applying soap

[BlueSkyBarry]

Hi everyone
I'm new to this forum andi have been P/w for 3 yrs I'm looking at either a small elec. p/washer, or a sure flo pump to work out of a 55 gal drum of pre mixed soap. I already have a generator on board for running my recovery sys. I'm trying to save water and wash more trucks. Which system would you recomend?

[Biodude]

The "Bioclean System"! HA HA Are you just doing this on a part time basis, or is this something you would like to expand?

[BlueSkyBarry]

Biodude
I started this as a hobby, I don't golf. As of now, powerwashing is about 30% of my income. I have done some research and these are the two options that are in my price range. I want to mix a 55 of soap and water, and apply with either a 1.5 gpm electic machine, or just hook up a sure flow pump and a battery, but I don't know if it will put up enough solution to brush. The elec. p/wer will but my concern is the number of trucks that I will get per drum.

[Biodude]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyBarry

Biodude
I started this as a hobby, I don't golf. As of now, powerwashing is about 30% of my income. I have done some research and these are the two options that are in my price range. I want to mix a 55 of soap and water, and apply with either a 1.5 gpm electic machine, or just hook up a sure flow pump and a battery, but I don't know if it will put up enough solution to brush. The elec. p/wer will but my concern is the number of trucks that I will get per drum.

Have you ever thought about those hi/low pressure wands that allow you to run an injector? Then you could mix your soap in concentrate and apply it out your gun, then switch over to your high pressure/flow rinse...It should delay how often you'd have to mix a batch of soap, and they are relatively inexpensive from what I recall...

[BlueSkyBarry]

Biodude
I already use a down stream wand, or duel lance. What we are putting in place is a three man set up.
1) This is the one in Question. Using a sure flo pump, or a small 1.5 gpm for applying the soapout of a 55gal. drum.
2) A man on brushing
3) My main P/W for rinsing out of my twin 275 tanks.

This will all be in my npr box truck, which will save use bringing my alkota trailer along to apply soap. This should save on P/R and wear and tear on other truck to pull trailer.Using the method of two big machines works great we do 110 school buses in around 4.5 hours with two brush men in between guns, but at 5gpm we use alot of water. This is why we are looking at the smaller machine.

[814jeffw]

Have you considered a roller pump set-up? That will throw your detergent alot better than a Shur-Flo. If you're doing that volume of work, and are looking at a good way to apply soap through a separate sprayer, a roller pump would do the job. Can't imagine the soap for these applications is very harsh so destruction of the pump should be of little concern.

Jeff

[BlueSkyBarry]

Jeff
I'm not sure what a roller pump is, where should I look for info on one?

[814jeffw]

For your application you would want a roller pump connected to a gas engine, like a 5 hp. They are sold at agriculture supply stores such as Tractor Supply. Start an internet search, or use the search feature on here. but I think it's what would suit your needs really well. Best deals seem to be at Tractor Supply. Except for EBAY of course. The CW (clockwise) rotation is the one you need for a gas engine. 4 roller model would be good for what you're doing I suppose.

Rittenhouse | Hypro Roller Pumps

Jeff

[BlueSkyBarry]

Jeff
thanks for your input, I'll look into it.

[Biodude]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyBarry

Using the method of two big machines works great we do 110 school buses in around 4.5 hours with two brush men in between guns, but at 5gpm we use alot of water. This is why we are looking at the smaller machine.

Hey, I'm washing buses tomorrow! About 125 or so, four guys, it will probably take 3 hours or so. They are pulling the buses up to us so that might add some time. I hope you find something that works for you!

[gregative]

Biodude, would you please enlighten me to your process for that many buses in 3 hrs. I am always looking to improve on technique/speed. I guess your post raises a couple of questions. What level of clean are you providing (i.e. soap & blow, brushing, etc...), what type of equipment, what is each man doing? Even doing 125 buses in four hours would put you doing a bus in just under 2 min/per piece which would astound me if I were watching. Help me out brother.

[Biodude]

Sorry Greg, I haven't looked here since they did the server update thing. Actually, it only took us two and a half hours this time. They were fairly clean compared to the last time I was there. They have six drivers on staff that form two lines. We have two trucks there with two guys per truck. Each guy washes one side of the bus and either a front or a back. We two-step wash each bus and each guy can do it with his own gun, so no brushing is necessary. The drivers form a line and pull each bus up to you, each guy sprays prewash (acid), then soap, then a double rinse in most cases to ensure no spotting on the windows. Buses are always a little tricky because chemical wants to settle in the slider windows on the sides and then run down later after you've walked away so we make an effort to hit them from both directions. The other thing I should mention is that not all of them are the larger full-size buses. They do have a good portion of the smaller ones as well. In fact, I would say it is probably close to half and half. These also are city buses, not country buses, so they don't get as dirty as their country counteparts. It is a system that works good for us, and even then it wouldn't be possible without the efforts of the bus company as well. After we're done, we have to drive through the lot and we have the opportunity to look at all the buses parked in their spots so we can check our work out and I have to say that they look pretty dang good when we leave, especially when a person considers how quickly they were washed.

[gregative]

Thanks for the reply. I know a "simple" answer can be very complicated but that gives me the jist of it. Keep em coming.