Walrus Gumboot
Member
Anyone care to share their experience? Brand? Model?
Dual wand TMs - Myth or Fact?
- Thread starter Walrus Gumboot
- Start date
Bob Savage
Member
It is both fact and fiction.
It is a fact when the entire truckmount system is capable of supplying more than enough vacuum for 2 hefty wands without ever noticing that another tech is cleaning at the same time that you are cleaning, more than enough flow for 2 high-flow wands (at least 3.5 GPM), and enough heat to melt chewing gum or candle wax at each wand without needing any chemical. The heat should also be completely adjustable thru it's entire range of operation.
It is fiction when a TM is labeled dual wand capable, and one wand has to be on the floor in order for the other wand to have enough suction, or the flow keeps dropping the pressure while you are cleaning with 2 wands, or there is not sufficient heat for 2 wands.
I will say there are a lot more dual wand TM's out there today compared to several years ago.
Of course you'll need 2 techs in order to run dual wands, but the amount of work that you can accomplish is amazing.
We have been running dual wands for 25 years, and are able to accomplish this with a Roots #45 blower, smaller waste tank with APO, Cat pump, and a 250,000 BTU LP heater with the afterburner circuitry.
We dual wand residential, commercial, tile/carpet, carpet/upholstery, tile/tile, carpet/carpet, upholstery/upholstery, you name it, and sometimes having 200' of hose out to each wand.
It is a fact when the entire truckmount system is capable of supplying more than enough vacuum for 2 hefty wands without ever noticing that another tech is cleaning at the same time that you are cleaning, more than enough flow for 2 high-flow wands (at least 3.5 GPM), and enough heat to melt chewing gum or candle wax at each wand without needing any chemical. The heat should also be completely adjustable thru it's entire range of operation.
It is fiction when a TM is labeled dual wand capable, and one wand has to be on the floor in order for the other wand to have enough suction, or the flow keeps dropping the pressure while you are cleaning with 2 wands, or there is not sufficient heat for 2 wands.
I will say there are a lot more dual wand TM's out there today compared to several years ago.
Of course you'll need 2 techs in order to run dual wands, but the amount of work that you can accomplish is amazing.
We have been running dual wands for 25 years, and are able to accomplish this with a Roots #45 blower, smaller waste tank with APO, Cat pump, and a 250,000 BTU LP heater with the afterburner circuitry.
We dual wand residential, commercial, tile/carpet, carpet/upholstery, tile/tile, carpet/carpet, upholstery/upholstery, you name it, and sometimes having 200' of hose out to each wand.
Mikey P
Administrator
Onfire_02_01
Member
It also depends on how much hose you have going out to where you are cleaning. Cleaning upholstery at 50 feet you could probably do with just about anything. Cleaning carpet at 50 feet narrows it down. But cleaning carpet at 100 feet (normal lengths) takes most units out of the picture for dual wanding. #45 blower and above for Dual wanding preferably a #47 or better. The El Diablo (which I have) has a #45 with a Kunkle valve and that is about as low as I would go for a dual wand unit, I would call it more of a part time dual wand unit. Dual wanding always looks impressive but I see very few people actually use a Dual wand even with two people on a truck. Most of the time one will clean while the other will prep for cleaning.
Mikey P
Administrator
Bob Pruitt
Member
Would you say the Butler with the bigger blower and better heat could be considered a dual wand machine? I would not consider the HydraMaster CDS units dual wand machines.
Mikey P
Administrator
No.
Lee Stockwell
FOJL
The WM pro 2000 has separate 45 blowers and independent waste tanks. Yes dual wand capable, but not to 2016 standards.
If you set your standards low enough almost anything can claim "dual wand capable". Bane does it with 2 33's and two extension cords. Bob does likewise with one 45.
If you set your standards low enough almost anything can claim "dual wand capable". Bane does it with 2 33's and two extension cords. Bob does likewise with one 45.
Papa John
Lifetime Supportive Member
#4.5 blower or lower-- dual wand is a myth.
#5 blower dual wand fact up to about 3oo ft total hose run
#6 or 7 blower triple wand fact at 700 ft hose run-- but it will be like using a portable with auto fill n dump.
#5 blower dual wand fact up to about 3oo ft total hose run
#6 or 7 blower triple wand fact at 700 ft hose run-- but it will be like using a portable with auto fill n dump.
Mark Saiger
Mr Happy!
Love my Butlers....but "NO" as Mikey said....
If you want to really CLEAN carpet....
You would have to run low flow and smaller wands....and just not possible to the standards we are trying to obtain with our business model.
Again, just one of the reasons I will run two truckmounts (and for other reasons) on a large job vs one...
The ones Mikey mentioned are the only ones I would consider for true "go get em" true dual wand units.
Walrus Gumboot
Member
How much are those Aerotechs these days? And where are they located?
Mikey P
Administrator
$110 to $120 depending on options
Still in Utah.
Still in Utah.
Walrus Gumboot
Member
hogjowl
Idiot™
How many times have we discussed this over the years?
Bob Pruitt
Member
Saiger" data-source="post: 4478108" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">Mark, What is it with GM and paint? I really like the idea of the Butler...tried and true design...built like a tank...great warranty... The worry for me is this is going into a GMC van and everywhere I look I see their paint flaking off. I'm thinking this has to do with the time the Government was running GM and they switched the paint to some environmental stuff that doesn't stick well. It's an issue for me like the rusty SS steel framed machines. Any issues with paint for you?
F
FB19087
Guest
maybe you can get them to put one in a delorean for you..........
Walrus Gumboot
Member
Trying to get my $5 worth.
Mark Saiger
Mr Happy!
I heard it was something to do with the primer... But cannot confirm.
We have had really no issues here in the North but I have seen it as a problem in the South on some units.
Not sure if it is everyone in serious sun type country... I wonder if GM warranties this...
Bob Pruitt
Member
Saiger" data-source="post: 4478122" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">I think it's a pretty big problem here; Almost every GM van I see has significant paint flaking but maybe they fix it for the 2017 Vans... I would hope.
hogjowl
Idiot™
My 2004 had it bad, but I thought they'd fixed it by 2008?
Mikey P
Administrator
Wouldn't a full wrap fix that concern?
Mikey P
Administrator
A new Butler or any other CDS/PTO runs closer to 80 these days once you deck it out.
These guys buy them by the dozen
http://www.callcarpettech.com/carpet-cleaning/
realclean
Member
I have an 06 and 08 Chevy van and no they have not fixed the problem. I took mine to several paint shops and most said it was the primer and would not guarantee any paint they would put over the old primer.
For this reason I will no longer buy any GM van.
For this reason I will no longer buy any GM van.
Bob Pruitt
Member
Not sure if it would or just cause the wrap to bubble. Was hoping Mark knew more and didn't realize it was a warm climate issue. Just something that bugs me... all that money and a year later the paint is sloughing off... has me looking at the Ford with the xDrive if that ever gets officially launched. Too much time to think about all this.
Dallas JonDon wouldn't be too far away if needed.
Mikey P
Administrator
notice I didn't buy a GM for Nevada
been there...
been there...
tres davis
Member
It was a pre 08 problem and was issue with the primer. The new ones are fine. If you have an old one, you need to strip it and re-do the paint. Can't paint over it.
If you go to a quality wrap place they won't wrap it until you fix the paint as it will just bubble and peel off.
Strip, paint, wrap on any pre 2008 van/truck
This was a problem with Chevys and to a lesser degree fords as well, not just a gm problem
If you go to a quality wrap place they won't wrap it until you fix the paint as it will just bubble and peel off.
Strip, paint, wrap on any pre 2008 van/truck
This was a problem with Chevys and to a lesser degree fords as well, not just a gm problem
hogjowl
Idiot™
You didn't buy a Butler either. Been there.
Nor did you buy an Aerotech. Been there.
You also didn't buy a Prochen Ti wand, or a Greenhorn wand. Been there.
No EDIC portable. You were acting like you were going there.
In fact, the two best things in the industry, Toms wand and the Zipper, you don'thave!
I don't know why anybody listens to you.
Nor did you buy an Aerotech. Been there.
You also didn't buy a Prochen Ti wand, or a Greenhorn wand. Been there.
No EDIC portable. You were acting like you were going there.
In fact, the two best things in the industry, Toms wand and the Zipper, you don'thave!
I don't know why anybody listens to you.
SamIam
Member
@Mark Saiger you should try it one day with both Devastator wands that's only 16 flow. I wouldn't go any further then a 100 foot hose run, but with both wands on the carpet it would be intresting to see.
SamIam
Member
SamIam
Member
I could see it on a lightly soiled carpet vacant with lots of sq footage to cover.
