Wednesday, April 24, 2013

House Washing Wednesday: Rogersville MO

House Washing Wednesday: Rogersville MO
&
a quick update on our home-made extension pole for power washing.

I finished the pole's construction during the thunder storm the other day, so thought I would give it a try on a house washing today. Worked out well for the cost was a bit tip heavy but the water stream helped with that.

Our home-made extension pole, because sometimes we need more but not to much, Cleaned by Pete

Our home-made 12 foot extension pole, because sometimes we need more but not to much. Cleaned by Pete is ready to take it out and give it a try on a house wash today.
House Washing Wednesday: Rogersville MO

Customer's home needed a good cleaning mold, mildew, algae, and dirt were taking over and called Cleaned by Pete to put a halt to it here are some pictures of the home we took while working today. Arrived at 9:00 to set-up and it was cold, tempatures had dropped to 32 degrees last night after raining all day. Keep the cleaner in the heat last night and then in the cab till ready to use. Made it up to 36 to 38 and had to start. Owner took the morning off to be here so need to get things done. A few pictures and then to work.
Cleaned by Pete house washing Rogersville MO before washing.

Cleaned by Pete house washing Rogersville MO before washing.

Cleaned by Pete house washing Rogersville MO before washing.

Cleaned by Pete house washing Rogersville MO before washing.

Cleaned by Pete house washing Rogersville MO before washing.

Cleaned by Pete sees this type of home invasion all the time please let us help get rid of these home-invaders and help keep more value in your home.
One picture when we have finished the garage and are getting ready to start the front of the home. Please to notice the gutters and color of the cleaned vinyl siding.



 After finishing the home now looks like this!

 
Cleaned by Pete house washing Rogersville MO, after a house washing.

Cleaned by Pete house washing Rogersville MO, after a house washing.

Cleaned by Pete house washing Rogersville MO, after a house washing.

Cleaned by Pete house washing Rogersville MO, after a house washing.

Cleaned by Pete house washing Rogersville MO, after a house washing.

Please excuse the dot and spots on the pictures, it was cold and I droped the camera several times and could not get the lens cleaned while on the job.  We would never leave spots on your home.
Call Cleaned by Pete for a free prompt estimate 417-459-7869

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Pictorial History of Power Washing, part II

A pictorial history of power washing.

A few more pictures of the pictorial history of pressure washing. First hot-water high pressure washer was invented by Alfred Karcher in 1950 in Germany. Which some say was a refinement of Frank Ofeldt's steam cleaner. Designed and invented in the United States. The steam pressure washer or "high-pressure Jenny" is introduced much earlier, in 1927. Refinements have been made but we all own and use something that is credited to these two gentlemen. These pictures have been used from the internet. If you or your companies owns them and may wish them removed please email us and we will remove them. Pictures have link to web sites where you can find them and more information.


The Hypressure Jenny was the first Steam Cleaner ever made - first in the world! It was invented by Mr. Frank W. Ofeldt, II in 1927. He immediately joined Homestead Valve Manufacturing Co. in Coraopolis Pennsylvania, and later became Chief Engineer of the Hypressure Jenny 

 //www.jennyproducts.com/HistoryArticle.html


Sioux was founded in 1939 in Beresford, South Dakota, initially manufacturing steam cleaners used to clean automobile engines.  In 1965, the company was sold to John and Virginia Finger, who began designing additional models of steam cleaners and hot or cold water pressure washers, with larger capacities and pressures for application in other industries. http://www.sioux.com/history-of-sioux-corporation.html

In 1977 the first Epps Products pressure washer was produced.  The model 800E, @ 800 PSI and 3 GPM. http://www.eppsproducts.com/aboutus.html

http://www.tractorumbrellas.com/photo/malsbary-steam-cleaners-farm-machinery

http://www.hotsy.com/oldestworkinghotsy.aspx
The powerful streams of water ripped through clay, rocks and gravels, blasting away entire mountains.  http://www.brackensgoldrush.com/History.htm

This 1900 photo shows a water cannon blasting away a hillside at the Calhoun Gold Mine, in Lumpkin County, during the second gold rush.
Courtesy of Georgia Archives, Vanishing Georgia Collection
The last two pictures so how water pressure cannons we use early on for dirt removal sometimes whole mountains here we have more volume than pressure, today we have great pressure with less volume doing the same job. It all comes down to dirt and grime removal.
For all your dirt and grime removal call Cleaned by Pete for a free prompt estimate at 417-459-7869 serving the Southwest and greater Springfield MO area.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Extension or Telescoping poles: the locking system

Extension or Telescoping poles: the locking system

If your read the entry about poles the other day you know the entry took a different path but I did leave it as it was. I had not thought about going in to the aspects of telescoping poles. One of the readers wanted a bit of clarification on the locking mechanism that are used to keep the length of the pole in place and then allow it to be collapsed back down. I said I would put in a quick entry and here it is.

Sunday morning found me reading my e-mail and a question form a reader popped up, could I explain the locking mechanism on the pole just a bit more. I have a few examples of the locking styles that I have seen, used or been around. I know you can find more styles out there or systems using a combination of these locks. 

I mentioned in the last blog a few styles, but a picture is worth a thousand words and may help in starting to understand the locking types.
The first pole shows a cam lock this lock, it is inside and by twisting the poles the cam is pressed or locked inside against the other pole, The can be a tappered cam or an off centred cam. Second pole has one style of the lever lock it pinches one pole's outside tightly against the other poles inside locking them in place. The last is the pin lock where a pin falls into a predrilled hole to keep the pole in place.
The cam lock 
The cam lock has been around for a long time and is use on several styles of poles. Though with water fed poles it has a draw back, you can not run your water line inside of the pole. There are some companies that use cam locks still and just run the water line on the outside of the pole. I see a lot of window washing poles are still external feed poles. Cam lock's also can be the knurled end is fitted into the end of one pole then the off set plug locks against the side of the other pole holding them in place. To lock this in place you twist the poles in opposite directions. An other draw-back is smaller poles are harder to grip when wet.

cam lock device


The twist lock or locking cone lock
This is the oldest style use on most water fed poles or pressure washing heavy duty ones you may encounter. It work by tighten the large cone shaped ring on fingers under it to pinch or tighten against the smaller pole inside. You tighten the cone shape barrel by twisting it the tighter you do now the harder it is to undo later. I have had trouble getting grime in the fingers and over-tightening is a problem. Keeping it clean and a genteel snug to tighten it is all that is needed to keep this problem from happening.

The tappered cone is tightened down against the fingers locking the poles in place.

Twist locks come in several sizes to work with the different diameters of the poles or tubing.

Pin locks
This is a sure way to lock into one length it will not move or come loose with work it is a very positive way to keep the poles at the working length. I have never used one of these style of poles so I can not give you much feed back. One draw back is there are preset hole drilled into the pole giving you only the preset length, this is not a big deal though you are only less than six inches off. 
Push the button it lifts or depresses the pin and you can slide out the pole to the desired length.

Pin lock style lets you lock the pole into the desired length it is a very positive locking system.

Lever lock or clamp lock
The last system I will look at is the lever lock it is a clamping system it has a clamp the is activated by a lever or a screw-nut. You use the leverage to tighten the internal pole against the out side of the sliding pole it is fixed onto the other pole keep it from moving. One disadvantage is the larger screw-nuts may get in the way but the smaller streamlined lever is less likely too. Over tighten may be a problem here too and breakage of the plastic lever.

 the screw-nut type of locking clamp

lever locking style of clamp lock

Typical arrangement of the telescoping pole what ever the locks they use the have a smaller pole inside of a larger pole and some type of locking system to keep it in place.
Other styles of locks
You may see other style of locks too I found a few pictures.






I hope this will help to clear up some of your questions on the locking systems and how they work. All these locking systems work by pinching against the wall of the pole except the pin system. Keeping your pole at the desired length while working is all that is needed but being able to quickly change and adjust the length is where each may differ. This will all be up to each user of which system he or she will use. I have carpal tunnel in my hands and find the large twist locks the easiest to work with and have been using this system for a lot of years as I stated in the last blog entry. Thank you for reading our blog and please visit our web sites, links are on the right. As always call:
Cleaned by Pete at 417-459-7869 for all your power washing needs in Springfield and the Southwest MO area

Friday, April 19, 2013

Extention Telescoping Poles & "Down Time"


While writing this entry in the blog it took a different turn then when I started writing, moving in a different direction then intended. I went with the new direction and here is. I hope you enjoy it. 

Extension or telescoping poles are very useful attachments to have in your cleaning arsenal. You can do a lot with them reaching areas to wash while safely remaining on the ground.  Reaching higher areas and thus expanding you cleaning range making you better able to bring in more jobs or for the home owner to be able to get a cleaner house and make it easier on you. I want to throw this out here these poles take a lot of physical strength to use. Once they fill with water and are fully extended they are a handful, and a balancing act at best then takes place. Some companies offer a harness and belt that you ware to help support the pole when it is in the upright and working position which helps some people. There is also a device that helps to regulate the water flow to assist in lifting the pole to the upright working position. So you have accessory for accessory.

Still staying off ladders is just the better way to go reducing any chance from damage caused by ladders leaning on the home or guttering, Keeping you or your workers safely on the ground is a must. These extension or telescoping poles come in several different styles and lengths. They are made form two major materials or combination of them, aluminium and fibreglass. Their locking devices vary too. Pin style locks, cam locks, or twist locks are all used to set the length and keep the pole in length till reset. Construction will also be different from company to company some using  a lot of smaller sections or some using a fewer longer sections. Each pole has it own pluses and minuses each lock and material has it pluses and minuses. I can not tell you what is best for your uses, I know what I use and why what I like and why. Cost is also a deciding factor in the poles that each contractor or home owner may choose, how often are you going to use it to make it worth the while of owning it. The biggest thing I would say to help you out is what ever nozzle you use it will have a big effect on the action of the pole. Start with the widest nozzle you have other wise that 0 degree nozzle will propel the top of that pole around like a rocket ship on a string. Then you at the bottom will have to react and the dance will start. I know the first I used one when things start to go astray you want to fight the pole and you tighten up all your muscles to help in the battle. Tighten up causes you to get the death grip on things including the trigger pulling it tighter more pressure more fighting. "LGS" let go stupid! letting off the trigger will stop all this. I have to repeat this this is the most important thing in this entry. "LGS" let go stupid let off the trigger and it will stop the rocket ship, I know been there done that. The telescoping pole has helped us out here at Cleaned by Pete for washing and getting at that last dirty spot on 2 and 3 story homes and business fronts we have made some nozzle attachments and adaptors to change the angle of the exiting water and it has made all the difference in handling at full length and aids us in our cleaning method. The pole I use is a fibreglass with three sections the last being aluminium tubing with twist locks. These were what was available when I entered the business. They were designed and built local here for distribution that is why I use this style. I have not worn it out with the years of use, so I still use this older style pole, though I would really like to try one of the newer pin lock all extruded aluminium poles out one of these days.




 


This is where the entry was to start I did not intend to discuss the extension or telescoping pole that much but it happened so I just went with it. The entry was about "down time" the when you find yourself board, with nothing to do, can’t work, weather not cooperating, or winter keeps coming back. I'm starting to build my own telescoping pressure washing extension pole during this "down time", for something to do follow along and see if it works or if it is a flop.

I really am not handling the extended winter well this year, just too much "down time". Winter just will not go away here in "The Ozarks", Southwest and the greater Springfield MO area. Temperatures dropped to 32 degrees lastnight ounce again. We had a good week so far with patio cleanings, house washing, grease spill clean-up and bids. Today we were to start removing vinyl letters on 300 storage units and replacing them with new numbers but Mother Nature once again stepped up and said no, the company making letters also said no, will not guarantee the letters to stick if not applied with temperatures in the high 60's or above. So we once again have "down time" again and I'm looking for some thing to do...... came up with this pole project. Normally I would support my pressure washer dealer or supply house and just purchase another pole, but "down time" makes you do things just to be busy.

Take a Corona limb cutter with the blade and lopping mechanism removed, found at a flea market for $10.00, 25 foot of used older high pressure hose, the spare trigger handle ($10.99 on sale at our local dealer) and onhand from our replacement parts bin in the service truck. I always carry and have a good supply of parts, nozzles, hose repair kit, o-rings, fittings, quick connectors, bearings for surface cleaners, tools and other items for field repair, on-board at all times. Some extra time at the shop to design and weld up a mount. I'll start to build a 2 section extension washing pole should be 12 feet extended and that may work better when the 24 foot yellow banana or the longer lances really don't fit in. We are only out some time and a few bucks if it does not work, but can always still use the parts. Let's see if I have any luck doing this, here is the build so far, will try to up date as we go along. Need it the mother of invention and "down time" is the redheaded stepchild the spurs it on.  I am not out to reinventing the power washing extension pole or am I going to make any major refinements in it. I have the parts and it's something to do. "Down time" this is how I handle it. If I did not have parts, a shop, or a welder ..... but being an machinist  and having the tools and place to do this I'll play around with it. I would not under-take this pole project build if I did not, you are better off to support your pressure washing dealers local or on-line and just buy one even if it means saving for a bit till one has the money.

Designed and welded up the gun mount, Cleaned by Pete.

Trigger gun set into mount, thinking about "Trex" banding or hose clamps to put it on the pole.

Coat of paint, nipple and a washer made to fit looking a bit better, Cleaned by Pete

A fiberglass Corona pole found at a flea market will be our donner for the project, Cleaned by Pete's DIY extension pressure washing pole.

This is trigger gun mount we hope to attache onto the pole run the house through the pole to the nozzle attachment point at the top of the second section, Cleaned by Pete's DIY extension pole project

Hoping to use "Trex" banding or hose clamps to attach the handle to the pole.
There are still items to work out and the best way to do things. Stay tuned to see if I can make this extension pole work, or if it is a flop. As for right now I just had a call to clean pollen and construction dust form cutting rock off a patio, furniture and out side kitchen area. So my "down time" today is something I don't have to worry with now.

Cleaned by Pete call us for your cleaning needs, 417-459-7869

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

House Washing Wednesday: Springfield MO

House Washing Wednesday....Springfield MO

Our feature home is in Springfield MO the owners needed it cleaned. They started to do a section and quickly decided that it was best left to a professional house washer. This is where Cleaned by Pete came in and here is what we did using our safe soft washing method to clean vinyl siding.

Cleaned by Pete house washing before photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing before photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing before photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing before photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing before photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing after photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing after photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing after photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing after photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing after photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing after photo.

Cleaned by Pete house washing after photo.
If we can help you out with your cleaning needs call Cleaned by Pete for a free prompt estimate 417-459-7869