Dual Wanding Tile & Grout

[boazcan]

For those of you that have tried to or do on occasion, have you ever measured the actual pressure that you experience on each tool when you dual on tile?

We have recently tried this more often after only using on very large jobs where we would normally machine scrub it. On residential, we rarely scrub by hand or machine. This is affecting the quality because our pressure is dropping so much when both tools are in use.

Before I buy two separate pressure gauges to do my own testing, I am curious what any one else has found in dual wanding tile.

I have a 5cp3120 - 4.5 gpm. Can I do something different (other than replace the pump) to reduce to drop in pressure? We are usually around 1200 psi at the truck, giving us around 1000 at the wand based on 200 ft of live solution reel. I bumped to 1400 when dualling, but guess that we drop to 700ish when both are running.

 

[Art Kelley]

Maybe this is a good use for a Water Hog that you hook up at the site. In addition to use for more effective dual wanding, you have an emergency use pump if your Cat pukes. I can't tell you how much my stress level has been reduced since I started carrying (and using) my Air Hog and Water Box, to back up my 9000 hour TM.

 

[mirf]

I would think that the pre scrubbing and the single wand would be most effective. Have you tried the larger tile tool?

 

[boazcan]

I would think that the pre scrubbing and the single wand would be most effective. Have you tried the larger tile tool?

Most of the time, I would agree. With the correct pressure and heat, we rarely have to scrub. Larger tool is the on the way. I would like to be able to price some of these larger jobs a little lower but have to decrease truck running time to justify.

 

[KP]

The simplest way to finding out if you are maxed at the pump would be to downsize the jets,this might get you where you want as well.I doubt 2 seperate regulators would solve it either, although a good idea, seeing how when one of you stops the trigger the other might be blowing out Mrs Jones's grout.I have gone back and forth with the scrub or no scrub,always go back to scrubing some first.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Never tired it but can't see why it would work on most jobs, bad ones you might need to prescrub or go back to just one tool.

 

[Weebco]

When cleaning tile and grout I never got the pressure I'm wanted from my truck mount so I used a pressure washer with the pressure washer hose and got tremendous pressure that I needed to clean what I thought was the best pressure. Everybody was always very happy.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Gary did you use a hot or cold washer and do you remember what psi? My only concern and maybe an unfounded concern would be for potential damage due to the higher pressure. ???

 

[Weebco]

I used a dedicated 3000 PSI pressure washer but I hooked my solution line up to My heat exchanged truckmounted unit but that heat did not keep up with the pressure that's for sure but always pre-scrub my grout lines after mopping down the solution first. Also Pre-examined the grout for structural soundness or holes then pointed that out to the customer first.

 

[Weebco]

I meant to say I hooked my solution line up to the pressure washer so it was cold not hot

 

[Desk Jockey]

Do you think it needed the heat or would a high pressure cold water unit be sufficent?

 

[Weebco]

The Coldwater was sufficient but there were times when I wished I had the heat as well because it would've made it more efficient I believe. If I had more heat then I don't think I would need as much pressure.

 

[Weebco]

I was afraid of blowing out grout but that's the exciting part of this business taking risks and not always going with the flow of what other people or the professionals so-called say.

 

[Weebco]

And one of the drawbacks I didn't and don't like is having to throw in that pressure washer with pressure washer hoses hooking up the pressure washer to another waterline and so forth

 

[Weebco]

View attachment 1328
Here's my pressure washer

 

[clean image]

If your running 1/4 hose, with 200 ft, your closer to a 400 psi drop
So going 3/8 with 1/4 lead would help

Just because your cats rated 4.5 doesn't mean it geared such
Measure your pulleys and max rpm of cat will answer that
Raise machine rpm will give you more flow

You can also check your regulator to see how much its bypassing. Some require 5-10%. So 2 regulators would not help

We run a 3500/ 5.5 gallon pump with 3000psi heat exchangers

 

[clean image]

Oh yea, a bigger tool, boom will require more pressure to maintain same speed
That's why the big ones have 3 booms

Depending on soil conditions, with the old turbo, you can adjust the tips, for more speed or more impact, or a combination.
New ones are welding non adjust