. But you want to talk about heavy; it is not a one man machine. Plus it has a fill hose, a dump hose, a vac hose, a high pressure hose, a power cord for the power head and not one but two power cords for the actual unit, but hey, what do you want; it’s a thirty two amp system and it does kick butt. At the same time, using it will kick your butt. Oh and did I mention that the HT requires two separate 20 amp circuits. The thing that blew me away the most was that his new Sprint, actually leaves the floor dryer than my two blower motor, $9,000 HT. If it does that well on a hard surface, I can’t wait to see how it works on carpet. As I was looking at this machine I was even thinking of selling them to my very high end residential customers so their maids can use it on their stone floors in between my yearly cleanings, it’s that easy to use.

Keep an eye out for it, but what ever you do; don’t tell Rick I said anything about it OK?

David Gelinas
Marbleguy

Having used both the conqueror and challenger, I much prefer working with the Challenger. Seems to be a lot smoother operation and more simplistic design such as handle release. I found that the cable system on the CCS machine was much more prone to breakage and stretching, wereas the simple foot release never gave a problem.

Go with the Challenger and I think you will enjoy it more.

Rick Thode
Releasit/Cimex Canada

thanx for the update David

i've looked at the other OP's and Challenger or Orbitec are my only considerations. professional companies.

thanx --- Derek.

I find the conquerer to eat thru a fiber plus pad from the brush ring around the pad driver, the challenger is a smooth puppy for me that I abuse daily and just keeps going.

Thank you all for your suggestions and experience. I knew you would steer me in the right direction. I'm leaning toward the Challenger with FP pads for encap. But I may hold off to see what Rick us up to with that new machine???
Anyway, thanks to you all.
Much appreciated.
Den