Hi gang,

A while back I was able to get a look at Darwin's Butler set up out in Lancaster PA. Wow what a rig. And for a while I have been thinking should I go the route of a TM?

My question is how many of you have done away with the TM's or don't even own one and are just doing the VLM/encap type cleaning and are still making a good living with a Cimex and/or a Challenger doing res/comm work?. I know Rambo is one.

I am stuck between a crossroad, VLM/encapping and save a ton of money or a ton of money for a TM. Can I do the same type of business as say someone having a TM with all the bells and whistles? The 30,000 or so for the TM setup with van that I would need can sure buy a lot of fiber plus pads and a ton of encap punch a Cimex/Challenger.

Can I do res work like a TM would as a VLM type cleaner and not have to worry about the TM with the cold winter nights and the breakdowns and replacement parts?

I hope I was able to make my point. Sometimes I seem to type and nothing comes out.

Thanks everyone.
Joe M

Joe, I understand your questions. I used to own a Butler, sure they look good and are fair at cleaning carpet. But you will have breakdowns, hoses breaking and flooding the customers home, a bent drive shaft (Jon-Don replaced one for us that cost over $1000.00)trouble with the chemical injection system (one of their weak points) cost of operating, just to mention a few. I no longer own a "truck mount" (I have owned seven) but I do own 6 Low Moisture machines, and I can clean 3000 sq, ft. an hour by myself on the 20 floor, try that with a "truckmount" I quess everyone ought to own at least one "truckmount" so they can really appreciate VLM IMHO

Hi Rambo, could you elaborate on this piece please.

"but I do own 6 Low Moisture machines"

I'm also looking at other alternatives.

Cheers,

Shorty.

Shorty, what I use now is a 20" and a 15" CRB by Whittaker, a 15" and a 19" Cimex, a Challenger OP, a 17" 2 speed bonnet, a Sprint scrubber, a Makita variable speed drill/sander w/7" 100% cotton bonnets (furniture) a Von Schrader Esprit for furniture, especially leather furniture, 2 steam vapor machines and a Argo vibrating machine, also a Ninja 10 gal portable so I can still do HWE and small WD jobs and use my water claw. Most of this fits in my 3/4 ton GMC van.

Joe,

I purchased 2 years ago a Hydramaster 4.8 salsa direct drive truckmount. I used just Hwe before I discovered VLM or should I say one of my instructors mentioned this type of cleaning and tweaked my interest. I spent $55,000 on my
truckmount and that's before all the assesories you'll need. Although I am very happy too offer both types of cleaning. I am not getting any younger. I hope this will be my one and only truckmount. I really like commercial cleaning using VLM. It saves you time,money and you aching back. Try Cleaning Two homes a day with a truckmount and you'll know what I mean. I have had people give me a tip, just for all the sweating Iv'e done using HWE. I guess my point is if you have enough business doing VlM stay with it. If Your like me for the time being (early 40's) you may want to offer both. I'm still building my business and the older I get the more VLM I will be doing.


Ralph

Joe,
I own both and at this point would not give up either. I do more residential than commercial and I just prefer my truckmount for residential, although I will do berber with the Cimex from time to time. On extremely dirty commercial carpet, I have learned from these guys on the board that you can use gray pads making, I believe, 5 or 6 dry passes. For me, it's just easier (maybe I'm just lazy ) to hwe the first time and encap from then on. Only on extremely dirty carpet though. On your normally soiled commercial carpet, I encap from the beginning.
With all due respect for "the" Rambo (and I'm not being sarcastic, I have the utmost in respect for him), I think it also can depend on your area. I don't have any 20th floor buildings in eastern NC! lol We do have some 5 and 6 story buildings however and, yes, I would prefer to Cimex those! Of course, I do have a portable extraction unit if I need it.
I do like the power and the heat my truckmount can provide. That's about it in a nutshell!

I agree with Kevin. I own a Boxxer 421 and a cimex. I love both, and I actually use the TM more than the Cimex. Most of my commercial jobs are small professional buildings like Dr offices and resturantes. I find that with my Ti wand with a greenglide that I can actually clean a little faster in these small offices. Now when ever I do get a good size job (which around my town is only about 3-5K sqft) the cimex dominates on time. I guess what I am saying is that I like and need both. Now I am thinking about getting a Sprint so that could totally change things. lol. Anyone got a sprint they want to trade for a Cimex?

I have a Sprint and I would not trade it for the world. Well maybe the world but you get my point. I can say the Sprint is one great little item for doing smaller jobs. In fack I need to order the softer brushes soon to do res work.

Also, thanks for all the advise. I guess it's a 50/50 kind of thing on TM's

How well would the sprint work for shampooing Orientals? I would think that with the soft brushes that it would work great. I am mostly interested in using it for tile and grout and prescrubbing & prespraying Res. Also I just picked up a Janitorial that will need 5000sqft of VCT maintained. I will be cleaning this 3 days a week. Would the Sprint work to just mop & clean this floor during the week? I will still be high speed buffing once a month. I know that an autoscrubber would may be a better choice, but this is my only need for one & I like the multi use possibility of the sprint. Just trying to get my $'s worth. lol.

I only have used the Sprint for encaping of my own carpets. Never used it on anything else. Sorry wish I could be more helpful.

Joe

I only have used the Sprint for encaping of my own carpets. Never used it on anything else. Sorry wish I could be more helpful.

Joe

Sorry for the double post. Hit the enter key twice.

Hi Joe,

Good to here from you again. I think you know my side of things. I use the Butler, cimex and the op machine. There is a place for all of them.
See ya.

Yeah, I know.

I gotta call you one night a talk.

Thanks

Tracy,

I bought a sprint just before Christmas. What a great little machine. I use it for all the reasons you described in your post. I prespray and scrub. I do small enacp jobs where I do not want to unload my cimex and I also do vct tile and grout. I have one job where I use it to clean cement floors once a week.

Ralph

We Own a Butler as well as a few high end portables
and VLM equipment.

My TM sits in my spare parking place now.

If I need to HWE I will use either my Steamin Demon or a Cross American Recoil
With a propane set up if extra heat is needed I do not see the need for a TM in most cases.

All bets are off when we hire someone again.

We purchased the TM because everyone told me how much time I would save over using a portable and how much better things would come out.

I seen little time difference or quality using the Butler over using the Demon or Recoil with heat. This maybe due to us always aggitating the carpet before extraction.