VARIO-2 Video
- Thread starter encapman
- Start date
hogjowl
Idiot™
I like my Cimex better.
But, I bet danny likes that music.
But, I bet danny likes that music.
encapman
Member
I like the Cimex too. Alyways my favorite machine for serious commercial work. But the VARIO offers a nice crossover. It can handle straight encap as well as bonnet cleaning. It does well in residential too. And you can even read a good book while you're cleaning (as you can see from the video). 
Desk Jockey
Member
Is that Bill Yeadon style cleaning?
Nice machine! Love the power cord work!
Nice machine! Love the power cord work!
encapman
Member
Way to go Richard. I was wondering if anyone would notice that book 
Get a VARIO and create Raving Fans!
Get a VARIO and create Raving Fans!
tmiklethun
Member
Rick, for residential encap as part of a maintenance program would you recommend the vario or a dual brush system?
Zee
Supportive Member
Nothing like showing your potential customers how mindlessly they could have their own, on location maintenance staff do the same work...
I had it happen where we were on a flood job in a hotel in Santa Monica and the hotel maintenance guy was rolling around with an Orbot that was labeled with one of prochem's stickers. (Windsor Taz)
I wasn't happy about seeing that to be honest.
I had it happen where we were on a flood job in a hotel in Santa Monica and the hotel maintenance guy was rolling around with an Orbot that was labeled with one of prochem's stickers. (Windsor Taz)
I wasn't happy about seeing that to be honest.
encapman
Member
There's a pretty fair split on that. There are a lot of cleaners who use OP machines in residential. And it seems like that crowd is growing. There are also some who use CRB machines. We have a very successful residential carpet company here in our local area tha only uses CRB machines. They buy a lot of Releasit so I know they're going through some square footage of carpet. They have a solid business just using CRB machines.
Here a couple of reasons why these types of machines make good sense from a business perspective.
1. They're a whole lot less expensive than buying and operating a $50K plus truck mount.
2. With a historic drought continuing out west, low moisture is becoming a niche with growing appeal.
Those two reasons make sense. You've gotta crack a lot of nuts before getting to zero each month in order to offset the cost of truck mount ownership. Not saying truck mounts aren't great - they're terrific workhorses. I'm just saying that the ROI is basically immediate with these less expensive machines. And marketing low moisture cleaning to your customers makes sense too. It might merit some consideration.
encapman
Member
That is always a bummer! I think it's happened to all of us at one time or another.
I think it's the course of wisdom to NOT market your cleaning "method". I've always tried to conceal my trade secrets. The Colonel was famous for stating that his KFC was made with secret herbs and spices. A smart marketer for sure! No one needs to know the tricks up your sleeve. Let them know that you have ALL of the industry approved methods at your disposal (because you do). And explain that you will carefully evaluate the carpet and then select the best method or combination of methods to produce optimum results. In fact you could even drag in a couple of different machines and use them in conjunction in different parts of the building. There's no reason to make it easy for them to figure out what your secret herbs and spices are!
rwcarpet
Supportive Member
I like the Cimex too. Alyways my favorite machine for serious commercial work. But the VARIO offers a nice crossover. It can handle straight encap as well as bonnet cleaning. It does well in residential too. And you can even read a good book while you're cleaning (as you can see from the video).
Are you using Releasit with the Vario? Mine will be here next week. I plan to use it in combo with the Cimex in non-truckmountable jobs. I have a few 12 plus story jobs coming up and security won't allow open doors for hoses. Some of these carpets need a 1-2 punch of the Cimex initially cleaning the heavy walk areas and the Vario to follow up with a pad.
Now, I only need a way to clean the steps between floors.
Mikey P
Administrator
Always the conundrum...
Makita and lots of cotton towles of suppose..
encapman
Member
Yes, we're using Encap-Clean DS2 in all of the shots in that video. If you're doing purely bonnet cleaning, Encap-Punch would be a good choice too.
For stairs, you could use the Drill Driver with an 8" FiberPlus pad, and/or a Tuway 8" bonnet.
http://www.excellent-supply.com/8-inch-Drill-Driver-Carpet-Cleaning-Accessory_p_10.html
encapman
Member
P.S. Thank you for the VARIO purchase Robert! I saw that come through on Friday. I think you're going to really like it!
Mike Draper
Member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2008
- Messages
- 4,402
Looks like a really nice rig. I see the wheels are always rolling. I' would mainly use this in residential setting for pre-scrubbing carpet. Will it be as aggressive as my 175 I own now that doesnt have the wheels touching while scrubbing, thus seems like more weight would be on the scrubber?
encapman
Member
The head weight ranges between 50 to 70 pounds. Plenty of weight for carpet scrubbing.
The VARIO makes 1725 oscillations per minute. By comparison a rotary makes 175 rpm's per minute. That's 100 times more passes per minutes.
Additionally, the VARIO makes small oscillations - smaller than a dime. By comparison a rotary makes big sweeping circular loops on the carpet. Those small oscillations have a greater potential to engage with the tufts of carpet fiber.
At a rate of 100 times as many oscillations, and with smaller oscillations, the VARIO is much more efficient for carpet scrubbing than a standard rotary machine.
Lee Stockwell
FOJL
X 10...not x 100
Zee
Supportive Member
hogjowl
Idiot™
10, 100, 1000 ... who cares?
Where does the dirt go?
Where does the dirt go?
Russ T.
Supportive Member
It's a secret.
encapman
Member
Where does the dirt go?
It turns into money!
It turns into money!
encapman
Member
Lee, math was my worst subject. 
Zee
Supportive Member
Lee, math was my worst subject.
So then, how do you count all that money, that used to be dirt- before the teatreepolymerpixiedust conversion?
realclean
Member
Hey Rick, what is the difference in the Vario and the Oreck Low boy?
Other than the tank and sprayer and big wheel kit.
Other than the tank and sprayer and big wheel kit.
Lee Stockwell
FOJL
The Vario was smooother than Low Boys I've run in the past. I'd say it's a matter of tweaking things to have better balance.
encapman
Member
At the core, the VARIO is built on a LowBoy platform, but from there a whole lot of modifications occur. We add about 3.5 hours of labor. Our modifications include adding several parts that we've designed and machined to transform it into a VARIO. We install a swingarm assembly. We add a tank. We add a spray system (switch, pump, sprayhead). We replace the the handle latch with a totally different design. We modify the way the weight is distributed. We add 10" wheels and a stainless axle. We add weights to the front of the machine. We begin with a LowBoy, what comes out the other end is a very different machine. As Lee mentioned above, it handles very differently than a LowBoy. It cleans very differently too!
rwcarpet
Supportive Member
Picked mine up yesterday. Gonna try it out today. Pics later.
bob vawter
Grassy Knoller
