02-11-2014, 12:49 AM
So I've posted a few times here and I'd like to first thank everyone for their awesome support, there's a lot to follow so please hang on.
I have a concern. A buddy of mine brought me some brand new carpet displays from the local hardware store. Each rug is just big enough for me to run my Orbiter and test a few different spots. Primarily I wanted to find my failure point... how long I could run the machine without damaging the carpet. The answer, not long. After five seconds of running the machine I noticed that the pile had started to untwist in a few places (Shaw polyester cut pile). I ran the machine again for 10, 15, and 20 seconds. After 20 seconds the fibers had untwisted quite a bit.
I'm running the cotton bonnet that is provided with the Orbiter and it's pretty heavily textured. I lubricated the bonnet with DS2 and I pre-sprayed the carpet.
So, what could I be doing wrong? Is it not possible to clean this carpet with an OP machine without damaging it? Nevermind the entire debate surrounding HWE vs. VLM on residential. I frequently hear folks on other boards say that VLM is just another tool in the tool box and that "a construction worker wouldn't build a house with just a hammer", but the fact is... I have a Lowboy and an Orbiter with a TM and porty well out of reach. Can I make it work or do I need to drop residential and focus solely on commercial? (Commercial market isn't that large here thus my focus on residential)
My name is Jeff by the way, and any advice is greatly appreciated. Surely some of you have done VLM on residential carpets without destroying your customers carpet!
I have a concern. A buddy of mine brought me some brand new carpet displays from the local hardware store. Each rug is just big enough for me to run my Orbiter and test a few different spots. Primarily I wanted to find my failure point... how long I could run the machine without damaging the carpet. The answer, not long. After five seconds of running the machine I noticed that the pile had started to untwist in a few places (Shaw polyester cut pile). I ran the machine again for 10, 15, and 20 seconds. After 20 seconds the fibers had untwisted quite a bit.
I'm running the cotton bonnet that is provided with the Orbiter and it's pretty heavily textured. I lubricated the bonnet with DS2 and I pre-sprayed the carpet.
So, what could I be doing wrong? Is it not possible to clean this carpet with an OP machine without damaging it? Nevermind the entire debate surrounding HWE vs. VLM on residential. I frequently hear folks on other boards say that VLM is just another tool in the tool box and that "a construction worker wouldn't build a house with just a hammer", but the fact is... I have a Lowboy and an Orbiter with a TM and porty well out of reach. Can I make it work or do I need to drop residential and focus solely on commercial? (Commercial market isn't that large here thus my focus on residential)
My name is Jeff by the way, and any advice is greatly appreciated. Surely some of you have done VLM on residential carpets without destroying your customers carpet!