A fellow CCer and I were discussing his new "'truckmount" which he paid around $40000 for. I got to thinking I also have a $40000 VLM truck. $22000 for 3/4 GMC, Equip: Steamin Demon,19" Cimex, 15" Cimex,20" CRB, 15" CRB, OP, 2sp Rotary, VS Esprit,Miele vac, Conquest vac, Multi-sprayer, Tankless sprayer, Ninja, Ozone machine, Water Claw, black light pads/bonnets, products etc. add up to alot of money. Remember I do not own any of this, God is just lending it to me while I am here. One of the reasons I don't clean rooms for $20, I have just got too much invested. How about you?

3/4 ton chevy van,two portys one has paralell vacs and 2000 watt heater,175 17" rotory,175 12" rotory,Cimex on the way (should be here any day ),Certified pile lifter,Windsor vacuums,two pump sprayers, one hydroforce knock off,grandi groomers and brushes.Maybe a sprint in the very near future.
Considered a truck mount but decided I don't want to do residential and don't need it.
Have been cleaning with portys for seven years on CGD. Alot of work but good results. Looking forward to encapping with the Cimex and releasit.Makes more sense.

You guys complain about your prices, look at these.

Large box van fitted with a Genesis plus accessories. $120k

Smaller van with Legend plus accessories. $80k

VLM equipment additional. Cimex, Rotowash R35, 17" rotary. $15k

Tile gear, spinner, gecko edging brushes etc. $4k

And that doesn't get anywhere near the restoration gear that we have. A 'standard Drieaz Saraha Pro 3/4 hp is $785+tax Ace fans $1k each...

you get my drift?

John

John Middleton
Carpet Pro Ltd
Palmerston North
New Zealand

Joe, you have a dream machine comming, congratulations! After all those years on CGD with a porty you are in for a real treat with big yellow. I wish you the best.

Thanks for the encouragement Rambo.The machine came today. Cant wait to start using it.

That's quite a set-up Ray. I've got a 12" op for stairs, 15" op and a 17" op. Lots of pads, a blacklight some upholstery gear...

I'd be curious to hear your take on when to use a CRB type machine and when you use the cimex. Do you straight encap your residential work too? Just curious. My next machine will be added likely in 3-4 months... deciding between larger op, cimex, and a 15 or 20 in CRB. Thanks. -grant

Grant, you have got 3 OPs already, you need to go with CRB and Cimex. I use the 15" CRB on all stairs incl. commercial. I just change brushes according to the type of carpet. I have 4 different brushes for the CRBs including the "Berber Bomb" brushes. I use the CRBs in a lot of residential as the customer/clients like the finished groom look and the carpet pile standing up along with the 45 min to 1 hour dry times. I use the CRB in my own home and have for 3 years now.

Ray, I have several of the crb's(Mist N'Brush) and so far the only down side is the fiber glass drive gear chews up for no apparent reason.When I first purchased it I was told i could use it as a pile lifter before vacuuming but that ate up the gear really quick so now I only use them when carpet is lubricated but they still chew up just not as often.There is a metal rod that connects to motor and the fiber glass gears are on other side.The one that interfaces with the metal gear is the one that I have to replace most often. Sorry for the long explanation but there are so many different manufacturers.

Thanks

Wayne

Ray, do you have the Sprint or what CRB machine? Thanks. I'm also wondering if the problem Wayne alluded to above is typical with CRB's or what the problem is?????

Grant, I hate to be so in your face with this answer, but of all the CRB machines I have seen to date, Mist-n-Brush sold by Master Blend is a joke. I have been running CRBs since 1982 starting with(Host which has steel gears, and is under powered and too light but a very well built machine) and then Whittaker machines that are made in Austria and the same as the Pilemaster that Rick sells. This is another well built machine and it has plastic gears that are designed to strip out should you suck something up into it like a cord or the end of an area rug. Very easy to replace and inexpensive. In all the years I have been running them I have never stripped a gear and do not have a extra set of gears on hand that the mfg. feels you should have. I useally run them about 1500 hrs. and sell them and get new ones. (last one went to Ron Markham in Nashville) I saw Paul Brown post that he runs several including the RotoWashes which are the big brother of the Sprint that Rick sells. I have sucked up cords, pulled a bedspread off the bed, sucked up a drape or two and I never stripped out a gear on the last several I have owned. Now it took a little while to get them unwound from the brushes but no damage, of course I shut if off immediately.

Ken, I have owned both the Sprint and the RotoWash, but do not own them now. I have about all the toys I can play with right now. Also I do not see a problem with the gears if you get the Pilemaster or the Whitakker.

I've been using a Whittaker GLS machine for around 5 years now. I clean two 52,000 sf schools every summer with it, and have for the past 5 years. Not to mention all the other commercial work I've used it on. I also use it to scrub a good bit of my residential prior to HWE.

Never stripped a gear yet.

I can certainly understand that comming from Marty. If you ever get the chance, look into his van, this man knows how to take care of equipment even if he is tall and ugly.

Well...for those of us who have not had a chance to peek into his van personally,how about a photo?
Patrick

Patrick, you know he is way to shy for his picture or a picture of his van to appear on any BB. I caught a glimpse of it at a SummerFest in Atlanta. Guess I am just lucky.

I have a old Mist n Brush from Master Blend I am luck because I have heard similar storys about the gears, but I have not had to replace any as of yet, but that may change i ran a throw matt in the brushes twice. Once I get an Easy Out so I can get the last allen head screw out we shall see what I did.



I like the Rotowash or Pile Master type better

3 GLS's. 1 is about 11 years old only stripped the gears twice, the other two are newer no striped gears. Incidentally the stripped gears machine was predominantly(90%) operated by temp agency labor with 1 or 2 hours of training getting paid $6.50 an hour. They seem pretty tough.

The Windsor iCapsol CRB machines that we're now selling don't have any gears. They are belt driven. So they're quieter and more durable too.

Oh and by the way, we're dropping the PileMaster machines from our line of products.








Rick Gelinas
encapman

Do you happen to have any still lying around?
Just curious,Patrick

We have one of the 20" models left.
(Demo model - only a couple of hours at tradeshows on it)

Call if you want a good deal.







Rick Gelinas
encapman

P.S. We're selling the 20" model with collection hoppers for $2174 (with free shipping) - saving you $400.






Rick Gelinas
encapman

John

Doesn't it make you cry when you see what they call "high" prices for equipment??

Regards
George