What's up with lockdown?

[Papa John]

I know it is lockdown as it is leaving the carpet fibers noticeably wetter.

Switch to a wand with 2 inch tube instead of the 1.5 for more water removal and better air flow.

 

[they live]

I can't imagine any situation that a whole Glide would lock down with that cavernous wand..


I forgot what truck mount you have but make sure that your vacuum relief valve is working

AI is trying to figure out how half a glide can lock down.

 

[Papa John]

@Bryce C Make sure you are starting the pushing action using your legs and hips and not just your biceps and Lats.

 

[Mikey P]

Switch to a wand with 2 inch tube instead of the 1.5 for more water removal and better air flow.

Bryce DO NOT DO THIS!

Beating up your body for something the customer will never notice is probably the worse trend this industry has dealt with.

 

[hogjowl]

I agree. Not worth it.

I can’t imagine a situation where a hole glide would lock down. There’s missing or inaccurate information here.

 

[Papa John]

Bryce DO NOT DO THIS!

Beating up your body for something the customer will never notice is probably the worse trend this industry has dealt with.

Geez- man up!
Aren't you like 1.5 feet taller than me and have bigger hands?
Like I said, use your bigger leg muscles to move the wand and not just you biceps.
I'm compulsive in removing as much water as possible because it satisfies my clients.

 

[Mikey P]

Geez- man up!
Aren't you like 1.5 feet taller than me and have bigger hands?
Like I said, use your bigger leg muscles to move the wand and not just you biceps.
I'm compulsive in removing as much water as possible because it satisfies my clients.

I'll man up with you on a hike or bike ride anytime you're up for a challenge John.

My dry times and results speak for themselves.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

I'll man up with you on a hike or bike ride anytime you're up for a challenge John.

but I won't ruin my body to go along with your poor understanding of physics, and reality.

Be kind there Michael....

Let's back up

In the 1970s to through the 80s, Prochem (and a few other companies) sold machines that used 3 MVL vacuum pumps ("blowers"). Those units with those blowers couldn't produce much airflow, so 2" vacuum hose right to a wand that itself was 2" or nearly so was critical. Put an 1.5" lead hose on one of those, and you really noticed it.

Cleaners who bought other brand machines with larger blowers could use reduced diameter lead hoses and not notice too much difference, except for long hose runs and water damage restoration.

That said, with a glide and a wand with reasonable ergonomic features (none are "perfect" in that regard), cleaners can use 2" to the wand, and enjoy the benefits that the additional extraction and drying potential gives them.

If you look deeper, though, there are other issues that create sub-par cleaning performance, slow drying, odors, wicking etc.

1. Wand design: The "classic" dual jet "AW29" wand really can cause wetting issues unless you redirect the spray at an angle.

2. Vacuum Leaks: Few units come into my repair center without some damage to gaskets in the recovery tank. Too few cleaners keep their gaskets repaired, and when needed replaced.

3. Vacuum Restriction: Does a 1.5" vacuum hose interfere with performance? Sure it does. But not nearly so much as clogged filters and strainers in the recovery tank. Most that we see here are, if not loaded with debris, at least coated with enough to massively interfere with performance.

4. Technique: The people who participate here understand the value of "dry strokes". Few understand that to many cleaners, the trigger is something you release when you pick up the wand to move it to another location.

In my view, these four issues probably cause more performance problems that the diameter of the vacuum hose used at the last 15-25' to the wand.

 

[BIG WOOD]

Started my business with the prochem quad jet for 2 years no glide . Never even heard of a glide 23 years ago

Them dropped down to the aw29 no glide. It worked fine because it was only at 4 flow, maybe 3? I can’t remember. But my cleaning back then to now is dramatically different.

I have both the 1.5 and 2” with glide and each wand has its purpose. Both are needed on the truck

And Mike, I’m loving your little 2 jet wand. But I’ll never get the 14”. It just looks awkward. Be smart and buy that prochem titanium patent if it still exists and slap a green glide sticker in the place of that outdated prochem titanium sticker. Quit being cheap. I know you can afford it.

Legend’s copycat of that wand is embarrassing

 

[Bryce C]

I agree. Not worth it.

I can’t imagine a situation where a hole glide would lock down. There’s missing or inaccurate information here.

I am not aware of what other information I could be providing. I'll recap:

1) this is lockdown, evidenced by the carpet fibers being left noticeably more wet after extracting. And my experience of it was like wrestling against the wand, it was sucked down seriously into the carpet.

2) this is rare, it seems to only happen once in a while. Which suggests it isn't my technique or wimpiness.

3) I'm in excellent physical health

4) this was a medium pile carpet

5) I am using a CDS 4.8

6) 13" evo wand 1.5" tube with hole glide

7) I checked my vacuum gauge and it reads 13hg, but I haven't burped it yet. Looks like the needle is resting below 0 when off. So burping it later today may affect it.

8) apologies for my delay tinkering with it and reporting back. It is miserably cold up here.

 

[Bryce C]

@Bryce C Make sure you are starting the pushing action using your legs and hips and not just your biceps and Lats.

Thanks. I do walk the wand forward and backwards, I move my arms very little, they just stabilize the wand for the most part.

 

[Mikey P]

Be kind there Michael....

Let's back up

In the 1970s to through the 80s, Prochem (and a few other companies) sold machines that used 3 MVL vacuum pumps ("blowers"). Those units with those blowers couldn't produce much airflow, so 2" vacuum hose right to a wand that itself was 2" or nearly so was critical. Put an 1.5" lead hose on one of those, and you really noticed it.

Cleaners who bought other brand machines with larger blowers could use reduced diameter lead hoses and not notice too much difference, except for long hose runs and water damage restoration.

That said, with a glide and a wand with reasonable ergonomic features (none are "perfect" in that regard), cleaners can use 2" to the wand, and enjoy the benefits that the additional extraction and drying potential gives them.

If you look deeper, though, there are other issues that create sub-par cleaning performance, slow drying, odors, wicking etc.

1. Wand design: The "classic" dual jet "AW29" wand really can cause wetting issues unless you redirect the spray at an angle.

2. Vacuum Leaks: Few units come into my repair center without some damage to gaskets in the recovery tank. Too few cleaners keep their gaskets repaired, and when needed replaced.

3. Vacuum Restriction: Does a 1.5" vacuum hose interfere with performance? Sure it does. But not nearly so much as clogged filters and strainers in the recovery tank. Most that we see here are, if not loaded with debris, at least coated with enough to massively interfere with performance.

4. Technique: The people who participate here understand the value of "dry strokes". Few understand that to many cleaners, the trigger is something you release when you pick up the wand to move it to another location.

In my view, these four issues probably cause more performance problems that the diameter of the vacuum hose used at the last 15-25' to the wand.

You quoted me before my second cup of morning kindness and settled in.

Papa likes to push my buttons.

 

[Mikey P]

Thanks. I do walk the wand forward and backwards, I move my arms very little, they just stabilize the wand for the most part.

Do it 10-30 second video of your wanding process and posted here

 

[jeffexe]

I have used a Butler with the 4 series blower for over 35 years. No max heat, no 2" wand, No 4 to the door hoses.. Just 150" hose on the reel and the filer basket in the tank. In the late 80s and the 90s, I used the butler 18 inch wand for all commercial and the 10" for residential. No glides, just the wand. I thought 8-12 hours was an appropriate amount of time for thorough cleaning.
As the industry moved forward and we started carrying mini air movers and dri pods and the dry times were significantly reduced.
Then along came the Evolution wand. Major game changer. Laminar flow made a huge difference in my dry times,
Now, with the glides, not only are we getting great dry times, we are also getting reduced stress on our bodies while working.

I agree with Jim. Truck Mainernance is crutial for professionalism and performance. I replace my tank gaskets yearly and am always amazed at how much thickness they lose. And it only takes a minute to change your filter basket. I can outperform the largest truckmount with a basic protable if the truckmount is not maintained and time is not taken to perform the job correctly.

Technique is also critical. Slow down, take whatever dry strokes are necessary, it is not a race. Check your equipment constantly.
My belief is all equipment does its job. You just need to utilize your equipment properly.

I do not know what is happening to Bryce. I can only imagine that it is a dense pile carpet that for some reason Murphy's Law decided to apply. I get that on some high end area carpets with the hole glide, but just assumed it was because it was loose on the floor.

 

[KevinD]

I wouldn't worry about a little lock down that happens occasionally. It is just a certain type of fiber (usually a cut pile with a fine denier) or a non porous backing.
I would occasionally run into a couple a year that fit the bill even using a hole glide on my 14" CMP.
One was a ophthalmic association building that I cleaned every 6-12 months.
I would always install a brand new hole glide before that job to lessen the 14 hours of misery I was in for.

 

[FredBoyle]

I'll man up with you on a hike or bike ride anytime you're up for a challenge John.

My dry times and results speak for themselves.

1.0 has entered the conversation

 

[FredBoyle]

I wouldn't worry about a little lock down that happens occasionally. It is just a certain type of fiber (usually a cut pile with a fine denier) or a non porous backing.
I would occasionally run into a couple a year that fit the bill even using a hole glide on my 14" CMP.
One was a ophthalmic association building that I cleaned every 6-12 months.
I would always install a brand new hole glide before that job to lessen the 14 hours of misery I was in for.

This is the most accurate answer

‘ fine denier” is a great description


We don’t run into it often, but when we do it’s a PITA job

 

[Jim Pemberton]

1.0 has entered the conversation

Master Po has already discussed this with Caine.....

 

[Mikey P]

I've seen tape (duct, blue, seam) leave nearly invisible trace amountS of residue that can creatE that lockdown feeling...

Have you touched the glide recently?

 

[Bryce C]

I've seen tape (duct, blue, seam) leave nearly invisible trace amountS of residue that can creatE that lockdown feeling...

Have you touched the glide recently?

Yes I have touched it, and shortly after this job. There is no residue on the glide. And I've cleaned other carpet since this job I described in this post and I am not experiencing any lockdown. Again it's rare. That alone seems to eliminate my technique, my health, and sticky residues as being possibilities.

I think Kevin and Jeff nailed it. I just came to the particular denier pile and/or backing combined with all the variables of my setup that caused it to happen a bit.

 

[Mikey P]

I'm still immensely interested in how you wand without moving your arms...

 

[hogjowl]

I’ve encountered those tiny deniers (smart strand silk) carpets plenty of times. I always come away thanking God I have a hole glide. Even with the hole glide my back is killing me by the time I’m done but I wouldn’t describe it as “lock down”, just drag.

 

[Papa John]

I'll man up with you on a hike or bike ride anytime you're up for a challenge John.

My dry times and results speak for themselves.

You live in Nevada- of course, your dry times are good.
I'm in SF with 70% humidity, so it takes extra effort.

I'd love to hike or bike--
But no mountain biking on trails-- I'm afraid of doing a Sonny Bono into a tree.
However, when I have extended time off, I'd rather be skiing or with my wife in Thailand.

My "Rug cleaning plant" is also my Lab-- findings
1. It takes a lot more water than you would think to get the backside of the rug wet from the top.
2. 2 inch wands remove more water quicker.
3. I dont need a waterclaw when I have a glided 2 inch Devastator wand.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

I don't know enough to get into the fray and obviously It's rare, but would a Rotovac be worth the nasties and this carpet occasionally?

 

[hogjowl]

You live in Nevada- of course, your dry times are good.
I'm in SF with 70% humidity, so it takes extra effort.

I'd love to hike or bike--
But no mountain biking on trails-- I'm afraid of doing a Sonny Bono into a tree.
However, when I have extended time off, I'd rather be skiing or with my wife in Thailand.

My "Rug cleaning plant" is also my Lab-- findings
1. It takes a lot more water than you would think to get the backside of the rug wet from the top.
2. 2 inch wands remove more water quicker.
3. I dont need a waterclaw when I have a glided 2 inch Devastator wand.

I don’t think Mike is arguing with you regarding drying times. What he’s saying is the difference isn’t worth the effort and the consequences over a career.

 

[FredBoyle]

I’ve encountered those tiny deniers (smart strand silk) carpets plenty of times. I always come away thanking God I have a hole glide. Even with the hole glide my back is killing me by the time I’m done but I wouldn’t describe it as “lock down”, just drag.

Drag is a better term for it


It does reduce airflow significantly tho, but that may be mostly due to us using slot glides


It does feel like the wand is locking down on the carpet with slotted glides

Vac relief or lowering the RPM are the easiest ways to provide relief when you have more than 50 yards of that fiber to clean

 

[Mikey P]

I don’t think Mike is arguing with you regarding drying times. What he’s saying is the difference isn’t worth the effort and the consequences over a career.

Correct.


I talk to 1000's of cleaners around the world to come up with my findings.

The best customers keep cleaners that are trustworthy, friendly, comfortable to be around, and multi-surface capable.
Dry times, results only we notice and price don't really matter.


Of course many of us don't have enough of the best customers so then we have to make end meet with the price conscience or commercial work or the neurotic homeowner where everything is flipped upside down.

If we find ourselves 30+ years into this career and we're still dealing with customers that obsess over dry times and cost, we've made some huge mistakes along the way...

 

[KevinD]

I've seen tape (duct, blue, seam) leave nearly invisible trace amountS of residue that can creatE that lockdown feeling...

Have you touched the glide recently?

This is why I always recommend a teflon glide when removing adhesive residue.
If you leave a trace amount of residue it will stick to the glide and you Will know from the drag and tackiness.
Wipe the glide with some vds to remove the residue and clean it again till nothing sticks.